Halfords CTW and new bike

[NeilC]

So it's time to get this years Cycle to Work voucher and after extensive research I settled for one of 2 bikes which have both received excellent reviews, both have Carbon frames, and both come in at just under the £1000 mark (Focus Cayo and Planet-X Pro Carbon). So I phoned the friendly chaps at the Halfords cycle to work scheme (which my company use) and apparently they can source neither of these 2 bikes (Grrr).

So my 3rd choice was the 2010 Boardman Team Carbon (also £999) which they have now completely sold out of and the 2011 Boardman team carbon is £1300. Other than the price tag this apparently has the same spec as the 2010 carbon so on principle alone I'm not going to get a Boardman now...

So choice number 4 is the Cube Attempt. Halfords can get this one, in my size, however they only have the triple rather than the compact as the compacts have all sold out now. Is there a major difference appart from the obvious 'more gears'?

I hate to be unoriginal and ask the same old "what bike should I get" question, but I just can't help it and everyone seems so friendly on here :-)

So the big question is should I consider another bike or go with this one?

Thanks in advance.

Neil

 

[Herzog]

Triple will be heavier, wider Q factor, more gear duplications, perhaps increase component wear due to poor chainlines (i.e., big ring, small cog)... After riding a compact for a number of years now (recreation and racing), I'll never go back to a triple.

 

[Cubist]

Triple will be heavier, wider Q factor, more gear duplications, perhaps increase component wear due to poor chainlines (i.e., big ring, small cog)... After riding a compact for a number of years now (recreation and racing), I'll never go back to a triple.

After putting up with a compact for the last three years I can't wait to get a triple. .............

NeilC, there are a number of arguments pro and against. I personally find that my compact has too many lumps in the gearing, and will be getting a triple on this year's C2W

 

[NeilC]

Ah thank you Cubist - I was almost reconsidering getting the Boardman team alloy but the more I look at the Cube attempt the more I want it. I wasn't even sure if I wanted the compact or the triple but when told I couldn't have the compact I naturally wanted it more!

Thing I cannot understand though is why Cube have (and this is according to the nice chaps at the Halfords CTW scheme) simply made a bunch of bikes at the start of the year and have sold out without any intention of building any more. If I owned a business and I sold out of something I'd be making more sharpish.

The voucher has yet to arrive but I think I'll definitely get this bike.

 

[smokeysmoo]

I agree with Herzog having never seen the point of a triple on a road bike myself, but as Cubist says you will always have arguments both for and against, and that goes for vitually every aspect of cycling so and I appreciate his position.

The best thing you can do is try them both and see for yourself