Halfords Cycle to Work purchase

[lejogger]

Hi All,

I do appreciate that this is quite a specific query as I am limited to which bikes are available on the Halfords C2W scheme, but I'm in a bit of a quandry and would be very grateful of any advice.

This will be my second C2W purchase as I picked up a Boardman Team Carbon in the summer, but now I need something a little more robust as I'm planning a 2 week light tour around Ireland in May. It also needs to be my daily commuter and winter steed, so as well as comfortable gearing, it needs to be able to take a rack and guards.

As far as I can tell, there are two serious contenders...

The Boardman Road Comp, which although essentially a race machine, comes with eyelets for a mudguards, and I can attach a Tubus Fly rack using the quick release adapter. This appeals because it's fairly light, so I can get away with using it for winter club runs as well as commuting and touring... BUT - will the 405mm chainstay give me enough heel clearance. Essentially does anyone have experience of getting a rack on this type of frame.

The Boardman CX team. This has ready made guard and rack attachments, and a 435mm chainstay, so would be perfect for touring... but it's 3lbs heavier, has clunky disk brakes which will be awkward for front guard attachment, and as well as being £100 more expensive I'll be needing to invest in some road tyres as well as the CX style is not ideal for tarmac every day.
I know it's only 3lbs, but i'm not overly sold on the discs on what is essentially a road bike as well.

So any thoughts? Or any other options that I'm missing? Would much prefer something with drops to flats, so have almost completely ruled out the hybrid.

Many thanks.

 

[Moodyman]

As User. A tourer will be better for your needs than a cyclo. Cyclos are versatile, but they don't excel in any area. Besides, it's too close to the road bike you've already got.

 

[lejogger]

Thanks User and Moodyman,

Agree that the CX is pretty close to what I already have, but I don't necessarily see the disadvantage in that. Keeping the same body position between the daily hack and the weekend ride is probably good for injury prevention and fitness.

I don't necessarily mind the added weight for the commute because it will just make the carbon feel even lighter at the weekend. But when touring the additional lbs may be hard on the legs, especially when trying to keep up with my buddy on his titanium Enigma Etape!

Are we totally discounting a standard roadbike then?

Any recommendations on a sub £1k tourer?

And what is the difference between a CX and a tourer once you have changed tyres? Is it just the gearing or is the whole geometry different?

 

[jig-sore]

I'd go for the boardman CX or the boardman team hybrid. in fact these are my two choices for commuting, if i do the scheme again next year

 

[lejogger]

Thanks Jig-sore.

Does anyone know if I can I get any road tyres to fit the Ritchey Pro disc rims, or will they have to be a specific width?

Thanks,