Help me decide please!

[Mike!]

After a ot of deliberation i think (lol) i have narrowed my new commuter down to two bikes and am having trouble deciding which to go for, they are both stocked locally and a similar price.

Boardman Performance Hybrid Team

Merida Speeder i8

My requirements are for an all year round commuter (will be keeping my old MTB for really bad weather / snow), flat bars, rack and mudguard compatibility plus disc brakes (although the Merida has roller brakes).

I think i prefer the looks of the boardman plus (to my untrained eye) it has the better spec and carbon forks but the Merida has Hub gears which will mean less maintenance for me, it's not too hilly around here but i have quite a steep climb whatever way i go home and am slightly concerned that you cannot shift the nexus hub under load and i read about big gaps in the gearing frustrating people and that it results in having to get out of the saddle to get back to a comfortable cadance. I have had a brief ride on the Speeder but may go back for an extended one....

The Boardman is lighter and therefore quicker? but i'll have panniers anyway so weight isn't a massive priority. I'm leaning towards the boardman after originally favoring the Merida as i think it might be more versatile in case i want to do some longer rides or charity stuff in different parts of the country, plus it is slightly cheaper.

Might also be easier to get the boardman serviced as i assume hub gears are a bit of a speciality?

Going to take the plunge in January i think (possibly sooner if my money come in that's due), would appriciate some advice or real experiances from owners (not bothered about the Halfords rep, the guy in my local store seems to be ok and if worst comes to worst i can get it setup somewhere else!)

 

[Moodyman]

The Boardman is probably the better / more enjoyable bike, but if most of your riding is commuting, then hub gears make more sense - especially this time of the year.

 

[Mike!]

I really shouldn't have visited another dealer on my way home, this is getting painful.... lol

The trek 7.5 and Sirrus Comp (especially the sirrus) are gorgeous. No discs (although that's coming on the trek) but the chap I spoke to says modern v brakes are great and discs are overkill for the road..... mmmmm

 

[Mike!]

Well the Boardman is now £100 off online. Decision made for me I think....lol

That will pay for rack, guards and pedals!

 

[e-rider]

I'd say you made a fairly good choice.

Derailiuer gears are not much maintenance anyway (and if the hub gear goes wrong you're in deep sht) and definitely avoid Trek bikes

the Sirrus could have been a good buy though.

 

[Mike!]

I agree on the sirrus, it felt very solid but i really have my heart set on discs after several hairy moments with my canti's!

My brother is looking for a hybrid and isn't worried about having discs - I've put him in the direction of the sirrus comp!

 

[e-rider]

V-brakes are much better than cantis

also, it's much easier to fit a rack and mudguards to a bike with V-brakes

it can be very difficult/impossible to fit to a bike with discs. You'd need to buy a disc specific rack and bodge the mudguards on (esp the front one)

 

[Mike!]

Topeak disc rack goes on easily and the front guard is a bit of wire bending, hardly rocket science!

 

[e-rider]

Topeak disc rack goes on easily and the front guard is a bit of wire bending, hardly rocket science!

yes the topeak rack is one of the best options

I believe to can buy disc specific mudguards now that have stays designed to avoid the front disc

 

[Mike!]

I've not come across those mudguards, will have to research! Will save a job if they are available -thank you!