My Dilemma, Boardman cx comp or Raleigh Royal Road

[dusty605]

Hi, I'm in a bit of a dilemma. I've applied to for c2w already as I had my mind set on the Boardman cx comp. I've applied for £600 as I'm allowing for rack and mudguards. The thing is I'm buying the bike for a lejog run next year and I've read various threads on forums suggesting the Boardman isn't particularly suitable for long distance touring. My reasoning for going down the cx route is because the route we are taking utilises tracks and overgrown canal paths, plus I might like to give cyclo-cross a bash. Am I being a bit ambitious tackling lejog on the cx. My only alternative within my budget at Halfords is the Raleigh Royal Road bike. Both bikes have good reviews and I prefer the Boardman but if I'm going to struggle with lejog on it then I need a rethink. All advice welcome, thanks in advance.

 

[vickster]

Other bike shops will take Halfords c2w vouchers, might provide other options

https://www.cycle2work.info/bikes/range

Why is the Boardman not suitable for long distances? Ok, not lejog, but I did 80 miles on my 2014 CX team recently

 

[dusty605]

Not sure why, something to do with the whole geometry of it. I'm planning to do between 100 and 120 miles per day. How did you find your 80 miles, was it comfortable enough?

 

[vickster]

Not sure why, something to do with the whole geometry of it. I'm planning to do between 100 and 120 miles per day. How did you find your 80 miles, was it comfortable enough?

Yes it was a slow twisty audax round London, the only issue was the painfully thin bar tape. Now replaced with lizardskins (and a narrower handlebar to better fit me). I was due to ride my Genesis but had a mechanical issue and had to swap. I'd only ridden the Boardman a few miles at that point but over cobbles and stuff it was actually the better choice

I'm not an endurance cyclist by any means but I have no idea why the geometry would be wrong for lejog if the bike is the right size and comfortable for you?

Doing a challenge like that, get a bike fit, especially if you have any sort of lingering injuries, be £150 odd well spent

As using c2w, you'll have plenty of time commuting over the winter to get used to it and get the set up right

 

[vickster]

There's a few views on the bike here

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/boardman-cx-comp-2016.207325/

 

[Deleted member 35268]

The Boardman hands down

 

[dusty605]

The bike fit is definitely on my list, I'm currently cycling to work on my mtb which is a 17 mile round trip, already decided, or my knees have, that they don't like clipless pedals, I just can't get the heel to crank clearance I need. Thanks for your thoughts so far.

 

[grellboy]

I have the Boardman cx team 2014 and this year have done two centuries, an 80 miler and 70 miler too, all without any problems at all. Only thing I changed was pedals and cross tyres for Gatorskins, which made it faster but still able to off road with confidence.