Sizing Query (Boardman and mudguards lol)

[nirurin]

Ok, so I have no ordered my bike, and the bits I need, as I took advantage of an extra 10% off flash offer Halfords had today for a whole 2 hours... was a close thing to get the order in on time lol.
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/boardman-hybrid-comp-bike-2014

However I have now been back in to the local store to test out a couple of things, and to make sure I had the sizings correct etc, before the items arrived and they began to assemble it, in case I needed to make an alteration.

There's two issues, one more important than the other:

1) My size vs Bike frame
I tried the 49cm (medium) Hybrid out in store again (the same bike I tried a few days ago) but this time I was able to properly ride it around a bit with pedals on etc. I could sit astride the frame bar with my feet flat, but there wasnt a huge amount of clearance. The reach to the bars also seems a touch long.
Problem is, I'm used to riding a mountain bike that is too small for me, so it's a tricky one. It will take days to get used to a new bike, and I dont think halfords would let me test it for that long :P

I'm 174cm tall (5 feet, 8.5 inches) with inside leg of 30", so I'm right on the boundary between the "recommended" sizes for the 45cm (17.7") and the 49cm (19.3") frames. I did my "ape index" test and I seem to have a +10cm one... surprisingly Apey, it seems.

Unfortunatly I couldnt test the small as they had none in stock. Though I can change my order and get one in, and test it, and then change my mind.

Just wondering if its generally better to go for the slightly smaller frame, or the slightly larger? It seems most people around my height go for the medium sizing. Just thought I'd get some outside opinions on wether its likely to just be me not being used to the size of bike.


2) Mudguard vs tyre size
This one should be a lot easier for you guys to help with
I ordered the following:
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/acc...pic-racer-mudguard-set-matt-black-700c-x-45mm

I got the 45mm width ones, as the smaller 35mm ones maxed out at 28c tyres (which the hybrid has atm), but I was considering that I may change to 32c in the future.

Basically, would 45mm guards be somewhat ridiculous on a 28c wheels?
Or alternatively, would 35mm guards still work on a 32c wheel?



Thanks again guys, You've all been much help. At the moment My thinking is to change my order to the smaller 45cm frame (unless getting a frame slightly too small causes issues im not aware of?) and keeping the 45mm mudguards. The guys at Halfords said the medium bike seemed to be right for me, but I have learnt (from the forums lol) to be wary of advice from Halfords staff :P


EDIT:
Realised while I was making a much-needed cup of coffee... that there was an easier way to put this :P

TLDR: Both the Small and the Medium fit me, as I'm right in between sizes, so seeing as they will both likely end up being tweaked with saddle position (and possibly replacement stem if needed), is it better to go smaller or larger.

 

[Mike!]

Sizing is very hard to advise on, as you say both will fit you. Standover height is not something I've ever considered when buying a bike. As long as you are not balancing on the top tube with feet off the ground that is, if you are then it's to big. Stand over is irrelevant when you are riding it after all.

Of more interest is the top tube length, the Small is 56.5cm, the Medium 59cm which is quite a difference. I am pretty much the same size as you 5ft9 with 30" inside leg and think I'd stick with the Medium. The small is quite a lot smaller and it also has a shorter stem (90mm instead of 100mm) so your reach will be 3.5cm less than the Medium, it also has narrower bars and I think you might feel cramped on it.

45mm mudguards will be fine and give you flexibility on tyres.

 

[nirurin]

Yeh it's a tricky one isn't it. I measured the bike I have at last night, and turns out it's a 22" frame (which guides say is for a 6'1+ person wtf) but is on 26" tyres so it's kinda tricky to compare. Only has a 53 cm top bar though, so even the small hybrid is longer than I'm used to.

Guess mountain bikes are a lot more compact

 

[nirurin]

Well my bike is built, in a 49cm (medium), so tomorrow I will be going to take a look

Halfords attempted to fit the mudguards, but they weren't able to fit them due to the disks being in the way. They did try to bend the stalks around but they weren't happy with the result

So now I have the choice of trying to fit them myself, or getting some clip-on mudguards. Are there any good ones?

 

[vickster]

Well my bike is built, in a 49cm (medium), so tomorrow I will be going to take a look

Halfords attempted to fit the mudguards, but they weren't able to fit them due to the disks being in the way. They did try to bend the stalks around but they weren't happy with the result

So now I have the choice of trying to fit them myself, or getting some clip-on mudguards. Are there any good ones?

I have Bontrager guards on my disk braked Whyte - so it can be done. See if you have a Trek dealer near. Otherwise, XL raceblades may work

Could be these http://www.actionbikes.co.uk/bontrager-approved-hybrid-mudguard-700x37.html

 

[Jenkins]

Regarding the tyre/mudguard question - check that this version can take 32mm tyres if you are tempted to change them. I have the earlier Boardman Hybrid Comp and the chainstays are so narrow that some 32mm Kendas that I trial fitted rubbed!

I've fitted SKS Chromoplastic 35mm mudguards to mine over 28mm Schwalbe Marathon tyres with the only modification being to bend the stay around the front disc brake without any problem.

 

[nirurin]

I think they just didnt underrstand the problem. I have the SKS bluemels olympic (which seemed like a good set, not sure why noone else is using them, hoping they are ok lol) which seem to have the same fittment as the chromoplastic, so I think I will try them myself when I get it home tomorrow.

Far as I'm aware the bike will take 32's, other people seem to have. Think it can even go bigger.

 

[vickster]

Chromoplastics didn't fit my Whyte

It isn't probably anything to do with the tyre width, but more the shape of or width between the seat stays or similar

 

[nirurin]

I'll take a look in the store when I pick it up, and if it seems like it's going to be a pain I will just tell them to refund me for the mudguards. Shame though, as I got 30% off them. Better to get good ones that fit well though.

Are there any good clip on ones? sks raceblades ive heard of a few times.

 

[nirurin]

Do those Bontrager guards have stays which need to be trimmed off with a hacksaw like the SKS ones? Just wondering in case I would need to bend them around brakes still.

Though I think the reason you had no problem is possibly because the stays come down from above the wheel, instead of coming from the back like the SKS ones do. This may be helpful.

 

[Jenkins]

The mudguards themselves are fine, what is the problem is bending the stays to clear the front disc. With those the plastic clips get in the way, but the plain ones shown as fitted to the back guard would allow the immediate bend required. If it wasn't so late I would post a picture of how I've done mine.

The SKS Raceblades may be too narrow (especially the Long version)- you'd need to offer some up to see if they provide enough cover. Another option which would fit and are plenty wide enough are SKS Beavertails, although, just like the SKS Raceblade XLs, they don't provide full cover

 

[vickster]

Do those Bontrager guards have stays which need to be trimmed off with a hacksaw like the SKS ones? Just wondering in case I would need to bend them around brakes still.

Though I think the reason you had no problem is possibly because the stays come down from above the wheel, instead of coming from the back like the SKS ones do. This may be helpful.

I don't know - I'm not daft enough to try to fit them - nice chaps in a local shop did it for me for free, for £15 all in, bargain!

However looking at them, no, as they have the little rings that must hook over

Chromoplastics on the Genesis, they were trimmed off and have plastic bungs

 

[nirurin]

What about on the end that attaches to the mudguard?

Though looking at the bike picture, it seems like having the stays coming from above should be ok.... ill take a closer look tomorrow

 

[vickster]

I don't know what you mean

 

[nirurin]

On the bontrager picture it looks like the metal stays go into plastic clips on the ends that attach to the mudguard... guard. Maybe thats the end that gets trimmed?

Maybe not, for now its not too important, I will go more into it when I have the bike and the weather starts getting worse haha