Which Boardman bike

[SquareDaff]

Work are currently runing their C2W application period and I'm thinking of getting rid of my £300 Claud Butler Explorer 400 for something a little better. I can get a £1000 bike for £580 in the scheme so am looking at 3 possibilities:

1) The Boardman Performance Pro (Hybrid)
2) The Boardman Team CX Cyclocross
3) The Boardman Road Team

My instinct is to go for another hybrid, mainly because that's what I ride at the moment and have never had any aches etc... The other reason is that the bike will almost exclusively be used for commuting and I like to keep my kit in panniers. The Road bike doesn't have the drilling points for pannier mounting. I favour the hybrid over the cycle cross due to a) the lighter weight and b) the slimmer tyres. Would the drop position on the CX compensate for this over the hybrid?

Does anyone have any of these bikes? Is my reasoning out?

 

[battered]

I think your reasoning is sound. If you want panniers, get them. If you prefer flats, get them. A heavier bike is a heavier bike too, drops don't change that. Buy the bike you want for the use you want.

There's another way of looking at this if you have the space - you can get the bike of your dreams for weekend rides on the C2W scheme and use it when you wish. You can keep the existing commuter as a hack secure in the knowledge that you will be less bothered if it's stolen or you drop it one wet morning, or when it's plastered in mud and salty slime in winter. Nobody checks to see if you are using a C2W bike to actually go to work, after all.

 

[SquareDaff]

I think your reasoning is sound. If you want panniers, get them. If you prefer flats, get them. A heavier bike is a heavier bike too, drops don't change that. Buy the bike you want for the use you want.

It's been years since I've ridden a road bike - was just wondering if the improved aero position would compensate somewhat for the additional weight. I'm not a rake myself so can't imagine 0.7kg will make much difference.

 

[Alcdrew]

I recently went from a Trek 7.5fx disc to a Specialized Tricross, on paper there wasn't much in the two bikes but the more road like gear ratio of the Tricross makes a lot of difference, my commute is now 2-5 mins quicker, although I did swap the tyres over form some narrower city tyres, since I'm not going to be taking it off road. There were a few aches and pains to start with but these soon go, namely the hands and shoulders, but 2 weeks now with the bike I'd never go back to a hybrid; at least till I'm really old and need to sit straight up.

 

[jig-sore]

if its for commuting i would go for the hybrid