Which Hybird - Boardman?

[max1234]

Hi,

I am about to buy my first bike for about 10 years and have a rough budget of £500. I have agonised long and hard over whether to get a Hybrid or a MTB and have decided upon a Hybrid. I curse whoever invented the Hybrid! When I last brought a bike all I needed to worry about was whether to get 18 or 21 gears!

Anyway, I have given these forums a good read and need a bit more help.

So now I need to decide upon which Hybrid to buy. My friend has suggested that I get a Boadman from Halfords. I went and had a look at one the other day http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_502557_langId_-1_categoryId_165534.

It was light, looked OK, had disk brakes although they weren't hydrolic. It struck me that the tyres looked very thin and I'm not sure it would give me much grip if I decided to take it on a rare dirt path. But perhaps I am being too picky.

What are peoples comments on this bike. Should I be looking at a different bike for this price range? What would people recommend?

Has anybody got a boardman hybrid themself and how do they find it? Are they able to take it on dirt tracks?

Any help would really be appreciated.

 

[HLaB]

I think satansbudgie has a Boardman but from what Ive heard they're well spec'd bikes for the money; you may want to get a lbs to give it a once over after you've bought it.

 

[ianrauk]

welcome to the site Max, and as my esteemed fellow poster has said, they are very good bikes, go get one then take to your lbs to set up properly. You certainly wont regret buying one.

 

[HJ]

I think satansbudgie has a Boardman but from what Ive heard they're well spec'd bikes for the money; you may want to get a lbs to give it a once over after you've bought it.

I think it is Techmech that's got the Boardman....

 

[Winston]

Hi,

I am about to buy my first bike for about 10 years and have a rough budget of £500. I have agonised long and hard over whether to get a Hybrid or a MTB and have decided upon a Hybrid. I curse whoever invented the Hybrid! When I last brought a bike all I needed to worry about was whether to get 18 or 21 gears!

Anyway, I have given these forums a good read and need a bit more help.

So now I need to decide upon which Hybrid to buy. My friend has suggested that I get a Boadman from Halfords. I went and had a look at one the other day http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_502557_langId_-1_categoryId_165534.

It was light, looked OK, had disk brakes although they weren't hydrolic. It struck me that the tyres looked very thin and I'm not sure it would give me much grip if I decided to take it on a rare dirt path. But perhaps I am being too picky.

What are peoples comments on this bike. Should I be looking at a different bike for this price range? What would people recommend?

Has anybody got a boardman hybrid themself and how do they find it? Are they able to take it on dirt tracks?

Any help would really be appreciated.

I am thinking of this one. If any one can answer about the tyres ie. can you fit 35c tyres, it would be appreciated.

Winston

 

[HLaB]

I think it is Techmech that's got the Boardman....

I knew somebody did

 

[ianrauk]

Why would you want to Winston?
The tyres will be fine for where you want to cycle

I am thinking of this one. If any one can answer about the tyres ie. can you fit 35c tyres, it would be appreciated.

Winston

 

[upsidedown]

Was in there tonight and had a good look at one, looked very nice for the money.

 

[Winston]

Why would you want to Winston?
The tyres will be fine for where you want to cycle

I am fairly new to cycling and got the impression these tyres would be too thin/prone punctures going along canal banks.

Got some advice from TechMech on my own thread

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=38880

Thanks.

Winston

 

[ianrauk]

nah, they will be alright mate, just keep them pumped up to the correct psi and they will be ok

I am fairly new to cycling and got the impression these tyres would be too thin/prone punctures going along canal banks.

Got some advice from TechMech on my own thread

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=38880

Thanks.

Winston

 

[Harbornite]

I have the Pro and I am really pleased with it. Great value, however you have to deal with Halfords & my recent personal experience was that they are shambolic . Its a real shame as the bike is excellent.

Few of my mates have the Comp & have moaned about the brakes not being up to much. Plus the tyres are prone to puncture, as previously stated get some Gatorskins and/or slime tubes. That said, its a fantastic bike for the money

 

[chirk2000ad]

I rough stuff on 28mm tyres. They will be fine

 

[youngoldbloke]

I have ridden along gravel cycle tracks on 700x18 tyres with no problem at all. Probably not the ideal tyre for the conditions, but make 23s seem like balloon tyres. The tyres on the Boardman will be absolutely fine.

 

[max1234]

Thanks everyone. Sounds like the general opinion is that it's a good bike and I should go and buy one. I've heard comments on the tyres before so perhaps I would look at changing them but I'll give the current ones a go first. Shame that the breaks are mechanical and not hydrolic. Is that common in this price range?

Thanks for all your help. Keep any comments coming.

 

[HJ]

I am fairly new to cycling and got the impression these tyres would be too thin/prone s going along canal banks.
Winston

I ride of 25mm tyres without problems, fatter tyres are not necessarily more p*ncture resistant, it is more a case of getting good tyres and keep them pumped to the correct pressure...