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Chris Boardman bikes - Page 3
dudley 
| 12 Mar 09:11 |
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Joined: 16 Jan 2009 Posts: 498 Bike: My Profile | As a general rule, i wont buy anything from Halfords. Their standard range is woeful and their staff knowledge is pitiful. They are a chain pumping volume over quality. However, they are now exclusive stockists of the new(ish)Chris Boardman Range. I like the look of them, and they seem reasonable priced against their competitors. Anyone have any experience of them? thanks in advance |
| My Latest Route: Nov 2009 Forth Estuary Circular | |
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globalfish
| 27 Nov 20:15 |
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Joined: 27 Nov 2009 Posts: 14 Bike: My Profile | I wouldn't say it's exactly difficult - there aren't really many things to adjust. It's far easier to sort than a bit of c**p Ikea junk. At the worst it's a few screws and a cable. If you can't do that, I hope you don't drive! |
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dudley
| 07 Dec 10:07 |
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Joined: 16 Jan 2009 Posts: 498 Bike: My Profile | it's not whether you can, it's whether you should. |
| My Latest Route: Nov 2009 Forth Estuary Circular | |
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mattk
| 07 Dec 12:27 |
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Joined: 07 Apr 2009 Posts: 116 Bike: My Profile | I agree with Dudley here, if you buy a new bike from a bike shop it should be properly setup (as they advertise) and fit for its job without having to tweek anything. Of course it always helps if you have an idea of how to tweek settings for a couple of months down the line when cables begin to stretch and parts start to wear/break in. |
| My Latest Route: Feb 2010 National Cycle Network 15 NCN | |
| samwardill | 04 Jan 15:55 |
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Joined: 04 Jan 2010 Posts: 1 Bike: | I have a Boardman Comp 09. I have had a lot of problems with the tyres. They often come off (tyres come out of the rim) when pumping up. I tried to use some Marathon tyres and I had to give up because the tyres would not stay on. Recently the inner tubes seem to keep folding over on themselves. It feels like the rim is too small. Has anyone else seen this issue? Any ideas? Should I use a smaller tube? |
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dudley
| 10 Feb 04:46 |
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Joined: 16 Jan 2009 Posts: 498 Bike: My Profile | any advice on sizing? ever more complicated these days as everyone's frame geometries are different, metric, imperial etc. if i was buying a bike for £150, i'd sit on it and say "that's about right" When i'm spending £1,000, i want to be sure it fits. I'm finally getting round to getting the Team Carbon (missed the Cycle to Work window last year through dithering) Halfords will not let you have a test ride Halfords refused to put pedals on the display model in the shop to see how it fitted stationary hard to judge fit when you can't put feet on the pedals, and get lots of tuts when you want the saddle up and down. Desperately trying to find someone local who has one willing to let me ride a couple of hundred yards! we used to get more customer service in this Country buying three brass screws for a shilling from the local hardware store than we do now buying something for £1,000! Halfords, I'm sure you're coining it in courtesy of Mr Boardman, but you'd make even more money if you trained your staff beyond KFC levels... |
| My Latest Route: Nov 2009 Forth Estuary Circular | |
| boardman-comp | 14 Feb 16:51 |
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Joined: 12 Jan 2010 Posts: 3 Bike: | i agree in a way that when u buy a new bike u shouldnt have to mess about with gears etc, but the truth is cables stretch etc. i have a boardman comp, and yes when i bought it, i wasnt impressed, but only because it had sram x5 shifters and the shimano chain snapped.halfords replaced the chain for a sram {free of course}.then £50 for sram x9 shifters and now its as good as any bike double the price. it aint your rims m8 its the continental tyres there a loose fit but do the job. |
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dudley
| 23 Mar 04:46 |
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Joined: 16 Jan 2009 Posts: 498 Bike: My Profile | Well, after a year of titting about, then waiting for the company C2W scheme window to open, my Boardman Team Carbon arrived on Saturday afternoon. a 15 mile shake down ride on Sunday with the Allen keys to set it up, and get used to the SRAM double tap system, and i'm good to go. cycled to work this morning (13 miles) and whilst the fitness level has a way to go to get back to where it was, the machine is fantastic. A joy. Furthermore, whilst my initial dealings with Halfords were poor, it turns out that the Boardman trained chap was on holiday. When he was around, all other staff deferred all things Boardman to him, and he set the bike up faultlessly and quickly. No noises, ticking gears, rubbing things. Smooth as. I am delighted with the bike, and surprisingly delighted with the service provided by Halfords (Dunfermline) After the 6week free check up, i think i'll revert to the LBS for servicing and spares. It is closer, and they are good for coffee and a chat! In short, a £1000, through C2W at around half price cannot be bad, particularly when rated as one of the best bikes available in this price bracket. I've already encountered bike snobs who turn their nose up at it, and others who drool. I'm a drooler. |
| My Latest Route: Nov 2009 Forth Estuary Circular | |
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geeka
| 06 Apr 09:11 |
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Joined: 06 Apr 2010 Posts: 50 Bike: My Profile | hi guys ive had a boardman hybrid since july and its been a joy to ride, got some more off road tyres which helped on the canal paths near me (leeds liverpool canal). id highly recommend them as most people have said it depends what halfords branch you actually goto as some are good and some shocking, im quite lucky as the one in keighley is good. ive taken out the bike maintainance contract (34 quid for 3 years) and you get an annual service as well as fitting anything new needed. ive taken it down afew times due afew issues with brakes and gears and they have just sorted them for no charge. |
| simbob | 30 Jul 10:51 |
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Joined: 30 Jul 2010 Posts: 1 Bike: | I am having the same dilemma here, the boardman hybrid pro is the better value for money, i know this. But i am having trouble with the whole halfords thing (last bike i bought there was a raleigh burner in 1982!). Saying this i wanted to try a Cannondale Bad Boy 700 from my LBS (supplier of specialised/cannondale/trek/lapierre/marin/commencal). It took 3 weeks to get it out of their warehouse, no-one ever returned my calls, when it did arrive it was the previous years model and this year's is all sold out. When my disappointment was obvious their interest waned rapidly. I'm sure their mechanics know what they're doing, but don't assume just because a shop stocks great brands means the customer service is any better. As there is no other Cannondale supplier for 40 miles i am leaning back towards the Boardman and this forum may just have convinced me. |
| new2cycling | 20 Aug 08:34 |
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Joined: 20 Aug 2010 Posts: 1 Bike: | I was this close to buying a carrera valour, but at the last min a friend of mine offered his boardman hybrid comp bike to me for £250 (he lost intrest after 2 rides). Have read a load of reviews so snaped it off him. The only problem that does seem to pop up is the tyres. Just looking for a bit of advice, are the standard tyres any good and if not what tyres would you recomend?? |
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soren
| 20 Aug 13:08 |
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Joined: 09 Jan 2010 Posts: 90 Bike: My Profile | There is an old story, which in most Halfords stores is unfortunately true,"if you pay peanuts you get ?", Answers on a postcard. |
| RoadRipper | 22 Aug 19:05 |
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Joined: 22 Aug 2010 Posts: 1 Bike: | Got a Pro Ltd Hybrid 12 months ago, spot on bike and great spec for the money. Halfords haven't got much of a clue, I even had to drive 50 miles to get the bike as nowhere local had stock, well worth it though and the Halfords manager gave me £50 off for my trouble. I've made a few changes to the spec over the last 12 months which makes the bike quicker, safer and more comfortable: 1. Fitted Continental Gran Prix 4000 tyres and tubes, these are much better in the wet! I went down to a 25C so they also give a bit more speed. 23C's would probably be OK on the rims too. 2. Fitted a carbon seat post and Ritchey WCS carbon bars, these make a big difference to comfort as I used to get hand numbness after a few miles, thing of the past with the carbon as it absorbs much more vibration. 3. Attached Shimano A530 SPD pedals so I can clip the Sidi's in or just use the flat side to pop the shops. 4. Changed the standard chain to a Shimano Dura Ace after snapping the original, no problems since and it runs smoother. 5. Swapped the 50/36T chainrings for 55/42T, gives more gear for the downhill bits whilst still having plenty of ratio for uphill, although I don't have any big climbs where I live! This is probably the best upgrade since it gives more speed and I'm using middle gears for the flats rather than 8/9/10. I'm now averaging about 4mph more on my normal routes at around 18mph but much more poke downhill, topping out at around 35mph on not particularly steep hills. Overall I'm really happy with the bike and the upgrades have made a great bike even better. |
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albion
| 23 Aug 06:32 |
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Joined: 11 Jul 2010 Posts: 99 Bike: My Profile | Halfords could have become the most respected bike retailer by miles. Their Carrera range has always been both high quality and extremely good value. But no doubt buyer snobbishness held Halfords back. I think they semi gave up and are now forced to push the ultra basic Appolo stuff to survive. |
| My Latest Route: Feb 2012 Bowes Railway Path Start to End | |
| BobBobMillar | 23 Aug 07:18 |
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Joined: 19 Aug 2010 Posts: 3 Bike: | I'm not suggesting there's anything wrong with Boardman bikes, but I didn't want one - I wanted something sleek, foxy and italian (which is not me at all, but we can all dream). Anyways, the point of this post is that like a lot of others in this thread, my firm do cycle to work with Halfords. So, I approached Halfords to find out what the full range they could suppliy is and (after an initial unhelpful reply), I persevered and found they could supply: Kona, Boardman, Voodoo, Condor, Specialized, Felt, Orange, Dahon, Dawes, Giant, Charge, Mezzo, Mongoose, Pearson, Ridley, Raleigh, Willier, Scott, Cannondale, Commencal, Trek, Marin, GT, Saracen, Carrera This was the list as at May 09, so it may well be worth re-checking if Halfords is your only option to buy from and like me you don't fancy a Boardman. PS: I ended up with a Campag Centaur equipped Fondriest Carb Level for £800 from the Cycle Republic closing down sale, which I then got on C2W. The bike's much better than I am. Other than my own inabilities, very happy with it. |
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skudupnorth
| 02 Oct 08:21 |
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 Joined: 01 Feb 2009 Posts: 48 Bike: My Profile | I got an SC comp ss/fixed throught the C2W scheme and found it to be brilliant for the price.I am like most on here at not being a Halfords fan but i can happily say that the guy who sorted mine out at White City in Manchester was good and enthusiastic that someone actually had ordered an ss/fixed at last ! Good quaility bike,very happy with it. |
| sherwoodforester | 20 May 07:20 |
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Joined: 20 May 2011 Posts: 1 Bike: | Picked up a brand new Hybrid Team 2011 yesterday from the Halfords store in Newton Abbbot. The guy who built it told me was a Boardman trained specialist and had an NVQ level 3 in bike building and had been working there for 8 years - "its ready to cycle home" he told me. There was no air in the tyres and the handlebars and saddle were not centred. Once he did inflate the tires the rear tire kept springing of the rim perhaps 3 or 4 times until he eventually got it to stay in "should at least get you home" he told me! I asked him how long he had spent building it - "20 minutes" was his answer, alarm bells were ringing in my head. He had also failed to fit the cycle computor that I bought at the same time as the bike - and I called the store to ask them to fit it. Needless to say on my 20 mile cycle home the rear tire sprung off and I had a massive explosive puncture. I was furious. Luckily there was a LBS nearby, they told me that Halfords had used far too large inner-tubes, hence the tire springing off the rim. Also during my ride home I noticed that the caliper housing for the front disc brakes rubbed against the spokes when I got out of the saddle going up hill. My new bike is great but the service and attention to detail from Halfords Newton Abbot's Boardman Trained technician is abysmal - there is no way I am letting them near my new bike again. The bike they gave me "ready to go" was poorly built and plain dangerous, it had not been competently inspected before being handed over to me. If you are considering spending £700 on a bike with Halfords get it boxed and build it yourself or get the LBS to do it. |
| cwbb | 12 Jun 05:02 |
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 Joined: 11 Jun 2012 Posts: 9 Bike: | hi i dont have a boardman but do know a friend who has he loves his bike and has had no problem with halfords setting it up our local halfords is one of the bigger stores and its staff have good bike building skills [i will tell him about this website and ask him to give you a review himself] i was thinking of getting the boardman road bike as i have a hybrid at the moment which i love and have had no problems what so ever so for us we havent had ANY issue with halfords.....col. |
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THE BIG MAN
| 12 Jun 09:56 |
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 Joined: 12 Jun 2012 Posts: 52 Bike: My Profile | i was concidering a carrera subway from halfords as they are the only suppliers until i seen the white boardman comp hybrid. £500 now £400 it looks amazing i love the thin 700c wheels. as for ordering from halfords your better ordering it online and picking a halfords near to you to get it delivered to and they will make it up. my wife got her bike 3 days after ordering late evening on line. |
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THE BIG MAN
| 12 Jun 09:59 |
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Joined: 12 Jun 2012 Posts: 52 Bike: My Profile | samwardill i just seen your post, that would annoy the hell out of me lol thanks iv changed my mind, carrera it is lol thanks mate |
| Timlong56 | 23 Aug 18:25 |
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Joined: 23 Aug 2013 Posts: 1 Bike: | Hi I got a new boardman team race bike from HALfords in macc the bike felt great first ride all went wrong the gears we're set up wrong and the chain jumped over in to the spokes and I ended up under a car not very happy with this I took it back and they told me that it was not there falt and fobbed me off with a free jo blow pump was not happy with the service I received and will never use HALfords again !!!!!! |
