Terms and conditions of use. The Boardman Team Carbon was so good, we figured we'd give it a review. The Team shares the same geometry as the SLR Endurance, which means the handling is quick but never feels twitchy, so should your tyres break traction slightly front or rear it's really easy to keep control. Even with all the spacers beneath the stem, the front end still felt direct enough to take little more than a nudge to tip into downhill corners, and while the rate of turn is far from instant, theres an easy-going, confidence-building nature to the way in which the Road Team Carbon navigates the twists and turns of our local country lanes. try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. When we compared the brakes against the other four bikes on test, we found that the Boardman brought our rider to a dead stop from 30kph in 4.2 metres, quicker than all three cable-actuated disc brake models with the closest competitor at 4.6 metres. Boardman says: "The Road Team Carbon is based around our SLR Endurance C7 carbon frame and fork providing unparalleled power transfer, comfort and handling. Steering is direct yet confidence-inspiring, and the package feels fit for anything from an all-dayer to a chaingang. Did they work well in the conditions you encountered? Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's comfort? This makes for a stiff bottom half of the frame to resist pedalling forces when really going for it, either on the flat or when climbing. Forget 27.2mm diameter (or even slimmer on Cannondale and Giant), Boardman has stuck to an oversize 31.6mm post, and this is something you really can feel through your backside. Trying out the Deda Elementi SL38 carbon wheelset I was also testing on the Boardman made a massive difference to how the bike climbed and accelerated. Quite possibly the best (just over) 1000 road bike you could buy. would you recommend any changes? And talking of firm, one area where Boardmans Team design is showing its age is the seatpost. Performance Cycling Limited trading as Tredz is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered office: Icknield Street Drive, Washford West, Redditch, Worcestershire, England, B98 0DE. 7/10 The bar has a compact drop allowing plenty of hand options, and when paired with the reasonably tall 160m head tube gives even the least flexible of riders the chance to get into the drops. The small on test has a stack/reach of 520mm/376mm - this is lower than the other bikes on test by quite a bit but the reach isnt far out, and the 70mm stem specced on this model brings the bars closer, too. Boardman Bikes Ltd 2006-2022 Anything you particularly did or didn't like? Im part of a generation of ageing cyclists for whom lower gears are a necessity. Previous to joining the Cycling Weekly team, Michelle was Editor at Total Women's Cycling. Total amount payable will be 1655.83 with a cost of credit of 256.83. If you dont want to subscribe, please turn your ad blocker off. Was it lively, neutral or unresponsive? Each bike was tested with the standard tyres specced, as well as the Schwalbe Pro One as a control option. And its matched by a full-carbon fork, too. It's a shame not to see a Tiagra crankset for a complete look, but Boardman has obviously gone with the FSA Gossamer because it is BB30, which means it uses a 30mm axle for added stiffness over a standard 24mm that Shimano uses. Michelle Arthurs-Brennan is a traditional journalist by trade, having begun her career working for a local newspaper, where highlights included interviewing a very irate Freddie Star (and an even more irate theatre owner), as well as 'the one about the stolen chickens'. I cant imagine many riders running out of wooomph at the top, but a 30- or 32-tooth sprocket will help both older and less experienced riders up steeper or longer climbs. Simon has ridden and reviewed countless bikes and products, and specialises in affordable road bikes, gravel bikes and cycling kit, helping riders understand whats really worth their hard-earned money. However, at the 1,100 mark, this is excellent quality. How would the controls work for larger or smaller riders? At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Obviously most people aren't going to fit a 1,300 wheelset to a 1,000 bike, but it does highlight how upgradable this frame is. And at well under 9kg its light. It is possible to use a Shimano crankset in BB30s by way of adaptors, but it kind of negates the claimed benefits of the larger axle. Even the CXP wheelset, while obviously pretty hefty, doesnt let the side down too much. The SL38s are wider at 26mm too, with the 25mm Schwalbe tyres stretching out to 27mm, which did make the clearance look a little bit tight. Boardmans SLR 8.9 is a banger of a bike. Did it feel efficient? Gear check: What gear ratios did riders choose to conquer the Grand Ballon? Interested in what else is available at this price point? Incorrect or missing product information? How was the bike in terms of height and reach? Barclays Partner Finance is a trading name of Clydesdale Financial Services Limited, a member of the Barclays group. Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences. And coming from Halfords theres a chance itll be on offer too. I described the SLR Endurance Disc as having a bit of a muted ride, not really giving a whole lot of feedback to the rider, though it was quick. What wed target first, however, are the brakes. As I mentioned, the Team shares the same geometry as the SLR Endurance although that doesn't exactly put you in a sit up and beg position; the SLR Endurance models are pretty much the most racy 'sportive' bikes on the market. 8/10. I cant fault them on their toughness, though. The weakest link in the groupset chain is the Tektro braking system. You must TAKE THE SHOT! (Race bikes are 1.4 or below; endurance bikes are around 1.55.). Published 31 July 22, Spectators were also injured in the incident which saw the rider end up in the crowd, Before Saturday's seventh stage in the Vosges Mountains Cycling Wweekly took a look at the preferred fear ratios in the Tour de France Femmes peloton. Nothing has changed, except the addition of some aerodynamic tweaks and now 11-speed shifting via the addition of Shimano 105. Socit en Commandite par Actions Registered Office: 22-24 Boulevard Royal L-2449, Luxembourg. By continuing to use this website, you consent to our use of these cookies. Vittoria Corsa N.EXT tyre review: Taking aim at Continental and Schwalbe, Gallery: Marianne Vos is the Greatest Of All Time. If so, what for? Yes, the ride quality was pretty good, with a little bit of give in the frame compared to the super-stiff top-end framesets. Fantasy Cycling: game [at] road.cc The wheels aren't bad by any stretch of the imagination, but their weight does affect the ride of the excellent frame. This might make it seem like Im a little down on the Boardman. He has been cycling for as long as he can remember, and more seriously since his time at university in the 1980s. From the suitably-proportioned 400mm compact-drop handlebars and 90mm alloy stem, to the 31.6mm seatpost and workaday Boardman-branded saddle, it all does its job adequately, without ceremony and totally devoid of bling. With a C7 carbon frame based on the brands SLR Endurance model costing twice as much as this entry-level road bike, on the face of it, it seems to offer the best of both worlds: performance on a budget. Hes been testing bikes and working for BikeRadar and Cycling Plus in various capacities for two decades. If so, was it a problem? It's very reassuring, especially if you aren't the most confident of bike handlers and find yourself in a bit of trouble. This durable setof rims will also accept tyre sizes up to 28mm, so you can go wider than the supplied 25c Vittoria Zaffiro Pro rubber which, by the way, is a very decent choice for training in all but icy conditions. Impressively, Boardman has used CFD and wind tunnel testing to optimise this frame aerodynamically, the brand built its own wind tunnel at the Boardman Performance Centre back in 2018. The bottom bracket shell is larger in diameter too, to accept the cups, so this means you get a meaty old frame in this area, with large chainstays and down tube to match. The Team frame is still a real beaut, made from T700 carbon from Toray, one of the worlds biggest names when it comes to top-grade carbon fibre. Deep, box-section chainstays compound this impression, while thin, flared seatstays act as dampers to protect the riders rump from intrusive vibrations. This website uses cookies to help us give you the best experience when you visit our website. |, Great all-round ride, excellent frame made from quality Toray carbon fibre, widely available, Basic wheels and brakes, and the oversize 31.6mm seatpost seems a little old-school these days, Best bike: our buyers guide to which bicycle type you should buy in 2018. Sign up to get our latest products, top deals and inspiring stories straight to your inbox. Tell us what the bike is for, and who it's aimed at. This size model has a stack to reach ratio of 1.44 which is still quite race-orientated. I imagine when Boardman next re-configures this frame they might increase this, but for now those seeking more squish in the tyre department will need to look elsewhere. How would you describe the steering? As a subscriber you can read road.cc ad-free, from as little as 1.99. Advertising, commercial: sales [at] road.cc Overall the Boardman Team is a decent build with a very good frameset at its heart. Copyright Diamond Publishing 2022. A thorn in its side could be the Specialized Allez E5 Sport, with the 2017 model being very good indeed, even though you drop another gear going 9-speed with a Sora groupset, and it's an alloy frame, if that bothers you. As a compromise set of wheels, wed take these over Shimano RS010s any day. Like this site? To enable reviews and Q&As click the 'Cookie Settings' button below and enable functional cookies. Performance Cycling Limited 2022. Would you change the wheels? Yes, you could upgrade it for something far lighter, but that would bust your budget. All rights reserved. Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? The Road Team Carbon continues the theme of fun and exhilarating bikes delivered by Boardman that also manage to offer excellent value for money. Boardman Bikes Ltd 2006-2022. While virtually every wheel rim these days has widened to at least 24mm externally, the Mavics are a mere 20mm, which gives the 25mm Vittoria Zaffiro Pro tyres an actual width of 24mm. The increase in price comes with the arrival of Shimano 105, which offers 11-speed shifting, and really does represent a notable improvement. Perhaps the most telling characteristic of this bike once youre in the saddle and underway is that it gives you a really easy time. With a lighter set of wheels and probably an upgrade to those brakes you could so easily race this bike right up through the ranks. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. The ride:Built for endurance, it'll keep you going in comfort. The carbon frame is more forgiving than others on test, such as the Giant Contend AR 4 - though not as much as the Genesis CDA 30 with its bomb-along-happy steel fork. All material FarrellyAtkinson (F-At) Limited, Unit 7b Green Park Station BA11JB. More information on Wiggle's return policy, Material: Superlight full carbon monocoque, External cable routing (internal brake cable), Replaceable forged aluminium rear dropout, Material: Superlight full carbon, tapered steerer, Chainset: FSA Gossamer Pro, compact 50x34 (crank length varies according to frame size), Brake Calipers: Shimano 105, cartridge type rubber insert, Handlebar: cboardman Pro, 31.8mm. Please contact us and we can arrange to collect these from you using our discounted courier rates. In 2021, this crept up to 1,100, influenced by the assorted pressures that the year has brought. Would you change the tyres? His attention to detail earned him the nickname The Professor as his legs brought him a world TT championship, three Tour de France stage wins, and several hour records. Opting for these, plus the carbon frame, brings the weight in at 8.75kg on our size small. Thank you for helping us improve our site. would you recommend any changes? Boardman Bikes has only been going a decade or so, but in that time the Boardman Team has probably introduced more British riders to the joys of a carbon road bike than any other back in 2008 Nicole Cooke rode to Olympic Gold in Beijing on a bike with a very similar frame. In very wet conditions rim brakes do tend to become more ineffective, but in all but the worst downpours, these have more bite as long as you keep the pads fresh. Push on the pedals and the SLR 8.9 responds. Where it could do with improvement is in the groupset 10 speeds are arguably enough, but if this bike was wearing 105 kit rather than mix-and-match FSA/Tiagra equipment, it would not only be lighter but also gel better. Michelle is on maternity leave from July 8 2022, until April 2023. I rode the Boardman Team Carbon many years ago, and its held a place in my list of most recommended bikes ever since. This review first appeared in Issue 44 of Cyclist magazine, Boardman says its Road Team Carbon offers a comfortable riding experience, along with the performance to keep up with your ambition.. Designed for everyone from the enthusiast through to the everyday leisure cyclist our performance series has been specifically designed for purpose to achieve unrivalled all round performance and affordable value. It makes for a bike that you can commute on swiftly through city traffic, the practicality aided by front and rear mudguard fittings, or you can take it out for longer weekend adventures; fit fenders and youve got your year-round training bike too. I didn't have any overall comfort issues (apart from that saddle), but if you did you could reduce the seat tube diameter with something like a USE shim and swap the seatpost for a 27.2mm one. Performance Cycling Limited acts as a credit broker and not the lender, Barclays Partner Finance acts as the lender. An olympic and World championship winning frame and fork design that uses a full carbon fibre monocoque construction. The jumps between gears at the rear are two teeth for the majority of the sprockets, with only the top few having a three-tooth jump, so you never really find yourself between gears. Terms & conditions, Wiggle Ltd. 1000 Lakeside, Suite 310, Third Floor N E Wing, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO6 3EN, United Kingdom, VAT No: GB 884 2571 94 | Company No: 02667809. The cables are semi-internal, routing into the down tube and top tube but remaining external from the bar for relatively easy maintenance. Any particularly good or bad components? Any components which didn't work well together? All rights reserved. Tell us some more about the tyres. Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork? There arent many bikes at this price point that come close. It's not all about speed, speed, speed though. Terms and Conditions apply. Boardman seems to have gone with 31.6mm seatposts throughout its range and it does make for a firm rear end, especially on a bike that is quite tight anyway. Available in mens and womens builds - the differences being in choice of stem, handlebars, and saddle - the 8.9 uses Boardmans C7 carbon, constructed from Toray T700 carbon. The Mavic wheels look distinctly old-school these days, and with their 24/28-spoke count they add to a weight that holds back the Teams climbing and acceleration prowess, while their retro narrow profile does nothing to boost the width of the 25mm Vittoria tyres. Saddle changed, I did a few three to four-hour rides on the Team and it was ideal for covering all sorts of terrain at a decent lick. Buy the Boardman Road Team Carbon bike from Halfords. Anything's a sex toy if you're pervy or brave enough, Excellent bike with the performance and looks of carbon but the stunning comfort and longevity of titanium, The way this thing rides is a masterclass in bike design and engineering, Blurring the edges between race and endurance geometry-wise, but a decent build for the money, Editorial, general: info [at] road.cc Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access, Enjoy your first month for just 1 / $1 / 1, *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription. The 25mm Vittoria Zaffiro Pro rubber specced as standard is pretty tough, swapping on the Schwalbe Pro One tyres we used across all bikes in our grouptest offered up a faster rolling quality, and Id suggest an upgrade here would benefit most riders. The same frame design that won gold in Beijing and World Championship Road and Triathlon titles combined with a performance focused spec for unrivalled carbon performance. Boardman has trimmed costs in a few areas, and theres an FSA chainset and Tektro rather than Shimano brakes. The Team is a very fun bike to ride, having quick handling without it being a handful. | When it comes to stopping, Boardman has opted for Tektro long arm calipers. Would you recommend the bike to a friend? Decent performers for the money but as with the wheels, the frame deserves better. At the heart of this bike is a very good carbon fibre frameset which is ripe for upgrades. He was easily in phlegm shot. They are pretty retro looking on a bike like this, not just because of their 28/32 spoke lacing front and rear bur also their width. The compact chainset, with a wide range of sprockets on the cassette, gives you a large choice of gears for speed and for climbing. Occasionally, without notice, manufacturers change product design and/or specifications. The frame uses a press-fit bottom bracket, which means the frame can be wider at this point because the bearing cups, as you have no doubt guessed, are pressed into the frame rather than screwed in with the bearings left externally. They are solid wheels though, and would make for a great training set or for winter use, plus the tyres are pretty robust and grippy as well. The frame features an aerodynamic down tube profile, oversize box section chainstays (for increased power transfer), internal rear brake cable routing and enhanced gear cable routing through the headtube, curved wishbone seatstays (for enhanced comfort) and updated for 2011 a BB30 bottom bracket reducing weight and increasing stiffness. Thats its defining characteristic for the most part, it actually feels like its allowing you to be the best rider you can be, and that counts for a lot in this price range, and for the crowd of newcomers to the sport who are queuing up to spend their cash. Since writing his first review for road.cc back in 2009 he has also had a career in engineering including 3D-CAD design and product development, so has a real passion for all of the latest technology coming through in the industry but is also a sucker for a classic steel frame, skinny tyres, rim brakes and a damn good paintjob. Have a look at the following list of tried, tested and reviewed bikes. The Team will actually take full mudguards too, with mounts front and rear, so if you're going to fit some you'll need to take that into account when choosing new wheels/tyres. Copyright An all-alloy setup, which is expected at this level. 03398601 | VAT No: 484 5446 17. Tredz is a trading name of Performance Cycling Limited. Already have an account with us? Shimano's Tiagra 4700 groupset is a lovely bit of kit, basically 105 5800 missing a click, Tiagra being 10-speed rather than 11-speed. Company No. Get all the latest deals and special offers, first. When asked, Boardman confirmed that this is in order to prevent toe overlap on the smaller sizes, the larger bikes come with steeper angles of 72-73. Registered No: 2901725. Tiagra has the option of an 11-32 cassette; wider gaps and bigger jumps, yes, but a higher top and, particularly, lower bottom gear are well worth the trade-off. If youve a sportive on the horizon maybe even your first as a road rider wedheartily recommend this bike as a damned good tool for the job (if the saddle doesnt suit you, swap it its a relatively cheap thing to upgrade). The ride is mostly satisfyingly devoid of any road buzz; we encountered some issues with the comfort of the saddle, however what first felt like a well-cushioned perch soon revealed itself to be a seat too hard for us to endure more than an hour in the saddle (literally) without standing up to give our cheeks a rest. Lively without being twitchy. One thing that will stop you taking too many risks on the descents, though, are the brakes. However, itll also hustle with (most of) the best endurance machines. Of the four, the Boardman SLR 8.9 is the only bike that uses carbon as its base frame material, and of course the fork and steerer are carbon too. Plus, the Vittoria tyres are a safe choice for all-weather riding, longevity and puncture resistance. PayPal Credit is trading name of PayPal (Europe) S. r.l. If so, what for? Windtunnel time is excruciatingly expensive, but building one is even more so - evidently, Boardman wanted to make the most from its investment. et Cie, S.C.A. SUMMER SALE | Try 3 issues of Cycling Plus magazine for 5 + Get a pair of Lusso cycling socks! This is where the compromises have been made in order to present a bike with such a good frameset for this kind of money. With 20 years of road cycling and over 150,000 miles in his legs it's safe to say Stu is happiest when on the bike whatever the weather. The alloy finishing kit is pretty stiff and ideal for this kind of bike. Here's the info from the out of stock item. In short, the Boardman SLR 8.9 compares excellently against the competition, and we wouldnt hesitate to recommend it. However, the frame shines as something which really does iron out imperfect roads. 7/10 Pocket-lint recently undertook a fairly meaty 175km cycle with our bum firmly planted on its fairly comfortable seat. Think your definition of 'cool' needs looking at Good because I've done my back in,big time (again). compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price. If youve enjoyed this article, then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as 1.99. Cycling Weekly is supported by its audience. Times have moved on, and this is now significantly narrower than most. Olympic and World Championship winning pedigree. The geometry is just about spot on for a road bike at this price, its slightly racier than an endurance machine with a stretched head tube, and a little more laid back than the racier bikes in Boardmans range. From 1986 to 2000, Chris Boardman was one of the world's fastest men in timed events. List price is 1,000, but as Im writing this both mens and womens models are priced at 800. Both the frame and fork use Boardman's C7 grade carbon fibre, which is slightly less refined than its top-end high-modulus C10 grade, though it doesn't detract from the ride. The pads have quite a hard compound, with a very on/off feel; you don't get any sort of feedback to know whether to feather the brakes a touch or when to adjust the pressure on the lever. Full Representative Example: Representative 21.9% APR (variable), Purchase interest rate 21.9% p.a. It all adds to the feeling of being at one with or part of the bike. Far from it Im a big fan. What do the manufacturers say about it? This isnt as stiff as the dream material we see on top-end frames, which means a bit more material needs to be used resulting in a slightly heavier frame. Yes. Components:A well chosen mix of budget-conscious parts. Cycling Weekly is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. The Team isn't quite as racy as its big brother in Boardman's performance range, the Pro Carbon SLR, which was our bike of the year a couple of years back. Gonna need something to watch. Performance Cycling Limited trading as Tredz is registered in England and Wales 03398601. This might put them in the firing line of road muck, but it does make home servicing easier and keep costs down at Boardmans end. But you werent expecting that for 1,000, were you? Create one now. He was also among the first to compete on a carbon bike, piloting a Lotus 108 to Olympic 4,000-meter gold in 1992. Ribble's Gran Fondo (we tested the Disc version here) could be a competitor, and with a similar build comes in at 1,145.99, although the Boardman Team has a sportier ride plus possibly wins on comfort ever so slightly. It's great to see a bike for a grand that has very similar attributes to the Pro Carbon SLR but with a more relaxed attitude for those who don't want a racer. Tour de France Femmes 2022: Everything you need to know, Gallery: Annemiek van Vleuten wins Stage 8 and first ever Tour de France Femmes maillot jaune, Gallery: Incredible Annemiek van Vleuten in a class of her own on Tour de France Femmes Stage 7, Stage 6 gallery: Vos is Boss at Tour de France Femmes, Mavic CXP Elite, Vittoria Zafiro Pro 25c tyres. One area where the Boardman stands out among similarly priced rivals is that it wears its cables on the outside of the frame. Still though, a brilliant cycle at a fairly affordable price. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Registered in England.