New road bike

[scottcycles93]

Hey,

I have a Boardman road bike at the moment, but it’s got so many issues, it’s over 10 years old, I do about 800 miles a year and I’d like to get a new bike.

I’ve got my eye on these two bikes. I was just wondering your thoughts on them please? Which do I go for?

Many thanks!

https://www.halfords.com/bikes/road-bik ... 48270.html

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cannondale-Syn ... 258374.htm

[scottcycles93]

Or this one? https://www.halfords.com/bikes/road-bik ... 65462.html

[TrevA]

The Boardman has the best group set (105), but it’s rim brakes. All depends on what you want or are comfortable with. The Cannondale has hydraulic discs, but only a Tiagra groupset, which is one step below the 105 of the Boardman.

Many people, including myself, still use rim brake bikes and they are perfectly OK. Perhaps if you live in a really hilly area, you might benefit from disc brakes. I’d discount the Carrera unless that’s all you can afford - only 8 speed groupset and mechanical discs, which aren’t as effective as hydraulics.

[CyberKnight]

I am biased and would say pound for pound the boardman offers the best bang for your buck if your happy with rim brakes .
What issues do you have with the old bike ? i dont know what your problems are but are they what people would class as consumables like brake pads , cables, tyres, bottom bracket , chainrings and bearings are all parts that will wear out and need servicing and replacing .
I have a 2011 boardman road comp that i still ride regularly and its done tens of thousands of miles but i have learnt to service it myself and although its now classed as my "winterbike" its still a good ride.
I also have a 26 year old road bike that i updated to newer components which is still a good ride .

[Eyebrox]

The Boardman and the Cannondale are in a different league from the Carrera as the prices will indicate.
There are plus points and negative points for both the Boardman and the Cannondale, as previous comments have explained. Your own preferences will determine which is the better bike for your needs.
The Boardman won a lot of praise in the cycling press on its launch for offering good value for money. It's still up there as a sound, reliable well-priced carbon frame bike. Rim brakes (Boardman) will stop you without problem but aren't trending as well these days as hydraulic discs (Cannondale). This might also affect any resale price if you were to sell it on. 105 11spd (Boardman) is a quality drivetrain set-up, one up from Tiagra 10spd (Cannondale) which is equally, in my view, a class act within the Shimano range. As a bike mechanic, both are a delight to work on. So, no definitive choice as regards the top two but this info might persuade you one way or another. Back to you my friend.

[scottcycles93]

The Boardman has the best group set (105), but it’s rim brakes. All depends on what you want or are comfortable with. The Cannondale has hydraulic discs, but only a Tiagra groupset, which is one step below the 105 of the Boardman.

Many people, including myself, still use rim brake bikes and they are perfectly OK. Perhaps if you live in a really hilly area, you might benefit from disc brakes. I’d discount the Carrera unless that’s all you can afford - only 8 speed groupset and mechanical discs, which aren’t as effective as hydraulics.

Hey! Thank you so much! Maybe I’ll go for the Boardman. Great advice, thank you!

[scottcycles93]

I am biased and would say pound for pound the boardman offers the best bang for your buck if your happy with rim brakes .
What issues do you have with the old bike ? i dont know what your problems are but are they what people would class as consumables like brake pads , cables, tyres, bottom bracket , chainrings and bearings are all parts that will wear out and need servicing and replacing .
I have a 2011 boardman road comp that i still ride regularly and its done tens of thousands of miles but i have learnt to service it myself and although its now classed as my "winterbike" its still a good ride.
I also have a 26 year old road bike that i updated to newer components which is still a good ride .

I think my current bike literally needs new everything. It feels quite uncomfortable to ride too.

[scottcycles93]

The Boardman and the Cannondale are in a different league from the Carrera as the prices will indicate.
There are plus points and negative points for both the Boardman and the Cannondale, as previous comments have explained. Your own preferences will determine which is the better bike for your needs.
The Boardman won a lot of praise in the cycling press on its launch for offering good value for money. It's still up there as a sound, reliable well-priced carbon frame bike. Rim brakes (Boardman) will stop you without problem but aren't trending as well these days as hydraulic discs (Cannondale). This might also affect any resale price if you were to sell it on. 105 11spd (Boardman) is a quality drivetrain set-up, one up from Tiagra 10spd (Cannondale) which is equally, in my view, a class act within the Shimano range. As a bike mechanic, both are a delight to work on. So, no definitive choice as regards the top two but this info might persuade you one way or another. Back to you my friend.

Hey thank you so much! That’s great advice and to hear you are a bike mechanic and making recommendations, that’s really pleasing to hear! I’ll most likely go for the Boardman. I can get a discount through work (£125 off) so maybe that’ll work out best! Thank you for your help!

[Brucey]

......I think my current bike literally needs new everything. It feels quite uncomfortable to ride too............

the thing about bicycles is that they are almost infinitely repairable. Trigger's broom is not a patch on some well-loved bikes.....

[pjclinch]

......I think my current bike literally needs new everything. It feels quite uncomfortable to ride too............

the thing about bicycles is that they are almost infinitely repairable. Trigger's broom is not a patch on some well-loved bikes.....

This... (my first "proper" tourer had its original wheels, handlebars, brake calipers, seatpost and rear rack when I eventually donated it to a recycler) but there again the cost benefits of a whole new package against the same in individual parts can mean you sometimes might as well start fresh if there's a lot to be done at the same time.

(Uncomfortable to ride could just be a saddle that doesn't suit well, I find pretty much everything that seems to come supplied with sports machinery at least up to moderate budget levels utterly grim to sit on)

Pete.

[scottg]

(Uncomfortable to ride could just be a saddle that doesn't suit well, I find pretty much everything that seems to come supplied with sports machinery at least up to moderate budget levels utterly grim to sit on)

Pete.

Most bike shops here have bin full of saddles & tyres taken off from new bikes,
handy source for commuters.

[531colin]

I think my current bike literally needs new everything. It feels quite uncomfortable to ride too.

In what way is it "uncomfortable"? (too stretched out, too low down, sore shoulders?)
I usually recommend people use their existing bike to work out a comfortable riding position, because a brand new bike isn't guaranteed to fit any better than their old bike, unless its bought knowing how to achieve a good fit.