Boardman MTB Team FS, too good to be true?

To be clear I’m a newbie here and suffer all the pre-conceptions and knowledge gaps inherent in that. I’m also in the position of coming on here cold with a heap of questions and problems and few worthy opinions or experiences to offer in return. If you guys can help me out I promise to keep coming back here and contribute where I can as I get back into riding.

I’m an experienced (35 years) but now heavy (300+lbs) rider looking to lose weight. I previously owned a Trek 6700 21″ but suffered badly from sore coccyx and wrists. Before anyone states the obvious I know the weight is the main problem here (Catch 22) but I just want to dial it down from excruciating to painful while I lose a few stone.

I’m about 5′ 10″ with an inside leg of 30″ and I think the frame was too big for me so I had to lean forward too much. I changed the saddle, got a shorter stem, changed the bars for DH bars all to no avail.

My instinct was to go full suspensions to damp vibration to my wrists and spine and get a shorter frame so I sit more upright. However, most people tell me that a hardtail is best when you’re really heavy. A couple of people told me that I can go full suspension and pump up the air shocks (possibly with a gasket upgrade).

I decided to go with the majority and had a shortlist of <£1000 hard tails when I noticed the Boardman MTB Team FS gets rave reviews… I confess I’ve never heard of the brand (newbie problem?). They’ve apparently got enough buying power to get discounts on high quality components and yet at 47 I’ve never heard the name before… the fact Halfords stock them is, I confess, making me sceptical. Though that buying power may be the reason for their success. A search for Boardman on here didn’t give many hits…

Q1: Hardtail or FS for heavy people?
Q2: Shorter frame to give a more upright ride?
Q3: Is the Boardman brand too good to be true?

IIRC

Halfords stock them because it was the quickest way to hit the mass market with big numbers when the brand was launched.

There’s nowt wrong with Boardman.

The boardman bikes are excelent value, in the scheme of things they are a newbie available through halfords.

The problems your having with sore wrists an arse could be reduced by spending some time with some one at a bike shop adjusting your position on the bike.

Hard tail or full sus. id say full sus for comfort.
Hard tail for reliability your weight would increase bearing wear on all those pivots on the full sus.

Agreed, they get good reviews.

As to your particular ride type, I would recommend a hardtail with an air fork. Perhaps steel frame as they’re comfier to ride.

Sizing wise, I’m 6′ and ride a 19″ on two bikes, and a 17.5″ on the other – this one being longer in design and I feel it fits best.

Whatever you get, you’ll find it gets easier the more you ride – good luck!!

with a heap of questions and problems and few worthy opinions or experiences to offer

Don’t worry about that, you’ll fit right in with all the regulars.

The Boardman bikes are a Halfords brand, designed (or at least fronted) by top cyclist Chris Boardman. They were very popular with the Cycle 2 Work scheme because of the high spec/low price and mostly get grudgingly good reviews.

Can’t comment really on the advantages or disadvantages of ht or fs beyond what you’ve already said. FS will need more maintenance, increased by the greater pressures put on by weight, but would undoubtedly be more comfortable to start with.

At 5’10” I’d be suggesting a frame of around 18″, or a medium, as being a starting point. Fine tune it with saddle & stem adjustment. I’m 5’10” myself & am riding an 18″ On One Summer Season with 70mm stem, it feels just about right.

Already covered most of the Boardman stuff, but I’ve a feeling that you might find the Boardman range a little light for your riding. What I’ve seen, it mostly tends to be aimed at XC so will have lighter wheels & components, which may be more easily damaged if they’re getting abuse from above & below.

Don’t let that put you off though, it’ll do great to get out & even just hit fireroads or bridleways.

And welcome.

Q1 . On one hand the full sus will offer more comfort at the rear end but on the other you’ll be sat down pedalling far more, where as on a hardtail you will stand and pedal more often. I’d say get a test ride in even if it’s not on that particular bike, just try a full suspension bike fit a few hours and see.
Q2 . Shorter is probably right – not too short though!
Q3 . Nothing wrong with Boardman bikes – good spec for the money.

Excellent bikes.
Where are you intending to ride? If just fire roads etc a hardtail with high volume tyres should do the trick?
If stuff more technical then i’d lean towards a FS for comfort. I’ve just gone to FS as my hardtail was crippling my back

Gosh you guys are quick! Thank you all for the warm welcome and clear advice. Your consistent positive answers to Q3 are great news as I have a nearby Halfords and I’ll go there today. It’s interesting to see the the HT/FS thing still splits people – but also interesting that no one is saying “Don’t go FS” – I guess technology has moved on since I first started canvassing opinions. I’ll test ride the HT and FS if they’ll let me and go with my arse (I never thought I’d here myself say that)… 😀

Thank you all and I’ll keep you informed as the pounds fall away.

Boardman are good bikes, frame is well designed, components are very good for the money.
Agree with parkesie about your previous problem, it probably wasn’t the bike, but the way you had the saddle/bars set up, you’ll maybe have the same problem with any bike if you don’t spend some time adjusting stuff. when you get whatever bike you choose, get some proper advice (perhaps not from Halfords staff), try altering the saddle slightly on each ride and maybe invest in a comfier saddle for a big rider. Expect to be saddle sore for the first few weeks riding anyway. Alot of people suffer from wrist ache and numb hands, including me. you can buy special grips and/or bar ends, which ease things. Also, some gloves are gel filled to help.

EDIT: Yeah, your frame was miles too big, I didn’t spot that.

Have read extremely complimentary things about the Boardman from the What Mountain Bike team – they reckon it’s real bargain.

But Hang on a moment:
There are other things to consider.

As Underhill suggests, a 21″ frame is rather large for your 5’10” height. 21″ is considered XXL. Maybe your riding position is also contributing your problems.

Are you planning to ride mainly offroad? If so, your current weight would suggest you need a strong FS bike. How about a Santa Cruz Heckler from Ebay? The current shape will cost £500+ for a frame/shock but the previous shape will be cheaper. A whole bike will be about double I guess. You’ll need a large as the Heckler’s top tube is shorter than the equivalent Superlight.

The Heckler also has the advantage of single pivot and consequently low maintenance.

Get one that suits your shape/reach/mass. Some bikes are better suited to the “fuller figure”. No point in getting something that you are going to kill.

There are plenty of full sized blokes on here. Ask what they are riding within your budget.

Have read extremely complimentary things about the Boardman from the magazines and owners, and the ones I’ve seen in the flesh (got a m8 one of their hardtail frames) are great quality, so don’t discount them

As Underhill suggests, a 21″ frame is rather large for your 5’10” height. 21″ is considered XXL. Maybe your riding position is also contributing your problems.

+1 to this, a large frame (19″) should be the biggest your considering.

Without wishing to be rude, I would avoid any cheap and / or overly light components, mainly because of your weight. Im about 230lb and have had problems with bent / snapped seatposts etc, so err on the side of caution in that respect.

I’m actually planning to ride mostly tarmac initially with light cycle trails and bridleways as I get fitter. If I manage to lose five stone in weight I’m going to reward myself with a top of the line bike and hit the rough stuff. As I’m spending the best part of £1,000 I’m sure the Halfords guys will spend some time to help me get the size and setup right 🙂

As I’m spending the best part of £1,000 I’m sure the Halfords guys will spend some time to help me get the size and setup right

A £1000 might seem a lot now, but once you’ve the bug…

tbh I’d try an LBS, as you really need the right advice on size/fit/purpose and as you say you are running a wee bit on the ‘large’ size.

These guys?:
http://www.bicyclechain.co.uk/

I’m 6’2″ and only 3/5 of your weight…, if I was you I would be looking at something ‘solid’, possible considering DH rims/wheels and other ‘stout’ components.

I wouldn’t be so sure – sometimes they’ll just push for a sale of whatever they’ve got in stock. I know someone who picked up a GT from there and ended up with a massive frame completely unsuited to their body shape.

Do you know any bikers that could accompany you? Failing that, the 18″ is around the right size for you, if you get put on anything more than an inch either side of that then walk away.

“I’m actually planning to ride mostly tarmac initially with light cycle trails and bridleways as I get fitter.”

“If I manage to lose five stone in weight I’m going to reward myself with a top of the line bike”

Then go for one of the cheaper Boardman HTs for now. They are lightish, good to ride and good value. It will take you a long way for not much money.

When you get into more burly riding, you’ll want something sturdier, maybe a FS.

5′ 10″ -> The Medium (18″) frame.

I’d reccomend the comp at £560, in a medium

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchCmd?catalogId=10151&storeId=10001&categoryId=-1&langId=-1&action=listrefine&constraints=tcs%7C%7C_PromotionCode%7C%7C%3A156810%3A%7C%7Csor%7C%7CPrice%7C%7C1%7C%7Cpag%7C%7C2&mode=discount

once you have ridden it for a yr and shed some weight then go for something better.

I’m a heavy rider at 280lbs and am 6′ tall. I ride a large full suspension bike (a Commencal Meta) with no problems. I used to ride a hardtail which was good going uphill but really hard work going down.
I think the boardman uses the RockShox Monarch schock that will take a maximum of 275psi so you may or may not get away with the standard setup.
The only change I’d make straight away is to change the Brake rotors for 203mm both ends. I had 160mm and used to cook the brakes regularly. You could do both wheels with new calliper mounts for about £40 if you used the Superstar upgrade.
May be worth you looking for secondhand though. My current bike cost me £600 secondhand off the For Sale bit of this forum and its been great.

The Boardman range gets excellent reviews, as did this Carrera Fury if you want a slightly burlier hardtail than a Boardman.

I’m 5’10” and always had a 17″ – 18″ or medium frame.

Unfortunately as others say, I wouldn’t be too convinced you’d get the sales knowledge at Halfords. But also, there are lots of local bike shops where you won’t get any better advice either.

Has STW or any other magazine ever done a bike review for the bigger chap?

…just a thought.

I agree: if Chasman is only doing very occasional offroad, then the Carrera and Boardman hardtails are good value machines that will do the job well until the going gets really rough (which ain’t likely to happen in the immediate future).

Are you using Halfords because it cycle 2 work scheme ?, If so bear in mind you dont have to go to halfords and can even use online companies like ‘On One’ or other local reputable bike shops. If you are pushed towards Halfords consider the Voodoo range also heavily discounted . Boardmans seem great value but also very light compared to Halfords other range (GT ,Voodoo or Carrera)

In short, yes they are as good as the reviews suggest. I’ve had mine for a couple of months and am very happy indeed.

It has to be said that the original build isn’t exactly lightweight and I’ve spent a bit of time / money changing some components to a build that I like. I found the 160mm front disc brake underpowered so transferred my Hope 180mm. It did take a bit of time fiddling with a shock pump to get the shocks set up right for my weight but now I know the correct pressures it’s a scoosh. If you want my advice then go for it.

Admittedly I’m not the shape you’d expect for a 20 stone bloke (rugby player 20 stone as opposed to couch potato 20 stone), but I’d buy the bike that will suit what you want to do, not what you do now. When I drop to my summer weight around 17st, it takes so little time because us fatties use loads more calories to do the same amount of work as the more svelte gentlemen. You’ll probably find that in no time, you’ll be wishing you went for the bike that lets you get into the ‘rough stuff’.
I wouldn’t advise swapping anything on a bike for Downhill bike parts, its overkill even at my size. When I changed my wheels I went for a strong build cross country set and they’ve worked fine.

As I’m spending the best part of £1,000 I’m sure the Halfords guys will spend some time to help me get the size and setup right

Don’t count on it. The consensus appears to be that Halfords can offer good service if you are lucky enough to be served by an individual that gives a sh!t. As a company they are generally not great at the bike side of things however some staff seem to slip through the recruitment and training and are actually helpful. Very much luck of the draw. I’d recommend going to a proper bike shop, go during the week when it’s likely a bit quieter and explain the issue. Might be an idea to let folk on here know what area your in so that they can suggest a decent local shop.

Agree that a 21″ frame is way too big for you. I’m the same height and have ridden everything from 16″ to 19″ but prefer something around 18″ for the type of riding you describe.

As for a particularly heavily built bike I probably wouldn’t. It sounds like you’re not going to be raggin’ the bike like a loon, at least initially and pretty much any main stream bike in your price range will hold up just fine to normal riding.

Full Suss or hardtail? Me, I’d go hardtail again based on your description of the type of riding the suspension bike will require more maintenance without really adding any great benefit. The soreness is more than likely due to a poorly sized/fitted bike and shouldn’t be a problem on something that fits properly.

Nothing wrong with boardman bikes, if you fancy one of them then I doubt you’ll be disappointed.

Good luck with the weight loss.

Just as an aside, be aware that Halfords won’t let you ‘test-drive’ the bike. They’ll let you pick it up, stand over it and maybe even put in a pedal stroke on the shop floor, but no chance you’ll get to take it for a spin round the car park – company policy.

EDIT: I ended up with a Boardman Pro HT due to my insurance company dealing only with Halfords. Delighted with it, two years down the line.

I wouldn’t worry about breaking parts due to your weight until you start really ragging it down rocky descents and off bigger drops. Stick big tubeless tyres on the HT and it’s pretty comfortable but I don’t know what your back can stand, so the FS may suit you better. Try to ride with light hands, heavy feet – it’s not only good technique but it’ll give your wrists an easier time! My HT Pro did sterling service and I’ve only bought a new frame because my riding’s gone much less XC than I’d planned.

If you’re using it mainly on the road and light off road duties then I’d say go for a HT every time. For that sort of work you won’t get the full benefit of a full suspension system and you’ll just make life harder for yourself by having to drag around the greater weight of a FS bike. Secondly you’re also avoiding getting into the inherent problems of pivot & shock wear etc.

I acknowledge that you’ve had wrist/back problems but from what’s been said so far I think that’s likely to be from poor bike set up and position rather than as a by product of an HT/FS debate.

On the subject of wrist problems have you ever seen these? They may well be the solution to your wrist problems.

They’re both good, there were a few breaky frame issues with some sizes of the FS but all dealt with very quick from what I’ve heard. I’d love one myself to round out the garage a bit.

Buuuut, this might sound mad but I’d suggest maybe spending less, it’s a big outlay/commitment and as someone mentioned you can get very suitable bikes for less- largely at Halfords 😉 They’re clearing out stocks of their GTs and old model Voodoos, and the fury is a great, tough and versatile bike for way under your budget giving you more room to maneuvre, change things you don’t like etc.

As Northwind hints at – try and find a Voodoo Wanga 18inch HT that Halfords are selling off at £680 – the Wanga is a class frame and if you do get the bug and go FS later on then odds-on you will keep the Wanga and maybe single-speed it or keep it for winter.

It has an air fork and I would actually suggest coil forks might be better, but you could ebay them if you want.

Run fat tyres and put a thudbuster or Use XCR seatpost on for comfort if you need it – my Wanga is very comfortable with an XCR on it.

I am 5ft 10 and my Wanga is 18 and I run it with a 110mm stem.

Thanks for all the advice everyone – some of which arrived after I’d departed for the shop but is, nonetheless, much appreciated. First I’d like to say everyone is spot on about the 18″ (Medium) frame. I knew the moment I sat on it that my old 21″ Trek was a massive (in both senses of the word) mistake. I was very comfortable. By contrast the Large immediately made me feel pressure on my wrists and pain across my shoulder blades.

I was also very reassured that without fail you’ve all endorsed the Boardman brand because the prices are amazing… particularly during the 2010/2011 switchover (but then that’s true for all brands). Also thanks for all the suggestions on saving money with alternatives but this was at least partly an indulgence… sold my old bike at Christmas and saved up for a big splurge… just couldn’t postpone it any longer. Service at Halfords was, as many of you have said, a bit average with no test rides allowed. When I get my next bike I’ll definitely go to a local shop recommended by the forum members here.

I notice the overall balance of opinion for this thread seems to have ended up in favour of the HT. But a) I’d already rushed off in excitement b) they had the 2010 Boardman MTB Team FS at £799 and I’m afraid I just couldn’t resist. I am a bit worried that the 275psi ceiling on the Monarchs is going to be a problem but I’ve made my bed now so I’ll have to lie in it even if it means swapping some bits. The front brake rotor upgrade seems good advice and so do the Ergon grips and gel palmed gloves… I’ve got the spare money in the budget to do all that now.

Thanks again, I’ll stay in touch.

Health to ride. Hope you enjoy it

Nice bike, It should ride nicely both on and off road. Worse case scenario wtih the shock would be that you had to send to TF tuned to have it tweeked for you. But it may be fine without tweeking, and you got a bargain with yer bike!
Good Luck! 😀

Glad to hear you’ve got yourself sorted out, you’re certainly not one to hang around are you? The choice between hard tail and suspension was always a pretty close call and I’m sure you’ll enjoy what you’ve ended up with.

Enjoy.