Boardman Road Team Carbon £1,000
The Team Carbon has been the bike to beat at this price point ever since Chris Boardman launched his bike range in 2008. Ten years on, the price remains the same — a remarkable feat in itself — while the name gains another word (‘Road’) and the bike benefits from a decade of progress in carbon-fibre manufacturing.
Frame
Boardman calls the Road Team Carbon “an award-winning classic” and we wouldn’t argue with that. The C7 carbon that Boardman uses is Toray T700, a standard-modulus with high tensile strength that is regarded in the industry as cost effective since it’s heavier than higher modulus fibres for the same stiffness — and as such is the lowest grade Boardman offers.
Boardman has also kept construction simple to keep costs down: the gear cables are not internally routed giving the bike a slightly dated look, but set-up and maintenance will be much easier. The fork is full carbon and on trend with a tapered steerer.
The Road Team Carbon shares its geometry with the top-line SLR Endurance (made from C10 carbonfibre), which means it’s aimed at longer, more comfortable riding. Whereas the early Team Carbons were wannabe racers, the 2018 model not only has friendlier geometry but also mudguard eyes, making it ideal as a fast commuter.
Specification
In bicycle retail just as in politics you can’t have your cake and eat it. The carbon frame gobbles up more of the budget than an aluminium frame would, so to bring the Road Team Carbon in at £1k Boardman equips it with Shimano Tiagra rather than the Shimano 105 you might reasonably expect at this price.
However, while 10-speed Tiagra is not as slick or aesthetically pleasing as 11-speed 105 it works fine. It’s the Tektro R540 dual-pivot caliper brakes that are the fly in the ointment. They lack power and feel, which is a shame.
The Mavic Cxp-elite wheels are durable but not lightweight. An upgrade here would transform the Road Team Carbon’s ride. The Canyon’s Mavic Aksiums are a better package.
Ride
Even with the cheaper Mavic wheels the Boardman climbs well: after all, the overall weight of 8.56kg is not bad at all.
As for stiffness, the C7 carbon does the job perfectly well: the oversized pressfit BB shell is a rigid platform supplying great power transfer. It’s comfortable too.
In the past we’ve preferred goodquality aluminium frames to cheap carbon ones, but as ever the Road Team Carbon is the exception to the rule.
Value
The Boardman Team Carbon still offers exceptional value for money after all these years. It’s a shame but perfectly understandable that the wheels aren’t up to the high standard of the frame. Upgrade these (and the brakes at some point) and you’ll have a truly great bike.
Distributor www.boardmanbikes.com | Frame Boardman C7 carbon | Fork Boardman C7 carbon | Size range XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL | Size tested S| Weight 8.56kg | Groupset Shimano Tiagra | Deviations FSA Gossamer chainset | Wheels Mavic Cxp-elite 28/32 hole | Tyres Vittoria Zaffiro Pro 700x25c | Brakes Tektro R540 | Gear ratios 50/34, 12-28 | Handlebar Boardman Alloy | Stem Boardman Alloy | Seatpost Boardman Alloy | Saddle Boardman Road