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Monday, March 18, 2013

Boardman Bikes Team Carbon Review

Just in case you've never heard of Boardman Bikes, please allow me to introduce Mr Chris Boardman before I start my review about his Boardman Team Carbon. Chris Boardman is famous for his hour record, he raced Le Tour de France in 1994 prologue and scored the fastest time ever recorded, and also won the Olympics. He started cycling at a very young age, by the time he turns 16, he made it to the national team. 

Distinctive design of the Team Carbon.
Team Carbon is categorized as the Performance Series. Frameset comes with 5 different sizes from XS to XL, made of superlight full carbon monocoque, tapered steerer, and BB30. With the combination of Superlight full carbon fork, it makes this high-class rig extremely light in weight and guarantees the best level of performance. In my opinion, you'll gain maximum benefit for what you pay.

Team Carbon has this "HeadTube Cable Routing", the cable no longer rubs the side of the fat head tube when you turn your handle bar. This is the similar frame design which earned a Beijing Olympic Gold Medal and World Championship Road and Triathlon. The downtube has no internal cable routing, which makes it easier for bike mechanic to do replacement (just in case) while the rear brake cable runs internally through the top tube. Based on what I feel, it doesn't affect the Shimano 105 gears shifting at all. I've been using the similar version of Shimano 105 on my own bike. It is not a speed determining factor anyway. Boardman Team Carbon is fitted with Jagwire, the number one cable and housing brand in the world. This high performance control systems allow riders to minor tuning while riding if your chain happen to jump between gears.

The newly developed Shimano 105 drive train which incorporates technology which was orginally developed for Dura-Ace 7900 series.

The FSA Gossamer Pro compact BB30 50/34T Chainset with Shimano CS5700, excellent choice of gear to climb steep hills. If you're more of a sprinter than a climber, just switch it to 53/39. Bike Elementz can customize the bike for you. =)
Both of the handle bar and 100mm stem of this XS Team Carbon are Boardman made =) 
 Boardman Carbon Seatpost & Fizik Arione manganese rail.

Oversize box section chainstays for increased power transfer
 Originally, this bike comes with Mavic Axium & Continental Ultra Sport. This Ceramic Ultra Smooth Bearing of Racing Zero was upgraded by Bike Elementz.
 
This T700 carbon frame's teardrop downtube is absolutely stunning. This should give the rider some aerodynamic, wind cheating advantage =) I've managed to sprint 55km/h and there were hardly side movement of this stiff carbon frame. I'm sure I could have gone a little faster with a 53/39 chainset =p The bike descends with great stability and great maneuverability even when I hit 70km/h. Normally I ride with Schwalbe Ultremo ZX, but this time around I'm using Schwalbe Lugano. The traction of Lugano is much better, that's why I dare to descend slightly faster than before. =) I believe the curved wishbone seatstays seat stays are meant to improve the strength of the frame and also provide more comfort for the rider. To make this bike sexier, the owner has fitted 2 carbon fiber bottle cages to make this bike so called "full carbon" =p

Overall weight : around 7.5kg
More pictures here 
Contact Bike Elemetz for the price =)

Bike Elementz
Address: 90, Jalan Rimbunan Raya, Laman Rimbunan, Kepong, 52000 KL.
Tel: 03-6243 3398
Facebook : Bike Elementz




3 comments:

wooishen said...

great review.... n cc...

Chan Jun Shen said...

Thanks wooishen ! =)

Micheal Alexander said...

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