Hands on with Boardman Bikes

Here at Ape to Gentleman we pride ourselves on being experts in recognising quality, style and affordability- and so, were delighted to road test the new Boardman Road Pro Carbon Bike from a brand which we believe combines all three.

Boardman Bikes are a British bicycle manufacturer which stand out from their competitors by not simply being cycling innovators, but also riders themselves. Being riders gives them a unique insiders’ perspective, which means they know exactly what users want and thus can deliver it within their bikes.

Look no further than Chris Boardman, the companies founder and chairman, who certainly earns his title as a cycling specialist with years of experience under his belt. Chris starting out as a carpenter by trade, but soon turned to competitive cycling where he broke several world records, achieved Olympic gold and won three world titles before going on to lead the Tour de France on more than one occasion.

Today Boardman Bikes continues to re-evaluate and regenerate their products to ensure their customers have the best riding experience possible. We put this to the test by trialling the Boardman Road Pro Carbon bike- featuring an award winning SLR Endurance frame platform with C7 carbon throughout. The bike was stiff but light, with superb handling, power transfer and ride quality. We weren’t let down by the bikes vitals either with the incredibly popular Shimano 105 5800 groupset and FSA’s Gossamer Chainset with Shimano RS505 hydraulic disc brakes.

Weighing in at around 8.3kg, the Road Pro Carbon is impossibly light and the green/ sliver colour-way is even more handsome in the flesh than these pictures show. In fact, the quality of this bike in every aspect was fantastic- from the aesthetic impact on first sight through to the technical ability of the bike and it’s riding performance.

So whether you’re an entry level rider, Boardman Bikes start at around £400 or an expert cyclist, the Boardman Road Pro Carbon SLR is £1,619.10; this is definitely a brand you should check out and one that Ape to Gentleman highly recommend. The Boardman Road Pro Carbon Bike is available from halfords.com priced £1,199.20.