Boardman Team Carbon and Pro Carbon

Step down a level and you have the Road Team Carbon (£999.99) and Road Pro Carbon (£1,299.99). While the Road Pro Carbon SLR is based around Boardman’s ‘race’ geometry, these two machines have a semi-compact geometry, with a shorter toptube and taller headtube to provide a more upright riding position, and thus fall firmly in the ‘sportive’ bracket.

“The headtube is slightly bigger and the geometry is more relaxed, so it’s more sportive focused, for longer days in the saddle,” said Boardman. “While I personally would go for a smaller headtube and a more traditional geometry, the majority of people who buy this range of bikes are going to be serious sportive riders.”

Geometry aside, the Road Team Carbon and Road Pro Carbon share similar tube profiles and the same T700 carbon fibre as the more expensive SLR model, though the layup has been tweaked to induce more comfort, resulting in a very small increase in claimed frame weight to a still-light 1,000g. While the Road Pro Carbon has full internal cable routing, the Road Team Carbon’s gear cables run externally.

The Road Team Carbon is designed to hit the Cycle to Work market, at a penny under £1,000, and for that you get a full carbon tapered fork, Shimano Tiagra shifters, front mech and cassette, and a Shimano 105 rear mech, with Tektro R540 brakes, a FSA Gossamer compact chainset, wheels built around Mavic CXP-22S rims, 25mm Continental Ultra Sport II tyres (another nod to comfort) and Boardman finishing kit/saddle for a claimed weight of 8.60kg.

The Road Pro Carbon, meanwhile, shares the same frame and fork, but gets a Shimano 105 groupset, save for the FSA Gossamer compact chainset, with Mavic Aksium wheels shod with Mavic tyres, a Fizik Ardea saddle and Boardman finishing kit for a 600g drop in complete bike weight to 8kg on the nose.