Boardman CX Comp and CX Team

Boardman’s cyclo-cross range comprises two machines – the CX Comp (£599.99) and CX Team (£899.99) – designed to offer the versatility to ride on and off-road in all weathers.

“I think ‘cross bikes are the next big trend,” said Boardman. “I think cyclo-cross bike can almost replace the mountain bike for a lot of people. who aren’t riding technical trails, but who want a bike for road riding, light off-road riding and the towpath.

“I think the market will slowly be infiltrated by ‘cross bikes. About 80 per cent of my riding is on a ‘cross bike now and I love it. I’ve ridden the same roads where I live for 30 years so it refreshes it. I can go out for two hours and stitch together the road and tracks, and it breaks the ride up. Time flies.”

As a result, Boardman’s two ‘cross bikes are designed to be versatile and the 7005, triple-butted frame, which has the same smooth welds as the alloy road frame, has eyelets for mudguards and a rack to ensure it fits the bill as a winter bike or light tourer. Both bikes also have mechanical disc brakes.

The CX Comp (11.5kg) is based around a Shimano Sora groupset, with a FSA Velo compact chainset and Tektro Lyra mechanical discs, wheels built around Mavic XM319 rims and Boardman finishing kit/saddle. An 11-32t cassette offers a wide spread of gears, while Schwalbe Tyrago ‘trekking’ tyres highlight this as a machine specced for road and light off-road riding, rather than muddy cyclo-cross races. A change in rubber will switch that, though.

And so, to complete our first look at Boardman’s 2014 road and cyclo-cross range, the CX Team (10.43kg) gets SRAM Apex shifters and front mech, with a Microshift rear mefch, FSA Gossamer compact chainset, Mavic XM319 wheels wrapped in Schwalbe Rapid Rob tyres, and Boardman finishing kit/saddle. A full carbon fork slots into the frame, while the cheaper CX Comp gets a fork with alloy blades and a chromoly steerer.

Website: Boardman Bikes
UK stockist: Halfords