Wow! and Wow! I have no experience on a full susser before today but why the hell I waited this long I just dont know.
I met up with MBNut/Nigel at Surrey Hills (forget the name of the hill) and rode Barry Knows Best twice and Telegraph Hill. Once i started to get used to how to ride a FS my speed went through the roof. And best of all it climbs like a dream. arguably a better climber than my hardtail which is 4lb lighter, and this is good because I enjoy climbing nearly as much as I enjoy descending
The bike also looks stunning in the flesh. Very well made.
So first impressions are all good. I was even impressed with the staff at Bikehut. Ill stick a picture up when I find my camera.

It winds me right up that its hardly ever mentioned how much better a FS bike can be uphill. If its remotely bumpy or rooty you just get so much more traction with one.

Hell yeah, my Enduro must weigh at least 34lbs and it flies up hills off road. It's only on road and smooth fire road climbs i feel the weight.

Glad you finally got the Boardman Blackers, looking forward to the pictures.

Quoted from Blackers

Wow! and Wow!
So first impressions are all good. I was even impressed with the staff at Bikehut. Ill stick a picture up when I find my camera.

of the bikehut staff?..

Quoted from alkali

of the bikehut staff?..

They werent very photogenic. And my camera is knackered so no pics of the bike either.

I just weighed the bike after removing the reflectors and bell (free to anybody who needs them). It weighs in at 28.8lbs with pedals, and its a large!!

Fantastic for a bike like that... shame about no pictures... it is lovely

If this works....a crappy camera phone pcture including toaster etc.

How is the bike going? Intruiged as my friend is still after one

Due to power cut last night I then forgot to take a photo of my rebound adjuster, will sort tonight

Quoted from Breezer

How is the bike going? Intruiged as my friend is still after one

Due to power cut last night I then forgot to take a photo of my rebound adjuster, will sort tonight

So far it is fantastic. but its only done about 13 miles. The brief ride at Surrey Hills with MBNut was a superb test. It climbed really well, arguably better than my hardtail, and on the roots on Barry Knows Best it was brilliant. I have a fobia of roots at the moment but i flew over them all that day.

My aborted ride at the wekend (puncture saga) was a fair amount of climbing and again it excelled both on tracks and particularly more rocky ascents. On the descents it felt great once i remembered to let the suspension do the work.
It is a comfortable cockpit too. I have some back problems and the more upright position (i run 80mm forks on the hardtail) makes a big difference.
Finally it looks really nice. The frame seems very well put together and it has a funky profiled top tube which is pleasing on the eye.
Its light for the money too. just under 29lbs for the large with spds.
And finally there is the spec. which is amazing.
If your friend doesnt mind the fact its a boardman (i have encountered some snobbery already!) its a no brainer.

Im now desperate to get to Surrey or even Afan to put it through its paces.

Ignore bike snobs, boardman, carrera, whetever, there's always somebody to knock your pride and joy, so long as you had more fun than them then that's all that matters. Now I'm off to polish the titanium SPD axles on my Yeti, TTFN oiks...

Quoted from alkali

Ignore bike snobs, boardman, carrera, whetever, there's always somebody to knock your pride and joy, so long as you had more fun than them then that's all that matters. Now I'm off to polish the titanium SPD axles on my Yeti, TTFN oiks...

, the countless times when you see people out on their £2000 bikes and still pass them on easy or hard sections is always a good feeling around ashford

im always receiving laughs about how i should of bought a norco when im out riding the warren, but its not what it is its how you ride it (think it goes something like that) hell ive had a guy beat me down some of the sections on a rigid  

I find bike snobs ammusing, although to a degree im a bit of a hypocrite as those 100 quid supermarket things make me laugh!
I did however peel the "Boardman at Halfords" sticker from the downtube last night. And im going to stick my FSA carbon bars on it too.

Quoted from Blackers

I find bike snobs ammusing, although to a degree im a bit of a hypocrite as those 100 quid supermarket things make me laugh!
I did however peel the "Boardman at Halfords" sticker from the downtube last night. And im going to stick my FSA carbon bars on it too.

Make sure your FSA bars are wide enough, if they are skinny the fact that they are carbon will not stop them ruining the bikes handling...

Quoted from Mbnut

Make sure your FSA bars are wide enough, if they are skinny the fact that they are carbon will not stop them ruining the bikes handling...

The FSA are fairly wide, although not as wide as the Ritchey bars that came with the bike.  It doesnt take much to put me off working on the bike so I'll leave alone for now as the steering is pretty good as it is.

Hows the west country treating you? did you get out riding with the locals?  

Been kiting twice but the weather today was terrible...  out with a fella on the bike tomorrow so looking forward to that..