Cycling Weekly — February 08, 2018

(Jacob Rumans) #1

Words: James Shrubsall / Photo: Chris Catchpole


Bike test


Miles ridden: 258 | Size tested: M |Weight: 8.4kg


Boardman CXR 9.4


£2,299


ith Chris
himself a
big CX fan,
it’s no surprise that the
Boardman brand has
invested considerable R&D
into its cyclo-cross line-up.
The end result is a range of
envelope-pushing machines
of which this, the CXR 9.4,
represents the pinnacle.

The ethos is a serious cross
machine combined with
enough versatility for road
riding and commutes.

Frame
The frame is made of
Boardman’s top-of-the-
range proprietary C10
carbon-fi bre — the same
material Boardman has
used to create 850g
frames for its SLR road
range. There are no
mudguard or rack
mounts here, but two
sets of bottle bosses
add a degree of
versatility. Wishbone
rear seatstays act as
shock absorbers, says
Boardman, and they’re
mated to box-section
chainstays for power
transfer. Internal cabling
keeps things tidy, while the
C10 fork features a 1.5in lower
race for stiffness. Bolt-thru
axles front and rear underline
the commitment to stiffness.

Specifi cation
Cutting-edge CX machines
have evolved considerably
in the last 10 years or so —
signifi cantly more, even, than
their road-going cousins.
Back then, a bike like this
would probably feature
cantilever brakes and a double
chainset, among many other
small differences. All change
then. The SRAM Force CX1
groupset features a single 38t
chainring, coupled with an
11-speed cassette. The rear
mech is perhaps the jewel in
the crown, featuring an array

of trademarked technologies
which are all designed for
quick and controlled shifting.
The clutch mechanism is
possibly the most important
of these, as it plays an
important role in keeping
the chain on its single ring.
The chainring’s narrow/wide
tooth pattern works in tandem
with this, and the whole set-up
functions very well.
SRAM Force HRD
hydraulic discs provide the
stopping power, with 160mm
and 140mm rotors front and
rear respectively. These are

attached to Boardman’s CXR
Elite Five tubeless-ready
wheelset, which in turn is
shod with CX-specifi c 31c
Vittoria Cross XM Pro tyres.

Ride
In the saddle, the 9.4’s lack
of mass is the fi rst thing I
noticed. It’s correspondingly
nimble and easy to fl ick
around, and quick off the line
to boot. The position feels less
upright than some CX bikes
I’ve ridden, though even with
my creaky back I managed to
fi nd a comfortable set-up by

A

B

C
D

E
H

F

G

SIZE TESTED: M
ABCD E F G H
55mm 73 ̊ 72.5 ̊ 14mm38.3mm 42.5mm56.3mm101.2mm

Frame Boardman CXR C10 carbon
Fork CXR Disc, carbon with
tapered steerer
Size range XS-XL
Size tested M
Weight 8.4kg
Groupset SRAM Force CX1
Gear ratios 38t, 11-36t cassette
Wheels Boardman CXR Elite Five Disc
Tyres Vittoria Cross XM Pro 31c
Brakes SRAM Force HRD
Bars Boardman Elite alloy
Stem Boardman Elite carbon
Seatpost Boardman Elite SLR Carbon 20
Saddle Prologo Nago Evo
Distributor http://www.boardmanbikes.com

Boardman CXR 9.4
£2,299

Ride ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■10/10
Value ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■10/10

Specification■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 9/10

Frame ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■10/10

32 | February 8, 2018 | Cycling Weekly
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