Creative Beading

Cracking Hardtail Bike From Halfords – The HT Pro 2011 Mountain Bike

So here we go – the Boardman Pro review:

After the last year’s model huge success and numerous praising reviews right thru the UK cycling press the Boardman HT Pro is back for 2011. The brand ( using word company would be inappropriate, because who does really know who designs and makes the Boardman bikes, surely no Chris B. himself has decided for quite few, by my opinion, dramatic changes to the HT Pro (for matter off fact this true for all bike in the Boardman HT Range).

Firstly it is the colour. From last year’s white to stealth matt black finish with touch of green. I say good choice as white coloured bikes are thing of the past.

Second thing is the bigger hitting 120mm travel (opposed to last year’s 100mm) Rock Shock Reba suspension fork with tapered steerer, compression damping, motion control and lock out. Again I say this isn’t bad move either as it gives the bike bit more versatile potential and gives the bike better feel while descending.

And the last major thing changed is the transmission. The brand has decided to go with rather racing ready set-up and equippin the  HT Pro with 20 speed Sram X9 kit combined with the FSA Comet BB30 chainset. Now this is what I’m not sure about. Yes it will be crispier shifting (shorter chain and rear mech’s cage), yes it will be lighter but is 20 speed gearing set up enough for let’s face fairly unfit Briton who is trying his best to get into serious mountain biking? This is thou the only critical thing there is the say about the Boardman HT Pro 2011 model.

The rest of the bike is pretty much fabulous value for you money. Carbon seat post, Mavic rims, Avid brakes and very decent Boardman own finishing kit. The complete weight of the HT Pro is 11.5kg (25.5lbs) without pedals in Medium size, again pretty impressive. Sizing is rather compact – 16″, 18″ and 19″. Would be nice to see at least 21″ frame size, but not to worry.

And if you’re not fussed about the latest model, Halfords are momentarily doing the 2010 Boardman HT Pro model for £849 only! I guess while stock lasts

So if you got £1000 to spend and want to get most for your money don’t look any further. Good looking, Uk friendly, no-nonsense and fantastically equipped hardtail for £999.99 from Halfords will certainly do the job nicely.

Here is small list of the Boardman HT Pro 2010 model praises&awards:

“Astonishing lightweight speed and kit value that’s perfect for racing and mile eating – but not a trail bruiser” Bike Radar.com – 4 out of 5 STARS

“The Pro walks away with the honours by substantial margin – Value Shield, Gold Shield and Editors choice Shield” What Mountain Bike magazine

“An excellently spec’d machine matched with an equivalent level of design and craftsmanship great for trail and XC riding”  TheBikeList.co.uk – 4.5 out of 5

Boardman HT Pro 2011 Specification:

Approximate Weight (KG): 12.1
Brake Type: Hydraulic Disc
Chainset: FSA Comet BB30
Fork Lock-out : Yes
Forks: 120mm Rockshox Reba SL suspension forks with lockout
Frame Colour: Grey
Frame Material: X9 Alloy
Frame-: Lightweight 6061 triple butted aluminium frame with tapered headtube and BB30 bottom bracket
Front Brake: Avid Elixir R hydraulic disc brakes 160mm rotor
Front Mech: SRAM X9
Gear Shifters: SRAM X9 2×10
Gender: Mens
Handle Bars: Boardman 31.8mm alloy low-rise
Headset: FSA Orbit 1 1/8 – 1.5 Aheadset
Hubs: Formula 32 hole Q/R disc hub
Number of Gears: 20
Pedals: Wellgo alloy body
Rear Brake: Avid Elixir R hydraulic disc brakes 160mm rotor
Rear Mech: SRAM X9
Rims: Mavic XM-317 double wall black 32 hole disc rim
Saddle: Boardman black with cro-moly rails
Seatpost: Carbon Boardman 350mm x 31.6mm black
Stem: Boardman black alloy 90mm x 31.8mm
Suspension: Front
Tyre size: 2.20″
Tyres: Continental Mountain King 26×2.2 wire bead black
Wheel size: 26″
Frame Size: S (16”), M (18”), L (19”)

Halfords say about the Boardman Bikes and the Boardman Brand:
“Boardman bikes are inspired and developed by the Olympic Champion cyclist Chris Boardman. Chris Boardman has described the Boardman Mountain Bike range as- “At the heart of each Boardman hardtail MTB is a high quality UK designed and tested XC specific frame, built with custom butted and carefully profiled tubing. Combine this with a top spec component package from the world’s leading brands and you have a versatile bike, as much at home on the race track as it is on your local trails.” Chris Boardman MBE”

“Chris Boardman MBE is an Olympic, Triple World Champion and World Record Holder who has excelled at the highest levels within cycling and he remains at the heart of British cycling today. He is often cited as being an inspiration to the current generation of successful cyclists and continues a passion for cycling seeing its positive impacts on the nation and the environment. He wants as many people as possible to share in his passion and experience the thrill of cycling for themselves. Boardman Bikes keep their three key values at the forefront of their minds when improving your riding experience, looking for the highest level of performance, utilising great design and maintaining a superior quality which makes Boardman Bikes and Accessories a real must-have brand for cycling enthusiasts.”

Jewellery Making – Sparkle Bangle – How to make a glass bead bangle

Dremel 692 6-Piece Router Bit Set $26.75 A valuable addition to any woodworker’s Dremel rotary tool, the Dremel 692 6-Piece Router Bit Set includes six high-speed router bits made from high-grade steel. Conveniently packaged in a reusable plastic case, these bits are ideal for routing, inlaying, and mortising wood and other soft materials. Ideal for a wide range of light to medium hobby, repair, and renovation jobs, this set ensures that…

Kreg PRS1200 Precision Beaded Face-Frame System $379.00 Beaded face-frames are a great way for you to add detail, richness, and value to your cabinetry and furniture. Kreg Tool has designed a tool that will help you build beaded face-frames faster, easier, and for a lot less money than ever before. Simple design results in more accurate cuts and a better finished look Engineered for production shop use, it works seamlessly with the Kreg Precision Rout…

Donegan OptiVISOR The Donegan OptiVISOR is a hands-free, headband binocular magnifier that has optical glass lenses that are ground and polished into prismatic lenses for quality and clarity, and is available in multiple dioptric strengths (indicated by the number in the model) which provide specific magnification power (X) at specific focal lengths, or distance from object. This magnifier enhances the si…

SE Headband Magnifier W/Light 4 lenses $24.99 Head light can be adjusted +/- 60 degree. Head band is adjustable. Four magnifiers included: 1.2X, 1.8X, 2.5X, and 3.5X. Batteries are not included.Requires 2 AAA batteries. Color: Black…

Suvorna Micro Ring Hair Extension & Beading Tool Kit Plier Set (3 Pcs) $36.95 A high quality professional salon grade instrument set from Suvorna’s Value range of hair care products….

Alex Toys Friends 4 Ever Bracelet Making Kit $18.41 A Friends 4ever friendship bracelets, made by your kids with this exciting easy-to-use kit, will be a gift cherished by their friends. Packed into a handy carrying case are threads in a rainbow of colors, eight different patterns, floss, beads, beading needle and four color-coded looms everything needed to create the colorful popular bracelets. The Friends 4ever friendship bracelet kit is perfect…

Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Stringing Beads with over 200 beads $9.95 Open up your own jewelry-making factory with this Wooden Stringing Beads set. This conveniently packaged, brightly painted set contains more than 200 wooden letters and beads. There are also eight colored cords to make necklaces and bracelets that you can keep or give as gifts. Stored in a durable, handy wood tray….

Donegan DA-5 OptiVisor Headband Magnifier, 2.5x Magnification, 8 Focal Length $29.99 Optical glass binocular magnification in a headset made of lightweight, durable, impact-resistant material. Headband is easily adjustable to fit any size. Can be tilted up when not needed. Wear with or without glasses….

Sherry Serafini’s Sensational Bead Embroidery: 25 Inspiring Jewelry Projects (Beadweaving Master Class Series) $8.58 In this entry in Lark Jewelry & Beading’s celebrated Beadweaving Master Class series, one of the world’s top bead embroiderers and teachers has produced an accessible guide to her techniques and art for beginners and advanced beaders alike. Sherry Serafini’s wonderful pieces have won admirers for their lavish beaded surfaces. Serafini explains the fundamentals behind her work, from stitches to c…

Bead on a Wire: Making Handcrafted Wire and Beaded Jewelry $9.19 In this latest book, author Sharilyn Miller shows crafters of all levels how to get in on the popularity of jewellery and beading, with: An in-depth section on design and construction techniques that makes it simple to get started; More than 20 step-by-step bead and wire jewellery projects, including gorgeous earrings, necklaces, brooches of and bracelets; It only takes a few basic steps to start …