Racing vrs Sportive bike

[Atyl1972]

definitely a sportive to start with and then see where you go with that, deffo more comfy and easier on the posture and back regions, makes more sense if you're not competing..

 

[vorsprung]

Some manufacturers use "Sportive" to indicate a longer head tube / shorter top tube.
The same differences are used for "Womens" bikes too

I just look at the geometry chart and see what the score is

The Eddy Merckx EMX1 has a good long head tube and short top tube but isn't described as a "Sportive" or "Womens" bike

Most so called audax bikes are just racing bikes with clearance for mudguards

My "audax" bike is a Specialized Roubaix Comp with a triple and handmade wheels

 

[Globalti]

If you're really concerned about fit, why not go and spend £50 at one of the good bike shops that will set you up on a jig then select the frame that suits you? The charge is deductible when you buy the bike so it's money well spent.

Up here Ribble Cycles do it as well as Paul Hewitt. My climbing buddy is a former rugby player who has had major back surgery, he went to Paul Hewitt who did the fitting and after consulting loads of manufacturers' size charts, sold him an Orbea. My buddy rides it across the Pennines at weekends and has not suffered any back pain at all.

 

[tjw_78]

If you're really concerned about fit, why not go and spend £50 at one of the good bike shops that will set you up on a jig then select the frame that suits you? The charge is deductible when you buy the bike so it's money well spent.

Up here Ribble Cycles do it as well as Paul Hewitt. My climbing buddy is a former rugby player who has had major back surgery, he went to Paul Hewitt who did the fitting and after consulting loads of manufacturers' size charts, sold him an Orbea. My buddy rides it across the Pennines at weekends and has not suffered any back pain at all.

I don’t want to give the impression I’m paranoid about my decision. I was just a bit in the dark about going about how to decide what I want and am throwing a few ideas around.

However, interesting that you bring up the bad back issue, as mine frequently isn’t good (again from Rugby), and I probably should consider it. (Obviously the upright position on my MTB doesn’t cause any issues).

On the shop helping point, does anyone have any views on these outlets? They are all enrolled in the c2w scheme, and local to the house that I’m currently buying (I’d like to get good after sales, so I’d like to buy from a LBS shop where I’m moving to, rather than where I currently reside):



· Cyclezone (Reading)

· Cyclezone Road Shop (Crowthorne)

· Berkshire Cycle Co. (Woodley)

· Berkshire Cycle Co. (Crowthorne)

· Berkshire Cycle Co. (Reading)

· Bracknell Cycles

· Mountain Trax (Wokingham)

· Decathlon (Reading)

 

[gavintc]

I bought a Cervelo RS (the sportive version) mainly because it was considerably cheaper than the race equivalent 'the R3'. Having had pure race bikes in the past, I find this one more comfortable, but I think that may be simply down to the better frame and construction. I am not overly bothered that the head tube is slightly longer, it might make for a 'very slightly' more upright posture. But my saddle is still about 3inches higher than the bars. So, I would not dispute any of the comments above. I am glad I bought mine, it is a lovely bike and after 3 years still a joy to ride. It is sitting next to my desk in the office and even non-cycling colleagues admire it.

 

[Winnershsaint]

I don’t want to give the impression I’m paranoid about my decision. I was just a bit in the dark about going about how to decide what I want and am throwing a few ideas around.

However, interesting that you bring up the bad back issue, as mine frequently isn’t good (again from Rugby), and I probably should consider it. (Obviously the upright position on my MTB doesn’t cause any issues).

On the shop helping point, does anyone have any views on these outlets? They are all enrolled in the c2w scheme, and local to the house that I’m currently buying (I’d like to get good after sales, so I’d like to buy from a LBS shop where I’m moving to, rather than where I currently reside):



· Cyclezone (Reading)

· Cyclezone Road Shop (Crowthorne)

· Berkshire Cycle Co. (Woodley)

· Berkshire Cycle Co. (Crowthorne)

· Berkshire Cycle Co. (Reading)

· Bracknell Cycles

· Mountain Trax (Wokingham)

· Decathlon (Reading)

As far as the shops are concerned. I haven't used Mountain Trax but I know where it is. Obviously its name suggests that road bikes aren't its priority. Never used Bracknell Cycles either, but have heard mixed reactions from people I know who have. Decathlon opened in Reading late last year I've used it to buy gloves and base layers, and that's about it. There isn't much road bike choice in-store.

I've bought a number of bikes from Berkshire Cycle Co in Woodley - lower end MTBs for self, wife and daughter in the days before cycling became what I did. It sells mainly family and leisure bikes. There's not much wrong with their service and it is an OK LBS. I believe their shop in Crowthorne is the main outlet for road bikes. but again I've heard some very mixed stuff about that shop. It's currently trapped in 20 weeks worth of gas pipe laying in Crowthorne High St.

Cyclezone has three shops in total. The one in Reading specialises in family/leisure bikes, but I've bought clothing and had MTB servicing done there. In
Crowthorne there are two shops almost side by side near the station. One sells high end MTBs and the other is the road bike shop. I got my current bike (Cube Peloton) from the road shop. In the near future when I get something with a great deal more carbon fibre in it I will be using them. The service at the shop is excellent, and the enthusiasm, knowledge and expertise of the staff is first class. In my experience nothing is too much trouble including advice. I rarely go in without buying something even if it is a couple of gels or such like, because they have spent a few moments checking something for me. I recently took a mate over there who needed some work done on his gears prior to the Windsor Triathlon. he said his gear changes had never been so smooth. When you move I recommend you go and have a look. Doesn't hold a huge amount of stock in shop - Cube and Ridley dominate at the moment, but also Giant and Orbea.

Worth noting there is Evans Cycles on the edge of Reading town centre and AW Cycles in Caversham. the latter have a good stock of clothing accessories etc, but seem disinterested when i enuired about bikes.

 

[tjw_78]

Cyclezone has three shops in total. The one in Reading specialises in family/leisure bikes, but I've bought clothing and had MTB servicing done there. In
Crowthorne there are two shops almost side by side near the station. One sells high end MTBs and the other is the road bike shop. I got my current bike (Cube Peloton) from the road shop. In the near future when I get something with a great deal more carbon fibre in it I will be using them. The service at the shop is excellent, and the enthusiasm, knowledge and expertise of the staff is first class. In my experience nothing is too much trouble including advice. I rarely go in without buying something even if it is a couple of gels or such like, because they have spent a few moments checking something for me. I recently took a mate over there who needed some work done on his gears prior to the Windsor Triathlon. he said his gear changes had never been so smooth. When you move I recommend you go and have a look. Doesn't hold a huge amount of stock in shop - Cube and Ridley dominate at the moment, but also Giant and Orbea.

Worth noting there is Evans Cycles on the edge of Reading town centre and AW Cycles in Caversham. the latter have a good stock of clothing accessories etc, but seem disinterested when i enuired about bikes.

I have actually popped into Cyclezone in Reading while we were visiting our house-to-be, and they said all the road bikes are at the crowthrone shop. Its pretty near by the new house too, so great to hear they are so good (especially as I have an MTB too which will need servicing). I had marked them down as my first port-of-call.

Not sure Evans are in the c2w scheme my company have signed up to.

 

[zigzag]

for starting out and non-competitive riding "sportive" bike suits better. once you get more involved in competitive cycling you will probably want more aggressive bike. i haven't got plans to race this year, but now looking for a proper racing frameset with short and steep headtube and longer top tube. just curious how different it would be compared to my current sportive/audax bike.

 

[festival]

Have a lie down User482, you'll get over it

There is a load of rubbish trotted out about "comfort" on bikes. It's nothing to do with frame materials or curved tubes or any of the other rubbish trotted out by manufactures and lapped up by magazine reviewers. If you find a race bike is to bouncy or twitchy for you (all else being equal, ie tyres and fit) get one with a longer wheelbase and it will iron out the bumps more effectively. That's why a Mondeo is more comfortable to sit in than a Ka.

Almost everything you have said is wrong,unhelpful and misleading. Your right you do have to bypass a lot of the hyped up marketing bollocks but to say its nothing to do with "frame materials" is plain wrong.

A high front end alone does not equal a comfortable ride, but for the endurance rider looking for comfort & control, a higher front and yes, a longer wheel base are but two factors in achieving a compliant ride.

Achieving a bike that can still sprint, climb, corner like a race bike is possible if its well designed & engineered using quality frame materials.

A balance of forgiving vertical compliance and lateral stiffness will give an efficient and day long comfortable ride.

Combine the above with expert advice on size, set up etc & not because it seems like a good deal and looks pretty.

Failing that, buy a milk float in your favourite colour, that's got a longer wheel base.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Almost everything you have said is wrong,unhelpful and misleading. Your right you do have to bypass a lot of the hyped up marketing bollocks but to say its nothing to do with "frame materials" is plain wrong.

A high front end alone does not equal a comfortable ride, but for the endurance rider looking for comfort & control, a higher front and yes, a longer wheel base are but two factors in achieving a compliant ride.

Achieving a bike that can still sprint, climb, corner like a race bike is possible if its well designed & engineered using quality frame materials.

A balance of forgiving vertical compliance and lateral stiffness will give an efficient and day long comfortable ride.

Combine the above with expert advice on size, set up etc & not because it seems like a good deal and looks pretty.

Failing that, buy a milk float in your favourite colour, that's got a longer wheel base.

Absolutely correct.

And those characteristics can be achieved just as easily on a race bike (whether in steel, aluminium or carbon fibre) and on a so called sportive, which is nothing more than a race frame with a longer head tube and a few stickers on the frame.

 

[tjw_78]

The solution is obviously to get on a few bikes and test ride them, see what suits me. However, at the moment every free moment I have is being spent get out on by MTB training! Better to ride than to shop!