need advice on sportive bikes

shakey88

Having traded in my mountain bike for a boardman comp road bike back in august,i am now hooked and looking to try some sportive type action come the spring.
I feel i need to upgrade to a sportive specific bike & i was after some advice on which bike i should go for.
I was thinking of going for one of the specialized "roubaix" model as i heard they are great for sportive riding.
I have around two grand to spend on the right steed and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

davelakers

The Specialised Roubaix is a great sportive/distance bike.

I have the Roubaix Elite and can highly recommend one, but if you have £2K to spend Id look into the Roubaix Pro.

shakey88

thanks Dave,i'll check it out

nickwill

I think I would try a few sportives on your Boardman before committing to a new bike.
You will then have more idea about what is likely to suit you. To me the whole concept of a sportive bike is a marketing thing. Most people ride standard race bikes. The main thing is to find a bike that is comfortable and efficient. To this end I would go somewhere where you can be fitted, if you choose to change your bike. The fit is more important than the brand, material or style of the bike. If after a fitting you require a bike with a more upright position and longer head tube then certainly you should consider a 'sportive specific ' bike, but that may not be actually what suits your build or style of riding.

johnbirkby46213

Nickwill wrote:

I think I would try a few sportives on your Boardman before committing to a new bike.
You will then have more idea about what is likely to suit you. To me the whole concept of a sportive bike is a marketing thing. Most people ride standard race bikes. The main thing is to find a bike that is comfortable and efficient. To this end I would go somewhere where you can be fitted, if you choose to change your bike. The fit is more important than the brand, material or style of the bike. If after a fitting you require a bike with a more upright position and longer head tube then certainly you should consider a 'sportive specific ' bike, but that may not be actually what suits your build or style of riding.

Agreed. £35 will get you a pretty good bike-fit and that's a whole lot cheaper than a new bike. I had a bike fit done on my touring Thorn. I was amazed at how much the saddle height was changed. I thought they must have made a mistake cos I thought I'd got things just right. However after an uncomfortable couple of weeks whist I adjusted to my new fit, things went smoothly from then on. I have also got a print out to refer to when making adjustemts due to new kit etc..
BUT I also went and hired a Spech Rubaix for a weekend...just to see if it could be nearly as comfy as my steel Thorn whilst obviously being loads lighter. I was amazed. Took it up to Yorkshire for a ride with ColinJ (a bike radar forumite). It was well thrashed up hill and down dale and well, I went back to Leicestershire and bought the darned thing (and that meant the hire bike which i hate the look of - still do - but is an absolute pleasure to ride and that's what counts.

markos1963

Nickwill wrote:

I think I would try a few sportives on your Boardman before committing to a new bike.
You will then have more idea about what is likely to suit you. To me the whole concept of a sportive bike is a marketing thing. Most people ride standard race bikes. The main thing is to find a bike that is comfortable and efficient. To this end I would go somewhere where you can be fitted, if you choose to change your bike. The fit is more important than the brand, material or style of the bike. If after a fitting you require a bike with a more upright position and longer head tube then certainly you should consider a 'sportive specific ' bike, but that may not be actually what suits your build or style of riding.

I totally agree, some people find a Pinarello Prince comfortable to tour on and some think a Roubaix is a racing tool. Your Boardman should be more than capable if set up right. The frame is a reasonable one and you have a decent level of kit. the money you are thinking of spending could be used for a decent wheel upgrade which would make more of a difference pound for pound and the rest on loads of kit.

shakey88

Brilliant idea.I could get a roubaix pro and get it custom fitted by the pro's.
Think i'll go that way.

akcc05

You probably won't be interested but I bumped into some pictures of the new 2009 Look 566 "sportive bike" and checked it out on their official website, it's a gorgeous bike!

Specialized are good though (despite what people who ride niche exotic bikes say), everyone says they have amazing aftermarket service in the UK. What about the Trek Madone and the Cervelo RS (merlin has a good deal on that frame)? i have never ridden these bikes but these are the ones i would look at if i had the money.

What the other guys said are right though, your boardman would probably do with a good pair of wheels and a good fit, but everybody loves a new shiny bike right? i say go for it if you can afford it!

richa

I agree, a bike fit will tell you if the Roubaix is a good geometry for you. It will also tell you if the boardman can also achieve a good fit.

Boardman should be fine.

Hell below zero !

If you really get hooked on sportives then you might want to ride European Etapes, Fondo's
etc.If you have a frame built say by Roberts (in Crodon)you can have a made to measure with S&S coupling so you can fly and take bike as normal luggage,no extra problems and charges,stick in car ,taxi,Eurostar,Have a check out as this is a great option for a sportive bike.
Of course your made to measure frame will also ride fantatatic as well.

Hell below zero !

Its Croydon oop's :oops: