Sportive vs Road bike

McCullochE

I currently have a cyclocross and plan to upgrade to a road bike. The question is, do i go for a sportive version (I'm getting on and appreciate the comfort) or the pure road bike.

I've narrowed my bike to three:
2010 Specialized Roubaix Elite
2011 Cannondale Synapse
2011 Cannondale SuperSix 105

Would appreciate people's views. Is there much of a difference in terms of comfort?

AndyI

What are you going to do with it? The cannondale six 105 won C+ bike of the year last January. The Roubaix is supposed to be one of the most comfortable bikes out there. Unfortunately, I've not ridden either, although one of my friends has a Roubaix elite and really loves it. Go to somewhere like Evans and ask for test rides, or find a friend with one and ask to borrow it!

McCullochE

This is for weekend cycling (30-50miles) plus an annual trip abroad in the mountains. Is there much of a comfort difference between Sportive and Road bikes?

Monty Dog

A lot depends on your riding position and flexibility i.e. can you exploit the lower front end of the road bike? There's no point on going for a race frame if you're going to put a 3" stack of spacers under the stem.

Buckled_Rims

Monty Dog wrote:

A lot depends on your riding position and flexibility i.e. can you exploit the lower front end of the road bike? There's no point on going for a race frame if you're going to put a 3" stack of spacers under the stem.

+1

My road bike is a CAAD9 and it feels twitchy and very aggressive after a spell on my Kona Jake. Unless you want to travel fast over comfort, go the road bike route. Otherwise, go sportive and enjoy the ride without the back pain

kingrollo

I moved from a dedicated racer - to a more sportive bike....and doubt if I will move back. I miss the responsiveness of my pinarello - but as someone who isn't that flexible I am much more at home on my kuota kharma - also I am slightly faster - probably because I am more comfy on the bike.

AndyI

Apparently, half of the Garmin Transitions team rode Felt Z series sportive bikes insted of the F series racing frames in the Tour because of the increased comfort of the sportive geometry. So, if it's good enough for top pros I'd go for a sportive frame for the increased comfort factor.

Scrumple

most of the Wilier team (Lampre) rode the more aggressive and shorter head tube version of the Cento (yet to be released).

domhopson

AndyI wrote:

Apparently, half of the Garmin Transitions team rode Felt Z series sportive bikes insted of the F series racing frames in the Tour because of the increased comfort of the sportive geometry. So, if it's good enough for top pros I'd go for a sportive frame for the increased comfort factor.

They must have mistaken the Z for an F with their Transition lenses

Russ68

Hopefully this is not off topic! But once you have the bike there's quite a bit you can do with set up, coming from a Marin flat bar to my Cayo I've gradually managed to acheive a more aero posture (spinning stem over & dropping fork spacers etc), that would've been impossible to start with. It's taken a couple of years, but I've finally got to the horizontal back position we're supposed to aim at. I've just done my 1st tri on it, but would consider setting up in a more relaxed way for a long sportive...

vorsprung

I find that for rides up to a couple of hours there is almost no difference between my racey bike and long distance bike. But the racey bike feels faster and more...racey.

Over a couple of hours the long distance bike is definitely more comfortable. Although I have done long event on the racing bike

My current long distance bike is a Specialized Roubaix

ugo.santalucia

This is turning into a sensible discussion.... I haven't read the words "stiff" "light" and "Planet X" yet....

podgetim67

After a 15 year break from road cycling, I eventually went for the Cannondale Synapse. Extremely comfortable (keep thinking I have a soft back tyre). With some tweaking, I have managed to wean myself into a fairly aero position, whilst still being comfortable. This is the aluminium frame - carbon fork version. Would rather have a really well built alu frame than bargain basement carbon. Recommended!

gavintc

I went for the sportive version when I got my new carbon bike about 3 yrs ago and have not regretted it. A cervelo RS - perfect for me. At the wrong side of 50, but still fit, I wanted a less aggressive posture.

bhickey

After much debate I bought the Spesh Roubaix last year and have been very impressed. Compared to my previous (alu) bike it soaks up the bumps on the road and I feel a lot less tired at the end of the same run. The bike was sold as 'sportive friendly' and I'd endorse the marketing blurb.

carrock

bhickey wrote:

After much debate I bought the Spesh Roubaix last year and have been very impressed. Compared to my previous (alu) bike it soaks up the bumps on the road and I feel a lot less tired at the end of the same run. The bike was sold as 'sportive friendly' and I'd endorse the marketing blurb.

Agreed- although how much the zertz inserts contribute to that is debatable- but I'd endorse the roubaix as a superbly comfortable road bike

McCullochE

Thanks for the feedback. I have sacrificed the 'glory' of a pure road bike and bought the Spesh Roubaix - and my god, but it's smooth!