sportive or race bike

willdill

Hey guys
new here so go easy on me.i been cycling past 8 months have done some sportives 100k 200km been riding a giant defy 2 which I also think might have been a bit big but seem to manage ok.need to get new bike now as was knocked by a car and damaged the bike but not sure weather to go for the sportive or race bike.i wudnt be one for racing at pace but do like to push a little in sportives rather than just cruise along enjoy the scenery. I was looking at the giant propel advanced 1 but would I be uncomfortable on 6-7 hour cycles.

sullzz

Possibly, the propel would be an aero bike , maybe look at a canyon endurace cf or a cervelo r3

Craig06

Stick with a more relaxed bike if it's just sportives you are doing. The have a larger head tube which make them more comfortable and also many have a little more compliance in the rear triangle so they don't shake you apart on Irish roads.

TiBoy

Go with the bike you prefer the look of, within reason (obviously a TT bike isn't going to suit, for example).

I don't know much about the propel other than I very much like it's appearance,

I have an aero bike, canyon aeroad, and I don't have a problem with comfort (did 120km on it yesterday around the Wicklow hills with no comfort issues arising from the bike's geometery).

At the time I bought the aeroad the received advice/conventional wisdom was to go with a sportive/relaxed geometry bike but I didn't like the look of them or accepted the advice that they would suit me better.

Good luck and enjoy making your choice.

willdill

tiboy was thinkin the same really prefer the look of the aero bike some were sayin the whole sportive comfort thing is just a marketing thing and if you fit a bike right there be no comfort issues

nilhg

willdill wrote: »

Hey guys
new here so go easy on me.i been cycling past 8 months have done some sportives 100k 200km been riding a giant defy 2 which I also think might have been a bit big but seem to manage ok.need to get new bike now as was knocked by a car and damaged the bike but not sure weather to go for the sportive or race bike.i wudnt be one for racing at pace but do like to push a little in sportives rather than just cruise along enjoy the scenery. I was looking at the giant propel advanced 1 but would I be uncomfortable on 6-7 hour cycles.

willdill wrote: »

tiboy was thinkin the same really prefer the look of the aero bike some were sayin the whole sportive comfort thing is just a marketing thing and if you fit a bike right there be no comfort issues

A lot of the comfort will come from your tyres and especially the ability to fit 25mm sized versions, before you buy I'd suggest making sure that there is sufficient clearance if you did want to do that, aero bikes can be tight enough in that department (that's one of the big things that makes them aero).

Another observation that I'd make is to consider the practicalities, if it's to be your only bike will you need mudguards for club spins? They do tend to ruin the aesthetics, like wise while you can get fitted for the bike if you end up with a stack of spacers under the stem or even with the stem flipped up, if you had the stem slammed on the Defy then you should be fine.

A couple of lads in our club have aero bikes, Felt DA and Canyon Aeroroad, I've never heard complaints about comfort from either owner but both have winter mudguarded bikes that they use at this time of the year.

Best of luck whatever you do.

outfox

It's probably useful to remember that the bike you buy, you don't necessarily have to hang onto it for life. After a year or whatever, you may want to change it, or get a second bike (budget permitting). Most posters here probably have more than one bike. So, don't over analyse it or you'll go mad. Your best bet is probably to call to several bike shops and try out all the bikes you like the look of. The one that feels best (and looks great) is the one.