So help me with a possible 'Sportive' bike choice.....

[zak3737]

Hi all, I'm new to the forum.... *waves*

After deciding to get myself back on a bike this summer, and fancying a roadie for the first time, I was nearly tempted with buying new, but due to not really being sure of what exactly I wanted/needed and not wanting to throw too much dosh at it until I was sure, I picked up a Trek 1.7 for £325, immaculate, great spec, and a good starter :-) So far, all good with it, and already doing 40mile rides, albeit fairly flat :-)

However, now I'm hooked, I'm thinking that long term, one of the more 'relaxed/sportive' geometry bikes is going to be beneficial perhaps, as I'm no racing snake, and being careful after a prolapsed disc this summer.
The Trek is perhaps more 'race' geometry than ideal, and of course, has no real 'cushioning' of the newer bikes on offer.

So, the question is.......which ?! Roubaix with Zertz ? Trek Domane with Iso-Coupler thingy ? Giant with their own particular take on frame cushioning.......? The choice is bewildering, and as far as I know, I aint gonna get the opportunity to test ride them all for any length ?

I'm really liking the Canyon CF SLX 8.0, looks gorgeous, but at £2599 lead-in, is quite a leap of faith 'untested/unridden', even with their returns policy. And anyway - no idea how forgiving it is in comparison to the others named ?

I'm told Carbon frames are far more comfortable ?

Or what more should I be considering too ?

Thx all.

 

[vickster]

don't ignore steel, my genesis other than the very hard saddle is easily as comfortable as my very upright carbon

its about the geometry and personal fit as much as the Fran material and dampening gizmos
frame material, stupid phone

 

[w00hoo_kent]

If you're looking at serious money it might be worth checking out the companies that will rent you a bike for a weekend test ride. That way you can put in some miles on roads you know for proper comparisons. I've seen them advertised in Cyclist magazine, a google search will probably find some. Narrow down your options (sounds like the Canyon is top of the list) and try that?

 

[Onyer]

Also have a look at titanium. As good as steel at dampening road buzz, but it does not corrode so it is a bike for life. Also you can fit a rack for light touring, which you cannot do on a carbon bike. Where are you and what size are you? If you are close you can try out my Ti bike

 

[Cyclist33]

Personally, I can't see why the 1.7 you already have isn't the ideal tool for the job. It doesn't look overtly racy, and with judicious wheel, tyre and clothing spends you should be able to get it as comfy as any others you listed.

 

[Drago]

Carbon frames are no more comfortable than a high quality alloy frame. Indeed, a high quality steel frame knocks carbon onto the cobbles for ride quality. There's a reason that only one car manufacturer in the whole world uses carbon fibre springs, and all the others use metal.

 

[zak3737]

Personally, I can't see why the 1.7 you already have isn't the ideal tool for the job. It doesn't look overtly racy, and with judicious wheel, tyre and clothing spends you should be able to get it as comfy as any others you listed.

I went to a Specialized dealer for a Saddle fitting, and spent £80 on a BG Romin Gel to make sure I was comfy, and he put me & my 1.7 on a Turbo Trainer, to check position etc, and noted that when in ideal position, Seat/Tube -wise.......the drop to my Bar top was circa 3", even though my Stem is angled upwards as it allows......so quite 'Racy' in his opinion, and perhaps a little more aggressive on lower back etc.

When compared to something like a Roubaix/Secteur, which would be a higher front end, - surely they're bound to be much less 'stretched out' ?
Not to mention the dampening characteristics they also have ?

I had seen comments that perhaps changing the 23cc tyres I have on to perhaps 25's, on lower psi, would certainly help with road buzz ?
& better padded Bibs than my current Decathlon ones !?

 

[Drago]

Stick with the correct pressures. Dropping air won't affect buzz but will make a marked difference when negotiating damaged road surfaces.

The difference between 23 and 25c is negligible. Indeed, due to differences in manufacturing and design tolerances a 23c will often measure 25mm anyway.

 

[Globalti]

Harry Hall Cycles in Manchester have Roubaix SL4 Sport (matt black and red) going for £1260 right now, a fantastic price for a really superb bike. I did the London 100 (86 miles) on mine and it performed faultlessly, while still giving me a thrill on hooligan rides. It's a very comfortable yet racy bike.

Some great deals here: http://www.harryhallcycles.co.uk/info/specialized-sale-roubaix-bikes-manchester.php

By the way the Zertz inserts don't do anything; it's the fact of being carbon that makes it comfortable and smooth.

 

[jowwy]

I would look at something titanium from the likes of van nich, sabbath, enigma, linskey etc etc bike for life and can be had for around 2k if you shop around.

Or the sabbath september titanium with hydraulic disc brakes and 105 kit can be had for 2.5k

 

[Cyclist33]

I went to a Specialized dealer for a Saddle fitting, and spent £80 on a BG Romin Gel to make sure I was comfy, and he put me & my 1.7 on a Turbo Trainer, to check position etc, and noted that when in ideal position, Seat/Tube -wise.......the drop to my Bar top was circa 3", even though my Stem is angled upwards as it allows......so quite 'Racy' in his opinion, and perhaps a little more aggressive on lower back etc.

When compared to something like a Roubaix/Secteur, which would be a higher front end, - surely they're bound to be much less 'stretched out' ?
Not to mention the dampening characteristics they also have ?

I had seen comments that perhaps changing the 23cc tyres I have on to perhaps 25's, on lower psi, would certainly help with road buzz ?
& better padded Bibs than my current Decathlon ones !?

Fair enough, although don't forget the complexities of back structure - depending on the nature of the prolapsed disc injury, a more upright ride position *could* prove more painful than a flatter one...

Tyres would certainly help - can you fit 28mm ones by any chance?

 

[zak3737]

Cyclist33: Point taken, my back has been ok so far, just slight twinges a couple of times, so not sure if thats the position I'm in or just the riding etc while it fully recovers, which is proving a fairly long winded affair.

I perhaps should seek to try out a more 'relaxed' bike on a long ride before plunging in.

Jowwy: The Titanium options look bloody gorgeous, especially the Disc specific models with Black rims etc, very sexy,........but very expensive !

 

[Globalti]

Sorry, I had missed the bit about the back injury.

A proper fitting is essential - my climbing buddy suffered for years with a prolapsed disc, culminating in a major op in which they removed a rib, deflated a lung and went in from inside his chest cavity. Some years later he went to Paul Hewitt in Leyland for a proper fitting and rode off on a rather fine Orbea, which he now rides for prodigious distances with no back pain at all.

 

[Drago]

I had a fitting at Velomotion last year as a birthday present. It's been totally negated since by having to adjust my ideal position to accommodate injury, so by bad luck I ended up doing it the wrong way around

 

[Goonerobes]

I had back surgery about 8 years ago & was very sceptical about buying & riding a road bike because of the lack of flexibility I now have in my spine. However, 14 months ago, after a year of riding a hybrid, I tried & then bought a Roubaix & over 5000 miles later I can honestly say it has never given me any back problems.