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Sportive bikes are a fairly new phenomenon, at least in name. In reality they’re a combination of elements from different types of machine.
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Their looks come from the road racing scene but in terms of geometry they tend to be closer to Audax bikes, with a taller head tube and shorter top tube giving a more upright riding position. It’s not quite so aerodynamic as a race bike but for long rides that more comfortable position is going to give a greater performance benefit so it’s a trade-off worth making.
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Comfort also comes in to play in other aspects of the design: many sportive bikes have longer chainstays or softer forks than their road cousins to better soak up road buzz, and some have vibration damping inserts in the frame or seat post. Shallow drop handlebars give an extra hand position that’s more accessible, and you get a wider range of gears – often a triple chainset or bigger cogs at the back – for those end of- the - ride climbs.
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This story was last updated on 18/05/2010
