The Bike Bath sportive is a little over a fortnight away, taking place on 3 July 2016. The event will see up to 1,200 riders depart from the West Country’s most picturesque spa town, before tackling one of three different routes over 25, 50 or 80 miles. With such a range of distances, there’s enough there to test even the toughest rider – but plenty there too for the beginner.
As it’s only up the road, we think there’s a good chance some of our customers might be heading off to take part in Bike Bath, so we’ve picked a few bikes from our range that are perfect for this type of long-distance challenge.
Trek’s Domane 2.3 is a beautifully-performing bike with the relaxed geometry you need for long-distance riding. This model is an aluminium frame, with IsoSpeed carbon fork for a little bit of extra lightness and an optimised wheelbase. The ride position is slightly more upright than Trek’s out-and-out racing machines, but this is still the same range that Fabian Cancellara rides the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix and Flanders on – so you know it packs plenty of speed in there too. This is a good option for those looking to tackle the 50 or 80-mile routes at Bike Bath, as it really is geared up for endurance.
The Synapse from American brand, Cannondale, is a disc-equipped road frame that delivers fantastic control and comfort. The real star of this bike is the 105 Shimano drivetrain, which is not usually found on a bike at this price. Cannondale has developed a women’s endurance geometry – specifically to keep you comfortable in the saddle as you eat up the miles. This is a brilliant option for conquering the 80-mile long route.
Giant has been making amazing, great-value road bikes for well over four decades. The Chinese company overhauled their Defy range recently and we’ve picked out the Defy 2 with rim brakes because we think for performance and value it’s tough to beat. The Defy has always been about endurance riding, so it’s got a forgiving geometry and the aluminium frame is boosted by the brand’s own D-Fuse seat post – which smooths out the ride experience, even on bumpy road surfaces. This model is fitted with the superb Shimano Tiagra drivetrain.
This classic sportive bike is made with an aluminium frame, so it gives you a good balance between light weight and a comfortable ride experience. The FACT carbon fork gives sharp handling and won’t weigh you down on the climbs. The Claris drivetrain from Shimano will give you a good transition between the gears, while the wheels are AXIS Classic. At £599 this is the cheapest bike in our selection – a great one for those looking to tackle their first big challenge on a reliable machine with plenty of quality.
