GCN Tech Show: The end of sportive bikes?

Seemingly gone are the days of relaxed gran fondos and sportives, with riders often treating them as races in themselves nowadays. No longer can amateur cyclists trundle along the route of their favourite sportives, enjoying the sound of the local wildlife as they manoeuvre smoothly between groups of like-minded riders. The idea of a sportive bike, with its relaxed geometry designed for comfortable hours in the saddle, is now a thing of the past. Or is it?

In the latest episode of the GCN Tech Show, Ollie Bridgewood and Alex Paton ponder the demise of the sportive bike, as cycling becomes ever more obsessed with the pursuit of aerodynamic advantage and sporting competition.

We also have a first look at the new Zwift Play controllers, designed to bring control of the platform to riders’ fingertips, which Ollie and Alex put to the test in the studio. Elsewhere, the team take a look at the new Carbon-Ti disc brake rotors, alongside the SRAM Apex AXS and mechanical groupsets.

For all this and more, including Comments of the Week and Bike Vault, check out this week’s episode of the GCN Tech Show.