Giant defy 4

jinka · 30-07-2009 2:00pm #1

Anybody got one or think they are a good bike at 550euro.. Just for cross training etc

kennyb3 · 30-07-2009 2:26pm

jinka wrote: »

Anybody got one or think they are a good bike at 550euro.. Just for cross training etc

have one. they are a grand beginner bike for the price. im no expert on bikes tho. got mine from humphries (pm acoustic as its his old mans shop if your interested) and got plenty of extras thrown in for the €550.

gaffmaster · 30-07-2009 2:29pm

I've got one too. It's my first road bike and it's fine. i've only done about 800k on it, but it seems to be running well.

Now that I know what a road bike feels like i'm starting to get jealous of better bikes... i have a feeling this feeling will only get worse and worse...

kennyb3 · 30-07-2009 2:38pm

gaffmaster wrote: »

I've got one too. It's my first road bike and it's fine. i've only done about 800k on it, but it seems to be running well.

Now that I know what a road bike feels like i'm starting to get jealous of better bikes... i have a feeling this feeling will only get worse and worse...

in the exact same boat, already planning what carbon expensive bike i ll be buying next spring if i get the right training done. only done 800km on mine too. do you get out many times a week?

gaffmaster · 30-07-2009 2:48pm

Very rarely to be honest. I'm lucky if i get out once a week.
yourself?

kennyb3 · 30-07-2009 2:57pm

gaffmaster wrote: »

Very rarely to be honest. I'm lucky if i get out once a week.
yourself?

up to 3 times.mon, wed and sat morning. trying to extend my k's by commuting now too.

i find the bike slips gears alot, but then again its only an entrey level

gaffmaster · 30-07-2009 3:04pm

this happens to me too the odd time.

but i find it only happens when i am using the gears badly - over stretching the chain etc.

having said that, my front derailleur threw my chain clean off onto the pedal side on my last spin.

petethedrummer · 30-07-2009 3:04pm

kennyb3 wrote: »

i find the bike slips gears alot, but then again its only an entrey level

I had an entry level Giant FCR and the gears only slipped when they weren't maintained.

kennyb3 · 30-07-2009 4:04pm

petethedrummer wrote: »

I had an entry level Giant FCR and the gears only slipped when they weren't maintained.

maintained? in what way. just wondering what i should be doing. i know very little about looking after my bike to be honest.

ednwireland · 30-07-2009 4:15pm

kennyb3 wrote: »

maintained? in what way. just wondering what i should be doing. i know very little about looking after my bike to be honest.

start here http://www.parktool.com/

see where it says repair help, click derailleur systems

DJsail · 31-07-2009 5:59pm

Got the defy for training and honestly can't believe my luck, at just over 9.5Kg you could easily spend well over twice as much and get nowhere near the same quality frame geometry or components, if going for the entry level ones though try to spend that little bit more for the carbon fork, this small addition gives the aluminium frame as good as it is, a lot more feel on the road.

As for the carbon itch, yeah carbon bikes are sweet but you really won't notice a difference in your timings unless your fitness is near professional. If your hell-bent on getting a faster bike try upgrading instead as the defy frame is worth the spend.

New tyres will improve the ride dramatically and were stripped imediatley when the defy arrived, a new seatpost or drop-bars will also shed some more weight but don't fall into the trap of buying carbon bars, they look good but few feel they're worth the money myself included for what you gain in weight loss.

Giant defy 4

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