Giant Defy 4, or Specialized Allez?

Nova_era

I'm buying my first racer at the weekend, from my local bike shop, and it's come down to these two bikes.

I had my heart set on a Specialized, but the Giant seems like pretty nice bikes as well, and there is'nt really much of a difference in price (both the ones I'm looking at are under €700).

The Giant has a triple chainset, and the Specialized has a compact. I've been told that unless you overly unfit, there's no point in opting for a bike with a triple?

As far as either bike goes, are they both pretty decent entry level bikes, while still being pretty decent as far as performance goes?

I'm not sure what other criteria to measure them by, apart from the fact that the Giant looks more like what I've always imagined a racing bike to look like. That's just me being silly though, right?

Any opinons would be greatly appreciated, I'm very undecisive.

Thanks,
Rory

EDIT - Links to both bikes specs/pics

http://www.specialized.com/gb/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=45679&eid=4350

http://www2.giant-bicycles.com/en-GB/bikes/model/defy.4/4861/38962/

TheJones

have a defy for kicking around town, however I secretly die a little when I see those smug gits on their cheaper sexier allez's pull up at at a junction (p.s. forgive the anglisation of the french Allez but couldn't care less;))

In short both will deliver similiar performance for your money so the choice will be mostly cosmetic however there's nothing stopping you from trying both in ur LBS

Nova_era

I plan on trying both of them out before I make my decision, but to be honest the only thing which I expect to notice is the difference in position, which I've heard is a big contrast between the two.. Cosmetics is the main thing I guess, I want the Allez but it just looks a bit plain. Not as in your face as I want my bike to be. :P

TheJones

Agreed, it is ur money so why not get what you want, the giant compact geometry is not for everyone but I still prefer it to my steel ride any day of the week as far as looks are concerned. Well worth an upgrade as you progress also! good luck

Acoustic

i dont know much about the specialized

but going by the looks the defy 4 is far nicer looking

CheGuedara

Well they're very nice, and very similar bikes but as much as I would ordinarily promote the Giant in this instance the Spesh gets the vote.

Leaving aesthetics out of the picture - the frames are not significantly different and the wheels, brakes and drivechain (short of the chainset difference) are nearly identical. Both have in house finishing kit so nothing in it there either BUT the spesh does have a carbon fiber fork which will make a difference over longer rides by damping road buzz a small bit and gets my vote for that reason.

There is a difference in the gearing that is worth consideration. If you are strongish on the bike get the spesh (it still has a good 39x25 gear for climbs) but if you havent yet found your climbing legs the giant offers some really low gears (30x26)that should get you up the north face.

FWIW the spesh does come in a classic spesh team red that is pretty stand out

Nova_era

CheGuedara wrote: »

Well they're very nice, and very similar bikes but as much as I would ordinarily promote the Giant in this instance the Spesh gets the vote.

Leaving aesthetics out of the picture - the frames are not significantly different and the wheels, brakes and drivechain (short of the chainset difference) are nearly identical. Both have in house finishing kit so nothing in it there either BUT the spesh does have a carbon fiber fork which will make a difference over longer rides by damping road buzz a small bit and gets my vote for that reason.

There is a difference in the gearing that is worth consideration. If you are strongish on the bike get the spesh (it still has a good 39x25 gear for climbs) but if you havent yet found your climbing legs the giant offers some really low gears (30x26)that should get you up the north face.

FWIW the spesh does come in a classic spesh team red that is pretty stand out

Thanks a lot for the reply. I currently ride a Trek 7.0 hybrid, and while being completely unaware as to technical speak, I understand that it has 3 chains, each with 7 gears to choose from (I think). I never use the lowest of the 3, therefore using just 2 and 3. I imagine these numbers are chainrings, apologies if I'm being very confusing.

As I have no problem climibing using the middle chainring, should I be able to cope with the Allez, or would I need to go for the Giant in order to have similar gears to my hybrid?

Thanks again

CheGuedara

Well if you're only ever using the middle (38T) and the large (48T) rings on the Trek you'll probably be fine with the double (39T & 53T) on the Spesh.

If you have doubts you could always consider seeing if the shop you're buying from will exchange the chainset for a compact (34T & 50T). Note a compact chainset is stock on the Allez Sport double if you wanted to go stronger on the price. The ultimate difference between the two is you get better drivechain components on the sport version with little difference elsewhere on the bike.

Raam

My first bike was a Spesh Allez with 53/39 and 105/Ultegra. Great bike. I got it about 3 or 4 years ago and I raced it this season and it didn't hold me back. Granted, the only original things on it are the frame itself, chainrings, brakes, right shifter, stem and seatpost. I got new bars because the originals were too wide. New wheels... cos the others got wrecked when I crashed, same for the saddle. The rest was just wear and tear.

Nova_era

Cheers again for the advice.

I'm not entirely happy with the two bikes on offer in the shop, so I might ask if a Spesh allez sport could be ordered in, that's what I had in mind at the start. The Allez itself just looks like a hybrid with drops, and they don't have a Defy in my side.

Are bike shops happy to order in bikes, or would they rather you chose from what they have in stock?

TheJones

Its your money! Don't forget they're not doing you any favours and will still take the commission whether the bike is in stock or on order, if you know what you want and what size you need then shop around including checking online stores for the best bargain etc..

Nova_era

I'll do that. I've looked all around the internet but delivery is the constant stumbling point, any website I've tried to buy from has said they won't deliver to Ireland. So I went in yesterday and it was'nt as expensive as I had feared, so I said I'd shop there.

DePurpereWolf

The good thing about Giants (and Treks for that matter) I've found out is that most stores hold to the advise price. In other words, the base price for a Giant Defy 2 is E1075 wherever you go. For other brands 'devinci, ridley, spech' the quality is equivalent but you don't know how much they are taking you for a walk. If they are trying to sell you a spech instead of a Giant, it is probably because they can earn a 50 more from it.


(I think the Giant is prettier)

corkandproud

Nova_era wrote: »

So I went in yesterday and it was'nt as expensive as I had feared, so I said I'd shop there.

Where are you buying?

Nova_era

corkandproud wrote: »

Where are you buying?

Victoria Cross

briano

I bought a Defy 4 over the summer and am very happy with it, although I have a compact with mine.

Nova_era

Thanks for all the help guys, it was really useful.

After a lot of thinking and discussion with various bike shops in Cork, I put down a deposit on a Trek 1.2 today, with a compact chain ring. It'll be a few weeks before it's in the shop, but I've got my name on one and I can't wait to get it.

The difference in service between different shops was INSANE. I went from being ignored and insulted in one place, to being embraced and respected in another, all in the space of an hour. Needless to say, the latter got the money which was burning a hole in my pocket.

The helpfullness of Victoria Cross cycles in Cork definetly justifies the slightly higher than internet price.

BanzaiBk

Vic Cross Cycles = gentlemen.

RobFowl

Just read this thread and good luck with the Trek Nova era.
I'm just a little shocked no one has tried to persuade you to buy a focus or planet x :rolleyes:

DePurpereWolf

Now I wonder who insulted you then. Just nod if the store is located on Kyle street. Or maybe on Barack street?

I like VC too because I feel the guy is more of a salesperson than the other shops. Sometimes that's a good thing.

Nova_era

DePurpereWolf wrote: »

Now I wonder who insulted you then. Just nod if the store is located on Kyle street. Or maybe on Barack street?

I like VC too because I feel the guy is more of a salesperson than the other shops. Sometimes that's a good thing.

Kyle street? Is that by any chance the one by Cornmarket street?

Block (8

Nova_era wrote: »

Kyle street? Is that by any chance the one by Cornmarket street?

That's the side street where you are heading towards north main street from cornmarket and it's on the left yes?

When I went in the first time I saw a guy talking to one of the sales person and just as he left he goes into the back and says something to the other and both were in hysterical fits.
Jeez I thought to myself I'm not going to ask them anything as I'm just starting off.

Bought all my gear online but ordered the wrong cleats so I popped in asking for some cleats and the guy just looks at me waiting for me to finish my sentence.
I thought he was going to show me what he has, apparently not so I said look keos he gives them to me I paid for it but I swear by the lack of interest I got them for free :rolleyes:

I bought a second hand bike God knows where I'm going to go in Cork if something goes wrong

Nova_era

Yep that's the place I was referring to when I said I had been "insulted". I went in there to buy a bike (with the intention of paying there and then), as my dad used to buy his gear in there back in the day. The guy who serves me (reluctantly, he seemed to be irked by having to leave the back room and deal with a customer), was completely uninterested, and did his best to ensure I'd never go back there. I asked when would they be getting the 2010 Trek series in, and he laughed at me and said "I hav'nt a clue".

I'm never going back there again, that's for sure, and I'll be passing my sentiments onto any friends who might be thinking of popping in.

Vic cycles was the polar opposite, and the bike I bought was around €70 cheaper.

kcphoto

Ah I thought that was just me ..."happy" at last to hear others have had a similar experience in that particular shop on Kyle st in Cork.
I bought a Giant SCR4 their last year and it still pains me that I didn't spend my money some where that they might be grateful for it.
(I had the money to buy - knew what I wanted and had one day off work to source it - it was the only place i could find it in stock so purchased it).
I brought it back this year for a service, thinking it might have been a one off and again felt the service was poor - made to feel like I was inconveniencing them by spending money there.
Couldn't get them on the phone to find out if the bike was ready and when i called in I was told that they weren't answering the phone anymore because they were too busy - they just check the messages every so often.
I hope it stays that way for them !
I don't doubt the knowledge and expertise in there but very off-putting attitude.

BTW - I know you've made a decision but the Giant has been a great bike for me.

I should balance out that negative feedback by saying that I went in to worldwidecycles in Clonmel before I bought the bike and the response to a total newbie asking stupid questions could not have been better. Took down a bike to try the sizes, chatted and advised me for about 20 mins but unfortunately didn't have my size frame.Also rang me a few days later (as promised) to let me know stock availability etc. Excellent service.