Specialized Allez Sport vs Giant Defy 2

Lemlin

Sorry, folks, this is my third thread on the topic I know but want to get it right. I'm doing the bike to work scheme and planned to start out spending about €500 to €600 on the bike and then €200 on accessories. Then I moved up to about €800 to €850 on the bike and the rest on accessories.

Now, I've changed my plan. Everyone keeps advising me to spend as much as I can on the bike so I've decided to spend the full €950 to €1000 on the bike. Then I can get a helmet, padded shorts and mud guards from my LBS when I buy the bike. I know these items are probably available cheaper online but, with sizing, I'd prefer to buy them there and then. My LBS are €38 for the helmet, €65 for a very good pair of over shoulder padded shorts and €15 for the mud guards. I can buy the other accessories I'll need over time myself.

So, I have it down to two bikes and here's where I wanted the advice:

Griant Defy 2 - €999 in LBS

http://www.mycycle.ie/GIANT-DEFY-2-2013-p/gd213.htm

Specialized Allez Sport - €949 in LBS

http://www.mycycle.ie/specialized-allez-sport-2013-p/speallez13.htm

I had read advice on here to go for the best gear set I can and the Defy 2 has Tiagra but my LBS was saying that its not full Tiagra and he is actually recommending the Specialized. He says I'd be better go with a bike that is one gear set in full rather than a half attempt at Tiagra.

I plan to cycle both at the shop this weekend but I was wondering if anyone with a good knowledge of bikes had any comments on the specs of the two etc.

triggermortis

At that price level I can't see why you would be advised to pick a full groupset equipped bike over a mixed set one. I have a Cube with full Sora and a Boardman with 105/SRAM mix and have had no issues with either. The weight isn't really an issue at this end of the scale, and performance is about the same if you keep things clean and lubed
I'd ride both the bikes and then decide which you prefer after that

Lemag

I'd go with the Giant. It's shifters and mechs are 10 speed Tiagra which, as you know, is a step up from Sora. There won't be any compatibility issues regarding the brakes and chainset.

mossym

i have a mix on my felt and no issues, and i would agree with lemag, if one is 10 speed and the other 9 i;d take the 10 as it gives you better upgrade options if you want them

paddyduc

Of those 2 I'd have the Giant for the 10sp tiagra mix but if you can find a 2012 lapierre audacio 400 anywhere it's full tiagra 7005 frame and around the €980 mark

Zippe

hey,
i just found this thread so you might have have got sorted,i have bee looking for a winter training bike my self and have tried out the giant defy and the specialized allez,the giant defy has a longer head tube than the allez,this is a more relaxed bike where the allez is more of a race breed of a bike,others will have other things to say im sure,i started off with a tcr carbon this winter but it was to good of a bike for winter and too much money stuck in a training bike so i sold it again,i gave myself 400-500 to buy a 2nd hand bike and i got a 2010 defy4 (alloy fork) i found this bike a nice bike and very relaxed bike to ride but the alloy fork was the only down side,it had shimano 2300 shifting and tekro brakes,plenty good for anyone starting or as a training bike,i sold this and went for the 2009 defy4 as it had a carbon fork and had a upgraded groupset to tiagra,the carbon fork was the most thing i was after,the carbon fork did make a difference on the long spins on bad roads but i wanted a bike with a lower front and more of a race geometry,i had a look around and found a 2012 allez sport with shimano 2300 at a good price,only thing with this bike is it came with a compact chainset and i wanted a 52 or 53t chainset,but i up graded the groupset to 10speed tiagra groupset with 52/39t chainset as i had someone to buy the 2300 gear off me,and i upgraded the wheels to fulcrum quattros,this is where i stoped looking as i like the allez the best,

there is not much difference in th 2013 sora and tiagra only 1 extra gear but as its only your first bike the allez sport with shimano 2300 is a very good bike with the carbon fork to start on,you will pick the 2013 allez sport up for 680

the giant defy5 is also a good bike and a more relaxed geometry but it comes with a alloy fork and it comes with shimano 2300,

i dont think you will notice the difference in groupset or number of gears as your just starting out,it is just as important to have good gear for your self so you will need to spend nice bit on this stuff too,

the most thing you will benefit the most from is a "proper" bike fit,


this is just what i think but im sure others think different,

here is the pics of what i tried out,

cheers zip,

Seaneh

At that price range I reckon the CAAD8 cannot be beaten.

With 2300 for €750 or SORA for €875


It's basically an Aluminium SuperSix.