Giant Defy 5 or Carrera Virtuoso

valleyoftheunos

Planning to buy my first Road Bike this week and have narrowed it down to ither the Defy 5 or the Virtuoso and am wondering does anyone here have any opinions.

To put it in context I expect it to get a decent amount of use, three or four rides a week but mostly just leisure riding with mates, 40 - 60Km that sort of distance, nothing competitive. I have an ok residual level of fitness but am currently pretty out of shape. unless you consider round a shape.

I would generally have a preference for the Defy as Giant is a good brand but the Virtuoso is on sale currently which makes it a pretty tempting option.

Thanks for any advice, opinions or otherwise!

funkyjebus

valleyoftheunos wrote: »

Planning to buy my first Road Bike this week and have narrowed it down to ither the Defy 5 or the Virtuoso and am wondering does anyone here have any opinions.

To put it in context I expect it to get a decent amount of use, three or four rides a week but mostly just leisure riding with mates, 40 - 60Km that sort of distance, nothing competitive. I have an ok residual level of fitness but am currently pretty out of shape. unless you consider round a shape.

I would generally have a preference for the Defy as Giant is a good brand but the Virtuoso is on sale currently which makes it a pretty tempting option.

Thanks for any advice, opinions or otherwise!

I'd go with the defy. As you cycle more you WILL get the bug and end up upgrading something on the bike. The defy frame would be a better giving you a good basis of bike if you did end up upgrading (you will, trust me).

Just to confuse matters, If it was me I'd stretch to something with a carbon fork, depending on your size, this might be worth a look. Its also worth considering that all these bike have the old sora groupset which got a good upgrade in quality recently.

valleyoftheunos

funkyjebus wrote: »

I'd go with the defy. As you cycle more you WILL get the bug and end up upgrading something on the bike. The defy frame would be a better giving you a good basis of bike if you did end up upgrading (you will, trust me).

Just to confuse matters, If it was me I'd stretch to something with a carbon fork, depending on your size, this might be worth a look. Its also worth considering that all these bike have the old sora groupset which got a good upgrade in quality recently.

Cheers for that, I'm thinking the Defy might be the better bet alright!

Dotsie~tmp

You can get a really good second hand bike for €600. Some almost new.

Seaneh

funkyjebus wrote: »

Just to confuse matters, If it was me I'd stretch to something with a carbon fork, depending on your size, this might be worth a look. Its also worth considering that all these bike have the old sora groupset which got a good upgrade in quality recently.

This is good advice except that bike has 2300 not Sora. But I'd go further and say that for an extra €100 (€505) you can get the same bike with a the new Sora groupset, which is lighter, much better shifting and has the proper sti levers.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-5-road-bike-black-id_8239801.html

Or the same bike again for an extra €300 with Tiagra 10x2 groupset for €707.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-7-road-bike-black-id_8239802.html


I think, value for money wise, the triban 5 with Sora is the best value for money, but the Triban 7 is the best spec, and still far cheaper than you pay for a full tiagra bike in an Irish brick and mortar store!

funkyjebus

Seaneh wrote: »

This is good advice but I'd go further and say that for an extra €100 you can get the same bike with a the new Sora groupset, which is lighter, much better shifting and has the proper sti levers.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-5-road-bike-black-id_8239801.html

Agreed, I'd go with that although they dont appear to have any stock.

Seaneh

funkyjebus wrote: »

Agreed, I'd go with that although they dont appear to have any stock.

Aye, which is a pity, but the might have one in store in belfast, worth phoning them.

Or just throw an extra €200 onto it and get the tiagra

valleyoftheunos

Thanks very much guys, i'm probably not able to avail of the BTW scheme so Decathlon might be an option!

thinks too much

I have a 2012 giant defy for sale if you are interested...I bought it in November and its a size 51/52 frame..I am 5ft 8 if that's any good to you in terms of seeing if it is good size wise for you..it has shimano 2300 gears ...I will let it go for €350 if you are interested...I will send you some pics if you are..great bike...I upgraded to a defy 2 hence my reason for selling....

valleyoftheunos

I went with the Virtuoso in the end. Ultimately my budget couldn't stretch to the Defy and I wasn't free to go to Belfast. Picked it up yesterday and went for a little 10k spin, its very different to anything I've ridden before so it will take a bit of getting used to but I like it and I'm sure it will do a good job for me. Who Knows in 12 months I might be in a position to go for something a bit more serious.

Thanks to everyone for the advice and opinions.