Buying a Giant experience.....

Yrag2E

Hi guys,

first time poster in here but read it a lot and find the advice great.

Bought a Giant Defy 2 from a very well known retailer in Dublin City Centre.

This is a 2013 model. I was upgrading from a similar bike but not a defy.

First issue I had was, they never fitted me and told me a L would fit me straight up. I trusted them, they sell these bikes. I'm 5'10" 32" Leg.

Frame is huge and slightly uncomfortable on the reach. Everything else is fine.

After spending 1k on this, feeling slightly hard done by on the frame size. A M/L would probably have fitted me better, even a M.

Second issue is the tyres on the bike are S-R4. On the website the spec is for P-R3. Puncture resistant. This was something I specificly asked for when buying the bike. Have they swapped the 2 tyres? I've already been through 2 punctures.

My questions are, is there much difference with the tyres?
The Frame size seems to only effect me on the reach, would a new stem resolve this.
Where do I stand with this bike shop or how would any one else approach this?

Cheers!

cassette50

On the first issue - I have the same measurements as yourself and I went for the M/L frame which was a perfect fit for me. A shorter stem might fix the problem for you.

Dotsie~tmp

Yrag2E wrote: »

Hi guys,

first time poster in here but read it a lot and find the advice great.

Bought a Giant Defy 2 from a very well known retailer in Dublin City Centre.

This is a 2013 model. I was upgrading from a similar bike but not a defy.

First issue I had was, they never fitted me and told me a L would fit me straight up. I trusted them, they sell these bikes. I'm 5'10" 32" Leg.

Frame is huge and slightly uncomfortable on the reach. Everything else is fine.

After spending 1k on this, feeling slightly hard done by on the frame size. A M/L would probably have fitted me better, even a M.

Second issue is the tyres on the bike are S-R4. On the website the spec is for P-R3. Puncture resistant. This was something I specificly asked for when buying the bike. Have they swapped the 2 tyres? I've already been through 2 punctures.

My questions are, is there much difference with the tyres?
The Frame size seems to only effect me on the reach, would a new stem resolve this.
Where do I stand with this bike shop or how would any one else approach this?

Cheers!

1. I'm 6'1 and my L Defy with 110mm stem stretches me even a bit. If you havent had it long I'd go back and look for a trade. A remedy might be very short stem and pushed saddle. How is standover height?

2. Bin the stock tyres. They are crap, trust me I know my nickname in the house is "paddy-puncture". Get Continental gatorskins or Bontrager racelite hardcase or Schwalbe durano plus, whichever you find on sale online. The marathons are too heavy stay away heavy.

shaka

Near enough same size as you and L would kill me but stem should sort it , in this instance a bike fit might be worth it. Dd you go back to bike shop to complain ?

codie

I'm 6ft and I have an m/l and fits perfect.If it were me I would be going back to the shop.You could change the stem but not drastically as it could effect handling of the bike.Go back, you will never be happy with it, you will always have it in the back of your mind this bike is too big.

AmberGold

I have a rake of bikes all size 56cm. I'm 181cm
The Giant I ride is M/L w a 100mm stem.

Print out this and show the shop, look for a M/L, any Guff name and Shame.

happytramp

If there's no chance of a trade then a combination of a shorter stem (say 90mm) cheap enough compact handlebars, and moving the saddle forward 5-10mm should set you straight reach wise. Worked for me anyway on a frame that was slightly too big. Shouldn't set you back more than €40 total.

biketard

I'm the same size as you, and yes, a M/L would've been a much better fit. The stem change should hopefully sort you out, but I would ask the shop if they would consider changing the frame size. Good luck.

C3PO

At 5'11" my M/L TCR is a perfect fit! I would also get away with a Medium but Large was just too big - it feels like a gate! You shouldn't be using your saddle position to adjust "reach" and IMO anything less than a 90mm stem is too short on a road bike!
If at all possible I would try to change for a M/L. If the shop won't help you could sell yours and get a cash discount (from another shop!!!) on a new one.

SetOverSet

OP, FWIW, I've a Giant Defy 2 myself. I'm 1.75m (around 5'9") and a M fits me perfect. Given your height & inside leg, I would think a M or M/L would be a better fit.

Yrag2E

Thanks guys,

Stand over height is fine and I was riding a Defy 3 (2011) L fine until now. It's like a massive jump though.

Will go back to the shop and see what my options are. Just rang them about the tyres and they came me some bull.

Dotsie~tmp

Yrag2E wrote: »

Thanks guys,

Stand over height is fine and I was riding a Defy 3 (2011) L fine until now. It's like a massive jump though.

Will go back to the shop and see what my options are. Just rang them about the tyres and they came me some bull.

In fairness the tyres are fine if you live in a civilsed country where roads dont try to kill you and scum dont spend their weekends smashing bottles for no reason. If stand over is good maybe you have odd body like me. Kind of long legged and short armed. Try push the saddle and a new 90mm stem.

666bxg

I'm about the same 'dimensions' as you and an M/L fits me fine.

Strangely enough a friend recently bought a Defy from a city centre outlet and was 'shoved' an L sized bike, when an M/L is his actual size. Sales assistant insisted on this fact and adjusted the stem to suit him etc. I convinced my friend to swap it for an M/L. Shop said nothing and swapped him straight away for the correct sizes bike.

Just beware some retailers are keen to offload certain less popular sizes of bikes

Wicklowrider

http://bit.ly/10grrGG

Show this to the shop and get an exchange.

Unregistered.

Name and shame OP. No point in letting this happen to others.

rayman1

I am 6'1" and 33" leg and recently got a Defy 1 size M/L and it fits perfectly.
They definitely sold you a size too big. I would ask the shop for a M/L.