2014 Giant Defy Composite 1

eoz

I'm thinking of getting one of these. At the moment I have an alluminium bike with carbon fork with a shimano sora group set. At the moment I'm doing between 150-200k a week and planning on doing ROK and other sportives this year and thinking about maybe trying racing next year.
I'll be using my bike to work scheme against the cost of it and I'll be buying from a local bike shop. I'm on the higher tax so I'd be saving €510 so the bike will be coming in at €1490.
Any thoughts on this bike and is it the bike for my needs. Relatively new to cycling so any advice would be appreciated. It's full carbon with full ultegra with a 11 speed drivetrain.
Thanks in advance.

disco1

Its a cracking bike... Cant go wrong..comfy for sportives.. Could even do a bit of racing if ya wanted on this..

Ken.

disco1

Its a cracking bike... Cant go wrong..comfy for sportives.. Could even do a bit of racing if ya wanted on this..

Ken.

disco1

Its a cracking bike... Cant go wrong..comfy for sportives.. Could even do a bit of racing if ya wanted on this..

Ken.

disco1

Its a cracking bike... Cant go wrong..comfy for sportives.. Could even do a bit of racing if ya wanted on this..

Ken.

furiousox

The Giant store on the Long Mile Rd (Dublin) have a demo bike you can take for a weekend.

codie

disco1 wrote: »

Its a cracking bike... Cant go wrong..comfy for sportives.. Could even do a bit of racing if ya wanted on this..

Ken.

Think disco1 likes it

Side Show Bob

I just built a Defy1 (alloy) as a winter bike in november last, its slightly relaxed and really comfortable I have c1600km on it now and its one of the nicest thing that I have cycled, fantastic machine go for it & enjoy it too

rayman1

I have a Defy Advanced 1 since last March and I love it. It is basically the same bike, just a different carbon.
Have done about 4,500 km and no issues. Did the ROK and it was very comfortable. You can't go wrong with this bike.

Cyclewizard

i have the 2012 with 10sp ultegra, have over 4k on it and love it. very comfortable for sportives and longer riding rather than an agressive race orientated set up but its still pretty quick

shaka

rayman1 wrote: »

I have a Defy Advanced 1 since last March and I love it. It is basically the same bike, just a different carbon.
Have done about 4,500 km and no issues. Did the ROK and it was very comfortable. You can't go wrong with this bike.

Have new one on order

justoon

1st time buyer,
would you go the
Giant Defy Composite 1
or the
Giant defy 1

http://road-bikes.findthebest.com/compare/1256-1281/2013-Giant-Defy-Composite-3-vs-2013-Giant-Defy-1

TonyStark

disco1 wrote: »

Its a cracking bike... Cant go wrong..comfy for sportives.. Could even do a bit of racing if ya wanted on this..

Ken.

Pretty good is it... .:-) ?

Mercian Pro

Should take delivery of my Defy Comp 2 later this week once the Bike to Work payment comes through. Went from a long-list of 10 to a short-list of 2 (Canyon Ultimate CF 7 was the other) before deciding on the Defy. All 10 were full carbon, relaxed/sportif geometry and 105 or equivalent so there is a lot of choice out there.
Looking forward to some good cycles ahead including the IHF San Sebastián to Barcelona trip in July.

rollingscone

justoon wrote: »

1st time buyer,
would you go the
Giant Defy Composite 1
or the
Giant defy 1

http://road-bikes.findthebest.com/compare/1256-1281/2013-Giant-Defy-Composite-3-vs-2013-Giant-Defy-1

Having never ridden either all I can tell you is it depends on your budget and the groupset, the Composite is a nicer frame and Tiagra isn't going to be noticeably different from 105 unless you race, but it does feel nicer to tell people that you have 105 (or for your bike to).

Defy is sold as an entry level roadbike (hence the number of flat pedalled, sora equipped commuter Defys ambling about with racks or someone in GAA shorts on them) so it's not the most exciting frame in the world but Giant do make excellent frames...very much the Toyota of the cycling world and their composite material will offer many of the benefits of Carbon Fibre frames.

That said, for all of their benefits on the pragmatic side, the Defy series bikes are a bit whitebread; and it's important to have a roadbike you can fall in love with as looking at it will fill you with longing for actually being out on it.

Cyclewizard

rollingscone wrote: »

Having never ridden either all I can tell you is it depends on your budget and the groupset, the Composite is a nicer frame and Tiagra isn't going to be noticeably different from 105 unless you race, but it does feel nicer to tell people that you have 105 (or for your bike to).

Defy is sold as an entry level roadbike (hence the number of flat pedalled, sora equipped commuter Defys ambling about with racks or someone in GAA shorts on them) so it's not the most exciting frame in the world but Giant do make excellent frames...very much the Toyota of the cycling world and their composite material will offer many of the benefits of Carbon Fibre frames.

That said, for all of their benefits on the pragmatic side, the Defy series bikes are a bit whitebread; and it's important to have a roadbike you can fall in love with as looking at it will fill you with longing for actually being out on it.

It would share the benefit of carbon because it is carbon. Composite refers to t600 where the advanced uses t700 and the advanced sl pro bikes use t800. Higher grades of carbon.

It's true falling in love with a bike is important and I love mine. I have an older bianchi and a specialized, the bianchi complete with campag and cinelli but I like my composite more, looks wise and the ride. So well balanced and quick especially for a sportive style geometry. One things for sure, if you don't enjoy the ride of a bike then you won't be happy with it, no matter how stealthy or pretty it looks.

One thing though I personally love my colour scheme and a lot of the 2012's but giant can be hit and miss, some of the colour combos and graphics can look awful and a couple of the 2014 models don't look the best in my opinion.