First Bike what do you think

[gbb]

Its also important Danny not to compromise too much...or you'll regret it later.
IF you're hearts set on a pure roadbike, and you compromise now..you'll regret it in the summer. That was my experience a few years ago...couldnt get what i really wanted at the time, compromised...and hated what i got with a vengeance later.
Randochaps advice maybe needs to be thought about...what do you REALLY want, and what do you want it for.
If you want longer rides, primarily on the road, a sporty bike for fitness..get a roadbike.
If you're more relaxed and want steadier rides, a tourer or something similar may be more appropriate all year round.

How do you see yourself Danny ?

 

[Paulus]

Good morning all, I'll chuck my twopence in. The Giant looks a good bike. As long as it has clearence for mudguards in the winter 'guards could always be fitted using P clips. If He doesn't want or need a rack so be it. Maybe he has no need to carry stuff back and forwards to work, some people don't. We seem to gone a bit off topic here.

 

[dannygt4]

Thanks for all the help and comments

I have looked and thought about hybrids / tourers but feel a road bike will suit me best in the long term, short term its probably best for me not to have a road bike but I cannot afford 2 bikes or have to replace this one in 6 months time once I get more advanced . Below are why I think a road bike is best which I should have probably mentioned before

• nothing to carry apart from laptop and change of clothes once I get there, so a rucksack should be fine

• The route to work is just 2 roads, an a and b road, will only be crossing a total of 3 junctions and the road is pretty good condition. I know of a couple of pot holes but I have already learned to avoid these when driving my Elise which is quite hardcore for a car so probably already used to being uncomfortable and a road bike will probably no problem lol.

• My aim is not just for a commute but I also want to build up fitness, weekend road rides 30 miles at the start and hopefully progressing to a lot more in the future and maybe joining one of the bike clubs I have seen riding about locally. Also have thought about long cycle days / holidays in the summer if I get my fitness up.


Didn't think of mudguards to be honest as was going to take a change of clothes, will see how I go and if need be get the raceblades.

Thanks again for the help guys, really don't know much about the bikes and just wanted to make sure I wasn't getting an overpriced not very good bike.

All being well I should be on the road in under a month

 

[punkypossum]

I looked at a defy in the shop (the 2.5) and I'm pretty sure it had the eyelets for mudguards, rack, etc.

 

[Danny]

nothing to carry apart from laptop and change of clothes once I get there, so a rucksack should be fine

Hi - it's good to have another dannyg on the forum.

As you've seen nearly every question posed on this forum will elicit any number of different and conflicting responses. I don't disagree with what anyone has said in this thread. They are all valid points of view depending on how you are planning to use the bike.

For what it's worth, my view is that while carrying a laptop in a rucksack is doable, you'll find it a lot more comfortable using a pannier, particularly if you have a long commute. If it's only a few miles I wouldn't worry, but if it is a long commute I would seriously consider getting a bike that can take a rack. Or at the very least you should borrow a bike and try cycling in with a full rucksack to see how it feels.

 

[MacB]

As a novice myself I've been through exactly this just recently. The Defy will take mudguards and rack, there are Defy specific mudguards available, but it didn't look like a match made in heaven to me. However I decided on something sturdier and more hybrid orientated so went for the Giant CRS Alliance, full mudguards and rack. The frame is identical to the FCR Alliance but it has flat bars, a slightly lower spec on parts and wider tyres. I wanted to get a frame worth adding better bits to in future, and I hope I have. If drops are your thing then the FCR range would seem more tempting to me and you can get great deals on the 2008 range right now, approx 25% off.

I started with a rucksack but hated it, I'm sure it would have improved along with my fitness but it just served to assist me in overheating faster. I also found the rucksack gave me pains between the shoulder blades and didn't help with my balance. I invested in the Ortlieb panniers and find them great, most days I only use one of them.

I may go to a full on road for social rides sometime but reckon it's pointless until I've lost the excess 60-70lbs I carry personally