Giant Defy 2 - Alternatives?

[Mista Preston]

Ive had the SCR 2.0 for just a year now. I went for it to get me into the sport plus it was the best priced entry level bike i could find at the time other than the Spesh Allez which was a little more expensive. The tiagra set up is better than the sora on the 3.0 imho. The frames are the same.

I would give a big thumbs up to the SCR 2.0. Its been a great bike for me and has totally got me hooked on road bikes. I am saving up for my N+1 now : )

 

[trustysteed]

i've had a SCR 2.0 for 3.5 years and it's been brilliant. haven't experienced any issues with the wheels rims (Alex DA22) or spoke tension (haven't had to have any maintenance at all). changed the back tyre once and ridden about 3000kms on the bike.

 

[koro]

Thanks for all the info. The SCR 2 certainly seems to hold a good secondhand value....

Trying ebay, what a pain in the arse that is, but will keep trying.
At this rate a defy will soon be available that I could afford .

On another note, my wife is looking at getting a Specialised Allez Sport, on the cycle to work scheme. Nice bike....

 

[Norm]

Allez Sport is a lovely bike, and I have a friend with a 2010 model for sale at £550.

I also got my bike (Spesh Secteur Sport) through a C2W scheme, thus getting a better discount than he was willing to offer.

 

[koro]

That was my thinking also....

We had intended to buy a couple of secondhand bikes, £350 ish each. When I found that my sister is able to use the Cycle to Works cheme, it became a no brainer..Unfotunately my wife gets ther new bike and I the secondhand one at a similar price, to what she ends up paying..

 

[Dan B]

My first port of call for Giant bikes would be J E James www.jejamescycles.co.uk who from time to time (haven't checked recently) have some killer deals on previous years models

 

[koro]

Hi, just an update..

I have been reading the posts daily on this forum, excellent read and informative. So I thought that before I start asking for more info, I should update with what has been going on from my original thread.

Well, my LBs using the CTW scheme put 2 bikes down on one quote. So lucky me got a Defy 2. My wife got herself a Spec Allez Sport Ellite. Collected them yesterday, both in the lounge looking awesome..

The LBs as part of the deal agreed for 2 sets of SPD`s, Myself 2 sided and my wife, having a platform on one side. As I dont have a pedal spanner, (tight that I am) the LBs put them on for us...originally as both new to SPD`s, I told my wife that she could get used to toeclips first

Well the weather aint too good at the mo to start trying them, lol.

One thing that my wife did ask, when do you know when to change the tyres, they are bold to start off with..so as not to look stupid I pretended to ignore that one. What are these tyres like in the wet?

Cheers
Koro

 

[John the Monkey]

One thing that my wife did ask, when do you know when to change the tyres, they are bold to start off with..so as not to look stupid I pretended to ignore that one. What are these tyres like in the wet?

you should change them when they're badly damaged (large cuts in the tread, or if the sidewall is damaged). Getting a lot of punctures can also indicate excessive wear.

On road, these tyres should be better than a tyre with a tread pattern, because bike tyres can't aquaplane at the speeds most of us are capable of reaching. Smooth tyres won't "squirm" around corners as the tread blocks deform, or trap nasty little puncture causing bits in their pattern.

Tread patterns work better than smooth tyres where the surface you're on has loose or slippy material on it - in this case, the tread pattern penetrates that layer and gives you traction that a smooth tyre struggles to.

see; http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tires.html#tread

 

[koro]

Thanks JTM,

I have printed out the page of the link you posted, I can now show the Mrs how silly she was thinking they were unsafe..

Cheers
Koro

 

[jasonmccullum]

i bought a defy 3 (2010) on the c2w scheme. which means instead of paying £625 i am only paying £400... which is very close to your budget. Have you considered doing this instead?????