Giant Defy as a tourer

[Iainj837]

Advice needed, I have a Giant Defy 1 and I was wondering how hard would it be for me to turn it into a touring bike, the reason I ask is I did over 200 km over 2 days on it with wearing a back pack which in previous threads is not advisable and I can see the reason for this advice, would I need to change the gear set up or leave it as it is
It has mudguards and I have 700 X 23 tyres but had 700 x25 when I got the bike.
I know it would need a rear rack

 

[berty bassett]

i got the giant rapid 2 what i think is the same bike but with flat bars . it also has triple chain rings i fitted a rear rack and everything worked a treat ! if anything you have better set up already as drop bars give you more positions when the wind blows or hands go numb and a compact double is just as good as a triple - sure you just use what your got ! there cant be much difference in 1st gear in either -- and you need first alot on a loaded bike in wales

 

[2Loose]

It'll never do heavily laden touring, but depending on which wheels and groupset your Defy 1 was blessed with, it may well be cheap to create a fast light tourer\commuter.

My 2010 Defy2 has CXP22 wheels (32hole), so should cope with a few extra Kg...a Velocity rack and panniers will fit fine. 25T cassette swapped out for a 28T jobbie to help with weight on any hills and perhaps a bar bag. Should cope with an extra 20Kg without any problems imho.

 

[defy-one]

Remember our bike doesn't have rack lugs. And be careful how much weight you are going to hang off the carbon seatpost.

 

[Iainj837]

Remember our bike doesn't have rack lugs. And be careful how much weight you are going to hang off the carbon seatpost.

Mine seems to have rack lugs mine is a 2011 model and I have mud guards

 

[Crackle]

I've used a road bike for touring. Keep the weight down, put on as wide tyres as you can or want, be prepared for slightly twitchier handling and a little less stability and you probably won't have the right gears for climbing with a load, so consider a bigger rear cassette or take a camera and pause for scenery shots at strategic moments.

 

[2Loose]

Remember our bike doesn't have rack lugs. And be careful how much weight you are going to hang off the carbon seatpost.

Use a seatpost clamp mount rather than directly on the seatpost. Something like this or this

 

[berty bassett]

sure it has rack lugs - mine has and coped well with all i needed for a weekend camping - i am only a lightweight myself so if the bike was built to take a 15 stone bloke and i am only 10 then surely i have 5 to play with - and theres no way i was carrying 5 stone

 

[lukesdad]

Iain ive used 3 different bikes for touring this year and yours is far better suited to the purpose than any of mine. Get a rack bolted on and off you go.