Giant Defy sizing and winter usage advice sought

[Barters]

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Hi all,

I am considering buying a 2013 Giant Defy 0 as a winter bike. This will not be for commuting. Just for long base mile training (150km rides) at weekends.
The online store I was planning to buy from now only has the bike in large. Do you think this should work for me? I'm 187cm tall & currently ride a Scott CR1 SL 58cm (57.5cm top tube with a 110ml stem) which I'm happy on.

So sizing to one side has anyone here tried to winterfy their Defy wet? I mean does it take 25mm tyres (good ones like Conti Gators which are accurately sized) & mudguards. I've read mixed experiences with the Giant specific defy mudguards.

Thanks all!

Peter

 

[jowwy]

i got a defy 4 running 25mm durano pluses and defy mudguards no problems with clearance at all and easy to fit.

 

[Thomk]

I have a Defy 2 2011 but don't know if the frame/geometry is the same as the 2013 range.

I've had 25mm tyres on mine with crud roadracer 2 guards and the clearance was tight. So much so that I changed to 23mm tyres and it's better.

I am about 182.5cm tall and was in-between a medium large and a large (I bought the ML). You are taller so the L may be OK but you should of course go into a shop and try them.

 

[Arjimlad]

I'm 5`11" and 31" inside leg and the M/L Defy 2011 suits me. I use Giant's own mudguards with 23mm tyres in the winter, and the mudguards have done 2 winters. They do rattle somewhat !

During the summer I take the mudguards off and have used Giant's own 25mm tyres which have been very good.

 

[Davos87]

I bought a Giant Defy1 about three months ago. I am 6ft tall and a medium large seems to be perfect although the lbs did measure me up. I absolutely love it but given whats been said above do I NEED to be incurring expense and doing stuff to it (tyres etc) to enable me to cycle through winter??

 

[Thomk]

You might want mudguards...

 

[Barters]

I bought a Giant Defy1 about three months ago. I am 6ft tall and a medium large seems to be perfect although the lbs did measure me up. I absolutely love it but given whats been said above do I NEED to be incurring expense and doing stuff to it (tyres etc) to enable me to cycle through winter??

Hi do you know your exact height in cm?

 

[Barters]

I'm 5`11" and 31" inside leg and the M/L Defy 2011 suits me. I use Giant's own mudguards with 23mm tyres in the winter, and the mudguards have done 2 winters. They do rattle somewhat !

During the summer I take the mudguards off and have used Giant's own 25mm tyres which have been very good.

Thanks! Do you think you could get the 25mm tyres to clear the mudguards?

 

[Kies]

I bought a Giant Defy1 about three months ago. I am 6ft tall and a medium large seems to be perfect although the lbs did measure me up. I absolutely love it but given whats been said above do I NEED to be incurring expense and doing stuff to it (tyres etc) to enable me to cycle through winter??

I have used MTB style clip on mudguards with my defy 1. But that has been on social/leisure rides in damp/wet conditions. All depends on how much wet weather riding you plan to do.

 

[Arjimlad]

Thanks! Do you think you could get the 25mm tyres to clear the mudguards?

I wrote off an original Giant 25mm tyre where it rubbed on the metal bracket which goes under the brake caliper, so no, I find the 23mm best.

 

[Barters]

I wrote off an original Giant 25mm tyre where it rubbed on the metal bracket which goes under the brake caliper, so no, I find the 23mm best.

Is that the Kenda? I think the issue with those could be that they are actually bigger than the 25mm spec. Might be different with a Conti gator skin 25mm.

 

[vickster]

I have an Avail (WSD Defy) with 25mm Michelin pro tyres - Cruds rub like a sod, as they did on the stock tyres. Giant guards are meant to be better but can rattle

 

[jowwy]

in the classifieds you will see a picture of my defy 4 with 25mm tyres and giant specific mudguards. tyres are schwalbe durano plus.

 

[Arjimlad]

Is that the Kenda? I think the issue with those could be that they are actually bigger than the 25mm spec. Might be different with a Conti gator skin 25mm.

It was Giant's own PR2 tyre and basically I had not made sure that the mudguard fixing stayed central when tightening the front brake up. It was slightly off to one side. I stupidly ignored it for five miles and the tyre was borked. But I do find that 23mm rub less than 25 mm generally.

 

[Cyclist33]

I wrote off an original Giant 25mm tyre where it rubbed on the metal bracket which goes under the brake caliper, so no, I find the 23mm best.

Really?! Mind you you have the 2011 right? So a different frame than today? I've got a 2013 Defy 3, stock 25mm tyres clear the frame and brake assembly by >0.5 cm, easily

Stu