Looking for good Road Bike for Everyday Commuting, fitness/fun etc

[Chelinka]

Hi all,

So I've been commuting the past few years on an old, heavy hybrid, but it is quite old and breaking very often so I think its high time to upgrade!

I've been looking into some lightweight, fast road bikes for everyday use - with that I really mean 365 days a year, in all weather conditions, be it rain or snow or sunshine. So full length mudguards are a must. I have a budget of approx £1000 but can be flexible.

So after some research and visits to my LBS (which mainly stock Giant bikes for road) I've set my eyes on two models:

Giant Defy 1 (£1000).
Giant Defy Composite 3 (usually £1250, but discounted to £1125 for a showroom model at my LBS).

I was wondering which one would be better? The Defy 1 is an aluminium frame but has got 105 components, whereas the Composite is one step lower on Tiagra, but has got a full carbon frame, for only about a 100 bucks more. And I guess the Composite will be a lot lighter since its Carbon?

I almost went for the Defy 1 as its got loads of rave reviews, but the carbon frame of the composite is also very alluring....

Any recommendations?

Thanks!

 

[snorri]

I've been looking into some lightweight, fast road bikes for everyday use - with that I really mean 365 days a year, in all weather conditions, be it rain or snow or sunshine. So full length mudguards are a must.

You'll never find it, they don't make bikes which fulfil all of your requirements.
You will need to buy several different models and just use the one that suits your needs on the day.

 

[Cooper645]

Not sure if these reviews will help but here goes

Giant Defy 1


Giant Defy Comp 3

Defy comp 3 is only 0.69kgs (1.518lbs) lighter than the 8.87kg Defy 1


I think I would be torn also, but would end up going for the Defy 1, purely because of the groupset.

HTH, Coops

 

[Kies]

Also be aware that you will have to use Defy specific mudguards as the tolerances are pretty tight. It's my best bike ATM, so no mudguards for me as yet.

Edit: good strong bike with no achilles heal. I changed the tyres after 1100 miles and the saddle after it lost some of the blue, but otherwise still the same as the day I bought it.

 

[Cooper645]

ribble bike builder

And build as necessary on an audax frame, upgrade mudguards, tyres and bas, should take you toward the £1000, probably get wheels upgraded as well while keeping it sub £1k

 

[vickster]

My 2012 Avail 2 takes cruds (or the Giant specific guards) and has the holes for a fixed rack. Quick, light comfortable. The Defy 1 doesn't have rack mounts

Dolan have alu frames that can be properly commuterised

A carbon bike will be very challenging as an all weather commuter as there are no holes for fixed guards and rack. You may also want the capacity to fit wider tyres for the winter, so check clearances for that out too

 

[Chelinka]

According to my LBS both models can have full length mudguards fitted and also a thin rack if I wish. I will probably be upgrading the tyres to gatorskins hardshell or something like that since its for everyday all year use.

I guess it comes down to whether its better to get the Alu frame with 105 groupset or spend a little bit more and get a lighter Carbon frame but with a lower Tiagra groupset?

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I know you said a road bike in the title, but you should consider the specialized sirrus comp disc.


It has 105, disc brakes, will take mudguards and should have clearance to take 35mm spikes for winter - not as light as a road bike but definitely a 365 day a year bike

http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/Detail/13sirrus/sirrus/Sirrus Comp Disc

If you are happy to settle for Tiagra, the elite disc is £150 cheaper

 

[vickster]

£900 and you don't even get a carbon fork

 

[Supersuperleeds]

£900 and you don't even get a carbon fork

Do you want one if you are riding it through the winter?

 

[vickster]

Yes, as the roads get even worse - if that's possible...not that I am much of a winter rider!

 

[Chelinka]

Hi and thanks for your replies! I've tried both the Defy 1 and Composite 3 and to be honest both felt quite similar. And the general consensus looking around the forums suggests its better to go premium aluminium with good groupsets rather than low-end carbon with lower groupsets?

Oh and I have absolutely fallen in love with the looks of the Bianchi Via Nirone 7 Tiagra which I saw in a different shop: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bianchi/via-nirone-7-tiagra-2013-road-bike-ec045188
Couldnt test ride it as there were none in my size available, but does anyone have any experience with Bianchi bikes? I know this one costs 50 quid more and has Tiagra instead of 105 on the Defy 1, but it just looks so gorgeous!
Is there a huge difference between Tiagra and 105?

 

[jim55]

get the bianchi!!its a thing of beauty and looks great ,its the ducati of cycles

 

[vickster]

Is there a huge difference between Tiagra and 105?

Not by all accounts, 105 a little lighter but both 10 speed doubles
Go ride both, Bianchi owners are fond of their Bianchi's. I almost bought one a couple of years ago before being seduced into spending £500 more on carbon (although no regrets). I was told their CS and build quality can be a bit Italian, but I've not read of any post purchase issues really

I'd get an all celeste Bianchi though, no black! The one I almost bought was ferrari red All Celeste is WSD

 

[Chelinka]

get the bianchi!!its a thing of beauty and looks great ,its the ducati of cycles

do you know if the Bianchis take full length mudguards?