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

[Chelinka]

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

I love the celeste too!
but it has build quality issues??

 

[vickster]

Can do from what I read, but that was a few years ago. Have a look at the reviews on bikeradar and via google. Frames are probably made by giant and Merida in Taiwan like most nowadays. See how long the warranties are and the t & c for it

I doubt you'll be able to fit a fixed rack nor proper mudguards

Buy the bike that makes your heart flutter if you can

 

[Chelinka]

Thanks for the advice vickster!

Im still very torn...Giant Defy 1 or the beautiful bianchis. But I think I'll go for the Defy, its just got better components, lighter, won loads of awards etc...makes more sense I think.

I'd like to upgrade the tyres to some good puncture resistant ones though. My LBS recommended the Schwalbe Marathon Plus, but I heard lots of good things about the continental Gatorskins hardshells - any recommendation between those two?

 

[Profpointy]

Re: tyres:

i had continental gatorskins as OE on my road bike (fixie), but was plagued with punctures - at the back only, which ai replaced with a Schwalbe durano - which is a grade or two less robust than the marathon. i've had no punctures for last couple of thousand miles - bearing in mind the front conti gatorskin's probably done 10,000 It appears that the back tyre had been damaged internally which had been rubbing on the inner tube, and in truth nowt wrong with gatorskins - just bad luck. So gatorskins are actually fine to be fair.


So, i would happily recommend schwalbe duranos or conti gatorskins as all round commuting road tyres, at least from robustness point of view. Grips seems ok, though i did once have an unplanned dismount in the wet, aftwr locking up front wheel (conti). as well as user error, there was an adverse camber & greasy road in play.

i have schwalbe marathons on my thorn nomad, which is a heavy duty off road tourer / semi-mountain bike - these are even more heavy duty, but i'd not think them necessary for the road.

i have no first hand knowledge of other tyres

 

[themosquitoking]

Thanks for the advice vickster!

Im still very torn...Giant Defy 1 or the beautiful bianchis. But I think I'll go for the Defy, its just got better components, lighter, won loads of awards etc...makes more sense I think.

I'd like to upgrade the tyres to some good puncture resistant ones though. My LBS recommended the Schwalbe Marathon Plus, but I heard lots of good things about the continental Gatorskins hardshells - any recommendation between those two?

When i bought my defy i also got some gatorskins intending to swap them out immediately but i thought i'd give the original ones a try. Just swapped them over today after about 1000 miles, no p*******s yet but i did notice a tiny gash in one and as i had spares i thought i'd do it.

 

[vickster]

I've just put michelin pro 4 endurance on my Giant after several 000 miles on the stock tyres and only one fairy visit. I think the new tyres roll better but it could be psychological as I spent £50 on them!