n+1 time, fairly soon...

[bpsmith]

Got my Defy 1 2014 almost a year ago on C2W scheme. Loving this cycling malarkey and now hooked.

Looking to get so something more racey now and stuck with the choice. Been looking at the Felt AR5, as LBS guy was raving over them. Giant Propel also, as knock on from the Felt.

Looking for something with a bit of a deal price, but upto around the £2k mark.

Want to get the speed, but also want to be able climb more too. Not sure how the Aero models perform on climbs. Any suggestions?

 

[bpsmith]

Seen very good deals on Scott Foils. How do these compare to above?

 

[Big Nick]

Will you see much difference though in the climbs with another bike?

Why not just bung some lighter wheels on your Defy, drop the bars a bit and ride more hills?

 

[MikeW-71]

Aero bikes can tend to be a bit heavier, and at our more modest power outputs, the aero gain will probably be marginal. If you want to be able to climb better then stick to something like the Giant TCR Composite 1 and put a better wheelset on it.

 

[bpsmith]

I have already upgraded the wheels on the Defy to Campagnolo Zonda's, with GP4000S and an 11-28 105 cassette. Noticed a big gain in fairness. Just feels so much smoother.

Just thinking further ahead and a good race geometry carbon framed bike seems the logical route?

The seed has been sewn in looking for a bike for my brother. Lol.

Would a carbon frame like the TCR Advance be better at translating effort to the tarmac or not then? Or would I be better spending on additional mods to my Defy 1?

Will dropping my bars down help in the meantime? Already looking more to the climbs and going to spend more and more time doing so.

 

[MikeW-71]

Dropping the bars will move you to a more aggressive position. As long as you have the flexibility to be comfortable in this position, then it's all good.

Having compared both an alloy Defy and a carbon one, the carbon frame does transmit power better. I tried the lighter wheels on the alloy bike and it did help it climb, but it still didn't feel as immediate as the carbon frame.

Bear in mind that TCR Advanceds come with a standard 53/39 chainset rather than a compact 50/34. TCR Composite comes with a compact and 11-28. The difference between the frames probably comes down to 100g.

TCR Composite 1 + Zonda wheels = excellent result IMHO

 

[bpsmith]

That's what my LBS said. The power transfer overrides the actual weight saving. I really like the Defy, but already hankering after n+1. They said that the Composites would not give a huge gain over my Defy and to look at the Advanced models. It's a tough call...

 

[MikeW-71]

Or look at the Defy Advanced 2 and pop the Zondas on that

 

[bpsmith]

Isn't the Defy Advanced a relaxed geometry again though?

 

[MikeW-71]

Yes, but the similarity to the alloy bikes ends there. The carbon rides very differently. The bars can still be lowered if needed.

 

[bpsmith]

Interesting. I can see that you have some experience of both, so very useful to hear that.

 

[Joshua Plumtree]

Dropping the bars and adopting a more aggressive position won't help you climb better. A lighter frame weight and better power transfer (acceleration) will, but climbing well is much more dependent on the light frame and good power transfer of the rider!

 

[SteCenturion]

Hi @bpsmith

If you ask @Cuchilo who has both an aluminium bike & a carbon TCR Advanced he will shed a little light.

I was very keen on buying or trying to by a TCR Advanced but missed out on a 2012 model at Pauls Cycles as I couldn't raise enough cash fast enough.

To my mind a TCR would be a far better option than the Propel or the AR5.

Remember that when you see these bikes being ridden by Pro's during a Grand Tour such as the TdF or Giro it is normally on a flattish stage, then, when the next stage is hilly they switch back to the TCR or standard road race bike (whichever they are sponsored to ride).
You won't have this option if it is to fulfil all roles.

Keep the Zondas, very good wheels, (weren't you discussing these wheels on another thread) ?

Buy a 2013 TCR Advanced & put those on it (they will be lighter than Giants rims), then later, for a bit of Aero assistance, look to get some Novatec Jetfly wheels (32 or 34mm rims) £359 RRP.

Or save like crazy for some carbon FFWD (Fast Forward) wheels in 45mm rim, light enough & Aero enough for most. Around £1k from usual suspects, Wiggle etc.

There is a guy on here who started a thread around the Scott Foil, probably a great bike. He loves his to Foil to bits & got a big discount on a year old model, says it's wickedly light, stiff & fast.

 

[Cuchilo]

The TCR Advanced is an insane bike You should buy one .

 

[MikeW-71]

It's also worth mentioning that the Giant Shimano team rode Defy Advanced SL's at Paris-Roubaix and some cobbled classics, so they don't always use the "race" geometry frames.