Sell or Modify...

[Dan Ferris]

Hi Everyone,
Looking for some wise words and inspiration from the knowledgeable folk out there. My circumstances have changed meaning the days of 3 or 4 hours riding have gone and if i get 2 hours in one stint i'm lucky. I'm looking for something a little racier than what I have currently.

My current bike is a 2016 Giant Defy Advanced Pro 3 (link below). The bike is standard other than a set of Hunt Alloy Light Disc and Continental Tyres.

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/defy-advanced-pro-3-2016

I've been lent by a friend a Specialised Tarmac Pro SL3 with a set of Carbon Hunt Wheels, Carbon seat post, upgraded saddle, upgraded bars etc. It's quick and I haven't been in a position to ride a bike this 'racy' before.

So my dilemma is..

The Defy Advanced Pro, whilst i love it, should i consider selling it for something older but that already comes with all of the bells and whistles on. Risk here is i am selling a bike that i know has been serviced every six months, never been dropped and so on. Or keep the Defy and plough the money into that by buying a more expensive wheel set, new bars, new seat post and so on. I appreciate the geometry will not change but the feel of the bike will change considerably, i'd assume.

Thanks for reading and for any advice or guidance you may have in advance.

Dan

 

[DCLane]

The biggest change in that lot is the wheels. Decent bars (my 14yo has a lovely set of Aeronova bars) will help next. Seat post? Moving to a carbon one will help with road buzz.

Spend the money on wheels first. At least these can be easily swapped to a 'better' bike.

One thing to note is that a Tarmac will be harsher over distance than a Defy: I don't mind that (I ride a NeilPryde Nazare) but that riding position isn't comfortable all day for some.

 

[boydj]

I think replacing the Defy (a very good bike) would be change for change sake and make very little appreciable difference for the majority of your cycling. Want to go harder and faster, stick a close-ratio cassette on and invest the rest of your spare cash on a cycling holiday in Majorca or something else more worthwhile.

 

[Milkfloat]

There is a reasonable amount of scope to change your position too, so if you felt more comfortable or ‘racier’ on the Tarmac, you should be able to replicate that position on the defy.

 

[derrick]

If you have the money go for the Specialized Tarmac Pro Nothing wrong with the Giant, but by what you say i think you really want thr Tarmac. Go for it.

 

[Globalti]

Some bikes are just faster.

 

[Dan Ferris]

Thank you all for your replies. Very helpful to have some different perspectives.

I'm currently watching this on eBay so may be the one I go for. The seller has suggested to make an offer.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/264000533341

 

[Freelanderuk]

Compare the geometry of both bikes to see the difference between them ,if very close then I would buynew wheels and tyres and then bars for the Defy

 

[DCLane]

Thank you all for your replies. Very helpful to have some different perspectives.

I'm currently watching this on eBay so may be the one I go for. The seller has suggested to make an offer.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/264000533341

Nice bike. At that size you'll have a choice; I'm about to put my son's 48cm Cervelo S3 with Dura-Ace on sale at about £1300, which is this

 

[Dan Ferris]

Nice bike. At that size you'll have a choice; I'm about to put my son's 48cm Cervelo S3 with Dura-Ace on sale at about £1300, which is this

View attachment 435363

Hi,
Thanks, I'd be Keen to have a look at a few more photos and the spec. Currently costing up some options.

 

[DCLane]

Hi,
Thanks, I'd be Keen to have a look at a few more photos and the spec. Currently costing up some options.

It's a 2015 Cervelo S3 frameset, with Dura Ace 9000 shifters, front/rear brakes, front & rear derailleur plus Rotor 3D 170mm crankset which has 50/34 chainrings. The photos below are as per purchase, where we've fitted different bars, saddle and a 48T chainring (we're keeping that).

It'd be returned to the spec. above with new Fulcrum LG55 wheels fitted plus a red/black Fizik saddle. I'm not sure what cassette it'd have, but most likely an Ultegra 6800 11-28 and if a new chain is needed because of this one will be fitted by the LBS on swap-over.

My son's only used the bike for racing, not training, and has covered 682 miles in 18 months. It's got a couple of transport scrapes, the biggest on the seattube, plus a few minor chips. Serviced by my LBS regularly, it'd have new brake/gear cables as he uses Aeronova bars. The only major issue is another rider caught his rear mech in April, which meant a new derailleur hanger, chain and Dura Ace rear mech was fitted.

 

[Dan Ferris]

Thank you. I'm going to pop into my local shop next week and cost up some options. To see whether i keep what I have and enjoy upgrading it.

Thanks everyone for your help on here, as always.