Upgrades for a Giant Defy 5
- Thread starter Cuchilo
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
Weight loss was for you, but only if needed amd it seems you dont
I would get some handbuilt wheels around he 2/300pound mark. Aftrr that maybe carbon forks as the dfy 5 has steel ones
Then its a minefield from there - or you could keep the defy aa a winter bike and get n+1
Cyclist33
Guest
i found the stock giant wheels to be fine so have kept them on mine and left the better Fulcrum wheels elsewhere.
i would say contact points, oft overlooked but key to comfort and therefore enjoyment. go. to specialized concept store and get a saddle fitting. get some good pedals, either clip-in pedals or some solid platforms eg DMR v8s, and consider some quality bar tape, i think giant stores sell fizik tape but also specialized phat tape comes well regarded.
i upgraded my defy 3 with an external chainset and a carbon fibre seatpost, cant really say i notice performance or comfort gains from either of these.
stu
i would say contact points, oft overlooked but key to comfort and therefore enjoyment. go. to specialized concept store and get a saddle fitting. get some good pedals, either clip-in pedals or some solid platforms eg DMR v8s, and consider some quality bar tape, i think giant stores sell fizik tape but also specialized phat tape comes well regarded.
i upgraded my defy 3 with an external chainset and a carbon fibre seatpost, cant really say i notice performance or comfort gains from either of these.
stu
I have the defy 1 2012 version. The stock wheels have covered 2000 miles approx, and I changed two tyres at 1200 miles. I would leave the bike pretty stock and look at a higher spec bike in a year or two depending on how much you use this one. Defy 5 would make an excellent winter bike with mudguards
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
Generally tyres wear out first and they are one of the best upgrades IMO, its a no brainer and when the wheel wear out consider upgrading them.
I'm assuming you've already went clipless (you wont gain much, if anything going to a different system), if you haven't that should maybe be your first upgrade.
I'm assuming you've already went clipless (you wont gain much, if anything going to a different system), if you haven't that should maybe be your first upgrade.
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
Clipless (daft name btw) are much superior to straps (toe clips).I just took off the flimsy straps that came with the bike , trying to get my feet in those while working out the gears and staying upright on the thin tyres was causing traffic chaos
Personally I'd just ride the bike as it is until you really need to change anything.
Only reasons I can think of changing anything is for greater reliability/durability, comfort or speed through reduced bike weight.
If the latter and you wish to improve your speed/endurance whatever I'd ride what you have until your performance gains look like they are plateauing - then have a think about options.
As for wheels, there's post after post on here re: better wheels. But before you buy maybe borrow some to see if you can notice any differences. Apparently my 32H Giant S-R2 wheels are 'not good' but they move in a circle which is good and apart from that have stayed dead true in 8 months of bashing my CX over pot-holed lanes, green roads, bridleways and fire trails, all with no spoke breakages. I had some RS30's on loan to try and they looked less than substantial to me (although they did look nice) and I didn't fancy them at all for rougher routes plus they make the most irritating 'whooshing' noise when on the move. My Giant wheels are virtually silent. Apart from the noise issue I noticed precisely zero difference in acceleration and rolling resistance. They felt exactly the same to me. However, maybe I am just insensitive!
Only reasons I can think of changing anything is for greater reliability/durability, comfort or speed through reduced bike weight.
If the latter and you wish to improve your speed/endurance whatever I'd ride what you have until your performance gains look like they are plateauing - then have a think about options.
As for wheels, there's post after post on here re: better wheels. But before you buy maybe borrow some to see if you can notice any differences. Apparently my 32H Giant S-R2 wheels are 'not good' but they move in a circle which is good and apart from that have stayed dead true in 8 months of bashing my CX over pot-holed lanes, green roads, bridleways and fire trails, all with no spoke breakages. I had some RS30's on loan to try and they looked less than substantial to me (although they did look nice) and I didn't fancy them at all for rougher routes plus they make the most irritating 'whooshing' noise when on the move. My Giant wheels are virtually silent. Apart from the noise issue I noticed precisely zero difference in acceleration and rolling resistance. They felt exactly the same to me. However, maybe I am just insensitive!
