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Newbie bike advice

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  • March 9, 2015 at 11:47 pm #23455
    OllyIB

    Hi all

    New to these forums, so firstly would like to say hi :H

    I’m looking to get my first road bike and have spent the last couple of days blindly looking at a myriad of different bikes, both new and secondhand. After reading some comments on one of the articles on here I stumbled across Rutland Cycles and noticed that they are currently offering the 2014 Giant Defy 3 for £399.99.

    The reviews that I have found seem favourable but I wanted to see if this would be a good starter bike for someone getting into road biking (not new to cycling as have been riding MTBs for a while). I have also found myself looking at the Giant Defy 1 (2014 model is currently £674.99) but am not sure if this is going to be overkill for a first bike?

    Any pointers would be much appreciated.

    Cheers

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Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
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  • March 10, 2015 at 7:49 pm #835885
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    mistertaylor

    I’ve got a 2013 Defy 4 and
    I’ve got a 2013 Defy 4 and find it a great all-round bike. Its my daily-commuter, weekend-blaster and even (semi-) off-roader.

    Also, ee if you local bike shop will let you take a few different models out for a test – buy the one that feels right (not necessarily the one with the best reviews/specs).

    March 10, 2015 at 2:40 pm #835883
    0
    OllyIB

    Thanks all.
    The point about
    Thanks all.

    The point about being able to keep whatever I buy as a winter hack [s]if[/s] when a better spec bike is bought is a good one as it would make any purchase an investment (been practising my man maths). Marital harmony does come into it too, I was only meant to be looking at second hand bikes so don’t want to push my luck too much when a brand new steed arrives on the doorstep and the inevitable cost question raises it’s head!

    I’ve also been playing with the Ribble bikebuilder but haven’t been able to build anything tempting for less than the price of the Defy 1, is the Ribble frame going to be much better for the money? I did have a feeling that the Defy bikes shared the same frame but the specs read differently (Aluxx on the 3 and Aluxx SL on the 1).

    March 10, 2015 at 10:30 am #835881
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    bigmel

    The Defy range are excellent
    The Defy range are excellent bikes and a friend still uses his 3.5 as his winter bike.
    Buy the 3, and if you like road cycling (join a club, BTW) then when the time comes to get a super summer bike, you already have an inexpensive winter hack to hand.

    March 10, 2015 at 10:27 am #835879
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    LondonDynaslow

    Unless it will lead to
    Unless it will lead to marital breakdown or inability to pay your household bills, it’s not overkill. I paid £1700 for my first bike (massively discounted in the sale) and I haven’t felt the need to replace it because it’s still a better bike than I am at riding it and I’m not thinking “oh if only I’d got the better one for an extra few quid..”. Admittedly, I have “supplemented” it, because it’s too nice to ride in the winter, etc…

    March 10, 2015 at 10:26 am #835877
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    Nick0

    Buy second hand and let
    Buy second hand and let someone else take the depreciation hit! The Defy range are very highly rated, all you need to know is what size you are and then hit the usual auction/classified sites.

    March 10, 2015 at 10:04 am #835875
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    medic_ollie

    I have the 2013 Defy 3 and
    I have the 2013 Defy 3 and love it 🙂 .

    Sturdy bike and can be fast if you want it to. More than holds it own on my uni club rides.

    If it’s the same as the 2013 range, I believe the frames are the same on the 1 and 3 so it’s only the swappable components which you could upgrade as you go if you get really into being a roadie.

    March 10, 2015 at 9:30 am #835873
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    atgni

    I’ve had the 2015 defy 5 for
    I’ve had the 2015 defy 5 for a few months and i find it a great bike. The spec looks similar to the 2014 defy 3.
    Can’t see the defy 1 being 75% better than a 3. Spend the other £275 on shoes, cleats, CO2, etc 🙂

    March 10, 2015 at 8:29 am #835871
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    OnTheRopes

    I would’t worry about
    I would’t worry about overkill. If you like it, you can afford it and more importantly it fits, then why not?

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