Worthwhile Upgrades to a 2014 Giant Defy 1?
Discussion
Hi all,
I could use some pointers the helpful folk on here.
I have a 2014 Defy 1 which I've had since new. Initially I used it quite a lot (leisure rides for fitness, upto 35 miles 3 days a week) but in the last couple of years the mileage has dropped off a cliff due to work and personal commitments. I'm now determined to get back on the saddle in earnest but I get the sneaking feeling that either a new bike or significant upgrades to the current bike would further help my mindset to go out and get fit again.
COVID 19 cancellations notwithstanding, my desire is to compete in a local sportive this year as a challenge to myself.
The bike itself is functional and has a spec which I think is still quite good by today's standards.
-aluminium frame with carbon forks
-105 Drivetrain
-Original Wheels
-Giant standard rim brakes
-Upgraded saddle
-Original composite seat post
I've explored purchasing a second-hand carbon bike (Defy Advanced SL, because I prefer a relaxed geometry) but the obvious pitfalls of a used frame (with no warranty coverage in case of issues, plus any existing issues that might need fixing) are putting me off. My budget is £1k at a push, and most good bikes are well used by the time they get to this price point.
A new £1k bike essentially is no major improvement over what I have currently so I've discounted that option completely, but happy to be educated.
The second option is to upgrade my current bike, with a groupset and a disc-wheelset, perhaps by tapping into the Cycle2Work scheme to fund this, upto £1k.
Whatever option I choose, my intention is long-term, I don't really want to be doing this every other year.
Sorry for the rambling, but the essential question in my mind is:
is it worth upgrading a Giant Defy 1 2014 frame with all new kit, and would that be an overall better bet than a £1k used carbon bike?
Thanks
I could use some pointers the helpful folk on here.
I have a 2014 Defy 1 which I've had since new. Initially I used it quite a lot (leisure rides for fitness, upto 35 miles 3 days a week) but in the last couple of years the mileage has dropped off a cliff due to work and personal commitments. I'm now determined to get back on the saddle in earnest but I get the sneaking feeling that either a new bike or significant upgrades to the current bike would further help my mindset to go out and get fit again.
COVID 19 cancellations notwithstanding, my desire is to compete in a local sportive this year as a challenge to myself.
The bike itself is functional and has a spec which I think is still quite good by today's standards.
-aluminium frame with carbon forks
-105 Drivetrain
-Original Wheels
-Giant standard rim brakes
-Upgraded saddle
-Original composite seat post
I've explored purchasing a second-hand carbon bike (Defy Advanced SL, because I prefer a relaxed geometry) but the obvious pitfalls of a used frame (with no warranty coverage in case of issues, plus any existing issues that might need fixing) are putting me off. My budget is £1k at a push, and most good bikes are well used by the time they get to this price point.
A new £1k bike essentially is no major improvement over what I have currently so I've discounted that option completely, but happy to be educated.
The second option is to upgrade my current bike, with a groupset and a disc-wheelset, perhaps by tapping into the Cycle2Work scheme to fund this, upto £1k.
Whatever option I choose, my intention is long-term, I don't really want to be doing this every other year.
Sorry for the rambling, but the essential question in my mind is:
is it worth upgrading a Giant Defy 1 2014 frame with all new kit, and would that be an overall better bet than a £1k used carbon bike?
Thanks
What about spending your C2W voucher on some Fulcrum Racing 4 C17 wheels (£279 on Wiggle) and an Ultegra R8000 groupset (£629 on Wiggle), leaving you £92 to spend on a set of nice tyres and some bottle cages or something.
It probably won't make your bike go much faster, but R8000 Ultegra looks really bling, and it'll roll nicely on those wheels.
Completely on board with buying new bling to make you want to ride more! I do this a lot...
It probably won't make your bike go much faster, but R8000 Ultegra looks really bling, and it'll roll nicely on those wheels.
Completely on board with buying new bling to make you want to ride more! I do this a lot...
Usget said:
What about spending your C2W voucher on some Fulcrum Racing 4 C17 wheels (£279 on Wiggle) and an Ultegra R8000 groupset (£629 on Wiggle), leaving you £92 to spend on a set of nice tyres and some bottle cages or something.
It probably won't make your bike go much faster, but R8000 Ultegra looks really bling, and it'll roll nicely on those wheels.
Completely on board with buying new bling to make you want to ride more! I do this a lot...
Great suggestion, I'll take a look at both of those. It probably won't make your bike go much faster, but R8000 Ultegra looks really bling, and it'll roll nicely on those wheels.
Completely on board with buying new bling to make you want to ride more! I do this a lot...
I just upgraded my wheels from Fulcrum Racing Zeros as the bearings had gone for a second time and they took 6 months to arrive last time.
I ended up buying a DT Swiss PR 1600 Dicut 21 Clincher Wheelset from MerlinCycles as they were £399 and at 1489g seemed a great value v weight.
Done over 1,000 miles on them and they really roll well. Recommended.
I ended up buying a DT Swiss PR 1600 Dicut 21 Clincher Wheelset from MerlinCycles as they were £399 and at 1489g seemed a great value v weight.
Done over 1,000 miles on them and they really roll well. Recommended.
octane83 said:
Mazinbrum said:
I’ve just sold one of those, I liked it (did Ventoux x3 on it) but upgraded to a disc bike for the winter. Definitely worth upgrading the wheels but don’t spend a fortune, maybe look at Hunt wheels.
Yes wheels are on the list, whats the view on groupsets?Mazinbrum said:
octane83 said:
Mazinbrum said:
I’ve just sold one of those, I liked it (did Ventoux x3 on it) but upgraded to a disc bike for the winter. Definitely worth upgrading the wheels but don’t spend a fortune, maybe look at Hunt wheels.
Yes wheels are on the list, whats the view on groupsets?My 105 groupset is spot on.
If it was me, I would ride more and if I was going to spend ££, upgrade the wheels & tyres
Then, if I stuck at it for long enough, find a way to buy a better bike later, once the crazy lockdown price / availability has worked through. I would, of course, have some shiny new wheels and tyres to put on that bike
Then, if I stuck at it for long enough, find a way to buy a better bike later, once the crazy lockdown price / availability has worked through. I would, of course, have some shiny new wheels and tyres to put on that bike
Agree with what's been said, just get out and ride your current set up first, and then see if the bug bites again.
I was in a very similar position myself very recently, with a Giant TCR A0 about 5 years older than yours. It had the carbon/ally "alliance" frame, Aksium wheels and SRAM Rival groupset. I started to enjoy it again (before that it had not turned a wheel in years) so I went a bid mad and bought a Canyon Endurace CF, on the basis that I wanted a carbon frame, disc brakes, a more compliant ride, and wider tyres. I don't regret it at all, the 28mm tyres at lower pressures are an absolute revelation on the crap rural roads I tend to ride on, and the slightly less committed position is waaay more comfy. Absolutely loving riding again.
So I'd wait a while and save and see if you can perhaps do the new bike thing at some point, I think if I'd done similar upgrades to my Giant I might have noticed some very marginal gains (although there's no getting away from the fact that the major weight saving is to be had above the saddle rather than below!) but nothing huge, where my Canyon just feels better and better with each ride.
I was in a very similar position myself very recently, with a Giant TCR A0 about 5 years older than yours. It had the carbon/ally "alliance" frame, Aksium wheels and SRAM Rival groupset. I started to enjoy it again (before that it had not turned a wheel in years) so I went a bid mad and bought a Canyon Endurace CF, on the basis that I wanted a carbon frame, disc brakes, a more compliant ride, and wider tyres. I don't regret it at all, the 28mm tyres at lower pressures are an absolute revelation on the crap rural roads I tend to ride on, and the slightly less committed position is waaay more comfy. Absolutely loving riding again.
So I'd wait a while and save and see if you can perhaps do the new bike thing at some point, I think if I'd done similar upgrades to my Giant I might have noticed some very marginal gains (although there's no getting away from the fact that the major weight saving is to be had above the saddle rather than below!) but nothing huge, where my Canyon just feels better and better with each ride.
Thanks to everyone that have commented.
I think your contributions have made it clear this is more of a mental thing for me (let's face it, at my current levels of fitness I'm going to struggle to notice the impact of any new,'lighter' stuff).
I plan to treat the bike to a good service and get back on the road. In time hopefully I'll 'earn' that better bike, at which point I suspect I'll go mental but let's see.
Cheers everyone.
I think your contributions have made it clear this is more of a mental thing for me (let's face it, at my current levels of fitness I'm going to struggle to notice the impact of any new,'lighter' stuff).
I plan to treat the bike to a good service and get back on the road. In time hopefully I'll 'earn' that better bike, at which point I suspect I'll go mental but let's see.
Cheers everyone.
I bought a secondhand aluminium 2014 Defy 1 a few years ago as a re-entry to road cycling after a decade of minimal cycling. It was a low cost of entry that could be flicked on if I didn’t enjoy or use it.
In fact I love it and have really enjoyed being back on a bike. I found a few issues with my Defy which I have upgraded over time. First the original brakes calipers are basic teckro, so I replaced these with a set of 105 calipers which are better. I found the Shimano pads to be very hard so swapped these for the blue SwissStop Pro’s which I find excellent.
The biggest and best upgrade I did was replacing the wheels and tyres. The original Giant rear wheel was hard to keep true and broke a spoke so I researched a bit and bought a set of Campy Zonda C17’s (£310 from Vanilla Bikes) which really changed the bike for the better. Would highly recommend these. I put a set of 25mm Continental GP4000’s on which we’re good but have since replaced with a set of Veloflex Corsa’s which feel great and are lovely and comfy.
Service items like replacing cables and aligning the rear hangar has got the shifting spot on. It’s nice to learn to do these on a low value bike rather than a flash carbon superbike!
It has put me in an unusual position of not knowing what to upgrade to without spending thousands. I’d love a TCR but I’m not sure would the 105 rim brake version be a worthwhile upgrade for the cash or would I be better going deep into a disc ultegra model. Nice but pricey!
In fact I love it and have really enjoyed being back on a bike. I found a few issues with my Defy which I have upgraded over time. First the original brakes calipers are basic teckro, so I replaced these with a set of 105 calipers which are better. I found the Shimano pads to be very hard so swapped these for the blue SwissStop Pro’s which I find excellent.
The biggest and best upgrade I did was replacing the wheels and tyres. The original Giant rear wheel was hard to keep true and broke a spoke so I researched a bit and bought a set of Campy Zonda C17’s (£310 from Vanilla Bikes) which really changed the bike for the better. Would highly recommend these. I put a set of 25mm Continental GP4000’s on which we’re good but have since replaced with a set of Veloflex Corsa’s which feel great and are lovely and comfy.
Service items like replacing cables and aligning the rear hangar has got the shifting spot on. It’s nice to learn to do these on a low value bike rather than a flash carbon superbike!
It has put me in an unusual position of not knowing what to upgrade to without spending thousands. I’d love a TCR but I’m not sure would the 105 rim brake version be a worthwhile upgrade for the cash or would I be better going deep into a disc ultegra model. Nice but pricey!
If it were me I'd upgrade wheels and tyres as everyone else has said, have a proper bike fit, maybe change the saddle depending on the results of the bike fit, new bar tape to smarten it up, and get a fancy bike computer/power meter, because I love me some data. And maybe some new shoes.
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