Wolfhaven

I used a clamp on rack all summer. A couple months ago I bought a rack specifically designed for the Anyroad, built by Giant. It works very nicely.
I've logged about 1,500 miles on my Anyroad and am still enjoying the ride. The bike is tough. Mine came off the rack mounted on my truck and hit the pavement at 60mph. Bounced and tumbled down the highway. Some minor scuffs and scrapes. Took it into the LBS and they straightened the shifters and did a basic tuneup, including truing the wheels. Put a couple hundred trouble free miles since.

kjgasner

I have been looking at the anyroad for the last two months but I am on the fence about going with anyroad 1 or anyroad comax. The price point is such a large jump between the two and granted better components, composite frame for better absorption and ~3lbs less in the weight. I still question if the extra cost is worth it. I am not a huge rider (60 miles a week but would like to increase to 100+). I want something that does it all (dirt trails and road) and has more of a tucked position than my bianchi malano that can help increase the enjoyment fo longer rides.

Also would like to hear from those ladies that have purchased the female equivalent (Invite Comax and Invite 2). My wife has a true city bike with a upright ride position which she enjoys for short distance (20 miles max). I would like to see her try more of a dropped position ride bike that would I feel open us up for longer rides. Again same issue with two price points in this lineup. Also if any ladies experience going from the vertical upright high handle bar ride to the more tucked position with this comax design. She has no back issues but feels be more upright helps to keep her safer with easier ability to see traffic around her.

Thanks for any feedback.

kjgasner

I should also mention that my local dealer (who just carries the anyride 1 in stock) feels the Comax is not worth the extra money and feels it would be a better use of my $'s to use savings to upgrade components if I desired. He could order me in the comax so I don't feel he is just offering this suggestion to get the sale as I will buy from him one way or the other. So with that said he has me leaning toward the lower priced anyride 1.

allroader55

I really would have no desire to ride an alloy frame on gravel unless you plan on upgrading to a bodyfloat seatpost for certain. Too much vibration is transmitted to the spine which over time will get very tiring. That being said, I am trying suspension seatposts even on my comax. As a road, city, general riding bike I would have no problem with the alloy frame.

However, forgetting the frame, I would not be happy with Tiagra 10-speed in anything over $1k. Just my viewpoint when I purchased the comax version. With the comax you get 105 and TRP brakes with 160 mm front and rear. That would cost you a good pieced of the comax-to-1 differential to make the upgrade.

Also, you should be careful and selectively listen to dealers. I have heard so many things that were just BS when looking for bikes. He probably wants to sell you something from his inventory. This may or may not agree with what is best for you. It just depends on your situation and goals.

NormanF

Try a triple spring saddle. The Brooks B-73 or the Gyes GS-10. Either one will help make the ride of an alloy frame more pleasant.

Sundog3478

I bought my wife a 2016 Anyroad 1 (not the woman's equivalent Liv). She's athletic but not much of a cyclist. Even so, she does enough that she realizes that drop bars are the way to go - even on gravel/greenway routes. She went from a crappy old (upright) 90's mtb - to a real road bike - then to this Anyroad. I didn't get her a Comax - because she simply does not ride enough to warrant the expense and none of the real or perceived advantages of the latter over the former were not likely to change that fact. She does love the bike. We have fun when she rides. She's not breaking any land speed records. I ride thousands of miles a year - she rides maybe a few hundred.

I will wager that sitting upright on a bike makes your wife none more safe. I put my money to the contrary: that you are in way better control of a bike in a slightly laid out position - as the means to the control the bike are improved with more of your body affecting the direction of travel. Think about it: when you are going into a turn on a road bike - do you tend to sit up straight - or do you go for more of a tuck? Controlling the bike is way more important than having a negligibly larger view or silhouette. De-mystifying drop bars seems to be among the biggest challenge a bike seller has when it comes to hybrid type bikes.

If I woke up in your shoes - faced with only those two choices - I would probably spend the money on the Comax. Not necessarily because of the supposed better compliance of the alloy frame material over composite (at gravel speeds and with properly inflated big tires - i suspect it's probably more of a princess and the pea situation than most folks will admit) - but more for the weight savings (if it really is 3 lbs difference). Heavy bikes are simply less fun - IMO.

My Giant dealer has had a Comax Anyroad sitting on the shop floor for a while now. We could speculate long about why that is. Same dealer brought in a bunch of Focus CX bikes this fall - and sold them all. All to gravel guys - except one to a CX racer. So - there is a gravel market here. We had him order the wife's bike - as there were no alloy Anyroads on the floor.

Either way - you and your wife should both like the Giant products. Good luck.

kjgasner

Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions. I Will see if. Can get her into a local shop so she can't test ride one of the anyride bikes. Anythoungts what sets the women's design apart from the men's anyride design? You said you just went with what they had. Did you research the difference and simply not find enough reason to wait for the women's model to be re-stocked?

lastly after getting the anyride for her and the coma for yourself did you do any modifications that you found to be of great value over what came stock on the bikes?

Canadian_giant

I upgraded the tires on my aluminium frame Anyroad, it made a huge difference. More volume means more comfort. I hated the stock Giant tires and opted for a pair Clement LAS 33's, 120 tpi. No flat protection so I put in a tire liner. No flats yet, knock on wood. No, it's not a mudder by any means but it is light and fast over gravel with low vibration. If I want more comfort and less speed I drop the PSI below 50. Worth a look, my 2 cents.

Sundog3478

Is this addressed to me? If so - couple of points of clarification:

I did not buy a Comax for me. I said that if I were you - with only two choices - that's the choice i would make. I own an Orbea Orca Road bike - and a Focus Mares CX Rival 'cross bike.

We ordered the wife's bike. There were no alloy anyroads or invites on the floor.

We went with the men's model - because I am of the opinion that Women Specific Designs are pretty much BS. Any bike can be made to fit either a guy or a girl - and no bike fits perfectly without some modifications or component swap - And - the Alloy Liv only comes in a triple (no thanks) - And WSD bikes are typically uglier than the corresponding guys version - And WSD bikes are typically harder to sell (guys won't buy a girls bike - but girls will buy a guys bike).

There is at least $300 worth of better parts on the Anyroad 1 than the Invite 2 (shifters, deraillures, cranks, rims, brakes) - and most importantly - it is the color the wife liked. The Anyroad 2 is also spec'd more than $50 better than the Invite 2.

WunderBreadDrum

So is the frame clearance for the giant any road comax and the anyroad1 or 2 the same?? Because I really love the idea of 42mm Tires but I don't think I want another carbon bike nor want to spend $2,000. I'm also looking into the Specialized Diverge elite DSW but after thinking of this question, maybe I'll go with the ajyroad 1 or 2..or the lower end diverge possibly. Thanks!

allroader55

I really don't think that you can get 42 mm tires into the Anyroad Comax practically. If you can there will be virtually no clearance, as in a single mm or maybe two at most.

WunderBreadDrum

The person who started this thread(Bag302) posted pics of the bike with 42mm tires on the front and rear and it looked like there was plenty of room.
Aside from one being carbon, are the frame specs the same between the alloy and carbon anyroad bikes?
Regardless, I think maybe 32-35mm will be plenty for me could you fit 35mm with fenders with this bike? And with the Diverge Elite DSW IF anyone here knows the answer to this?
Thanks!

WunderBreadDrum

Why didn't you go with the Comax?

WunderBreadDrum

I can't see the picture..do you own the Comax or Alloy any road? Are the frame clearance specs the same between the alloy and carbon models?? If I can fit the same size tires on the alloy then I don't think I need the $2,000 carbon version lol

WunderBreadDrum

Is the frame clearance the same between the any road 1 and the Comax?? Meaning, could the alloy version take the same size tires as the ones above on the Comax?

WunderBreadDrum

I've been considering g the new Carbon defy advanced 2/3 as well..why didn't you go with that exactly over the Comax? Apparently you can fit 30mm on the defy which is PROBABLY close to what I'll be running on the any road if I got it. 30-32mm. Also do you know if the frame clearance is the same between the alloy and carbon any road models? Can the any road 1/2 fit the same size tires that the comax can take? I get that you wanted racks and all that and I do too! I want racks, fenders, and possibility to attach a baby cart for grocery shopping..but don't you think the defy could so all this as well??

WunderBreadDrum

What do you think the biggest tire you could fit is while still having fenders on the front and back?

WunderBreadDrum

I'm eager to hear what the max cassette size you can upgrade the comax to is. I am leaning towards the new any road 1/2 because they come with 11-34 cassettes, but that color scheme of the comsx is beautiful. I'll be moving to either SC or out of the country to Thailand this year and I'd like a do it all bike that can handle immense rain(Thailand) I.e. GOOD disc brakes. Is the jump from 1300 to 1900 really worth it? Is the new shimano tiagra groupset comparable to the new shimano 105?
Do all of the anyroad bikes(1/2/comax) have mounts for fenders and at least a rear rack?? This will be a commuter/gravel grinder/trainer(as I will be getting a power meter) and I plan to put thousands of miles on it. Thanks!!

Snezhko

Hi! Sorry for my English. First of all, Anyroad 1 2016 has cheaper equipment than Anyroad 1 2014 (very first Giant gravel model). The weakest part of it is Shimano Tiaga. Also, Anyroad Comax has carbon-like frame, better brakes, better wheel hubs, much better tyres (better puncher resistance), Shimano 105 (year 2015 - it much better than previous Shimano 105 and behaves like Ultegra). If you take a bike for several years and ride every day, your choice is Comax. Comax also has a RideSense sensor Ant+ for many bike electronics. It also has fender fixing. I use these fenders Speedshield Tour Clip-On Fender Set 700x35-45 (Fenders) - Bike Gear | Giant Bicycles | United States but they are not fit well in the frame and this rack Rack-It Metro Rear Lite (Racks) - Bike Gear | Giant Bicycles | United States Because of inappropriate fenders it is impossible to use a rear fender with rack. But it is not a problem for me because I'm not using fenders at summer. Also, I wear rack for multi-day cycling tours only. Just for these tours, I change stock tyres on Schwalbe Marathon Plus https://www.schwalbe.com/gb/tour-read...thon-plus.html

Bag302

The 42mm continentals I'm running have plenty of clearance. Not even close to rubbing.

Snezhko

You can use up to 48 mm tires as my LBS says. But if you weight under 90 kg you need no more than 32 mm.

peakwynn

All the great info in this thread convinced me that I "need" a 2016 AnyRoad Comax. I just ordered one (large) from my local store. It should be here in 8 weeks.

Snezhko

Yes, this is a smart choice. You got one of the most well-balanced fitness bikes in the world from a good "stable". Comax has a very high-quality tires with puncher protection so that you do not even need to buy Schwalbe. P-SLX2 Tire 700x32 FB (Tires) - Bike Gear | Giant Bicycles | United States

cs1

just got back from the LBS. I saw one of the 2016 Comax versions and was really impressed by it. I'm only 5' 9" but have a 32" inseam. Sounds like they run small.

Snezhko

I'm 1.75 cm also. You need M size. Inseam size is not so important for Compact Road frame. Put attention on the saddle. There is "forward" saddle in stock, but maybe you need another one https://www.giant-bicycles.com/showca...nefits-saddles