Originally Posted by
jimmie65
My daily commute is about 10 miles each way. Been doing it on my Giant Escape for a while now.
I've got a chance to pick up a Giant Defy really cheap. I think it's a 2015 Defy 3, in good mechanical condition. It's a large frame, so should be the right size (I will definitely test ride it).
The Defy will take a rack and has ample room for water bottles, handlebar bag, etc., so it would be a good commuter.
I'm concerned with switching from an upright hybrid to a drop bar bike. I haven't ridden a drop bar road bike since high school (33 years ago!), other than a Cannondale that I tried and hated.
The Defy seems to have a non-aggressive profile and, from what I've read, I can put a 2" riser on the bars without changing cables.
Any advice or thoughts on switching to a drop bar bike for commuting, specifically the Defy?
I suppose the worst case scenario is that I buy it, don't like it, and then re-sell it.
Last year, I arrived at my sister the cyclists house (2400km tour). In asking if she had a drop bar bike I could try, see if I could ride one. Her friend had a Giant Defi II for sale. Well he offered to let me try it the week I was visiting. I fell in love with it about the second day. I did buy it, shipped it home. I have since raised the bars, and brought them back to make it perfect for me. I have a rear rack on mine, as I travel everywhere with my city saddle bag. Real fun to pack a lunch, and some foul weather gear. Rip off a century on a Sunday, ha-ha and I have more than once last fall.
As others have suggested. You can always use it as a second ride until it is a natural.
Hope this helps,
-Snuts-