Monkey Face

Can't get hold of a Giant TCR to demo - so some advice would be appreciated.

Got a CAAD9 a few weeks back and a Giant Defy 2 (alloy) for my wife. I immediately liked the smoother ride and slightly more relaxed geometry of the Giant... so much so, that the CAAD9 is now on eBay.

Before I go for the Defy Advanced 2, my curiosity is niggling me.

Questions:
a) Will the TCR Advanced 3 be as hard a ride as the CAAD9?
b) Would a TCR Advanced 3 be a very much different ride to the Defy Advanced 2 - or would it feel somewhere between the Defy and the CAAD9?



Thanks.

PS. Got the CAAD 9 used, so selling is no loss... in case anyone says persevere with it.

PPS. This has turned into one of those - 'should have done some Googling first' threads... replies welcome, but I'm coming down on the side of a Defy for the geometry... I don't need race geometry, yet it seems the Defy is no slouch. Confirms my thoughts... curiosity duly itched. Thanks to anyone who replies.

LinebackerU

You're really only giving the CAAD9 "a few weeks" before punting on it? That seems premature. Also, you probably won't be able to discern a 5mm different in top tube length.

Monkey Face

I assume you've not ridden both of them - if I'd ridden a Defy before buying the CAAD9 I wouldn't have bought the Cannondale in the first place. But like I said... it was used, so it's been like a free 3-week demo.

(I've deleted the top-tube references because they're a matter of fit and not really what I'm asking about.)

Reggieb

OP, I am with you. There are people on here that really like C'dales, myself included. But when I got my first ride I lived in an area with very rough roads. I tried a CAAD 8 and it just wasn't smooth enough, and I wasn't racing, so I went with something else (Specialized Allez). I am now on a carbon c'dale, but if you aren't going carbon, and you want a smooth ride, that just isn't the bike for you.

LinebackerU

OP, what were you riding before the CAAD9?

SkinnyLegs

a) No
b) Similar ride if you switch to 25c tires like the Defy.

Monkey Face

I had a CAAD8 last year and I don't remember it being as hard as the CAAD9... but the roads are really bad this spring, so maybe I'm noticing it more. I read in one UK review that the CAAD8 was supposed to ride almost like carbon, but the CAAD9 certainly doesn't.

Most recently a Tommasini Tecno.

exhumed

My friend has a Caad 9 and I have a Advanced 3. Mine seems smoother than his.

X-LinkedRider

I test rode the Caad9 and the Defy just for fun at different shops of course. I liked the way the defy felt better. Not that I played around too much with the fitting in the shop being that I was not going to buy it. To me, the Giant just felt more right, not to take away from how great the Caad9 was, just different from the giant.

Seagull01

I see you already made your decision. I think you are on the right track!

For my first real road bike I stumbled across an OCR C2. The OCR line was replaced by the Defy line, probably to lessen the confusion with the TCR line.

Anyway, I am really enjoying my bike. The more I think about it, the happier I get. I was talked down from a slightly more expensive race bike. I do not care to race (except against myself).

For me, giving up just a little race geometry for something that is still a "road bike" as opposed to a touring bike (and really could be raced with a few minor changes involving the stem and drops) worked out VERY well.

The 25mm tires really do add to a smoother ride too, so whatever you get put the 25s on.

Enjoy your new new bike! Rack up the miles.

gus6464

The TCR Advanced has a more aggressive geometry than the Defy Advanced so if you did not like the aggressiveness of the CAAD9 you most likely will not like the TCR.