gtipton55

So i'm getting ready to buy my first road bike. I've been riding mountain bikes for a while now and have decided from the good ammount of streets and track riding i've been doing that I really want a road bike. Though my price range really isnt very high whatsoever (about $800) I've been in the search for the right bike. I'm not looking to do anything high end like race or do major training but I want to ride about 10 miles a day or so on average.

I've looked a lot into the Giant Defy 3 and 2 and I also went and tried out a Jamis bike as well that was a little cheaper than the Defy 3. I just need some input on the Defy bikes. I really did like how they felt and I like the lighter bike frames though the shifters on the Defy 3 felt a little stiff and the Defys steering felt a little stiff as well. Is there another bike I should look at in this price range?

Also would the leap up to the Defy 2 be a great decision even though theres a chance I may not get more serious into road biking?

I appreciate it!

Tri117

I am looking at bikes in the same price range. Don't know much about Giant, but the Defy 1 is the top of the line; 2 and 3 and steps down. Here is what I liked under $1,000 (all Aluminum with Carbon Forks)
Specialized Allez ($699) - Shimano Tiagra/Soro Components
Felt F85 ($999) - Shimano 105 components (except shifters)
... and priced in between:
Trek 1.2
Specialized Allez Sport
Felt F95
Felt Z100
Other brands I am still looking into are Jamis, Fuji, and Bianchi (haven't narrowed down he models). The Giant Defy has Shimano 105 components, if you like that and up your price range to $1,300 to $1,400 take a look at the Trek 2.1 and the Fuji SL1 Composite. Most these bikes have similar components with take away that and add that to make it confusing. Wheels are not as easy for me to evaluate which seems to be where they are able to cut the cost. Although Giant is a Taiwanese company I did not see that make their prices any cheaper than American companies ordering through Taiwanese or Chinese companies. Keep up updated on your test drives.

Tri117

In my post above Giant Defy 1 is the one with 105 components; not Defy 2 and Defy 3.

Smallguy

I have an OCR 1 which was the model before the Defy came out

I'd recommend going with tiagra over sora... allows you to shift easier while in the drops

also unless your opposed to it look for a used bike you will get more for you money

gtipton55

Thanks for the posts yall. I'm open to the $1000 range and have looked into the Defy 2 now. But the question that is hardest to get over is the "Is the $1000 commitment really worth it?" I'm wanting a road bike to help me get in shape and it's for fitness. I own a mountain bike but I feel that i'd get more out of a road bike when taking to the Veloway or road tracks as well as road rides. I'm pretty set on buying it new just because getting it fit just perfectly is really important to me and actually having them fit me on the bike.

Gah it can be a somewhat stressful task when finding that perfect bike but I'm thinking that just going and trying more bikes is probably the best thing to do. Would I be getting a substantially better bike with taking the $1000 leap instead of the $700 bike?

Smallguy

you will get tiagra shifters versus sora which IMO are much better.... but ride them both maybe you will prefer sora

I bought a road bike to get in better shape for mtb rides now I road ride allot more often

justadude

You're right, fit is important.

I've had a Giant OCR (Defy predecessor) for almost 10 years. It's been great!