Giant Defy 1 vs. Specialized Allez Elite ?

girv73

Long time MTB-er here looking for some opinions on a couple of bikes as my first proper roadie. Last time I had a road bike was a Raleigh Pursit 10 speed back in 1991; I kept breaking it on kerbs. Be gentle

I'm on a cycle to work scheme locked into Halfords (don't start) so I'm restricted to £1000 RRP max and whatever Halfrauds will order for me. I've quizzed them and it seems they'll order "major" brands direct from the manufacturers - Kona, GT, Giant and Specialized were mentioned in particular, Trek can be a problem for some reason.

I'm looking for a more relaxed ride that I can do local sportives and social runs on, maybe fair-weather 9 mile (one way) commuting, but I won't be doing any competitive stuff. I tried on a Giant TCR '08 and it felt OK, Spec Tarmac was too head-down for what I want, I think. I suspect Halfrauds own brands are similar geometry. I won't need pannier mounts, but maybe I'd like some mudguards from time to time.

I've seen the new Giant Defy 1 and Specialized Allez Elite which I believe come in on budget and have the geometry I'm after. Both run 105 on a compact chainset, which I shall attempt to turn I think the heart wants the Allez - it's pornographically good looking :oops: but I'd like something more concrete to go on for a grand! I'd like to hear what the internets think of my choices?

Giant Defy 1 2009
Specialized Allez Elite 2009

Defy is kind uninspiring, Allez is bike pr0n. The Defy sits more upright, Allez is more head down but not as much as the Tarmac.

Defy comes with 700x25 tyres - are they much different from 23s ?

Can the Allez take larger tyres? For someone used to 26x2.1 MTB rubber the 23s are scary looking! What about mudguards for the summer rain commutes?

The Allez has a carbon fork and seatstays - this should improve comfort over a full alu frame on longer rides, yes?

Any recommended upgrades for either stock bike?

Any other "big name" steeds I should look at?

Thanks

EssexSuffolk

You may have seen my earlier thread, I'm in a similar position, but looking to spend nearer £800. I test road both the Allez Sport and Defy 2 - I found the Allez a little too "stretched out" for me, just felt wrong, whereas the Defy was really comfortable. I've a similar choice to make: the Defy makes a lot of sense, but its look isn't sending me crazy....which I know isn't a great criteria for choice.

As a result, I'm going to try and test the following:
Trek 1.7 (2008 model)
Bianchi C2C (some variant of Campagnolo groupset)

I've written off the Cannondale Synapse after hearing less than good things about its wheelset (I don't want to instantly have to think of upgrades).

If neither of the above prove as comfortable as the Giant, I'll go for the Giant and probably be happy with it - so I'd say try and test a few others first.

Hope that helps! It's a nice choice to have.

girv73

Yep I've been lurking here for a while so I've seen your thread

The Trek and Bianchi are probably beyond the ability of my local Halfords to order, unfortunately.

I was actually looking at the wrong Defy - somehow I'd picked up the NZ page where it's white/green/black/ugly but on the UK edition page it's a much nicer grey & white look. Link corrected now, but it just muddies the water further.

There's a LBS with both the Defy and Allez 09 in stock, I should probably go down and give them a test sit / ride. It sucks that I can't buy from there, it's a shop I've used for (counts) 15 years?

+1 on the nice choice to have though, it certainly is. I even have wife-level approval for it

simmo3801

Hi there I have a Spec Allez Elite 2007 so this may help:
The stem can be flipped over which gives a different angle. It takes 5 mins to do but the shop could do it to let you try it as it makes a huge difference to the "dtretched out / upright" position. I changed wheels and tyres on mine after a while as the rear wheel didn't stay true and the tyres felt sluggish. It now has a pair of hand built wheels with Michelin Pro2Race tyres on which made a big difference rolling wise. On looking at the pictures of the 2 bikes you're right when you say the Defy is drab!
Interestingly I paid £899 for mine in 2007 so it's gone up by £100 for the same spec.

Anyway selling mine now as I bought a lovely PlanetX on cycle2work....

simon_e

OE tyres should never be part of a buying decision, they're the first thing you should change (though that doesn't have to be straight away).

For muddies you need to check the bike has both clearance and eyelets. Those overpriced clip-on 'race blade' types aren't worth bothering with.

In the end it's simple: try them all, buy the one you like best.

salsarider79

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCExperience.jsp?eid=121
These are lovely bikes, room for mudguards and fat tyres. Yep, even go off road with these. If you ever want to that is. Higher front end means more comfort, which is very important on a bike. The entry level one has a triple chainset which is nice for the hills.
700x25 means the tyre is 700mm diameter and 25mm wide. So the 23's are going to be 23mm wide. The difference is minimal, slightly more comfort on the 25's is about it. Nothing worth bothering with to be honest...

drwu65

Could try some of the Cube Bikes range - pretty good value for money IMHO. Cube Attempt or Peloton in your price brackets. Certainly look distinctive. Whilst the frames are good, not sure if they've got all the latest 'technical features' (swoopy tubes...) as the Giant / Spesh offerings. Certainly the Spesh Allez Elite has the carbon seatstays which are nice but 105 components as opposed to Ultegra SL if you can spend another £50 on a Cube Streamer...

The Peloton got a good review on Bike Radar, anyone have any actual experiences with these bikes/manufacturer??

http://www.cubecycles.co.uk/

(p.s. - their MTBs look pretty hot too...)

FSR_XC

I have a 2007 Elite. Don't find that too stretched. However I'm 6'1" and have a 56cm frame (which I find ideal).

If you think the Allez id bike p0rn, don't look at a Bianchi. I spent a long time drooling over that before eventually getting the Allez.

As for tyre sizes. I have been told that the standard 23c tyres on the Allez are wider than others for some reason.

simon_e

EssexSuffolk wrote:

I test road both the Allez Sport and Defy 2

This is how it's done. Nothing wrong with the heart ruling the head but 'try before you buy' is most definitely the way to go with such an important purchase. No-one else can tell you which is better, the choice is entirely your own.

Specifications are very similar. Both bikes have carbon fork and the Defy 1 has carbon seat post, can't comment on any added benefit of the Allez's seat stays.

The difference between 23mm and 25mm tyres is negligible, they both grip perfectly well and anyway tyres are the thing you're most likely to upgrade/wear out. Best to ride the bike for a while, get used to it and then think about upgrades later.

SpinyBike

fwiw I'm an MTBer who stopped getting the time for it & bought an 08 Allez Elite. Been riding it all year & love it. The Bontrager tyres were shocking, but put Continentals on & they've been great.

giant_man

As others have said, try before you buy. It's the only way of knowing which bike is for you. You shouldn't have any trouble finding Spesh or Giant demo bikes at dealers.

girv73

Thanks all for the input The situation has changed a bit and I'm going to have to put off the purchase for a while (6-12 months) and may not go through the C2W scheme, so my choice has widened but I've got a lot longer to think about it

Spesh Roubaix might be in the running now (was too expensive before). I've also seen the Bianchi C2C in the magazine - verrry nice looking and there's a dealer not far from me.
I'm probably looking at the Alu/Carbon mix ones. Both of them seem quick enough (for me) and with the more relaxed position I'm after. More internetting required.

I'll definitely give them all test rides before plonking down the cash! No way am I parting with £1K+ without at least sitting on them first!