American or European....style....?

bristolpete

Hi all,

I am in a dilemma as I am not sure on what bike to go for. I really cant work out if I want an American style Giant machine like the Defy Advanced 3 or something more esoteric like a Bianchi -

http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/images/bia ... lt1000.jpg

or even an Orbea. I love the ethic of the European bikes (I own a Lapierre Mountain Bike) but something nags me telling me that I should go for the Giant. I suppose head says Giant, heart says other but being honest, my decision making is being clouded by a spell of depression which I am trying my best to beat.....

What or how do you see the two styles. Component wise I think there is little in it, likewise the price, but it is simply about the ride I suppose.

Thanks in advance,

Pete.

swissj

Having read your post, I saw that you mentioned going for a bike 'like' a TCR advanced.

Have you considered an alternative american brand like Felt?

I had a problem like yours when deciding between a BMC SLT01 and a 2009 Felt AR4.

Similair prices, similair spec so how do you decide? I was sold on the style of both of these bikes and they are both sexy in their own right.

Using the same principal with yours the Bianchi would win hands down.

Any difference in performance is negligible at this standard.

However, if you read the reviews C+ awarded the Giant TCR the bike of the year 2009. Only problem with that test was that the Bianchi wasn't compared because it was too expensive for the test.

The Bianchi is undoubtedly sexy, I can't say that about the Giant with its more 'standard' look that doesn't push the envelope. The Felt AR4? Now there's a bike to compare with the Bianchi.

So, to sum up, its a tricky one, I say let your heart rule your head. What swung it for my dilemma was the aero frame of the Felt and I urge you to take a look and consider the AR4 as well. It looks bloody lovely and rides amazingly well!!

Good luck though with whatever you choose and I can be sure you wouldn't be disappointed with any of them.

swissj

Apologies for my error in the last reply, when I talked about the TCR advanced.

That aside, a lot of what I said I still feel is true about the Defy Advanced 3.

In my humble opinion, of course!

bristolpete

swissj wrote:

Apologies for my error in the last reply, when I talked about the TCR advanced.

That aside, a lot of what I said I still feel is true about the Defy Advanced 3.

In my humble opinion, of course!

Thanks - the TCR was on my list as my LBS said that the shape and design of the Defy 3 suits my shape and style more to which I agree, hence thinking about the C2C Bianchi. Will have a look at what you advise.

Thanks for the reply.

guilliano

Personally I really like the look of the Defy advanced...... but then I have one. I went for it on ride first though, it just felt right. In terms of performance there probably won't be much difference so ride them both back to back if you can then make a decision straight away...... don't analyse it!

keef66

I'm unfortunately also familiar with depression, and for me it makes decision making almost impossible.
On a more positive note, a new bike has the same effect as a wheelbarrow full of Prosac.

I'd go for the one that you like the look of most. For me it would be the Bianchi or the same value Orbea.

dennisn

keef66 wrote:

I'm unfortunately also familiar with depression, and for me it makes decision making almost impossible.
On a more positive note, a new bike has the same effect as a wheelbarrow full of Prosac.

I'd go for the one that you like the look of most. For me it would be the Bianchi or the same value Orbea.

+1 for buying the one you like the looks of the most. Why wouldn't you? I do.
Whether they have a curvy front fork, twisted down tube, curved top tube, or, dare I say
it, are made out of steel, I think that at the upper level of bikes there isn't a whole lot of difference. Get the one you like, not the one you should. If you get my meaning.

gabriel959

They are not esoteric!

I would get the Orbea just because the lifetime warranty on the frame and their geometry.

For that amount of money you are looking at a 09 Onix with Rival and a decent set of wheels.

STEFANOS4784

Voote here for the Bianchi, i don't think there'll be much difference in terms of how quick you go as that's more determined by fitness level but the Bianchi is lush IMO 8)

blu3cat

I have a defy advanced 4, and did test ride a couple of the more "esoteric" European brands as well. Admittedly my bike doesn't look as nice as the Ridley Orion, I had set my heart on, but even on a 10 minute test ride, it didn't feel right,. and the giant did.

I do not yet regret my decision

It's a bit like buying a Lotus Elise or Vauxhall VX220, one is American, one is virtually the same but has an European badge on....

Oh and aren't Giant Taiwanese?

rolf_f

blu3cat wrote:

It's a bit like buying a Lotus Elise or Vauxhall VX220, one is American, one is virtually the same but has an European badge on....

Eh?! The Elise and VX220 are/were both built in the same factory in Norfolk.

Anyway, trouble with Giant is, no matter how good they might be, ultimately they are a bit, well...., dull. Millions of them about. To me, companies like Giant are the bike equivalent of Ford. Bianchi might be somewhere between Fiat and Alfa but even Fiats have more pulse than a Ford (whether or not the Ford is actually the better product).

Nobodies heart ever bought them a Ford.......

blu3cat

Nobodies heart ever bought them a Ford.......

Clarkson and his GT40???

rally200

recently changed my Alfa for a Golf

the Golf is significantly better in regards of, performance, handling, economy, safety, reliablilty, residual value etc, etc

but I just can't feel any attachment to it like I did the Alfa.

Given that there'll be little discernable difference in spec between all the quality bikes you'll be looking at go for one with a bit of "cuore sportivo"

bristolpete

Some valid points here and all noted.

bristolpete

Rolf F wrote:

blu3cat wrote:

It's a bit like buying a Lotus Elise or Vauxhall VX220, one is American, one is virtually the same but has an European badge on....

Eh?! The Elise and VX220 are/were both built in the same factory in Norfolk.

Anyway, trouble with Giant is, no matter how good they might be, ultimately they are a bit, well...., dull. Millions of them about. To me, companies like Giant are the bike equivalent of Ford. Bianchi might be somewhere between Fiat and Alfa but even Fiats have more pulse than a Ford (whether or not the Ford is actually the better product).

Nobodies heart ever bought them a Ford.......

True but I am a simple man with simple means and I do love the Ford Focus.