Wrong Bike?

redstuart

I take delivery of my brand new Giant Defy 2 2010 on Monday and can't wait. It's my first road bike after commuting on an old MTB for a year so I'm really looking forward to it.

I'm pretty comfortable I've made the right choice, however a mate of mine who knows his bikes is of the opinion that I've chosen the wrong bike for 'winter riding'?

Being a newbie I'm not too sure what this means? I'm defo not up for getting another 'winter bike' straight away as my budget has basically gone on my first road bike anyhow!

Have I got the wrong bike? I don't really know what a 'winter bike' might even be!

danowat

He probably means its a shame to subject a new racing bike to the rigours of the winter weather, salt, crap and grime on the roads etc.

Get some crub roadracer mudguards and some decent winter tyres and you'll be fine

Peddle Up!

And clean it afterwards.

Percy Vera

redstuart wrote:

......however a mate of mine who knows his bikes is of the opinion that I've chosen the wrong bike for 'winter riding'?

Being a newbie I'm not too sure what this means?.....

Did you not ask him what he meant? Or did he vanish in a puff of smoke after he said it?

Brommers76

I use my Defy as my winter bike and I love it. I have changed the tyres (a must IMO), crud guards, lights etc. definately a good choice. Your mate is wrong.

acebobby

Brommers76 wrote:

I use my Defy as my winter bike and I love it. I have changed the tyres (a must IMO), crud guards, lights etc. definitely a good choice. Your mate is wrong.

I have a defy 3.5, love it and its my first road bike!
I have read alot of people changing the tyres, but why? I dont know any better but they seem fine to me!

redstuart

Percy Vera wrote:

redstuart wrote:

......however a mate of mine who knows his bikes is of the opinion that I've chosen the wrong bike for 'winter riding'?

Being a newbie I'm not too sure what this means?.....

Did you not ask him what he meant? Or did he vanish in a puff of smoke after he said it?

Fair point! I was told his opinion second hand and haven't had chance to speak to him direct just yet.

Seems fairly obvious to get mudguards and clean after riding. I get the impression people spend serious cash on 'summer bikes' and keep their older / cheaper models for the winter...it's all relative I guess!

Thanks for the advice!

father_jack

my winter bike is one up the groupset to my summer road bike.

Pross

redstuart wrote:

I take delivery of my brand new Giant Defy 2 2010 on Monday and can't wait. It's my first road bike after commuting on an old MTB for a year so I'm really looking forward to it.

I'm pretty comfortable I've made the right choice, however a mate of mine who knows his bikes is of the opinion that I've chosen the wrong bike for 'winter riding'?

Being a newbie I'm not too sure what this means? I'm defo not up for getting another 'winter bike' straight away as my budget has basically gone on my first road bike anyhow!

Have I got the wrong bike? I don't really know what a 'winter bike' might even be!

Or likes to think he does? There's not really good and bad bikes for winter riding, it's just that some people have a less expensive bike so that they can preserve their best bike from the worst of the weather. If you have one bike and it is comfortable to ride then it isn't the wrong bike.

father_jack

although since the Giant Defy 2 doesn't take proper fixed guards, I'd say yes you bought the wrong bike (I have a Giant OCR and wouldn't use that for winter for that reason)

Pross

It'll take the full cruds so that really isn't an issue at all.

redstuart

Father Jack wrote:

although since the Giant Defy 2 doesn't take proper fixed guards, I'd say yes you bought the wrong bike (I have a Giant OCR and wouldn't use that for winter for that reason)

That was actually my next point re: mudguards. There seems to be a lot of conflicting info about the Giant Defy range fitting or not fitting various types of mudguard. There are even some forums with people on saying they won't fit their own brand guards as the supplied Kenda tyres are too big (28's instead of 25's).

There are a few people who have said the Crud Road Racers do fit the Giant Defy, is this conclusively right? I guess these are clip-on style guards rather than full bolt-on's?

I'm prob going to change the tyres to some Conti Gatorskins as these seem to have a pretty good rep for winter conditions and don't break the bank at £23ish.

CiB

FWIW my take is that Winter bikes are not required. Have one if you want one, or because an addition to your cycle collection creates one, but having to have one? Nah.

My nice bike is my commute bike, sportive bike and bike for doing long weekend rides. I use it because it's great and I really enjoy riding it. Why would I suddenly want to lock it away for 4 months and ride something not so good, just in case it gets wet, or dirty? The argument about not getting salt on the gear set sort of holds true, but in reality we tend not to get many days when it rains and the roads are gritted, and when that does occur it's not the end of the world - go out, enjoy the ride and then give the bike a bit of a clean before putting it away.

Bikes are for enjoying, and for wearing out. Replacing the chain, and also the cassette + rings occasionally, is part of the cost of owning a nice bike. There's no real saving in putting that expense off for a while and in doing so depriving yourself of the use of your nice bike.

And when it does finally wear out, you have an excuse to go out and buy something even nicer. What's the problem.

Answer - you don't have the wrong bike. Enjoy the one you've got, but look after it esp through the winter months.

father_jack

Thing is road bikes don't have mudguard or pannier mountings, both are essential in a winter bike. You can't carry work clothes, waterproofs, towel, soap, windproof/warm garments on a road bike unless you have a large backpack (which I do not like)

father_jack

Thing is road bikes don't have mudguard or pannier mountings, both are essential in a winter bike. You can't carry work clothes, waterproofs, towel, soap, windproof/warm garments on a road bike unless you have a large backpack (which I do not like)

CiB

You're dead right there, which is why I always take that sort of stuff in when I go by car. Same arguments apply in Summer; it still rains, farmers still leave mud on the roads, and I stil sweat like a dog after the 1 hour TT to work.

Like I said, if you want one that's perfectly sensible, but a winter bike isn't a necessity, which is what OP was asking.

father_jack

A car what's one of those?

dmch2

Crud roadracer mudguards will clip on without mounts and my trek has pannier mounts (which is why i bought it over the caad).

blackhands

Father Jack wrote:

Thing is road bikes don't have mudguard or pannier mountings, both are essential in a winter bike. You can't carry work clothes, waterproofs, towel, soap, windproof/warm garments on a road bike unless you have a large backpack (which I do not like)

You are confusing a winter bike with a commuting bike. The same argument would apply to a "summer" bike - these have no pannier mountings.

eyebee

with reference to the mudguards to fit. I had Gatorskins (25's) on my Defy 1 which didn't allow clearance for the Giant Defy/Avail mudguards. Crud roadracers wouldn't clear either.I now have Gatorskins hardshells(23's) but have yet to fit mudguards although there is now enough clearance.If you want to stick with 25's, you'd probably have to go for sks raceblades, or similar.

father_jack

don't waste your money with sks raceblades, got a pair and move around on every jolt

Brommers76

I have a Defy 2 09 model. The Kendra tyres are 25's and the MK1 crudguards DO fit but are very tight. The Kendra tyres are IME very hard to get off the rim, stiff, slow rolling, heavy. I changed to some 23's and the mudguards fit far easier and the ride is quicker and I think more comfortable.

As you have bought this bike you clearly are not taking a suit, laptop, shoes etc to work so you certainly don't need paniers etc, in fact you said it was a winter bike rather than a commuter bike anyway.

Your choice is fine. I commute 20miles each way anyway. No problem.

janwal

Fitting panniers is not a problem on a bike that won't take a rack.You can buy seat post mounted racks that take them with quick release levers if you need them so it won't get nicked.
http://road.cc/content/review/6415-etc- ... nnier-rack

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Seat-Post-Mount-P ... 00ff15b989

rolf_f

Father Jack wrote:

Thing is road bikes don't have mudguard or pannier mountings, both are essential in a winter bike. You can't carry work clothes, waterproofs, towel, soap, windproof/warm garments on a road bike unless you have a large backpack (which I do not like)

Rack mounts aren't essential for a winter or commuter bike. The only thing that really is is the ability to take cruds at least.

gavintc

Many people get into cycling with a reasonably priced bike - and a Giant Defy 2 is a perfectly good bike. If you get completely hooked, you can upgrade later to a summer bike. In my old club, many people used a bike similar to the Defy as a winter bike with race blades fitted. Their route into road cycling is exactly the route you have taken. It is an excellent choice as a first road - do not worry about it, just enjoy the riding.

what brakes

If it fits you have a perfectly correct bike! index....

just get some crud catchers and clean and oiled.

Last year i was using a Wilier Izoard as my winter hack until a car broke it! Worked very well up till then.

If your comfortable using it in the winter why not?!?! just ignore those that say its the wrong bike.

redstuart

My bike's arriving tomorrow so I'm pretty excited.

I will be using it to commute (~10miles e/w) but have to drive at least once a week when I bring in a whole load of work clothes to wear so I can avoid having to take too much with me on the bike.

Thanks again for the advice re: Winter bike / Mudguards. I'm very happy with the choice I made...I've been itching to get out on it since I placed the order last week! I've not bothered getting any guards yet - I'll prob wait and see how wet I get cycling 4 times a week.

I'm quite up for joining one of the South Manchester cycling clubs so I'll have to get some guards then anyhow to avoid being the 'newbie at the back'!

bakerstreet

I have been commuting on my 2010 Defy 2 for about thre weeks now.

I thought the Cruds would fit straight on with the standard (Kenda Tyres). This thread is confusing even more!!

Was thinking that the next thing I was going to spend my money on was M520 pedals and appropriate shoes. Suppose I should try and protect the bike with the mud guards...

redstuart

Ok, I'm a road bike newbie and I'm preaching to the converted but I've not enjoyed cycling as much as I have done over the last couple of days since my Defy 2 arrived...I've been making up reasons to go and visit people just to extend my ride home!

I definitely haven't got the 'wrong' bike as I put it originally...I even enjoyed cleaning and greasing after yesterday's rain ( what's new in Manchester).

Clipless pedals make a big difference btw - pretty easy to get used to and much better power transfer. I even managed to avoid falling off at a junction (famous last words).

gavintc

redstuart, We all go through the anguish when we make a significant purchase - was it correct, so I have bought something else, etc etc. It is a natural response. Personally, I think you have a good choice. It is a sporty bike, and I think you will enjoy the fun aspect of riding this bike. The most important thing now is to ensure that you find a routine that will keep you riding through the winter - watch out for icy mornings and ensure that you dress appropriately. But, most importantly enjoy the freedom and fun of a decent road bike.

gavintc

redstuart, We all go through the anguish when we make a significant purchase - was it correct, so I have bought something else, etc etc. It is a natural response. Personally, I think you have a good choice. It is a sporty bike, and I think you will enjoy the fun aspect of riding this bike. The most important thing now is to ensure that you find a routine that will keep you riding through the winter - watch out for icy mornings and ensure that you dress appropriately. But, most importantly enjoy the freedom and fun of a decent road bike.