1st bike - Can I do better than a 2010 Giant Defy 3.5 @£430

slickster81

As the title suggests really - looking for my first road bike and have seen a new Giant Defy 3.5 in the sale for £430 inc (from £525). Had a quick look in the Feburary Cycling Plus Magazine which reviewed sub-£550 bikes and the Defy 4 (2011? @£550) came out fairly well.

With a £500 budget in mind would it be worth considering the 2010 Defy 3 for £495?

I just wanted to make sure I hadn't missed a peach of a bike by going for a Defy 3/3.5.

Cheers.

paulbox

I don't know whether this is better than the Giant, but I noticed this 2010 Cannondale CAAD8 on Pedal On's web site recently:

http://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/cannondale_caad8_sora_triple_2010.html

It's reduced from £649 to £449, but they only have a few sizes (56, 58 & 61).

mickybhoy

I bought a similar Giant (OCR2) nearly 6 years ago for £495. It was just as I was getting back into cycling and wanted an entry-level road bike for that sort of budget.
I am still riding it - to commute and take part in time-trials, sportives etc.

It may not be the most fashionable bike around, but look after it and it will last you. They are pretty robust and you can always customise them as you like. I'd say it's a good purchase if you go for it.

slickster81

Thanks for the two comments. I'm hoping that it would last for a little while at least

carrock

much of a muchness at that price. spesh secteur might be worth a look. All same groupset (2300?) and same heavy wheels (cxp22 or similar )

Just dont go to halfords

JKHinton

If you could go another £99 you could go for a Boardman comp road £599 at the moment
and get a much lighter bike 8.9 kg that has better spec's 105/Tiagra carbon fork etc.

You need to go to Halfords before the sale ends.

monkeysm8

I have a 2010 Defy 3 and I love it. I got mine at a v good price though Giants are great bikes.

guy.spartacus

I just pulled the trigger on one this week

£415 from paulscycles.co.uk and the service was top notch

dabber

I think that if you do a comparison between the 2010 and 2011 Giant Defy range you will find that either the spec is unchanged or that the 2010 is higher specc'd than the 2011's..