Giant Rapid 4?

Leafeh

Hey Guys,
Ive recently found a Giant Rapid 4 2010 for sale, and wondered whether this road bike is a good bike for a beginner like me?


Heres the link for the bike:
(http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bik ... 4866/38976)

Thanks,
Leafeh

Alinshearah

Yes is the simple answer. The flat handlebar may or may not limit you. But the rest of the bike is excellent.

KentPuncheur

I started road cycling 24 months ago on a Giant Rapid 3. The flat bar did hamper me when I started doing longer rides as it was not as natural a riding position as a drop bar (my upper back and shoulders began to ache and hurt after 40-50 miles...but that may be my tall slim build), but apart from that the bike was a dream. Very quick for its spec, and was able to keep up comfortably with other club riders on carbon frames. I did a charity London to Brussels ride over 3 days on it and it didn't give me many complaints (apart from the bar position). Bike radar did a review on it a couple of years back and gave it 4.5 stars (if memorty serves) so that gives you an idea of its quality within its peer group.

Overall, it will be a great first bike for its peer group (being fast flat bar commuter road bikes) but I would give some consideration to the bar position. If you're going to use it for anything more than commuting (i.e. longer weekend rides) I would consider looking at a drop bar road bike such as the Giant Defy series...which are at a similar price point. I chose the flat bar due to inexperience on a drop bar position, but having converted to a carbon road bike I don't know what I was worried about originally!

What groupset does it come with? My groupset was a entry level Shimano, good for commuting and weekend rides but it gave me a bit of bother after I had done 2/3k miles on it, but I suppose that is expected.