Giant Defy Composite

OwenB

Hi, I started a thread recently where I mentioned that a salesman in a bikeshop near to me suggested my current Giant Defy 3.5 was perhaps too small for me, anyway after a quick visit to my local shop which sold me my current steed they made some adjustments and it feels a lot better.
Anyway at the original shop the guy was trying hard to sell me something that I didn't really need, but I was planning on upgrading this year anyway so my wonderful girlfriend suggested today that perhaps I should upgrade anyway and relegate my bike to a commited commuter by fitting a pannier rack and some mudguards (I'm currently loathe to do this as it's my only bike for weekend rides as well) which will make life easier when I ride to work.

So to cut a long story short, I like Giant Bikes and I know the Defy fits me, geometry is virtually identical in the new Composite frames so at first thought they're my number one choice, but I'm stuck over which model to go for, they all have varying models of Giant own brand wheels and are specced at lowest Tiagra, Apex middle and Ultegra for the top end model, I'm just not sure which one to go for, will the average joe like me notice the difference in the groupsets? What benefits will I get from spending the extra £500 or so for the top of the range over the bottom?

I will try other bikes and brands out, I just think it's logical to start with the Defy, I think I could stretch to the maximum of £1800 but I'd still prefer to spend less if I could.

letap73

A super bike - new Tiagra groupset is by all accounts very good.

xpc316e

I have just bought a Scott CR1 Comp. It has the latest Tiagra groupset, and I must admit to being really impressed with it. I am a bit of an equipment snob, and often upgrade to Ultegra, but I cannot envisage myself being tempted to do it on this bike until things wear out.