Any advice on first bike: Giant v Specialized

nzroadrunner

I'm looking to purchase my first road bike for weekend rides and would like to enter some low key races next year and/or do a cycling trip abroad. I've been borrowing a Boardman Road Team with 105 for the past month.

My budget can extend to lower-level carbon (having factored in accessories as well), so I'm another one who's debating on whether carbon with lower spec components or aluminium with higher spec components is best value.

The models I keep coming back to after a bit of research are Specialised Allez Elite, Giant Defy 1, Giant Defy Composite 3 and Giant TCR Composite 3. The other model that has caught my attention for value is the Boardman Road Team Carbon down to £1,169 at the moment with Shimano 105.

Ideally, I would like to be choosing between the Giant Defy Composite 2 or TCR Composite 2 and the Specialized Tarmac Sport, but I would need to wait for the sales to start.

If anyone has any advice on aluminium v carbon between £900-£1300, when the Giant/Specialized sales usually start and whether I'm better to wait, what are the pro's and con's of Giant v Specialized, the quality of Boardman's Road Team Carbon and if there are any comparable models in this range I have missed that'd be great.

Thanks,
Cycling newbie

arran77

nzroadrunner wrote:

The other model that has caught my attention for value is the Boardman Road Team Carbon down to £1,169 at the moment with Shimano 105.

For the same money how about the Canyon Roadlite AL7.0 with full Ultegra?

awginger

I picked up a Giant Defy 1. peddles and shoes for £1000. I needthe XL frame though so got a bit of a discount as the LBS were having trouble shifting them.

smidsy

In the price bracket you have mentioned you are squarley in the C2W scheme limit.

Search for C2W topics and you will get loads of bikes in that price bracket for comparision.

Always best to get test rides if at all possible.

disorganisedmum

All I would say in my very limited experience is that Specialized are very good bikes but you can get alot more for your money with other makes.You can get a higher specced bike for the same money.
happy hunting!

Jon_1976

I've got an Allez Elite and like it a lot. As mentioned, Specialized bikes tend to be a bit more expensive and less value for money (groupset wise) compared to other brands. I got a 10% discount off, so wasn't too bad.
Canyon is one to definitely consider. Also have you looked at the Focus Culebro? I saw an Ultegra one for just under a grand in my lbs. Looked nice

#david2012

Having researched this same conundrum for what feels like 2341hrs lol my view would be.....
Defy1 is a great bike I've had mine since oct 2012 and done 1500 miles with no problem
Geometry is sportive so bear that in mind, the other giants might be more racy
I've put some lighter wheels on and some ultegra bits ( brakes & cassette ) and it feels great
Although 105 is probably all your likely to need.
I'd suggest stick with top end Ali and go for better wheels rather than entry level carbon for your money, worked for me

Mikey41

Have you considered the TCR SL 2? I'm looking at one, light alu frame with 105, full carbon fork and a lighter wheelset. Supposedly weighs in a little over 8kg, so a good kilo at least lighter than my Defy.

lewisc

I have a 2012 Giant TCR Composite 3, was £1100 from Cycle Surgery, and I'm still loving it! It is my first proper road bike too, coming from MTBs before.

Schoie81

I have a GIant MTB and road bike and would recommend them to anyone - although I've never had anything else so can't offer a comparrison. Also have a few friends with Giants who are also very pleased with them. One of the reasons I went for a Giant road bike (other than being very happy with my MTB) was that I was told that Giants aluminium frames are excellent, but I don't know if that praise transfers to their carbon range if you do end up going for lower range carbon rather than high end aluminium.

Whatever you get - happy cycling!!

Kingsmill1

I have a spec allez sport and recently got the Giant TCR comp 2, the allez is a far more comfortable bike for longer distances than the TCR but I got the TCR for short races and better climbing and it does this much better than the Allez. If I had to change now, looking at longer distances I would go for the defy as I believe the frame is more suited to longer rides and comfort. Really depends on what you are going to do with the bike ?

chrisaonabike

When I got my bike last October, my short list of two ended up as:

Specialized Allez Elite (alu, 2013)
Giant Defy 3 (comp, 2012)

Both Tiagra.

Test rode them both several times, ended up with the Giant cos a) it was carbon, and only 100 quid more expensive and b) slightly more comfortable.

Happy with the Giant so far, although someone mentioned the Canyon Roadlite 7 with Ultegra. My OH now has one of these and it looks lovely. The cables under the bar tape look is very neat - can't comment on the handling at all since sadly it's way too small for me to ride.