Making Defy more smooth

pastie

I've had my Giant Defy 1 for over a year, and am keen for ways to smoothen out the bumpy ride over some of the poorly surfaced roads nearby. I'd be up for upgrading to improve comfort & speed, if only to delay the next inevitable n+1 purchase (putting off 'till August 15 if I can resist the voices in my head until then!). The bike has stock components & wheels. I'm not sure if upgrading wheels etc is worth while, and would be interested in pearls of wisdom??

964cup

Tyres. Wheels don't really make a difference from a comfort perspective, although lighter wheels will make the bike feel more manoeuverable, and may help with climbing. If you can get 28s in there, that will let you run lower pressures and hence have more compliance, but even 25s will help. For real comfort, go tubular or tubeless, but that's an expensive investment on a cheap bike.

styxd

cobl goblr

http://www.cyclesurgery.com/pws/UniqueP ... lsrc=aw.ds

DiscoBoy

Wider tyres, lower pressure, latex inner tubes.

964cup

styxd wrote:

cobl goblr

http://www.cyclesurgery.com/pws/UniqueP ... lsrc=aw.ds

Giant have odd post sizes. I think the Defy 1 is a 30.9. Alternative seatposts are a bit thin on the ground, therefore, although if it's got an allot post, then a carbon post would make a difference.

dj58

The Defy 1 comes with a carbon seatpost as standard. OP what size/type of tyres are you using, Giant PR-3 25mm?
If so try a different make with a higher TPI count plus as already mentioned, consider latex inner tubes and larger 28mm if the frame/fork has the clearances for them.

Also try experimenting with your tyre pressures.

thegibdog

964Cup wrote:

Wheels don't really make a difference from a comfort perspective

I'd say wheels are actually up there with tyres and geometry as the main factors in determining how comfortable the bike feels.

pastie

Thanks for relies so far, very helpful. I'm on 23mm tyres. They are totally worn, might have contributed to some recent problems & have ordered 25mm replacements. What wheels do you think would be significant improvement to PR2s?

krogort

More high end wheels tend to be stiffer and won't make the bike smoother at all.

ajkerr73

pastie wrote:

Thanks for relies so far, very helpful. I'm on 23mm tyres. They are totally worn, might have contributed to some recent problems & have ordered 25mm replacements. What wheels do you think would be significant improvement to PR2s?

I have the same bike and upgraded to Mavic Ksyrium Equipe

Tyne difference is so big I won't be going back to the stock wheels for the winter

Ps I'm 110kg and had no problems in 3.5k + miles with the mavics

keezx

pastie wrote:

Thanks for relies so far, very helpful. I'm on 23mm tyres. They are totally worn, might have contributed to some recent problems & have ordered 25mm replacements. What wheels do you think would be significant improvement to PR2s?

Wheel with wider rims and wider tyres on lower pressure.
On 17C rims you can ride 23 mm with 6,5/6 Bar and 25 mm with 6/5,5 Bar
Custom wheels ist the best and cheapist option.

964cup

thegibdog wrote:

964Cup wrote:

Wheels don't really make a difference from a comfort perspective

I'd say wheels are actually up there with tyres and geometry as the main factors in determining how comfortable the bike feels.

Not according to Mike Burrows: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS3CD8Eiv1U

Lateral stiffness will make a difference to feel under acceleration. Lightness will affect handling and climbing (or at least I think so - opinions on this board seem to vary). Vertical compliance, according to Burrows and with reference to a properly tensioned wheel, is apparently irrelevant and imperceptible in comparison to tyre compliance.

turbo1191

Stick some 25th tyres on it.. night and day!

cattytown

Wheels & tyres as said. 25 wide tyres, on nice wide rims - something like archetypes.

Paul.

thegibdog

964Cup wrote:

thegibdog wrote:

964Cup wrote:

Wheels don't really make a difference from a comfort perspective

I'd say wheels are actually up there with tyres and geometry as the main factors in determining how comfortable the bike feels.

Not according to Mike Burrows: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS3CD8Eiv1U

Lateral stiffness will make a difference to feel under acceleration. Lightness will affect handling and climbing (or at least I think so - opinions on this board seem to vary). Vertical compliance, according to Burrows and with reference to a properly tensioned wheel, is apparently irrelevant and imperceptible in comparison to tyre compliance.

Many others would disagree with him; I think there's more to comfort than measured vertical compliance. Although I'd imagine that the stock wheels on a Defy would be pretty comfortable given the nature of the bike. 25mm (or even 28mm) tyres are the obvious route.