Cyclescheme & choices....

maharg22

A few months ago I looked at a few bikes that I was going to get on my works Cyclescheme, sadly at the time my works scheme was closed and the bikes have since gone out of stock.

These things happen I suppose....

However, my works scheme is once again open and I have found a couple of bikes that have taken my fancy.

They are as follows..

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/hoy ... 5#features

Not a bad bike for the money and Shimano 105 Groupset, 11 speed and a light aluminium frame. Rides well but not heard much about them or know anyone who's got one. £1000 is my maximum though....

http://palacecycles.co.uk/collections/s ... e3racebike

Rode this one today and I was impressed as it was my first ride on a carbon framed bike. Nimble and light and very responsive. My only gripe is that is the lower spec Shimano Tiagra and 10 speed. But it's still not a bad bike for the money...

http://palacecycles.co.uk/collections/s ... tdefy12014

Rode this one today too, just to get a feel of how Carbon and Aluminium differ. This bike again has a Shimano 105 Groupset albeit 10 speed. This Giant was however Aluminium framed. Nimble and again responsive just like the Defy 3, but it was different. Not sure if this was down to the groupset or the frame, possibly a bit of both?

As I said earlier, I have to stick to the limits set by my employer which means £1000 max on the voucher. So thinking head is on and I'm searching for reviews on the internet, but if anyone has any advice then I would welcome it. Again, I have ridden and tried all 3 and they all felt good to ride.

I am also looking at upgrading the wheels on what ever bike I get. These I will cover myself and will be Mavic Askiums.

I don't race, but do ride solo and sometime in a group with friends on average I clock up on average 150 miles per week. I am a mid 40's and 96kg male rider who just cycles for exercise and for the love and fun of the open roads.

dj58

Not familiar with the Hoy bikes and don't know anyone who has one, there is a review of a 2013 model below.
http://road.cc/content/review/94512-hoy-sa-calobra-003

As to the Giant bikes I have only ridden and own a Aluxx framed bike. You have ridden all three bikes so you can make a direct comparison yourself. You need to decide which is more important to you, carbon frame with lower spec. functional 10sp components, or alu. frame 10sp 105 or alu. 11sp 105.

Are you bothered about having mudguard fittings, the Defy Aluxx bike has them the Defy Comp 3 doesn't, not sure whether the Hoy has them. Go for the one that fits you the best and that you prefer the look of is often the advice given on here.

maharg22

DJ58 wrote:

Not familiar with the Hoy bikes and don't know anyone who has one, there is a review of a 2013 model below.
http://road.cc/content/review/94512-hoy-sa-calobra-003

As to the Giant bikes I have only ridden and own a Aluxx framed bike. You have ridden all three bikes so you can make a direct comparison yourself. You need to decide which is more important to you, carbon frame with lower spec. functional 10sp components, or alu. frame 10sp 105 or alu. 11sp 105.

Are you bothered about having mudguard fittings, the Defy Aluxx bike has them the Defy Comp 3 doesn't, not sure whether the Hoy has them. Go for the one that fits you the best and that you prefer the look of is often the advice given on here.

Hi, and thanks for your reply..

All 3 bikes are great! that's whats confusing me. Simple fact is there is too much choice.

As to guards, I don't intend to add them as I am keeping my current Bianchi to use as my winter bike.

All 3 bikes were Medium Large frames, and I sat comfortably on all 3. Not to stretched out but at the same time not to hunched up.

So its safe to say my heads still a mess with it all...

dj58

Hi,

I see your dilemma, you already have a alu. road bike which you will use as your winter bike so you could discount the Defy 1. That leaves the Defy Comp 3, but you are not keen on the Tiagra 10sp, or the Hoy alu. with the new 11sp 105.

You could get the Defy Comp 3 and upgrade the parts or groupset when you own it, if a carbon frame is your priority, or get the Hoy if the new 11sp 105 is more important to you. Alternatively try and find a carbon bike with 11sp 105 in your budget.

If you can find the Defy Comp 2 bike in your size, it has the 105 10sp so may be a good compromise or the Defy Comp 1 has 11sp Ultegra.

hammond1975

I would try and test ride a Defy before rushing in, I had one and hated it, the seat angle (74degree) never felt right to me no matter how much I played with my position.

lakesluddite

Sounds to me like you're after a 'nice weather' bike, as opposed to the winter alu Bianchi you already have. If it were my choice, I'd go for the carbon Giant and think about upgrading to 105, either straight away when you can recoup some money by selling the Tiagra, or by using Tiagra for now and upgrading later when you can save up for the 105 (if necessary). The current 105 11 speed groupset isn't that expensive at the mo - about £300. You might be able to get a fair chunk of that back by selling the Tiagra - if you sell it before you use it.

Have you seen what Scotby Cycles have? I think they are on the CycleScheme as well. Sorry, that's even more choice!

dj58

hammond1975 wrote:

I would try and test ride a Defy before rushing in, I had one and hated it, the seat angle (74degree) never felt right to me no matter how much I played with my position.

74 degree seat tube angle is only available on the small Defy frame, the OP is looking at the M/L bike and has already ridden it, so it's not a problem for him.

hammond1975

DJ58 wrote:

hammond1975 wrote:

I would try and test ride a Defy before rushing in, I had one and hated it, the seat angle (74degree) never felt right to me no matter how much I played with my position.

74 degree seat tube angle is only available on the small Defy frame, the OP is looking at the M/L bike and has already ridden it, so it's not a problem for him.

I would check further, mine was a m/l and no matter what Giant say the view is that alloy Defys run a 74 angle, a few months back cycling + tested a medium and also quoted a 74.

They are a strange bike, complete ball ache to get mudguards on plus they just feel dull.

Carbon might be better but a Roubaix or Tarmac would get my vote over a Defy.

dj58

hammond1975 wrote:

DJ58 wrote:

hammond1975 wrote:

I would try and test ride a Defy before rushing in, I had one and hated it, the seat angle (74degree) never felt right to me no matter how much I played with my position.

74 degree seat tube angle is only available on the small Defy frame, the OP is looking at the M/L bike and has already ridden it, so it's not a problem for him.

I would check further, mine was a m/l and no matter what Giant say the view is that alloy Defys run a 74 angle, a few months back cycling + tested a medium and also quoted a 74.

They are a strange bike, complete ball ache to get mudguards on plus they just feel dull.

Carbon might be better but a Roubaix or Tarmac would get my vote over a Defy.

That is interesting, though the first I have heard of it. Are you saying that regardless of frame size, extra small through to extra large they all have a seat tube angle of 74 degrees on the Aluxx models? What about the carbon bikes, as according to Giant they have the same geometry?

hammond1975

DJ58 wrote:

That is interesting, though the first I have heard of it. Are you saying that regardless of frame size, extra small through to extra large they all have a seat tube angle of 74 degrees on the Aluxx models? What about the carbon bikes, as according to Giant they have the same geometry?

Not sure on the Carbons, my guess is that they would be 73 as they are more of a racer, the alloy versions are marketed as an all rounder.

letap73

DJ58 wrote:

hammond1975 wrote:

DJ58 wrote:

hammond1975 wrote:

I would try and test ride a Defy before rushing in, I had one and hated it, the seat angle (74degree) never felt right to me no matter how much I played with my position.

74 degree seat tube angle is only available on the small Defy frame, the OP is looking at the M/L bike and has already ridden it, so it's not a problem for him.

I would check further, mine was a m/l and no matter what Giant say the view is that alloy Defys run a 74 angle, a few months back cycling + tested a medium and also quoted a 74.

They are a strange bike, complete ball ache to get mudguards on plus they just feel dull.

Carbon might be better but a Roubaix or Tarmac would get my vote over a Defy.

That is interesting, though the first I have heard of it. Are you saying that regardless of frame size, extra small through to extra large they all have a seat tube angle of 74 degrees on the Aluxx models? What about the carbon bikes, as according to Giant they have the same geometry?

Its not interesting because Hammond is completely incorrect with regards to STA being 74 degrees for the Defy which has a relaxed geometry - the more aggressive a bike the steeper the angle in general e.g supersix evo , specialised tarmac etc. The giant did have its own specific mudguards which were designed for the Defy.

letap73

hammond1975 wrote:

DJ58 wrote:

That is interesting, though the first I have heard of it. Are you saying that regardless of frame size, extra small through to extra large they all have a seat tube angle of 74 degrees on the Aluxx models? What about the carbon bikes, as according to Giant they have the same geometry?

Not sure on the Carbons, my guess is that they would be 73 as they are more of a racer, the alloy versions are marketed as an all rounder.

The Carbon and Aluminium Defys have an identical "relaxed geometry" - a tall head tube, both have identical low reach/stack ratios indicating again a relaxed geometry. You are perhaps getting confused with a Giant TCR.

hammond1975

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/cate ... -14-48012/

If you can get the magazine copy of this test they quote a 74 seat angle, I hated it, no matter what I tried

letap73

hammond1975 wrote:

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/bikes/road/product/review-giant-defy-zero-14-48012/

If you can get the magazine copy of this test they quote a 74 seat angle, I hated it, no matter what I tried

The magazine copy "supposedly" quoting an STA of 74 proves nothing, they will not have measured it and are likely to have misquoted from the Giant geometry charts. The STA is different for different sizes, usually steeper for the smaller frames. A steeper STA usually means a more aggressive fitting bike which has a longer reach in comparison to its stack - this is in contrast to the Giant Defy which has a relatively short reach for its stack size. I hope you have picked up on the fact that the OP has ridden both versions and has shown a favourable opinion of both. I get the point that you hate the defy - you have repeated yourself a number of times on this, but to base this opinion on stating that the Defy has a steeper STA is factually incorrect and misleading.

hammond1975

letap73 wrote:

but to base this opinion on stating that the Defy has a steeper STA is factually incorrect and misleading.

My last post on the subject as it is going nowhere now, just for info as I could not get on with mine, I had the seat tube angle checked by a frame builder who confirmed that it was indeed 74.2 degrees.

passout

I didn't think Evans used cyclescheme but had their own version of it - I'd check. Wiggle & Halfords are similar I believe. I have used cyclesheme with planet x and winstanleys bikes in the past - got some great deals as was allowed to use it on sale bikes (not everywhere does this).

maharg22

passout wrote:

I didn't think Evans used cyclescheme but had their own version of it - I'd check. Wiggle & Halfords are similar I believe. I have used cyclesheme with planet x and winstanleys bikes in the past - got some great deals as was allowed to use it on sale bikes (not everywhere does this).

http://www.evanscycles.com/pages/cyclescheme

passout

I stand corrected. My information must be out of date!

In that case I like the look of the Hoy.

maharg22

passout wrote:

I stand corrected. My information must be out of date!

In that case I like the look of the Hoy.

The Hoy is indeed a grand steed, and will soon grace my shed along with my two Italians stallions and my wifes Treck