Stolen - new bike required. no giant triples?

redbikejohn
redbikejohn Posts: 160
edited March 2015 in Road buying advice
ok so my giant defy 3.5 triple was stolen today.

Looking for a replacement - i have new for old home insurance so looking at another defy 3. however they don't do triples any more (so i'm told). I know there is a big dislike for them from the general roadie but i really like mine. is the gearing on new bikes such that they are the same as a triple in ratio wise?

Comments

  • dj58
    dj58 Posts: 2,223
    Sorry to hear your had your bike stolen. The Defy 3 comes with a 50/34 compact chainset and a 11/32T cassette that gives you a low gear of 28 inches. What was you gear range on your 3.5 50/39/30 cassette -/- ?

    Have a read through this thread viewtopic.php?f=40042&t=12946714&p=18598888#p18598888
  • fatsmoker
    fatsmoker Posts: 585
    I wondered how I'd get on with a compact double having used a triple quite happily. Much better. Much less changing between big and middle ring. The 50 tooth rather than 52 tooth is fine for most undulating but not too steep hills.
  • redbikejohn
    redbikejohn Posts: 160
    DJ58 wrote:
    Sorry to hear your had your bike stolen. The Defy 3 comes with a 50/34 compact chainset and a 11/32T cassette that gives you a low gear of 28 inches. What was you gear range on your 3.5 50/39/30 cassette -/- ?

    Have a read through this thread viewtopic.php?f=40042&t=12946714&p=18598888#p18598888
    Had a look at the box today - old cassette was 12/28 and I swapped it for a 11/30. Well I think that was it anyway, had a few drinks since I checked the cassette box today.
    Problem is I have big hill to cycle up when I commute "Harrow Hill " - after already riding 20 miles.
  • dj58
    dj58 Posts: 2,223
    So your lowest gear had a ratio of 1 : 1, 30T/F - 30T/R (26.4 inches). You can get a 33T inner chain ring for a 110 BCD compact chainset. http://www.specialites-ta.com/gb/plateau-zephyr.html that would give a low gear of 33T/F - 32T/R (27.2 inches) as opposed to 26.4 for the triple.

    If that is not low enough and you prefer a triple then you can always swop the O.E. fit components for the triple equivalents, LH STI, FD, Chainset, that would give a low gear of 30T/F - 32T/R (24.7 inches).

    Or consider this viewtopic.php?f=40042&t=13019468
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    redbikejohn wrote:
    DJ58 wrote:
    Sorry to hear your had your bike stolen. The Defy 3 comes with a 50/34 compact chainset and a 11/32T cassette that gives you a low gear of 28 inches. What was you gear range on your 3.5 50/39/30 cassette -/- ?

    Have a read through this thread viewtopic.php?f=40042&t=12946714&p=18598888#p18598888
    Had a look at the box today - old cassette was 12/28 and I swapped it for a 11/30. Well I think that was it anyway, had a few drinks since I checked the cassette box today.
    Problem is I have big hill to cycle up when I commute "Harrow Hill " - after already riding 20 miles.

    So your lowest was 30/30 = 1.00. The new bike would be 34/32 = 1.06

    That's as near as to make no difference so get the new bike :)
  • redbikejohn
    redbikejohn Posts: 160
    ok this has been dragging on a bit - no rack mounting eyelets on the Defy 2 (upgraded from the 3).

    the 2015 defy 2 comes with Shimano Tiagra 12-30 in a ten speed. shimano dont do a 11/32 in ten speed it would appear ?! I see shram does one but doing a search there is some debate whether it will fit/work. see some reports about spline depth etc. any ideas? looking at spec sheet it has Giant Tracker Sport Road hubs
  • dj58
    dj58 Posts: 2,223
    edited March 2015
    You can buy another seat tube clamp that has tapped holes to accepted rack mount fixings.
    http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-Seat-Coll ... _74792.htm
    http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-QR-Seat-C ... _19625.htm

    I use 12-30T and 50/34T on my defy and find 34/30 low enough for where I ride. You can fit a 33T chainring to a compact so you could try that, also I thought that SRAM cassettes are compatible with the Shimano freehub.

    What is your question regarding the Giant tracker sport hubs?
  • redbikejohn
    redbikejohn Posts: 160
    Ref the rack I've found one that uses the quick release shaft to mount to so they are ordering me in one of those.
    Ref the hub question I read that in the ten speed shimano have (?) changed spline depth so I'm not too sure if it will work. Will wait until it arrives I suppose then see how it rides and spreak to my lbs about compatibility.
  • dj58
    dj58 Posts: 2,223
    Have a read through this, you may find it helpful. viewtopic.php?f=40101&t=12905742 You could always ask your LBS to trial fit the SRAM cassette onto the Giant wheel freehub to check whether it will work with the RD.

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