defy 3 and spokes ?

wide phil

I had the Defy 3 a while now and really enjoying the road cycling averaging 150/200 mile a week and up to about 10000 ft elevation as i enjoy working my 109kg frame up hills. Bike is great even the sora gears are good enough for my needs. Only 1 problem is rear wheel has popped spokes on 3 occasions. I have now taken it to a good road cycle shop in Cardiff and they recomended going with a heavy gauge spoke, which Ive had done, and which Giant agreed to do under warranty... result.
Trouble is... the bike feels very sluggish now. I thought it was in my head, but I seem to be working my ass off and going slower ?? A good friend has recomended a wheel upgrade To Mavic Ksyrium elites, but I read elsewhere they are not really suitable for my weight. Then the shop I had the wheel done rekoned they are very robust. someone else has also added if I changed my seatpost to a carbon one it would alieviate some of the pressure going directly into the spokes.
im not really up on the science... just enjoy riding and pushing myself, but would like to get along a bit quicker.
Any thoughts ?

sloppyschleckonds

Loose weight.

ugo.santalucia

As nonsense goes, the seatpost advice reaches a new high!

Thicker gauge spokes will result in a wheel that feels more dead, less springy, but in terms of your ability to climb or go fast the difference is below perception. The dead feel is instead noticeable and on a long day on the bike you will feel more tired.

You are too heavy for the Elite S and most likely end up with a cracked rim. Warranty might or might not cover that, as you are well over the max weight (100 Kg including the bike)

simon_masterson

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19648955#p19648955]ugo.santalucia[/url] wrote:

As nonsense goes, the seatpost advice reaches a new high!

Thicker gauge spokes will result in a wheel that feels more dead, less springy, but in terms of your ability to climb or go fast the difference is below perception. The dead feel is instead noticeable and on a long day on the bike you will feel more tired.

You are too heavy for the Elite S and most likely end up with a cracked rim. Warranty might or might not cover that, as you are well over the max weight (100 Kg including the bike)

Pretty much what I was going to say. Just get some 36 spoke handbuilt wheels with sturdy rims, and find some less misguided people to get advice from!

wide phil

OK cool was waiting for the lose weight answer, not always the right choice as I am what I am with the frame of a prop. Even when I had gall stones a few year back andf eating boiled fish and chicken for best part of 6 month I only went down to 100kg and life gets lived accordingly as with many other cyclists out there.
Carbon seatpost was a myth then, maybe just a comfort thing then. Would have been last on the list at any point.
But do get the bit about the bike feeling dead and less springy now

Van Goghs Ear

I'm around the same weight, and ride a defy advanced 0. I've been a big fan of Shimano wheels as they seem bomb proof and no weight limit on them. I've been running RS81 C24s since April, almost 4000km on them now, they have remained true and no spoke issues, and I live in Central Canada where the weather changes are severe and thus potholes are a big issue.. They are also pretty light at around 1516g for the set (claimed weight).

But nonetheless, at my weight, I'm always making sure to pop my ass out of the saddle if I know I'm about to go over a large crack in the road that isn't avoidable. Also maybe make sure you're running tires that can handle a sufficient pressure.

priory

the psychological effect of believing that something is slower or heavier on one's bike is very hard to overcome I think, and most of the expensive kit on the road is sold on that basis. I have given up riding light stuff for routine riding because I find it breaks quickly , and I weigh a mere 95kg. wheels and aluminium frames are the first to go.
you only know how fast you go if you time it and keep stats , so perhaps stop doing that. the old saying is ''it does not get easier , you get faster ''
meanwhile on holidays I have taken to hiring , since the airlines all charge a lot now. I usually get a carbon or ultralight Al racer. My normal ride is steel with mudguards. I am not sure I could tell for sure what I was on if blindfolded but I am not going to test it. I think very light wheels do feel slightly more agile than strong ones. Perhaps in a fast club ride one might become convinced the few pounds are holding you back so then get out the light-weight. If you are going to have one bike atyour weight It will have to be a strong one all round , or fix it again tomorrow ( as someone referred to my FIAT).

chris_bass

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19648940#p19648940]SloppySchleckonds[/url] wrote:

Loose weight.

it is easier to shift than tight weight