Disc Wheelset Upgrade for Giant Defy Advanced
tjm160
Posts: 35
Does anyone have any experience of upgrading the stock wheelset (PR2) on their 2015 Giant Defy Advanced (Disc Brake)?
It appears there are currently relatively few options for upgraded road disc brake wheelsets and I imagine it will be at least another year (after and assuming the pro's move over) until there is anything like the variety available for rim brakes. However, I don't want to wait much longer and I don't have ZIPP money. Anyone any experience of the Giant SLR wheelset (or anything in a similar price range), which would seem to be a reasonable option under the circumstances, somewhere around £700 after 10% LBS Discount.
Any experience gratefully received.
It appears there are currently relatively few options for upgraded road disc brake wheelsets and I imagine it will be at least another year (after and assuming the pro's move over) until there is anything like the variety available for rim brakes. However, I don't want to wait much longer and I don't have ZIPP money. Anyone any experience of the Giant SLR wheelset (or anything in a similar price range), which would seem to be a reasonable option under the circumstances, somewhere around £700 after 10% LBS Discount.
Any experience gratefully received.
Tim
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Can't you buy hand built wheels for that budget?
viewtopic.php?f=40042&t=13020726&start=5000 -
I have a 2015 Defy Advanced Pro 0. At 95kg I wanted more spokes. So I went hand built (without ever having ridden the Giant wheels). You can see them under the 'show us your giants' thread.
They are HED Belgium Plus 32 hole rims, White Industries CLD black hubs, Sapim Race black spokes, 3 cross, Sapim brass black nipples. They are fitted with Shimano RT99 140mm centerlock rotors and Ultegra skewers. No complaints, been great 1,200 km in.
Previously had custom wheels with Chris King R45 (not disc) hubs on another bike. Now I can't see the point of CK hubs as the preload adjustment and other maintenance seems a PITA with no apparent advantage over WI hubs. Would strongly recommend WI hubs and the Belgium rims.0 -
I'm no expert, but I struggle to see the benefit behind handbuilt wheels (viewtopic.php?f=40004&t=12560655)? I don't have the skill or time to maintain myself and I'm never going to be competing for the pro peloton, I'd just like a quality lighter/faster set of wheels that won't break the bank.Tim0
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Thanks Don, that looks sweet!
Please forgive my ignorance, but why go hand-built rather than off the shelf?
I'm presently 101kg, in the process of sliming down, finally starting to get over chronic fatigue (M.E.). I'm also looking at replacing my first roadie (Aluxx Defy 1 2014) as winter/wet bike with the 2016 Aluxx Defy 1 Disc, with the intention of being able to share the wheels between the two (for winter duathlons, sportives etc). Is this realistic. Who built the wheels for you? Would you use the LBS (who have broached the prospect of building wheels for me in the past), or would you tend towards a dedicated/more experienced wheel builder? If I were to go hand-built, it would certainly be advantageous if the LBS could maintain in the event of issues.Tim0 -
I'm no expert, but I struggle to see the benefit behind handbuilt wheels (viewtopic.php?f=40004&t=12560655)? I don't have the skill or time to maintain myself and I'm never going to be competing for the pro peloton, I'd just like a quality lighter/faster set of wheels that won't break the bank.
Let's just say for a start that with handbuilt wheels at least you know that the hubs, spokes and rims were all assembled by a sentient being and as such can be dis-assembled and rebuilt when the need arises. With factory built wheels you can only guess at what special jigs and robotic devices were used in their construction and in the process they often defy the attempts of mere mortals to rectify problems when things go wrong.
Don't get me wrong - I'm sure there are plenty of factory built wheels that will do an admirable job and perform well and reliably for many miles. However in your case - at 100kg+ the expectations from a factory wheelset might me stretched somewhat. With handbuilt you can design a more robust wheel in terms of spoke count and rim profile and thereby build reliablity into the end product from the outset.
If you're worried about maintaining your handbuilts, I'm sure the builder or LBS would be happy to do a periodic check on your behalf.
Plenty of good builders out there if you look around including Malcolm of the Cycleclinic who contributes frequently to this forum. Others are Moonglu (I have a set of their discs wheels based on Hope Pro3 Evo hubs and H Plus Son Archetype rims - excellent IMHO), Wheelsmith etc.
With your budget of £700 you have an abundance of choice0 -
^ what he said, said very well0
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i ride wheelsmith. great service, great wheelset. lots of hub options in your price bracket0
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I'm also looking at replacing my first roadie (Aluxx Defy 1 2014) as winter/wet bike with the 2016 Aluxx Defy 1 Disc, with the intention of being able to share the wheels between the two (for winter duathlons, sportives etc). Is this realistic.
I'm not sure if I've misunderstood what you're saying here, but do you mean you would be using your new wheels, complete with rotor hanging off the hub, on your old non-disc Defy?
Can you do that!?0 -
Thanks arlowood, I may perhaps be coming round a little. Equally, the PR2's on my old Aluxx Defy have proven incredibly reliable, the LBS just having to true up once in 4k km last year. Surely, not bad for stock wheels. I can see the theory, that choosing individual components of handbuilt wheels, they can be exactly tailored to the individuals exact requirements/choice. However, where/how can one gain the necessary knowledge to make such choices, other than to rely on the experience of others, which surely defeats the object of pursuing the benefits of handbuilt in the first place? It would surely take someone of very great experience/expertise of the myriad of available options to guide one to choose the right components? Just like choosing a bike?
No indeed Dan, the 2014 Defy 1 is 10speed and non-disc. However, the 2016 Defy 1 Disc shares exactly the same stock wheels with the 2015 Defy Advanced; http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/defy.1.disc/24968/90516/. It would surely be of great benefit to have best and wet/winter bikes that can share a set of 'best' wheels.Tim0 -
Hmmm, just had a look at the Strada, Moonglu and Wheelsmith web sites. I think I'm coming round. Thanks gents, more research required yet to be fully convinced, but greatly appreciate the steer in the right direction. I'm much obliged.Tim0
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Have a look at DCR website too. Loads of information on there.0
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I replaced mine with the Hunt 4 season disc wheels and I am very happy with them. But I also moved to a tubeless set up with 28mm Schwalb Ones. Difficult to compare but for what it's worth strava suggests I am a little faster sine and even compared to my old Planet X and rs 80 24's when at my fittest 3 yrs ago. I am 52, the ride is noticeably smoother compared to stock wheels and tyres but then it's a big change.0
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MrB - thanks, really helpful.
Bob - thanks, really helpful also and thrown a spanner in the works (in a nice way). The reported weight and quality of the Hunt wheelset, combined with the price point, are a most attractive proposition.
TimTim0 -
Once more, go handbuilt, get exactly what you want (choose rim/hub/spoke combo to price). All the builders mentioned in this thread i am sure do good work.
Something to consider is to choose one that is easily reachable/local to you (as it is common for them to do a free true for life service) they often do a "rebuild/replace rim after crash at discount" type of thing.
Email a few. Consider there advice |: they will ask you what your weight is / what your riding is etc. They will build a set of wheels for YOU.
Factory builds often make decisions based on things that might not be in your best interest.
Eg.
It is not uncommon for a wheelbuilder to *strongly* recommend brass nipples - for a variety of good reasons (strength/durability/life length) etc. This decision will likely add 60g to your wheelset that realistically most riders wouldn't notice on the bike (or strava)..... except that when browsing websites that extra 60g might lose a big factory brand a sale - so they choose the lighter/but perhaps (for the user) worse option.0 -
A word of warning - hunt wheels carry a weight limit of 100kg!
Some sites you may choose to look at:
http://www.spokesmanwheels.co.uk/
http://thecycleclinic.co.uk/
http://dcrwheels.co.uk/?doing_wp_cron=1440281863.1763749122619628906250
http://www.justridingalong.com/
http://www.wheelsmith.co.uk/
http://whosatthewheel.com/
http://www.stradawheels.co.uk/0 -
Thanks gents, appreciate the added info. Will ponder a while and perhaps reach out for a quote or two and see where we go from there.Tim0
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I'm looking to upgrade the Giant P-SL0 on my Defy as well.
I'm looking at Reynolds Attack but the hand built options do look tempting.
Chris Kings on some Ambrosio rims could be nice.0 -
I have a 2015 Defy Advanced Pro 0. At 95kg I wanted more spokes. So I went hand built (without ever having ridden the Giant wheels). You can see them under the 'show us your giants' thread.
They are HED Belgium Plus 32 hole rims, White Industries CLD black hubs, Sapim Race black spokes, 3 cross, Sapim brass black nipples. They are fitted with Shimano RT99 140mm centerlock rotors and Ultegra skewers. No complaints, been great 1,200 km in.
Previously had custom wheels with Chris King R45 (not disc) hubs on another bike. Now I can't see the point of CK hubs as the preload adjustment and other maintenance seems a PITA with no apparent advantage over WI hubs. Would strongly recommend WI hubs and the Belgium rims.
Do you mind me asking what you paid for the HED build?
Ive got the same bike and im the same weight. Ive done 3000km on the stock wheels and they are holding out pretty well. A tiny bit out of straight on the rear (not even worth taking to the shop) and dead straight on the front.
I've just had to replace the pads mind you.
Ive been looking at the Arcetype/Hope or Archetype/Novatec options. I'd guess the HED will be at least one price bracket up??0 -
Cost was on the order of $1100 CAD. HED were more expensive, but not much different in the overall scheme of things. Check out the Pro Wheelbuilder website, and use the custom builder to compare the price of various options. My guy's prices were generally consistent with PWB, if I remember correctly.
If you read the forums, Archetype earns a lot of good feedback. And the Novatec hubs get good reviews too. I did not look at Hope because they were only 10-speed compatible (still the case?). The other option to consider is the Shimano CX75 hub.
By the way, my wheels were made by Corey Wood at Urbane Cyclist in Toronto. A very positive buying experience, and the wheels have been perfect so far.0 -
I did not look at Hope because they were only 10-speed compatible (still the case?).
No the Hope Pro2 Evo hubs are 11-speed compatible. I'm running 105 5800 on my Equilibrium Disc build with a Moonglu wheelset based around Archetypr rims with Hope Pro2 Evo hubs. Cost £350 and I specified a 32F/32 R spoke configuration as I tip the scales close to the 90kg mark.
These wheels have proved faultless for around 7-800mls since new0 -
Hmmm, just had a look at the Strada, Moonglu and Wheelsmith web sites. I think I'm coming round. Thanks gents, more research required yet to be fully convinced, but greatly appreciate the steer in the right direction. I'm much obliged.
i had some hb's done by the cycleclinic for my 50kg youth racer, Malcom is very knowledeable and the build has proven trouble free in 3 years of racing and crashes.
with disc's you might want to consider a rim without a braking surface? even carbon.
there are lots of factory options but pothole damage or even broken spokes can prove expensive and time consuming to put right.
i need some new 29 er wheels and i m going hope c/w carbon rims0 -
Hope then seems like a good option, with the advantage of being able to fit the 6-bolt rotors that come with the bike instead of having to buy centerlock ones (which I had to do - and Shimano RT99 are pricey).0
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I have a brand new set of Giant P-SL0 disc wheels for sale that came with my 2015 Defy advanced pro 0 if anyone is interested!?0
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I have a Defy 3, 2015 with disk brakes. My bike shop tells me I need 12x100 for the front wheels and 12 x 130 for the rear. The problem is all I see for sale on Amazon are 12 x 142. Any one know if my bike shop is mistaken or if I'm need to keep looking. Would like to upgrade to carbon fiber tubless rims.0
