New bike questions and observations

vrsmatt

Hi guys and girls

I purchased a 2015 Giant Defy Advanced 2 at an absolute steal(leaving some spare funds for upgrading) last weekend and am currently transferring all my personal bits from my last bike onto it, ie garmin mount, pedals, saddle, preferred bar tape etc

One thing I can never fathom is how do people decide where/what angle they set the hoods? What seems comfortable seems to stick up a little 'too much' to me

Also I decided (purely as a matter of aesthetics) to switch the cranks from the RS500 to 105 5800's to match the mechs and shifters. I was relatively surprised that the weight difference was only 45g of which 30g was the left crank arm. So the 105 was not much of an upgrade despite the pleasing aesthetics

One last thing is that the bike needs a lighter set of (disc) compatible wheels, I've seen HUNT wheels, particularly the Mason Hunt 4 season wheels, does anyone have any thoughts on these or any other similar price alternatives (sub £400)?

Cheers

Matt

Bobbinogs

VRSMatt wrote:

...
Also I decided (purely as a matter of aesthetics) to switch the cranks from the RS500 to 105 5800's to match the mechs and shifters. I was relatively surprised that the weight difference was only 45g of which 30g was the left crank arm. So the 105 was not much of an upgrade despite the pleasing aesthetics...

Hardly surprising given that there is only about 170g difference between a complete 5800 and 6800. The 'upgrade' is usually justified around improved performance but the difference is not night/day and a well set up 105 will always outperform a badly setup 6800. I think most folks probably buy the 6800 because the chainring looks cool

chris_bass

Just get out and ride the thing! It doesn't need lighter wheels, use what you have and upgrade when things need replacing.

vrsmatt

Chris Bass wrote:

Just get out and ride the thing! It doesn't need lighter wheels, use what you have and upgrade when things need replacing.

Lol, of course I will but I just want to get back to the weight I was riding before, the stock wheels are being transferred to my commuter/winter hack so I need another set of wheels anyway so my questions still stand

Cheers

vrsmatt

Further observations are that the saddle on the giant ( the own brand OEM stock one in a rather fetching white ) has been taken off for my usual saddle and substituted onto my 2009 boardman comp, (my turbo bike which came with a boardman branded saddle)

Lo and behold if the two saddles aren't identical bar the colour/finish on the cover. The shape, padding, rails and hull and weight show it to be identical in every way. Im not sure why im surprised but I guess I am mildly

Alex99

VRSMatt wrote:

Hi guys and girls

I purchased a 2015 Giant Defy Advanced 2 at an absolute steal(leaving some spare funds for upgrading) last weekend and am currently transferring all my personal bits from my last bike onto it, ie garmin mount, pedals, saddle, preferred bar tape etc

One thing I can never fathom is how do people decide where/what angle they set the hoods? What seems comfortable seems to stick up a little 'too much' to me

Also I decided (purely as a matter of aesthetics) to switch the cranks from the RS500 to 105 5800's to match the mechs and shifters. I was relatively surprised that the weight difference was only 45g of which 30g was the left crank arm. So the 105 was not much of an upgrade despite the pleasing aesthetics

One last thing is that the bike needs a lighter set of (disc) compatible wheels, I've seen HUNT wheels, particularly the Mason Hunt 4 season wheels, does anyone have any thoughts on these or any other similar price alternatives (sub £400)?

Cheers

Matt

Regarding hoods... I find it something of a compromise between where I'd ideally have them for riding on the hoods, and a good posistion for on the drops. I'd just say, set your bar angle first so that you feel natural in the drops, then do the hood position. You need to be able to brake in the drops, but it only needs to be a fingers reach. Once the lever comes in, you'll get another finger on and that is usually enough. You do see some pro's e.g. Kristoff with high hoods. It also depends on which shape bars you get as some will get you closer to the brakes from the drops.