Road bike advice

[stecarter]

Hi, can anyone tell me the main advantages / disadvantages between the following two bikes? I'm gonna buy the 2012 model in the New Year. Ta

Giant TCX 2

Giant Defy 2

[Dan The Man]

the TCX seems to be a cyclo cross with treaded race tyre's the Defy will have racing slicks.

[Marcosplace]

The Defy is a good bike. it's a road bike purely. The other is a cyclo cross bike. Suitable for tracks etc. These are a little slower than the road bike because of the tyres and thicker design.

I'm a Giant fan. I have two bikes!! Try to get a Giant with at least Shimano 105 gear set. The Sora gear set is clumsy. I've had one!

The Defy 1 has tiagra Which is canny.

[Cee Jay]

Originally Posted by Marcosplace

The Defy is a good bike. it's a road bike purely. The other is a cyclo cross bike. Suitable for tracks etc. These are a little slower than the road bike because of the tyres and thicker design.

I'm a Giant fan. I have two bikes!! Try to get a Giant with at least Shimano 105 gear set. The Sora gear set is clumsy. I've had one!

The Defy 1 has tiagra Which is canny.

Don't lumber him with 105 or Tiagra man...

this is what he needs ( bank loan permitting)

http://www.shimano.com/publish/conte.../road/di2.html

[juryisstillout]

Originally Posted by Cee Jay

Don't lumber him with 105 or Tiagra man...

this is what he needs ( bank loan permitting)

http://www.shimano.com/publish/conte.../road/di2.html

Aye we could all do with one of them, don't think I could justify spending more than a grand on a bike

[Manchester Black Cat]

Originally Posted by stecarter

Hi, can anyone tell me the main advantages / disadvantages between the following two bikes? I'm gonna buy the 2012 model in the New Year. Ta

Giant TCX 2

Giant Defy 2

You'll save yourself a few hundred quid if you get a 2011 model in the sales. Most 2012 models will be coming out in stores by October as well, so no need to wait till next year

[Cee Jay]

Originally Posted by juryisstillout

Aye we could all do with one of them, don't think I could justify spending more than a grand on a bike

read somewhere that the numer of bikes you need is always n plus 1.....no matter how many, or what you have there is always another that you want or "need"...

It's the bloody wheels where all the money goes

[Jon Snow]

Originally Posted by Cee Jay

read somewhere that the numer of bikes you need is always n plus 1.....no matter how many, or what you have there is always another that you want or "need"...

It's the bloody wheels where all the money goes

Nah, I currently need a Cannondale SL1, Commencal Supreme DH, Cannondale Bad Boy 8 and a Bianchi road bike.

[juryisstillout]

Originally Posted by Cee Jay

read somewhere that the numer of bikes you need is always n plus 1.....no matter how many, or what you have there is always another that you want or "need"...

It's the bloody wheels where all the money goes

The frame costs the most, but once everything is made of carbon fibre everything is expensive

[BBL]

Originally Posted by stecarter

Hi, can anyone tell me the main advantages / disadvantages between the following two bikes? I'm gonna buy the 2012 model in the New Year. Ta

Giant TCX 2

Giant Defy 2

What are you planning to use the bike for? Without looking at all the specs I would guess that:

If its commuting and a bit of weekend riding then the CX bike will be a bit more robust and has mud-guard mounts
If its for long road-rides then the Defy will be lighter and quicker

I would go for the 2011 model too, over paying a premium for a 2012 model. In recent years prices have risen and specs have gone backwards. So there is a lot to be said for looking for previous years models and checking specs.

On the +1 point, currently have:

Road - Boardman Team
MTB - Gary Fisher HiFi Pro
Commute - OnOne Pompino Single Speed
Back of the Shed - GT Outback (will rebuild one day)
Want (+1) .... So many