an engineering question

[Datnut]

so a bit of background to my story.
I was shopping for a new foul weather bike a few months ago. I currently ride cervelo s5 which gets me some funny looks in the bad weather. it also means no front fender which leads to very wet rides and less riding in general. I'd come to the conclusion that I was going to by a new bike in the $1500-$2500CAD dollar range with lots of clearance for big tires and fenders. I had my eye on the Giant defy advanced as I perceived it to be a very good value in that price range ($1750 for last year's model with 105 and a low end carbon frame). I went to my local bike shop to try and test the bike. they only had specialized bikes in store though they could order in giants if need be. An employee whom I race against and also happens to be an engineering student came up to me to ask if he could help. I told him that I was interested in the defy range and was wondering if they had any around. he mentioned they could order one in but that they tend to be an inferior bike. this infuriated me for some reason so I left without asking why.

but my question is, are there significant engineering differences between giant and specialized frames? I've always figured specialized to be a little gimmicky and ugly.

thanks for your help.

 

[ray j willings]

Bike choice is personal. Its always best to try as many bikes as possible. Simple. Ride what you like not your mate

 

[winkybiker]

The Giant Defy is just fine. Don't worry too much about a test ride, just make sure you get the right size. The bike shop employee was just trying to get an immediate sale by pushing one of the bikes he has in stock.

 

[avanti]

so a bit of background to my story.
I was shopping for a new foul weather bike a few months ago. I currently ride cervelo s5 which gets me some funny looks in the bad weather. it also means no front fender which leads to very wet rides and less riding in general. I'd come to the conclusion that I was going to by a new bike in the $1500-$2500CAD dollar range with lots of clearance for big tires and fenders. I had my eye on the Giant defy advanced as I perceived it to be a very good value in that price range ($1750 for last year's model with 105 and a low end carbon frame). I went to my local bike shop to try and test the bike. they only had specialized bikes in store though they could order in giants if need be. An employee whom I race against and also happens to be an engineering student came up to me to ask if he could help. I told him that I was interested in the defy range and was wondering if they had any around. he mentioned they could order one in but that they tend to be an inferior bike. this infuriated me for some reason so I left without asking why.

but my question is, are there significant engineering differences between giant and specialized frames? I've always figured specialized to be a little gimmicky and ugly.

thanks for your help.

Go to a Giant retailer if you want to test ride or buy a Giant bike. If your LBS is a Specialized dealer and not a Giant retailer you may get poor service and higher prices.

Also Giant and its subsidiary companies make many of the frames sold as other brands (possibly including those of Specialized). I've never heard any complaints of Giant bikes.

 

[King Boonen]

The Defy is an awesome bike. My clubs sponsor gets both Specialized and Giant bikes in at good prices for up and I see a good number of both turning up every summer, mainly the Defy or Propel and the Venge (couple of Tarmacs too).

For wet weather riding though why not get something a bit more suited with space and mounts for proper sized, full length mudguards? (maybe even disc brakes as well).

 

[Bustedknuckle]

so a bit of background to my story.
I was shopping for a new foul weather bike a few months ago. I currently ride cervelo s5 which gets me some funny looks in the bad weather. it also means no front fender which leads to very wet rides and less riding in general. I'd come to the conclusion that I was going to by a new bike in the $1500-$2500CAD dollar range with lots of clearance for big tires and fenders. I had my eye on the Giant defy advanced as I perceived it to be a very good value in that price range ($1750 for last year's model with 105 and a low end carbon frame). I went to my local bike shop to try and test the bike. they only had specialized bikes in store though they could order in giants if need be. An employee whom I race against and also happens to be an engineering student came up to me to ask if he could help. I told him that I was interested in the defy range and was wondering if they had any around. he mentioned they could order one in but that they tend to be an inferior bike. this infuriated me for some reason so I left without asking why.

but my question is, are there significant engineering differences between giant and specialized frames? I've always figured specialized to be a little gimmicky and ugly.

thanks for your help.

No..Both made in the same place(Giant bike factory in Taiwan?) Slightly different ways to do the same thing. Giant bigger company than Specialized, BTW..sell more bikes.

BUT I wouldn't buy either w/o riding them, a real ride, all bikes feel good with a ride around the block.

 

[avanti]

BUT I wouldn't buy either w/o riding them, a real ride, all bikes feel good with a ride around the block.

I agree. A good bike shop should let you try out a bike for a several hours.

 

[Datnut]

thanks for the input
I purchased the Defy Advanced a few days later from a giant retailer in vancouver and to be honest it feels fine. It's comfortable for longer rides where i'm not getting out of the saddle much; also i don't feel bad about abusing it. it's not super stiff like my cervelo S5 but that's not what i purchased it for. I was just wondering if there were any conclusive engineering differences that would lead someone in the business to say nope thats an inferior bike. I had a lot of respect for his opinion but i'll take what he says with a grain of salt from now on.

though about the space for fenders comment, it has disc brakes and alot of clearance for fenders so i've been super dry since riding it.

 

[winkybiker]

so a bit of background to my story.
I was shopping for a new foul weather bike a few months ago. I currently ride cervelo s5 which gets me some funny looks in the bad weather. it also means no front fender which leads to very wet rides and less riding in general. I'd come to the conclusion that I was going to by a new bike in the $1500-$2500CAD dollar range with lots of clearance for big tires and fenders. I had my eye on the Giant defy advanced as I perceived it to be a very good value in that price range ($1750 for last year's model with 105 and a low end carbon frame). I went to my local bike shop to try and test the bike. they only had specialized bikes in store though they could order in giants if need be. An employee whom I race against and also happens to be an engineering student came up to me to ask if he could help. I told him that I was interested in the defy range and was wondering if they had any around. he mentioned they could order one in but that they tend to be an inferior bike. this infuriated me for some reason so I left without asking why.

but my question is, are there significant engineering differences between giant and specialized frames? I've always figured specialized to be a little gimmicky and ugly.

thanks for your help.

No..Both made in the same place(Giant bike factory in Taiwan?) Slightly different ways to do the same thing. Giant bigger company than Specialized, BTW..sell more bikes.

BUT I wouldn't buy either w/o riding them, a real ride, all bikes feel good with a ride around the block.

No, they don't always. I rejected an R3 many years back on the basis of a quick ride. The dead, wooden feel was extremely unpleasant to me, and immediately obvious. Having said that, most of what a ride could tell you is overwhelmed by the tyre pressure variation. That's far more significant to the bike's feel than those stupid "zertz" could ever be.