Road Cycling

[DJMK4]

yea fine to do.

Also, is that a sran cassette ? Or just lock nut. They’re usuallywte “different” teeth design on some that may cause issues with shifting. But I guess if you didn’t have issues before then it’s not that.

It should be shimarno, ill have to double check, I bought the bike second hand 4 years ago. Iv never taken the cassette off this bike before. Iv cleaned it using degreaser, water, brush etc. I can see one or two possibly bent teeth but Its more likely be faffing about with the H / L screws

I have the H and L set correctly I think as the chain doesn't skip behind the cassette or Infront.
.
The barrel adjuster on the rear derailleur I'm not convinced it's working properly, it's super stiff to move, I have to use a wrench tool to move it sometimes , I think the barrel adjuster at the shifter on the front of the bike works better to index which is what i have been trying to do, think the barrel adjuster on the rear is knackered or I have threaded the screw

 

[grudas]

It should be shimarno, ill have to double check, I bought the bike second hand 4 years ago. Iv never taken the cassette off this bike before. Iv cleaned it using degreaser, water, brush etc. I can see one or two possibly bent teeth but Its more likely be faffing about with the H / L screws

I have the H and L set correctly I think as the chain doesn't skip behind the cassette or Infront.
.
The barrel adjuster on the rear derailleur I'm not convinced it's working properly, it's super stiff to move, I have to use a wrench tool to move it sometimes , I think the barrel adjuster at the shifter on the front of the bike works better to index which is what i have been trying to do, think the barrel adjuster on the rear is knackered or I have threaded the screw

Bent teeth will mess up your shifting big time. No indexing will fix that, changing high and low points won’t bend the teeth. Is there a chance you hit something with the cassette and bent them? That could be the reason for your initial issues.

 

[DJMK4]

Bent teeth will mess up your shifting big time. No indexing will fix that, changing high and low points won’t bend the teeth. Is there a chance you hit something with the cassette and bent them? That could be the reason for your initial issues.

I dont recall hitting the casette no,

I rode it in again this morning, seems ok im hoping its just a case of it needing some monitor tweaks by someone who can index better than I can.

 

[Roady]

Yeh its almost there, just getting a few skips here and there, ill try and sort

this is my bike, i got black bar tape though

2014 Giant Defy 3 – Specs, Comparisons, Reviews – 99 Spokes

An aluminum frame endurance bike with mid-range components and tektro rim brakes.

99spokes.com

They're a good frame. Shame you're not the original owner!

My Defy 1 I owned from new, put 16,000 miles into it commuting all weathers for 3-4 years and then it did another '12,000' miles on Zwift before the frame cracked at the seattube/toptube (where it's made to flex) in December 2021. I got a replacement frame (Giant Contend SL1) through the 'Lifetime frame warranty' being the original owner. That's now done 18,000 miles on Zwift and has only ridden a real road once or twice. Seems a brilliant frame, slightly heavier than the Defy but otherwise very similar, rode with the same feel.

yea fine to do.

Also, is that a sran cassette ? Or just lock nut. They’re usually “different” teeth design on some that may cause issues with shifting. But I guess if you didn’t have issues before then it’s not that.

A lot of those 10 speed era Shimano setups had SRAM cassettes for some reason. I guess back then Giant used anything cheaper than the Shimano groupset parts they could... My Defy 1 2015 came with Tektro brakes and FSA cranks/chainrings, but Shimano 105 cassette (I swapped cranks and brakes to Shimano as upgrades over time)

My other half has a Liv Avail 5 2015 and it came with 8 speed Tiagra/Sora and a SRAM PG850 cassette.

Some teeth will always look bent on cassettes - as it aids shifting. Take some pics - or even compare to pictures online.

The barrel adjuster on the rear derailleur I'm not convinced it's working properly, it's super stiff to move, I have to use a wrench tool to move it sometimes , I think the barrel adjuster at the shifter on the front of the bike works better to index which is what i have been trying to do, think the barrel adjuster on the rear is knackered or I have threaded the screw

Not impossible it's threaded, but that would only usually happen if you'd taken it off and threaded it screwing it back on? They're quite a long thread. More likely it's full of gunk and just needs a clean out, some extra grease and then reassemble.

They look freely available. I've no idea if the threads are all the same on all Shimano ones (quite likely) - in which case they'd be cross compatible and you'd find one in a usual UK place. LBS should have them.

 

[DJMK4]

They're a good frame. Shame you're not the original owner!

My Defy 1 I owned from new, put 16,000 miles into it commuting all weathers for 3-4 years and then it did another '12,000' miles on Zwift before the frame cracked at the seattube/toptube (where it's made to flex) in December 2021. I got a replacement frame (Giant Contend SL1) through the 'Lifetime frame warranty' being the original owner. That's now done 18,000 miles on Zwift and has only ridden a real road once or twice. Seems a brilliant frame, slightly heavier than the Defy but otherwise very similar, rode with the same feel.


A lot of those 10 speed era Shimano setups had SRAM cassettes for some reason. I guess back then Giant used anything cheaper than the Shimano groupset parts they could... My Defy 1 2015 came with Tektro brakes and FSA cranks/chainrings, but Shimano 105 cassette (I swapped cranks and brakes to Shimano as upgrades over time)

My other half has a Liv Avail 5 2015 and it came with 8 speed Tiagra/Sora and a SRAM PG850 cassette.

Some teeth will always look bent on cassettes - as it aids shifting. Take some pics - or even compare to pictures online.


Not impossible it's threaded, but that would only usually happen if you'd taken it off and threaded it screwing it back on? They're quite a long thread. More likely it's full of gunk and just needs a clean out, some extra grease and then reassemble.

They look freely available. I've no idea if the threads are all the same on all Shimano ones (quite likely) - in which case they'd be cross compatible and you'd find one in a usual UK place. LBS should have them.

Yeh they are not bad,

I did pick it up at a good price, it was in fairly good condition too but needed a bit of a clean, which i did. i went for it as about 4 years before i also had a previous Giant Defy ALux frame, but ended up selling it, a few years later i got back into biking again

I have put around 1050km on the one i have now which is Swift / GPS recorded, and there have been quite a few km's aswel which is not swift recorded


Aslong as you keep on top of the maintenence they are good, although as said I went from dry lube to wet, and since using wet the drive train got in to a right state, its so messy and sticky it clogs everything up.

ill be switching back to dry once my new chain is on

 

[DJMK4]

New chain arrived. I have taken my old chain off to measure .I have the pic and know how many links.i need to remove .

 

[baritonejohann]

got the fixed for road bike out this morning as im ready to start exercising in earnest. Holy **** i forgot how much getting used to this takes. i really need to get back used to the position too, ive been way to comfortable on the sit up and beg tank ive been on until today.

Massive grin on my mug the whole way in though. Fixies are fun.

 

[fez]

got the fixed for road bike out this morning as im ready to start exercising in earnest. Holy **** i forgot how much getting used to this takes. i really need to get back used to the position too, ive been way to comfortable on the sit up and beg tank ive been on until today.

Massive grin on my mug the whole way in though. Fixies are fun.

Fixies are fun. I used to ride them solely in my younger days and there is just something magical about the single gear and your connection to the bike as a result. Never rode a single speed, only fixie but I loved them.

 

[Junglist]

Yeah, I hate sounding a bit pretentious but there is something really satisfying about fixies. You want to go faster? Pedal harder. The instant acceleration feels like a blast too.

As we're getting ready for the move I've been looking at my poor fixie that has been out in the elements for the last 4 years... Decided I'm going to tart it up with some Ali Express parts and get it road worthy so that I can use it with my daughter as she will start riding soon

From the day I first got my first road bike. Poor fixie was barely used after this point. Need to buy a 105 front rim brake calliper, seat post, bars and maybe some cheapo ali express wheels and it'll be ready to use as leisure bike

 

[baritonejohann]

lovely crankset that miche. looks ace.

 

[grudas]

Fixies are fun. I used to ride them solely in my younger days and there is just something magical about the single gear and your connection to the bike as a result. Never rode a single speed, only fixie but I loved them.

I rode a fixie in london for a bit.. long enough to go single speed(too dangerous even for me back then) with if I remember halo clickster? or something freewheel that was the loudest thing ever. Loved it. On an on-one pompino frameset I built.

 

[baritonejohann]

I rode a fixie in london for a bit.. long enough to go single speed(too dangerous even for me back then) with if I remember halo clickster? or something freewheel that was the loudest thing ever. Loved it. On an on-one pompino frameset I built.

Peak SS there, those clicksters are ace. well buzzy.

 

[grudas]

Peak SS there, those clicksters are ace. well buzzy.

yeah. The frameset was also great. So comfy and just never had an issue with the bike. Did a stupid and sold the whole bike for £180 summer before big virus arrived. Still miss it.

 

[Roady]

Yeh they are not bad,

I did pick it up at a good price, it was in fairly good condition too but needed a bit of a clean, which i did. i went for it as about 4 years before i also had a previous Giant Defy ALux frame, but ended up selling it, a few years later i got back into biking again

I have put around 1050km on the one i have now which is Swift / GPS recorded, and there have been quite a few km's aswel which is not swift recorded

For Alu frames Giant have always done well, very much on par with Cannondale (CAAD 8/10?) around that era for making the best 'normal' alloy frames which could compete with the early good carbons back then (which cost twice as much).

It's a different thing these days, I'm not sure if it's my arse but I could certainly tell a noticable difference going from the 2015 Giant alu to the 2016 Specialized carbon on the same tyres and similar alloy wheels. Now we're another 10 years I bet even the cheaper carbon you can feel the difference... Certainly doesn't seem to be many big brands making an alloy frame aimed at the mid-high market, do we think that is that down to manufacturing costs or just markets? Certainly a lot of the lower range brands are still alloy so it can't be down to materials? Probably typical cycling marketing - able to sell cheap carbon bikes as a replacement to an old alloy - even though it might be inferior (R&D/manufacturing/QC).

Both looking good, but you've got the toe clips on the wrong bike!

 

[Junglist]

Both looking good, but you've got the toe clips on the wrong bike!

Ha, that was when I first took delivery of the Canyon. The toe clips were the only pedals I had whilst I was waiting for my ultegra pedals to get delivered.

Will buy some cheap Keo ones now - on top of everything else I need for the fixie.

 

[Roady]

Yeah I need some more Keo's myself, current pair can feel the bearings very loose with some sideways play. They're some very worn Max 2's, probably my last pair. Other bikes are on the Classic 2 & 3. Will probably grab some more of them as last time I looked the Max2 where crazy money...!

If anyone is after/interested in any Spatz overshoes (before I flog them elsewhere) I'm selling the following new & unused in M/L:
Legalz Glo (older/out of stock): https://www.spatzwear.com/collectio...uci-legal-race-overshoes-with-kevlar-toe-area (Ideally want £40 for them as that's what I paid but offers below considered before I 'bay/fbmk them)
Fasta Lite (new/latest): https://www.spatzwear.com/collectio...atz-fasta-uci-legal-race-overshoes-fasta-copy (probably selling - similar price to above as can't ask for more)

Note: I have several pairs of other Spatz and wear an EU42 shoe. I've found these pretty tight around the ankle in their M/L sizing which I normally have no issues with in other overshoes (M/L should be for EU43-45). I guess I do have big calfs so have thic(cc)k ankles. Disclaimer: I complained to Spatz (other Spatz overshoes in M/L size up 1-2cm larger) about sizing on the Legalz Glo and as I'm a regular customer they sent me a pair of the Fasta Lite free as replacements... But they're exactly the same size! I have asked if I just send them back and they've not really responded indicating they want them returned... So thinking about selling them both (certainly the Legalz Glo) so I can buy some normal Fasta in L/XL while they still have them in stock (although I wanted the Glo Legalz for visibility they no longer stock them)

 

[Roady]

Classic 3 £32 Amazon 40 on Merlin 46 Tredz/Tweeks
2 Max £70 on Tweeks 73 Halfords 79 Sigma

I'd get more bearings but I know last time I looked they where expensive due to the size not being that common. Look don't like people servicing them!

 

[Roady]

Well I've managed to snap myself out of last years blues and no longer feeling sorry for myself.

Forgot to say just how damn good that looks! Older Madone - those aero rim brakes and frame with the iso at the seatube, or is it something else? Decals almost look 3T but don't recall they did a rim brake frame. 404 rim firecrests as well from that era looking superb! Quite miss those loud white decals, considering how sleepy my newer ones look on my similar coloured SL7. Maybe I'll stick some white ones on it! The lack of 'loud' decals or colour on mine is the only thing which bugs me... But I know being an ex/retired raver my taste is pretty awful compared to most people!

Actually did take some pics of mine after the dirty ride a few weeks back... Then also one of the Diverge clean as isn't something which happens much anymore (clean, or having it's pic taken)

 

[Martynt74]

Yeah, I hate sounding a bit pretentious but there is something really satisfying about fixies. You want to go faster? Pedal harder. The instant acceleration feels like a blast too.

As we're getting ready for the move I've been looking at my poor fixie that has been out in the elements for the last 4 years... Decided I'm going to tart it up with some Ali Express parts and get it road worthy so that I can use it with my daughter as she will start riding soon

That orange bike looks ace. Why am i trying to convince myself i want to try a fixie!

 

[Junglist]

Definitely try one as they're a really fun experience and there is something you just can't beat when it comes to riding at different speeds. It's hard to put into words but once you ride one you'll know what I mean.

Plus you can do cool skids