u/Henry517

Saw a listing for a used 2025 Giant TCR Advanced Pro 0 Di2 for roughly 3k USD. It comes with ultegra di2 and slr0 40mm full carbon wheels and in pristine condition. I currently have the 5th gen defy advanced 2 with mechanical 105, and want to upgrade to electronic shifting and just a lighter more agile frame for climbing. I did switch out the stock aluminum wheels on my defy to 300usd carbon wheels, but do you guys think the upgrade would still be noticeable? My current setup will sell for roughly 2k USD. Thanks in advance

I want to upgrade to an integrated cockpit on my defy, but i think my steering tube is like a d shaped due to d fuse technology or something, so most integrated cockpits arent compatible. the only one im sure fits is the contact slr 1/0 aero, but they are verryy expensive. Anybody know integrated handlebars that are compatible with my defy on like aliexpress? Thanks

For context I live in Taiwan, so buying Chinese wheels are cheaper than in the states. It’s my first time riding a road bike and I switched over to the carbon wheels immediately, so I wasn’t able to compare them.

I fitted it with 32mm gp5000s while going tubeless at around 75psi, and they do feel really nice to ride with.

Just wondering whether there’s anyway I can determine if the carbon wheels are decent. There’s zero branding on them, just plain black carbon. Also is spending 275 on a wheelset while buying a set of gp5000s for 130 kinda dumb? I have the defy advanced 2 2027 btw

I’m on a mission to get the most whoosh I can. How is a wavy 50mm carbon fiber wheel? Will the whoosh be more amplified than normal carbon tires? Thanks

I decided to buy a nice back to treat myself and get back into this sport. As I live in Taiwan Giant seemed like the most obvious choice as theres discounted prices and also the ease of repair. Im leaning towards the defy advanced 2 the most right not just because I'm mostly going to be riding casually along rivers and climbing mountains. The defy is about 1900 USD here, and im thinking of upgrading to slr2 carbon wheels for an extra 400.

Is this bike the best value i can get for my situation? also will the carbon wheel upgrade have a decent impact? I've heard some people saying the stock pr1 wheels are like rocks...

There’s a listing of hasa rsx for around 1500 while the giant defy advanced 2 is roughly 2000. The rsx is second hand but basically brand new, and it comes with carbon wheels and electronic 105 shifters. The defy on the other hand has aluminum wheels and mechanical 105. Is the extra 500 worth for the brand of giant and also the ease of repairs and warranty? Thanks

I’m trying to get into the sport and am buying a nice bike around 2k usd ish. I’m looking into the second hand market and see a lot of nice giant bikes. Those are very common as I live in Taiwan. I’m leaving more towards the tcr series, but most of them are rim brakes. I did some research and apparently rim brakes aren’t actually bad. But as this will probably be the only bike I own for many years I want to get something nice, and rim brakes just have this bad image, at least for casuals like me. So would you recommend me to splurge and spend extra for disk brakes? I’m cycling casually mostly. Thanks!

I’m trying to get into the sport and am buying a nice bike around 2k usd ish. I’m looking into the second hand market and see a lot of nice giant bikes. Those are very common as I live in Taiwan. I’m leaving more towards the tcr series, but most of them are rim brakes. I did some research and apparently rim brakes aren’t actually bad. But as this will probably be the only bike I own for many years I want to get something nice, and rim brakes just have this bad image, at least for casuals like me. So would you recommend me to splurge and spend extra for disk brakes? I’m cycling casually mostly. Thanks!

I’m trying to get into the sport and am buying a nice bike around 2k usd ish. I’m looking into the second hand market and see a lot of nice giant bikes. Those are very common as I live in Taiwan. I’m leaving more towards the tcr series, but most of them are rim brakes. I did some research and apparently rim brakes aren’t actually bad. But as this will probably be the only bike I own for many years I want to get something nice, and rim brakes just have this bad image, at least for casuals like me. So would you recommend me to splurge and spend extra for disk brakes? I’m cycling casually mostly. Thanks!