Anyone have a Road Bike?

For your first road bike, i’d recommend a compact 50/34 and a rear cassette with a 28. The 11T is really a waste of time, even with compact gearing. Much better to have closer spacing. 12-28 would be my choice. 12-32 if it is really hilly.

Crank length won’t matter to be honest. Medium comes with 172.5 by default. Shorter mat help you spin a little more easily up those hills, but do not fret over it. I ride 165 fixed and don’t notice the change. And that’s a hundred miles a week on that length, then swap for racing. Really can’t tell!

Since it’s your first road bike, i’d also highly recommend the Elite cuisi gel bottle cages. The plastic ones always look rubbish after a while and destroy your bottles. You don’t have the budget for Arundel carbon cages.

that green one looks well smart TiRed ! Maybe I won’t get the 7.5mm with spacers lopped off the top of the steerer on mine…. 🙂

Shimano 105 5800 Groupset
172.5mm-50×34-11-28 Black

or

Shimano 105 5800 Groupset
172.5mm-50×34-11-32 Black

Which one ?

Both £280 at wiggle so I could save £20 getting them there

Ti Red I actually have a carbon fibre boardman bottle cage from my old mountain bike i could use….If i scrape boardman off lol

If i scrape boardman off lol

Yeh who wants the name of an Olympic champion Tour de France stage winner and still the real holder of the hour record on their bike. Not as if he even makes up for that by being a great advocate for cycling. 🙂

Shimano 105 5800 Groupset
172.5mm-50×34-11-28 Black

Definitely this one. In black. 34/28 really is an easy gear. You might need a new BB though, think the Defy will be some sort of pressfit standard; new groupsets come with a threaded BB.

If there’s the option of 170mm cranks; take it.

The frame I got on ebay never had the standard bb removed so i should be ok?

170mm is only available from them with 11-32

I really like the 32 on mine, not sure if I’ve actually used it but it’s nice to know it’s there. I just think of it as having a 10 speed 11-28 with the benefit of a oh dear I’ve ridden too far and my legs are shot bail out.I’m sub 55kg though so don’t have a great deal of power for pushing the pedals round.
Last time I had a road bike it was 42/52 with a 14-28 five speed block. After 30 years without a road bike I don’t find having widely spaced gears an issue, I’m pretty comfortable across a range of cadences.

You’re in the 50t ring, can you shift all the way into the 32t without any difficulty?

Yes, you shouldn’t of course, but you can

I love forums! few people say do one thing and you think yeah must be right then someone says the opposite lol

The giant comes out the shop with 50/35 11-32 and a 172.5mm crank so maybe I should go for that?

wheel wise are these good option for the money http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/79640/Vision_Team_30_Wheelset_7100016051441?gclid=CjwKEAiA9om3BRDpzvihsdGnhTwSJAAkSewLFcYYaUkLNWq4_nOaD_FTIcAp2cXYQdLaYprjutmnSBoCWQzw_wcB

I speak from experience, it worked on my Supersix with a mid compact to, no issues just a wind in of the b tension screw

I’m picking up a defy today and I specced a short cage dura ace di2 mech, 11-32 ultegra cassette and a compact dura ace chainset

No; get the 170mm cranks.

so get 50/35 11-32 and a 170mm? is there really that much between them?

2.5mm 😉

shorter the better; especially if you’re small. Guess you’ll have to put up with the cassette size. Honestly don’t see the point in having a “bail out” gear that you never use, when you could instead have an extra useful gear.

Buying a 25/12 cassette was the highlight of 2015 for me. I use every gear every ride.

Alloy Defy’s have a standard threaded BB. Carbon frames are press fit. Never had a problem with either to be honest.

I won’t get the 7.5mm with spacers lopped off the top of the steerer on min

My stem is mounted midway up the steerer. I have the bonded inner and expoxy available, and I could cut the steerer, but to be honest to save about 25g . But I’m happy with it as it is. The other Defy is a Small with a 130 mm stem (which is still too short, but the longest option Thomson make), hence more spacers. Position is almost identical, Ride is not that different either. The green one is about 7x more expensive. Teen 2 has the Medium frame and Ultegra 6600 compact groupset after he outgrew this one. I just wondered whether I could make it fit. I’ve ridden about 1000 miles on it.

They really are such good bikes.

Buying a 25/12 cassette was the highlight of 2015 for me. I use every gear every ride.

Indeed, and a 28 for the last climb at 90 miles is really all the gearing most people will need. And it is what 11 speed was really for – 12/25 was my standard for 10 speed riding (11/23 for racing – both on compact) and adding the 28T means no need to ever swap cassettes. A short cage RD is all that’s needed, and I agree, looks better.

okay, imagine this scenario……

You’re in the 50t ring, can you shift all the way into the 32t without any difficulty?

Buying a 25/12 cassette was the highlight of 2015 for me.

Really!!!! Not all those KOM’s, Gold standard times, constantly being the most informed and rightest forum dweller of all time on all forums everywhere. None of those beat buying a 12-25 cassette.
Well I’m going to buy one right now, my puny legs won’t be able to push it round so I’ll just put it on my mantlepiece and polish it everyday. 🙂

Something I’ve noticed since buying a road bike and joining a club is how few of the riders seem to have any concern about chain line and running big big or small small. It’s something I’ve always avoided but that’s based on what I’ve been told in the past. I’ve never read a paper which actually examines efficiency and wear in the drive train, it’s just one of those things that’s past down and as it seems logical it’s not questioned.

Really!!!! Not all those KOM’s, Gold standard times, constantly being the most informed and rightest forum dweller of all time on all forums everywhere. None of those beat buying a 12-25 cassette.
Well I’m going to buy one right now, my puny legs won’t be able to push it round so I’ll just put it on my mantlepiece and polish it everyday.

😀

It was a tongue in cheek remark, as is almost everything I post (although it is logically sound aswell). I don’t have any KOMs, or Strava, or strong legs either 🙁

Yeh, but sometimes it happens doesn’t it! Usually when you’re flagging

It was a tongue in cheek remark, as is almost everything I post (although it is logically sound aswell).

I rather like your posts, I especially like them when I see other peoples reactions to them. Even though they must know you’re not being entirely serious they get drawn in

I rather like your posts, I especially like them when I see other peoples reactions to them. Even though they must know you’re not being entirely serious they get drawn in

Fanks!

Cycling is a serious business though; it should definitely provoke a strong reaction 😉

I’m going to go with 34/50 170mm crank and 11-32 cassette but do I need a short or medium cage rear mech?

170’s and a compact??? Are you a midget or something?

What should have I gone for I’m 5.10? Ive just gone off the advise of whats been given ??

Anyone have I made a mistake? in what I have ordered?

No, it’s spot on.
🙂

I think you’ve got yourself a cracking set up for a good price.

Whys he asking if I’m a midget then? had me worried

I don’t particularly know a lot about groupsets etc as I’ve never built up a bike

this is what I ordered

Shimano 105 (5800) Black 11 Speed Double Groupset
Bottom Bracket
1 x Shimano BB-R60 11 Speed Cups (Ultegra 6800/105 5800) Eng £0.00

Brakes
1 x Shimano 105 Black 5800 Brake Set £0.00

Cassette
1 x Shimano 11 Spd 105 5800 Cassette 11-32 £2.99

Chain
1 x Shimano 11Spd 5800 (HG600 105 Chain) £0.00

Chainset
1 x Shimano 105 Black 5800 11Spd Chainset Compact 170 34/50 £0.00

Front Derailleur
1 x Shimano 105 Black (5800) 11Spd Front Braze-on £0.00

Rear Derailleur
1 x Shimano 105 Black (5800) 11Spd Rear Gear Medium (GS) £3.49

Gear Shifters
1 x Shimano STI Levers 105 Black 5800 11Spd with cables £0.00

No one on here has a road bike, honest.

Looks fine to me, you’ll not notice the crank length. I ride a 172.5 on my road bike and I’m 5′ 7″, but if you’ve never ridden anything else you’d never now. If you find you’re not using the 32 on the cassette it’s easy to swap down to smaller one.

I was set to get a 172.5 as thats what comes on a medium Defy 0 but everyone kept saying to go for the 170mm? does 2.5mm really make that much difference or should I change my order?

There is a tradition amongst a certain type of roadie that cycling is about suffering.

This leads to the fallacy that unless people have fallen for the same crap they have, they’re doing it wrong.
🙂

Hence the banter about not having a 32 cassette, because it’s too ‘easy’.
See also having a ridiculously low stem, dehydration and being unable to fit into long trousers.

Your bike will be fantastic.
For most of us, 170 cranks are easier on your knees than 175’s.
They also help most averagely sized people pedal more smoothly.
So you’re helping your knees and you’ll be comfier.
In my opinion, ahem.
😀
Again, this is often sneered at, as pain is good, right?
🙂

Mr Taylforth and chums are engaging in roadie banter.
This mostly consists of taking the piss out of the whole thing and bragging about how much it hurts.

Thanks! Nothing worse than ordering something you’re unsure on then someone saying ….ohh you ordered that!

sounds like I’ve ordered the right things

11-32 with a 34-50 compact? Are you planning to ride loads of proper steep hills every ride? Part of the benefit of road riding is increased strength and fitness. I reckon you’ll be better off with an 11-28 and you’ll adjust pretty quickly.

11-32 with a 34-50 compact? I’m new to this so break down why this is an issue for me? this is what comes on the Giant defy from the shop isn’t it?

My first road bike came with a compact up front & an 11-25 cassette. Given that i live in the Pennines & there are some rather steep climbs, i swapped it for an 11_28.
Now, i like riding audax’s & these can be pretty hilly, after 130 hilly miles you may just want/need that extra bail-out gear.
I’m currently running 105 5700 series 10 speed, but when i move up to 11 speed i’m seriously considering a 12-32 cassette just for that reason.

34-32 is a very low gear, you won’t use it very often unless you live somewhere seriously steep. Depends on where you ride really.
For example, today i rode 62 miles around Cheshire, its reasonably flat so only 2800ft of ascent but with some sharp little climbs. I needed the 34 ring but don’t think i used anything lower than 3rd gear on the rear.
Next weekend i may really need that 28t sprocket!

I live in the Peak District and have just bought myself a horribly expensive, shiny new road bike. I’m no road racing beanpole (to put it mildly) and put a 34:32 bottom gear on it.

Can I get up any hill I encounter? Yes
Am I fast? No
Do I give a toss? No

Ride what works for you

If you’re not sure, try something- and what you’re getting looks sensible- and change things if you need to once you’ve ridden it for a bit

Gears will be fine, don’t overanalyse. I have 34-32 on winter road/gravel bike and 34-28 on carbon summer bike. I ride the same routes on both bikes.

I dont think crank length is too important and swap between different sizes all the time without noticing tbh.

I’m not sure shorter cranks are easier though, doesnt the shorter length mean less leverage, effectively gearing up the bike albiet marginally?

Regards cassettes sometimes having quite closely spaced ratios is quite nice, say your in a group pressing on and want to maintain a certain cadence. Its a nice to have though and not as nice as being able to maintain a decent cadence when your tired and getting over a few hills.