Product Information

Giant Defy Advanced SL 0 2012.

The Defy Advanced SL 0 proves that it is possible "to have your cake and eat it too", as it is a seriously lightweight, supremely equipped performance bike, and yet it is extremely comfortable, lacking in nothing, perhaps except a five figure price tag.

Some other companies have recognised the merit in Giants decision to cater equally toward recreational riders as they do competitive riders. However only a couple have actually gone to the extremes as Giant have of designing and building frames specifically for those riders who rate ride comfort and ease of use above outright aggression and pure speed. Most simply supply an alternatively equipped version of the race model and hope the rider will be happy that he has been given at least some consideration.    

The longer wheelbase, increased wheel clearances, higher head tube and shorter top tube and slightly more relaxed angles place the rider in a position less likely to suffer the aches and pains often experienced upon a thoroughbred race machine. It is this attention to frame geometry where Giant have excelled with the Defy range of bikes, providing frames that are comfortable for both the occasional rider, who's body never quite gets the amount of saddle time required to become fully "acclimatised", and the more regular rider who is often out for hours at a time. Coupled with cleverly selected components, all Defy bikes will provide a ride of unsurpassed ease and comfort.

Following many years of success with their range of OCR model bikes, a couple of years ago Giant refined the recreational road bike concept even further. The result is the current Defy range of bikes, which for 2012 has expanded to a range of 12 models which includes the womens specific Avail models. With rider comfort as a priority, the Defy frame geometry allows for a more upright position than is available on purely competition bikes. This more relaxed position results in less back and neck fatique, easier handling and a less harsh ride,and the use of carbon fibre further enhances the ride quality, benefiting the regular long distance rider and the casual weekend warrior alike. We will all have heard of the saying "Built for comfort, not for speed", well this doesn't exactly apply to the Defy range. They are certainly comfortable, but are also as swift as most bikes on the market, but if you are intending to actually pin on a race number, then have a look at something from the TCR range from Giant.

Even though from a quick glance they may all look pretty much the same, not all road bikes are created equal.

Most road bikes are aimed fairly and squarely at the competitive racer who is quite prepared to sacrifice his comfort for that fraction of extra performance. The "win at all costs" mentality isn't just a reference to the purchase price, it is a statement of intent. The winning, or at least the attempt to win may indeed be just a show of bravado for many, and the right bike is often needed to lend a certain credability to the argument.

For many years the Giant Defy models and their predecessors the Giant OCR range have provided road bike riders with an alternative, where comfort and ease of riding are the priorities and where outright performance, although still important is not the be all and end all.

The Advanced SL frame is the icing on an already very tasty cake, further enhancing ride comfort and reducing weight due to the T-800 carbon used in its construction, while maintaining the strength that allows Giant to provide a lifetime frame guarantee. In fact the Defy Advanced SL 0 frame is on a par with the race proven TCR Advanced SL 0, albeit with the more rider friendly geometry. So even someone who wants to race, but with a slightly more upright riding position won't be disadvantaged upon a Defy Advanced SL 0. The most prominent feature of the Defy Advanced SL 0 is the integrated seatpost (ISP) which has a number of benefits including an improvement in aerodynamics, appearance, rider comfort and further weight reduction. The saddle is attached to the ISP with a clamp that allows the user to select the desired saddle set-back for perfect saddle positioning and which are provided in 2 different heights for further fine tuning. 

The 2012 Defy Advanced SL0 is available in 6 sizes, from extra small right through to extra large, so virtually anyone can take advantage of this fantastically priced Dura Ace package. A frame of this weight and quality in some brands would be close to $5000, but thanks to Giants "in house" carbon fibre manufacturing facility, prices are minimised and value for money is maximised, allowing Giant to supply a full Shimano Dura Ace ensemble and a very lightweight performance wheelset which results in a very rideable, very likeable, very affordable road bike which is good enough to race on and yet comfortable enough to spend a day riding around the bay.

The Shimano Dura Ace ensemble is the "top end" from Shimano and perfectly matches the "top end" Advanced SL frame. The Dura Ace 20 speed compact gearing system is ideally suited to this style of frame and the type of riding conditions of most serious recreational riders. The top end gearing of a 50 tooth large chainring coupled to an 11 tooth small cog at the rear still permits a high top speed, but the real advantage is at the other extreme where the low gears allow the "non elite" riders amongst us to pedal reasonably comfortably up some pretty serious climbs, especially given the ultra light weight of the bike. This thoughtful option eliminates any need for swapping of parts or other compromises as almost every hill climbing challenge can be accomplished with the 34 tooth small chainring coupled to the 28 tooth large rear sprocket. All of the component specifications are listed below, but the main features to be noted include the already mentioned integrated seat post, the Contact SLR oversize carbon fibre handlebar and lightweight alloy stem, the Fizik saddle, the Giant P-SLR1 wheelset and the integrated "Ridesense" wireless data transmitter which sends speed and cadence information to any ANT+ compatible computers such as the Garmin Edge 800 and Edge 500 models, making for the simplest and neatest computer set-up possible. With this type of wireless and GPS technology becoming more prevalent the Advanced frames from Giant are seriously at the forefront of development. 

The Defy Advanced SL 0 is a real no nonsense bike that will satisfy the needs of many both in performance terms and importantly, when considering the purchase cost. Although not cheap in actual dollar terms, it is an absolute bargain when due consideration is given to the quality of every single part and component.  

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