A Serious Contender

Is this my next bike? Could be. The Giant Defy Advance 3 is at the very end of what I can afford—assuming I can get it for somewhat less than full retail—but in that price range it’s a great value: carbon fiber frame, Shimano 105 shifters and derailleurs (10-speed), decent saddle, brakes, etc. It would be a huge upgrade over my Giant OCR1 except for the wheelset. The wheels on the OCR1 aren’t original, they’re Easton EA70s. The Defy comes with a bomb-proof but heavy set of Mavics that would make for good indoor trainer wheels. Anyway, the Defy merits careful consideration and a test ride.

There’s still the option of buying just a frame and fork, then moving my existing components over from the OCR1. But in truth the existing components are tired. The crankset was never anything special, nor the brakes. The chain and cassette are long overdue for replacement. The saddle is cracking. I could salvage a few parts here and there but it’s probably not worth the hassle.