Upgrading wheels on a Giant Defy 2021 - options

[coffeeallday]

Got my Giant Defy Adv 1 2021 in Jan 2021 after upgrading from a Giant Cross City 0 2019. During the year, the Defy has really helped me improve my ride capabalities which is mainly on the roads and paths - I now try to do a 50km ride 2-3 times weekly. Have been offerred birthday gift options, so looking at what I can do to improve my riding experience. THe 2 main areas seems to be the seat and wheels. While I am reading that seat is very personal, am interested to get some thoughts on the wheels. My bike has the standard Giant PR2 disc tubless with Giant Gavia Fondo 1 tubeless 32c. When the tires need replacement, was looking to move to a 28c but if there were money available for upgrade now, would a wheel upgrade help my riding experience? Where I live, climbs are a normal experience, so any help in climbing would be most useful. Thoughts and experiences appreciated. Thanks.

[elantra]

There is a great discussion about this some months ago on BNA forums

https://www.bicycles.net.au/forums/vie ... p?t=104715

The respondents above have more knowledge about lightweight disc wheelsets than I do, but I am thinking that a carbon fibre wheelset would give significant weight savings over your current wheels, which I am assuming are alloy.

[warthog1]

I have the rim brake version of these
https://www.this link is broken.au/prime-rr-50-v ... ess-bundle
They have been a great wheelset and frankly an absolute bargain.
The disc version are a touch heavier but that will be at the hub that matters less.
Can't go wrong at that price imo.
You need to but tubeless valves also as they aren't included and I expect discs.

[cyclotaur]

I actually picked up a pair of Giant SLR 0 30mm Disc wheels secondhand for $750 for my Scott Addict. I think they came of a top end TCR Disc from maybe 2017/18.

They save about 450g overall, I run 28s instead of the 32s that are on the standard Scott wheelset, and they are stiffer, meaning better power transfer and better handling. They also run and roll better so less effort needed to get/keep the bike moving.

[blizzard]

What is your budget? I have a set of Light Bicycle wheels which have been faultless. They were about $1600 all in with DT Swiss 240 hubs.

[coffeeallday]

Thank you all for your feedback. Was not planning to move to carbon wheels yet and so budget is below 1K. My cycling is mainly for fitness and so some weight is good for the workout . Was just wandering if I could get better ride, etc with improved wheels and tyres over standard issue gear that came with the bike.

[Duck!]

Carbon rims are a big improvement if you're able to push the budget. Alongside lower weight, which improves acceleration and braking responsiveness, carbon retains or even increases lateral stiffness over aluminium, which improves handling, but at the same time gives better vibration damping due to the composite construction.

[blizzard]

Thank you all for your feedback. Was not planning to move to carbon wheels yet and so budget is below 1K. My cycling is mainly for fitness and so some weight is good for the workout . Was just wandering if I could get better ride, etc with improved wheels and tyres over standard issue gear that came with the bike.

In that case the Prime wheels are almost unbeatable unless you can find a set of carbon wheels second hand

[coffeeallday]

Thanks for your great feedback and suggestions, I will take another look at the prime bundle. New to this, so trying to understand what needs to happen. Do I take this to a LBS to get the new wheel fitted or this something I could do myself - heard alot about the difficulty of installing new tubless tyres.

[blizzard]

You can do it yourself, you will need a lockring tool and cassette tool to swap cassettes to the new wheel. Tubeless tyres can be a bit difficult to fit but said be doable with the right technique (watch YouTube) and potentially will need an air compressor to seat the tyres of they don't inflate with a track pump. You will also need to add sealant, the easiest way is to remove the valve core and use an sealant injector (syringe) to add the seleant. Its definitely a skill worth learning to do.

Otherwise a shop will fit the wheels and tyres for a fee, you could also combine it with a general service if it's required.

[warthog1]

You can use tubes if you aren't confident.
Do a google search on tubeless bicycle tyres and there will be a heap of info on how to fit them.
You tube should have some stuff.

You need a compressor, or pump with a storage tank, to give a blast of air to seat them.
I have that and have avoided numerous punctures by being tubeless. Love it.

If its' too hard you can use them tubed.


Edit; didn't read Blizzard's post above before posting.

[coffeeallday]

Thank you @warthog1 and @blizzard for your feedback. Since I do not have the necessary tools and the bike is due for a service anyway, that route may be the way to go. Thanks
@warthog1, I see some comments on Wiggle about stability when windy, something about the wheels not be "aero enabled" - is that something you have experienced? Thanks for your feedback.

[warthog1]

Thank you @warthog1 and @blizzard for your feedback. Since I do not have the necessary tools and the bike is due for a service anyway, that route may be the way to go. Thanks
@warthog1, I see some comments on Wiggle about stability when windy, something about the wheels not be "aero enabled" - is that something you have experienced? Thanks for your feedback.

No.
My 2 roadies are above.
The Cervelo I bought new and has Zipp404s.
Both were heavily marketed as aero.
The Giant I bought as a second hand frame for $450 on ebay.
Used gear off a broken frame to build it up.
It has GP5000TL tubeless tyres on it.
There are fast bunch rides here with some national level riders.
I hang on still, just.
Don't notice any difference in speed between the bikes.
The prime wheels in mine are the same rim as the disc wheels I believe.
They do not blow around in the wind much at all ime. I am not a nervous rider I guess. I have about 15k km on them and am 184cm tall and 76kg.

The Cervelo just hangs on the wall for the most part now.

[timbo]

For somebody who rides 50km, 2 or 3 times per week, I am surprised that people are trying to talk coffeeallday into buying a whole new wheelset. For the distances he travels, granted with uphills, an upgrade to good rolling 28C tyres would be all that he needs.

[warthog1]

Well he asked advice about wheelsets.
The ones I linked are not expensive and mine are noticeably faster than the aluminium goers they replaced.
I am very happy with them.
He asked this question;
would a wheel upgrade help my riding experience?

It did mine, hence the advice.

[foo on patrol]

For somebody who rides 50km, 2 or 3 times per week, I am surprised that people are trying to talk coffeeallday into buying a whole new wheelset. For the distances he travels, granted with uphills, an upgrade to good rolling 28C tyres would be all that he needs.

I hope you don't seriously believe that? Tyres will do Jack chit if the wheels are crap! First rule of thumb is good wheels and then good tyres and all the hype about 28mm tyres is pure bollocks and I'm yet to see anything in real life, to say otherwise. I run 23's & 25's on different sets of wheels and I can't notice any difference in ride quality.

I also see people running stupidly expensive tyres for no other reason than they think it makes them cool and fast, when I can ride with them on my $25 Rubino Pro's and still be as fast and I'm far from being fit. Put a good set of wheels on and that's where you will notice the difference but train/ride more and you will get better gains!

Foo

[MattyK]

^ I wholeheartedly disagree. There are significant differences in the performance (drag), ride quality and comfort of different tyres, and the cost is 1/10th of a set of wheels. Value for money they are a far smarter purchase.

[warthog1]

Rubino Pros are excellent value for money. Pretty fast and cheap.
https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.co ... o-iii-2014
Pretty sure they've stopped making em though.

Both good tyres and good wheels can make a difference.
Tyres are cheaper but are a consumable.
Wheels prob give more watt savings but cost more.
I would say get both.
I run the wheels I linked and conti GP5KTL tyres.
Very happy with that combo.

[g-boaf]

Got my Giant Defy Adv 1 2021 in Jan 2021 after upgrading from a Giant Cross City 0 2019. During the year, the Defy has really helped me improve my ride capabalities which is mainly on the roads and paths - I now try to do a 50km ride 2-3 times weekly. Have been offerred birthday gift options, so looking at what I can do to improve my riding experience. THe 2 main areas seems to be the seat and wheels. While I am reading that seat is very personal, am interested to get some thoughts on the wheels. My bike has the standard Giant PR2 disc tubless with Giant Gavia Fondo 1 tubeless 32c. When the tires need replacement, was looking to move to a 28c but if there were money available for upgrade now, would a wheel upgrade help my riding experience? Where I live, climbs are a normal experience, so any help in climbing would be most useful. Thoughts and experiences appreciated. Thanks.

Climbing is about gearing and riding more hills more frequently then also losing weight if you are on the heavier side. That’s how you do better at that, no easy wins unfortunately.

If you can score some quality lighter wheels at a reasonable price those can help a bit on hills, but they are secondary to training.

[foo on patrol]

^ I wholeheartedly disagree. There are significant differences in the performance (drag), ride quality and comfort of different tyres, and the cost is 1/10th of a set of wheels. Value for money they are a far smarter purchase.

Good/expensive tyre still don't help the initial problem of the crap rolling wheels, they only mask the problem for a bit, where with decent bearings, if sealed ones will help more. There are plenty of cheaper wheels sets that have good rolling bearings and that will be more cost effective over time. There is also no substitute for fitness and Klms on the road.

Foo

[cyclotaur]

Climbing is about gearing and riding more hills more frequently then also losing weight if you are on the heavier side. That’s how you do better at that, no easy wins unfortunately.

If you can score some quality lighter wheels at a reasonable price those can help a bit on hills, but they are secondary to training.

I largely agree with this re: training and weight. But I will say, as an older, average-sized rider with not massive power numbers, that the second part is also true. I picked up some inexpensive 2nd-hand carbon wheels and whacked on my favorite tyres in a 28, and the difference they make to uphill riding in response, power transfer and times is very noticeable, AND the total bike weight came down by 0.5kg.

I still use the OEM wheels/tyres for general riding on bike paths and trails, and any gravelly stuff, but if I'm heading to the hills it's the lighter, stiffer wheels and 28s every time.

[Mububban]

My bike has the standard Giant PR2 disc tubless with Giant Gavia Fondo 1 tubeless 32c.

My Giant with ~2017 PR2 disc wheels weighed over 2kg for the wheelset! Buying some 1500g Prime carbon wheels from Chain Reaction for under a grand transformed the bike. I'm still skinny and slow, but the bike no longer feels like I'm riding through peanut butter whenever the road points even slightly upwards. Definitely no buyer's remorse from me.

[coffeeallday]

Thank you all for your input. It is has been really educational and is really helpful as I consider options. Firstly, I totally agree that optimum weight reduction is on my body which makes cycling easier and me - happier. I am glad to say that it is moving in the right direction since I started cycling and managing food quantity. Have also been thinking about changing tyres but going the wheel set plus tyre approach when funding and good deals are available seems to the consensus. The discussion is also an important part of learning, so feel free to share and give ideas. The Prime deal mentioned earlier is not available but will look out for good deals. Thank you.