Frame & Geometry
All bikes in the range come with Giant's own Advanced Grade Composite frame, this material gives you a high stiffness-to-weight ratio, perfect for sprinting and climbing out of the saddle. The front triangle of these bikes are assembled and moulded as one piece of carbon, this is called a modified monocoque construction. The Defy range also comes as a compact road design, this translates to a smaller front and rear triangle for a lighter, stiffer bike, this is created by a sloping downtube.
OverDrive features in this range, this is an oversized fork steerer tube giving the rider better steering performance and stiffness, essentially, you get a more responsive feel from your handlebars when sprinting and climbing hard up hills. Also featured in the Defy range is D-Fuse handlebars and seatposts. All bikes in the range have internal cabling, this means a cleaner looking bike. All bikes in the range feature Giants own Powecore bottom bracket, this is an oversized BB/chainstay area which provides even more stiffness on both the driveside and non-driveside.
D-Fuse componentry was created to absorb shocks and vibrations, increasing comfort when out cycling on the road. This is definitely necessary on British country roads! When combined together, the D-Fuse handlebars and seatpost work together at two key contact points to reduce your discomfort in the saddle. The D-Fuse seatpost allows for 12mm of flex and the handlebars give you 10% more downward compliance and 30% more upward stiffness.
Overall, the geometry of this bike alone allows for rider to be placed in a comfortable riding position, which may not be the most aerodynamic at times but allows for more miles to ridden. On the contrary, thats not to say that this bike isn't fast. The frame allows for the power transfer to be as smooth as possible through the drivetrain and reduced chainstay length. This allows for power to be put down efficiently, when needed, allowing for precison performance during sportives and Gran Fondos.