Giant FCR 3 -> Defy 1 frameset. Worthwhile upgrade?

cdaly_

My current bike is a Giant FCR 3 in Medium. According to the Giant FCR 3 specs it has a downtube length of 50cm and an effective top tube of 56.5cm though my top tube length measures at 56cm. I have dropped bars on a 100mm stem and about 11cm of seatpost extension.

I'm considering Mr Skeffington's Defy 1 frameset but this is a large and according to the Defy 1 spec has a downtube of 55.5cm and a top tube of 57.5cm.

I'm about 5' 6". So, firstly, will this frame fit me? Given 11cm of seatpost extension, presumably it's not too high. The extra 15mm of top tube shouldn't be an issue?

Secondly, is this a worthwhile upgrade to do? I've already upgraded the 8-sp Sora drivetrain to 9-sp Tiagra and have upgraded the wheels to Mavic Aksium. I presume I get a carbon fork and lighter frame out of this.

kennyb3

I ll let others more knowledgeable do the maths and discuss top tube length, but my first impression when i read this was 5'6 and you want to buy a large frame?

I ve a medium defy 4 and am 5'8.5 and its not even close to small for me.

cdaly_

I know. That's the thing. The numbers look ok though compared with my own which is why I'm wondering...

blorg

I'm 6ft and ride large in Giant. Difficult to imagine it fitting 5ft6.

Vélo

I'm 5' 7" and had a Giant SCR C3 in Medium. I was never happy with the fit, I felt as if the top tube was that little bit too long for me.

I ended up selling it and bought a size 53 road bike instead and that's much more comfortable.

BostonB

Giants "Large" is for 5'10" and up.

cdaly_

Looking further, the Defy's 20cm head tube vs the FCR's 17cm puts the bars higher while the 55.5cm seat tube (L) vs the 50cm (M) would leave my saddle either level with or lower than the bars which ain't going to be very aero. Currently my bars are about 20mm lower and at the limit of what the head tube will allow.

I guess I have to slink away, hands in pockets and kicking empty cans at passing cats...


Just for interest, How much better than the FCR3 frameset (Alu fork) is the Defy 1 frameset (carbon fork)?

petethedrummer

You seem to be incerementally upgrading towards your ideal bike. Would you not be better to draw a line under the upgrading now, put some money aside and make a big purchase further down the line?

cdaly_

That's a hard one to call. As a husband and father a single big upgrade may be difficult while incremental stuff is easier. There's also the point that I don't yet know what my ideal bike is but I'm fairly sure I'll only have one at a time. It'll also be another 4 years before I can invoke the BTW scheme again.

Apart from the flat - drop bars conversion, all of the upgrades have been replacements of worn out components so it's just sensible to get better replacements. There does appear to be a limit to where I can go with the FCR frame though I'm not quite there yet. I've always been a fan of incremental upgrades anyhow. Almost none of my computers were ever bought new in any of their configurations. They were all Frankensteinesque creations...

I reckon the next big upgrade will be a frame somewhere along the line. There may be all the other bits attached or there may not...

petethedrummer

I hear ya. I've been looking around at bikes, frames and general upgrades myself. And you just seem to save sooo much money if you buy an entire bike. Seems if you want to build a bike that you'd have to get all the individual items at a fairly big discount to match the price of just buying a full bike of similar spec.

Anyways, not wishing to do Mr Skeff out of a sale, I think the frame would be too big. I am 5'10"(and a half!) and ride a medium SCR. I myself would get an M/L in the Defy. Definitely not a large.