Giant Defy 4 Beginners Questions

Comic Book Guy

Hi lads, some advice please.

Took my new Giant Defy 4 out for its maden spin today.
Just a couple of questions?
How to people find the gearing, this was my first cycle on a road bike but i found the top gear disappointing in that i was pedaling like mad but not going mad fast and could defo upshift another few gears on the flat sections. Coming down small hills there didnt seem any point pedaling since there was no resistance there and i ended up free wheeling.
Also in this top gear there was a consistent rattling even though it had been oiled before use?

These are probable very stupid questions but I'm only a novice so feedback would be great thanks.

Raam

what size are the front rings?

ajk24

top gear should be 50-12 - sheldon brown says you should be doing at 52km an hour @100rpm (if i'm reading correctly). can't say I have ever spun out that gear on the flat. relatively steep downhill yes but not on the flat.

re rattling - are you sure you are in the big chain ring on the front when in top gear (smallest sprocket on the back). the front derailleur might need to be adjusted slightly but that is normal with a new bike. you should get a quick tune up after the first few hundred kms.

yop

Have the Defy 4 myself and it definately sounds like you are not in big cog.
Have got over 60kmph on the big cogs and plenty more to give but ran out of hill.

The problem with the rattling is the chain hitting against the changer, too high a gear in the small cog.

Comic Book Guy

Thanks for the feedback lads.

As i said I'm a novice and have now realised my embarrassing mistake regarding the cogs;).

Look forward to doing some proper speeds in the next few weeks!