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New Giant Contend SL1 Disc

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Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

New Giant Contend SL1 Disc

Old 02-04-17, 03:58 PM
  #1  
GodinSession
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New Giant Contend SL1 Disc

Loving this bike! Got it a few weeks ago and have about 6 rides on it now. It is such a fun quick and comfortable bike to ride. I think this bike fits me better than any other bike I have had.
Right away I put Maxxis 28mm Refuse tires on it. I think I have the pressure dialed in now to give it a really smooth ride yet still feel plenty quick. I am running 70psi in the back and 60psi in the front.
Also put on a selle royal scientia saddle. I love these saddles. They have just a little flex to help soak up rough roads.
Also put on some mks lambda flats. No need to tell me I need clipless pedals. I did that for years and have found out I just prefer riding these pedals better than anything else. They are extremely comfortable with regular running shoes.
This bike is more than enough bike for me. I am a non racer ride mostly solo for fitness and fun.
11 speed 105 sure does have nice smooth shifting. Better than the 9 speed ultegra I had years ago.
I highly recommend this bike fwiw.







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Old 02-04-17, 08:38 PM
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Originally Posted by GodinSession
Loving this bike! Got it a few weeks ago and have about 6 rides on it now. It is such a fun quick and comfortable bike to ride. I think this bike fits me better than any other bike I have had.
Right away I put Maxxis 28mm Refuse tires on it. I think I have the pressure dialed in now to give it a really smooth ride yet still feel plenty quick. I am running 70psi in the back and 60psi in the front.
Also put on a selle royal scientia saddle. I love these saddles. They have just a little flex to help soak up rough roads.
Also put on some mks lambda flats. No need to tell me I need clipless pedals. I did that for years and have found out I just prefer riding these pedals better than anything else. They are extremely comfortable with regular running shoes.
This bike is more than enough bike for me. I am a non racer ride mostly solo for fitness and fun.
11 speed 105 sure does have nice smooth shifting. Better than the 9 speed ultegra I had years ago.
I highly recommend this bike fwiw.

Nice looking bike.

What do you have strapped in between your top tube and down tube and pressing against your head tube?
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Old 02-04-17, 09:10 PM
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WhyFi
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Originally Posted by ColonelSanders
What do you have strapped in between your top tube and down tube and pressing against your head tube?
If you look at the last photo, it appears to be a mount for a mirror.
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Old 02-04-17, 09:28 PM
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GodinSession
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Yes it is a mirror.
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Old 02-04-17, 11:26 PM
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Okay, I am sold. Love the bike. Bring it by and drop it off any time.
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Old 03-21-17, 03:23 PM
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I love everything about this bike!!! I look forward to purchasing it sometime soon!!! I was about to buy a Giant Contend 1 but I feel like for the extra few hundred this bike I'd definitly worth it.
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Old 03-27-17, 12:54 PM
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Originally Posted by ride.mcFly
I love everything about this bike!!! I look forward to purchasing it sometime soon!!! I was about to buy a Giant Contend 1 but I feel like for the extra few hundred this bike I'd definitly worth it.
Can't recommend it enough. It is a joy to ride!
Highly recommend the Maxxis Refuse 28mm tires also. Really really smooths out the ride when you get the pressure dialed in.
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Old 03-27-17, 01:11 PM
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Nice bike! doing 60 psi sounds crazy to me (of course i am still running 23c tires ... LOL)

how's the brakes?
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Old 03-27-17, 01:42 PM
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What is the marketing slot for Contend, aka intended use? Oh yeah, nice bike. Enjoy it.
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Old 03-27-17, 01:54 PM
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Originally Posted by rpenmanparker
What is the marketing slot for Contend, aka intended use? Oh yeah, nice bike. Enjoy it.
The chainstays have been shortened vs the Defy, but otherwise identical geometry, iirc. So Endurance but with slightly more nimble handling?
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Old 03-27-17, 01:57 PM
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This is the exact bike I've been eyeing, and still eyeing. When the wife's not paying attention I'll click buy one of these days.

I understand this bike comes with a Garmin mount, is that true? Looks like you mounted a front light in its place?
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Old 03-27-17, 02:28 PM
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Does Giant make an ALU Defy any more? If they do, I don't see point in having content and Defy ALU. Guessing this is to replace that.
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Old 03-27-17, 03:22 PM
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Originally Posted by WhyFi
The chainstays have been shortened vs the Defy, but otherwise identical geometry, iirc. So Endurance but with slightly more nimble handling?
Got it. Thanks. So something like a competitive, long-haul bike. A good candidate for a fast fondo or long, stage race segment.
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Old 03-27-17, 08:24 PM
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Originally Posted by stockae92
Nice bike! doing 60 psi sounds crazy to me (of course i am still running 23c tires ... LOL)

how's the brakes?
Brakes are great! Smooth and powerful.
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Old 03-27-17, 08:26 PM
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GodinSession
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Originally Posted by CasualInSoCal
This is the exact bike I've been eyeing, and still eyeing. When the wife's not paying attention I'll click buy one of these days.

I understand this bike comes with a Garmin mount, is that true? Looks like you mounted a front light in its place?
Yes it does come with a Garmin mount. You can see in the pictures my garmin is mounted to it. Along with the garmin mount is an accessories mount which I have a light mounted to.
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Old 03-27-17, 08:27 PM
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Originally Posted by zymphad
Does Giant make an ALU Defy any more? If they do, I don't see point in having content and Defy ALU. Guessing this is to replace that.
They no longer make an aluminum defy. The Contend replaced it in giants lineup.
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Old 07-28-19, 12:56 PM
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Any more updates on how this bike is treating you OP?
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Old 07-29-19, 05:08 AM
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Old 07-29-19, 07:07 AM
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Looks like a winner!

Enjoy!!
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