tti1422

Hello,

I have had the 2015 Giant Propel Advanced 2 for over 5 years. I just do some recreational biking around the city pathways, some small mountains, but not professional level. Just for the records, since 2015 or 2016 my app shows i have done 5500km, so not a lot I think. I just realized that my bike a little too big for me, I have a Medium size and I need a Small.

I wanted to sell mine and buy a used one, similar components, but just a smaller size. I stopped a 2 bikes I found for sale:

- 2013 Trek Domane 4.3 WSD: LIKE NEW condition, they didn't ride it
- 2011 Giant Defy Advanced 1: Looks good condition, I still have to check

I haven't seen in person any of the bikes, but planning on going this week. Would you pick one over the other and why? Is it ok to buy like a 10 year old bike with good maintanence or like new? Or maybe check newer bikes +2018 or so. I see nowadays they make with disc brakes, mine doesn't and I'm ok with that. Anything else to consider?

Thanks in advance

blacknbluebikes 

First, it's all about your budget. If that element is OK, the next stop is "bike fit." Generally, you want to see a used bike in person, so take your tools (or your friend w/ tools), adjust the seat properly, and give the bike a spin. Simply based on comfort, you'll know if this is your bike or not. If you can't do this, you either have the knowledge to assess from afar, or this is not the right purchase for you. Either of the bikes you mention are fine bikes. You don't need disc brakes, they have benefits, but you probably don't care. Again, I would choose the bike that feels better to ride.

tti1422

Thanks for your reply, both bikes are about the same price used within my budget. I'm planning to see them but they are located a little bit further than where I live and both in opposite directions. I wouldn't buy without testing them. Thanks for your input

jaxgtr

Have you had a professional bike fitting using Retul or something of that caliber? Possible that you could fix some of your fit issues with a new set of bars and\or a shorter stem? Assuming the size could be a reach issue, but I had a bike I thought was too large for me, and then I replaced the stem and got a set of compact bars that reduced the reach by 2cm and it made a world of difference. I put almost 10K miles on that bike after that before I sold it. All total, the cost between the fitting, bars and stem, was less than $400. I really like the bike, so did what I could to make it fit, before I went down the replacement mode.

Just something to think about.

PeteHski

Good suggestion about bike fit above. Most people can be fitted across at least 2 different frame sizes and it sounds like it's only a little too big.

Also any reason why you are looking at endurance road bikes vs your more race focused Propel? Are you looking for a little more ride comfort and/or more relaxed geometry?

For the same price I would take an unridden like new 2013 Domane over a 2011 Defy with some wear and tear. That's assuming you like the fit. They are pretty similar bikes overall.

jaxgtr

Also, I did not pick up on this before, the Domane is a WSD model, which being women's specific, besides just colors, had shorter crankarms, stems and narrower handlebars based on the specific size of the bike. There was a you woman we used to ride with that had a Trek Silque SL or whatever the variant was, basically an Emonda, but I think was 45 cm, but everything was smaller which worked for her as she would need a ladder to be 5 ft. It was always comical as her husband was a giant at 6' 8" and had a custom made bike. His nick name was jolly as in Jolly Green Giant.

freeranger

[QUOTE=jaxgtr;22836720]Also, I did not pick up on this before, the Domane is a WSD model, which being women's specific, besides just colors, had shorter crankarms, stems and narrower handlebars based on the specific size of the bike. There was a you woman we used to ride with that had a Trek Silque SL or whatever the variant was, basically an Emonda, but I think was 45 cm, but everything was smaller which worked for her as she would need a ladder to be 5 ft. It was always comical as her husband was a giant at 6' 8" and had a custom made bike. His nick name was jolly as in Jolly Green Giant.[/QUOTS

Don't know if you are female, or if the Domane is a "true WSD" model. A true WSD bike will have a shorter top tube and a longer seat tube than a bike designed for male anatomy. Even if not a "true WSD", it will likely have parts as mentioned above, and you may find yourself wanting to change out parts if you are male. Riding both to see which you like best would be ideal. Even a very high end bike isn't going to be best for a rider if it doesn't fit.

RJC1811

I own a Giant Defy 1, it’s the aluminum version, not sure if the advanced is carbon? It’s a great bike and I’m quite happy with it. The downsides are it’s on the heavy side compared to other bikes in its class. Not a huge amount but still there. Then the proprietary D shaped seat post is very limiting. The stock one that came on my bike had very crude adjustment. It would take me numerous tries to get it locked in even close to the angle I wanted. I upgraded to the carbon version (may be standard on the advanced?) and that has a far superior adjustment mech. No experience with the Trek.

georges1

None of both,get a Basso or a Daccordi if you want something of the highest craftsmanship Daccordi Noah Review

PeteHski

"The test bike had a non-integrated aero seatpost that took some fettling and over-torquing before it stopped slipping. The clamp is the external collar type with twin Allen bolts, which doesn’t work as well as the internal expanding wedge type in my experience. The seatpost needed slathering in Muc-Off carbon paste, cranking up beyond the recommended 5/6Nm and even then tightening a bit more at the roadside once it had settled"

That would be a hard no for me.

georges1

Daccordi are custom made bikes not mass produced bikes that is the difference.

PeteHski

Doesn't seem relevant to the bikes the OP was considering. It's a bit of a step from a 2011 Defy / 2013 Domane to a £10k+ custom bike.

eduskator

Take the one who's in the best shape. They're 10+ years old so be careful.

Camilo

While I might just have an irrational bias, I never buy bikes from the big 3 names. Just don't like having one of a million. My bikes are Jamis, Felt, Litespeed, Lynskey, Kona and a vintage Italian Sannino. There's more to life than Trek and Giant and Specialized, although I think they are trying to overcome that with their marketing and sales channels. I did say this isn't necessarily rational. Except for the fact (in my experience) you often get a little more bike for the money if you expand your knowledge and searching beyond the big 3 or 4.

georges1

One of my Mountain bike is a 1997 Kona Kilaeua with Reynolds 631 tubing one of the very best mountain bikes ever made, I also have a 1998 Jamis
Dragon with Reynolds 853 that is a MTB build. As for Italian bikes, I have Daccordi, Grandis, Vetta and Coppi frames (projects), two English bikes CT Wallis(project) and a Raleigh and one French bike a Peugeot. Other brands like Paletti, Basso, Bottechia, De Rosa, Gios Torino to name a few offer more than Specialized,Trek and Giant, especially with high end steel frames.

PeteHski

tti1422

I'm female and I also read about the Silque, but unfortunatelly i haven't seen any for sale in my area and size I will keep an eye

tti1422

I didn't want to do the fit or modify my bike. I sold it and will be looking at. The 2013 Domane is looking good. I've been busy and haven't been able actually to go check or buy any bike. I'm not race focused. I just like to go for bike rides, so probably more relaxed posture would be better. The reason why I had a Giant propel advanced is because I found a good deal on marketplace, but after the years i realized it was not my size.

tti1422

That's a good point. I search on marketplace for used bikes in my size and I haven't come across lots, usually I see medium size, so 54 or 55 mostly. I'd be open to other brands as they mostly use Shimano components, right? I'm not a bike expert anyway

PeteHski

A Domane sounds like a good match for what you describe.

terrymorse 

Does anyone know of a physical justification for these WSD geometry differences?

As far I have seen, male and female dimensions for a given height are identical. The US Army did a big study on body dimensions and came to that conclusion. Everything matched up, right down to finger length.

PeteHski

Women's specific frame geometry has gone out of fashion in recent years. They are now mostly the same geometry, but with different contact points i.e. women's saddle, narrower bars etc. Sometimes they re-name frame sizes too e.g. men's "medium" becomes women's "large". Trek have abandoned their WSD line, at least with performance road bikes.

tti1422

Thanks for your help! I just bought the Domane 4.3 today. The bike it's been hardly ridden, very new