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Yes, I'm indecisive 😀
or
Both Ultegra mechanical, both get great reviews, the Defy comes with carbon wheels but they are the Hookless Giant type.
I'd welcome peoples thoughts, I've run out of things to mull over and can't reach a conclusion.
I kind of prefer the look of the Pearsons, despite it being more expensive.
Who has the best after sales support and warrenty?
Based on looks alone the Peasons for me. That and the fact I like brands I don't see everyday
2nd one looks prettierer. Other than that, road bikes all look the same to me... Meh!
Pearson in the stealth graffics.
I actually prefer the look of the Giant but I've never heard of the Pearson so it must be cool!!
Seatpost... I'd always get a round one rather than one you can't rotate, especially if it's a cheap open mould frame (even if sold at a high cost) from a smaller brand.
Who has the best after sales support and warrenty?
Apparently Pearson are very good, and yes I agreed its unique. Hmm!
Pearsons in the stealth graffics.
This.
I can't unsee "Pearyon" which would annoy me.
That Pearsons logo is gopping! 🤮
Trying to be Wilier but biggerer. 🙂
Pearson - more interesting and may well hold its value better because of it.
I don't like that 'bite' out the seat tube on the Pearson and the Giant looks faster/nicer.
its unique
No, it isn't, it's just an off the shelf open mould carbon frame with some graphics stuck on it. Personally, I don't even like the graphics, but's that's just opinion. The frame itself is far from unique. And if it's not 100% straight your seat will be at an angle for-ever. I'd choose the Giant.
I mean the Pearson is just an open mould frameset from China so for that sort of money I'd be going Giant all day. I'd have no problem with an open mould frame from China but I'd personally cut out the middle man.
I like the colour of the giant.
Pearson – more interesting and may well hold its value better because of it.
How many people will be looking on eBay/Facebook etc for a used Pearson vs a Giant Defy! Giant will hold its value much better imo.
No comments on the Giant wheel / tyre combos? Road tubeless reliability makes me nervous, the hookless rims/limited tyre choice even more so.
Can they hold a tube in them... I'm guessing so?
Given those 2 options I'd go for a Fairlight Strael or a Brother Stroma
😉🙃
Road tubeless reliability makes me nervous
I haven't used a tube for years, including on the road bike.
Road tubeless fitting does tend to require swearing... but I've never been caught out by reliability issues. People who do mega-miles might have different stories.
My understanding is that hookless means using proper tubeless tyres only though.
Mleh, carbon road bikes in “they all the same to me” shocker
On the other hand, that Giant isn't the same as any other.
That Pearsons logo is gopping! 🤮
Controversial. I thought the opposite. I do like a retro, flowy, scripty font though
The word gopping, however, is vastly underused nowadays. Well done sir 😀
The Giant looks a lot better.
- No ugly seat tube cutout for wheel
- No the worst font I have ever seen on a downtube
Giant all day long. But there is something odd going on on the Giant Website - there are two Advanced Pro families up there. I think the one you linked (which is a 2 not a 0) is last years, and this is the new bike - https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/defy-advanced-pro-2-ultegra-2022 which bizarrely appears to come with a GRX rear mech.
And jeez, haven't prices gone up? I picked up a Defy Advanced Pro 0 with Di2 for £2.5k in the sale a couple of years ago - and the 0 is now £7.5k!
For the money, you could also look at Orro bikes which seem to offer a little more.
Given those 2 options I’d go for a Fairlight Strael or a Brother Stroma
Is the response I had too.
Of those, the Giant looks nicer and looks like it has more thought put into it.
The other logo I just don't like.
Giant, those Pearson graphics look horrible, even the stealth does.
Hm that Giant is twice the price of my Cube, can't quite see where the extra two grand has gone.
For the money, you could also look at Orro bikes which seem to offer a little more.
Your not wrong, DI2 and the 52/36 I prefer for that same money... just worried its a little left field, I guess just as much as the Pearson.
Hmmm
Giant. Pearson seatpost looks very rigid and ultimately it's an open mould frame of unknown provenance.
No comments on the Giant wheel / tyre combos? Road tubeless reliability makes me nervous, the hookless rims/limited tyre choice even more so.
On the OPs question about road tubeless, I've run my Defy with SLR 1 wheels tubeless for a few years - although these are the pre-hookless rims. I have had no problems, just one puncture that was reluctant to seal and that was fixed in a couple of minutes with an anchovy. The stock Giant tyres are OK, and they list others that they've tested and are happy with here https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/hookless-technology . Schwalbe Pro Ones and the new GP5000 S TR are on the list, I'd be happy with either of those. If you are a Vittoria fan though, those seem to have failed the test.
And you can put a tube in if you really want to.
Thanks for the comments so far.
Can someone explain the Open mold concern please? I get that its generic and not specific to Pearsons, but they do have a very good customer support reputation so I'm confident if anything's wrong it can be dealt with.
So what else should I be worrying about?
Edit: Pearson warranty:
Frames - steel, aluminium, titanium & carbon - 5 years (limited to original owner)
Forks - 5 years (limited to original owner).
Parts - minimum one year, but set by manufacturer.
What is the tyre clearance on the frames. Both take 28mm, one take 30mm?
In the back of my mind I saw a review of the Pearson (I think) which said it was a very stiff ride. Might be wrong, but surely reviews on the bikes would be useful to give you insight into how they feel and ride?
I was always under the impression that Pearson designed the bikes instead of them being open mould. Happy to be corrected if someone knows different.
Personally I'd go Pearson for no other reason than the Pearson brothers are nice guys running an independent shop who do a good job of looking after their customers. Shame they closed the Sutton store as they was my go to but I believe the focus at the Sheen place is on their own bikes so I imagine you'd get good service there
Shame they closed the Sutton store as they was my go to but I believe the focus at the Sheen place is on their own bikes so I imagine you’d get good service there
Bought my first proper road frame there when I was 16. The Sheen shop has a good rep as does the firm as a whole round here
Thanks for confirming Pearsons reputation. I’d heard good things. I’m quite orientated to putting my money into a local company, not forsaking the product - and I’m in London if I need to visit.
Re the open mold - I did some digging, they do design the frames but once produced don’t retain the licence for the mold, so they can be reused which reduces the bike prices but of course you might see the same shape elsewhere later on.
Overnight theyve been in touch with some questions to help me size the bike and have confirmed they’ll change a bit of the spec I wanted within the price. So, I’d save a few £ss and forgo some carbon wheels but likely get better after sale service. Because in time I’d want to upgrade to Di2 and added some posh wheels I see that as a bonus to be able to take the bike back to them for that.
Still, this is a tough choice! Review here: https://www.cyclingweekly.com/reviews/bike-reviews/pearson-hammerandtongs-road-bike-review
To be subjective, you won't go wrong with either form and function wise, so get the one that draws you in - which sounds like the Pearson.
Personally I think the font on it look horrendous and more like a £200 BSO but again it's a personal thing.
If I were to get a road bike, it would be a Giant Defy Di2 with carbon wheels. My wife has 3 Liv bikes and they are all superb things. They were all bought in various sales, either on the Giant site or through Pedalon Cycles - typically 20% discount.
Yep, I looked at a Baracchi, but £4k for 105.... and even with a bit of a discount, ouch.
I think I’d go with the Giant as it appears to have full mudguard mountings integrated into the frame. For group / winter rides that’s a lot more preferable to using clip on ones. I’ve been using clip ons on my Caad12 disc for quite a few years but they tend to move about a bit and have scraped a bit of paint off the rear seat stays annoyingly.
Giant have a good warranty reputation too don’t they - and they make their own frames and are meant to be really decent quality carbon. If it’s cheaper as well that’s more money for upgrades in the future. I much prefer my Ultegra di2 vs the 105 mechanical I had before - mostly for the front mech shift which is so effortless.
Not sure I like the Pearson logo that much - I think the black with Matt black logo is the best looking option on that bike.
Yes I chose my road bike based on what had mudguard mounts available and if there were manufacturer-specific dedicated guards to fit. I'm glad I did too.
The Giant, by miles.
Mostly for aesthetics, but also for Giant's expertise in carbon frame design and considerable R&D resources.
The other one looks like an eeb.
I'm leaning toward the Defy. However the Ultegra - currently available March - is only £100 cheaper than AXS available in August, so I'll probably wait for that Tbh. All other components seem the same 'kept for the GRX vs SRAM AXS rear mech.
Can you throw a leg over them? The right bike is the one that fits and handles nicely.
I'd go for the Giant personally. The Pearson will just be a repainted catalogue frame from Taiwan, their gravel bike is exactly that and more expensive than those that Vitus and Planet-X sell with the same frame and specs.