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AlexA.1983

Member since Jan 2020 • Last active Aug 2024
  • 11 conversations
  • 109 comments

Most recent activity

  • in Components and clothing
    Avatar for AlexA.1983

    As pictured, was bought new and used for a year to store 4 bikes, hence the extra bracket.
    Great condition. £120 all together or £100 + £25 if split. Collection from SW8 Stockwell (5 mins walk from the tube).

  • in Complete bikes and frame & forks
    Avatar for AlexA.1983

    Totally understand where you are coming from, I already have a dibs on the wheels by a good mate, so he’d be first in line. However, I think a Defy buyer is more likely to be after the full package and is not into building frames up…

  • in Complete bikes and frame & forks
    Avatar for AlexA.1983

    Shockingly, this is still up for sale. I’m including a pair of Ultegra pedals at no extra cost to sweeten the deal. This could be someone’s first carbon bike at an accessible price point, or winter / training bike. It really is a lot of bike for £1290.

  • in Complete bikes and frame & forks
    Avatar for AlexA.1983

    Price drop £1290

  • in Complete bikes and frame & forks
    Avatar for AlexA.1983

    Aww thanks! I agree it’s very modestly priced, but I’m mindful of people tightening the belts right now. Will be a steal for someone for sure.

  • in Complete bikes and frame & forks
    Avatar for AlexA.1983

    P.S.: The green elements on the frame are actually decals, so if you cannot live with this colour, they can be removed or replaced with custom decals.

    P.P.S.: I set up the tyres with Silca Ultimate sealant, it was a week ago. Around 3-4 months down the line you will need to top up with Silca's replenisher, which can be added through the valves (unlike the original sealant). Essentially you will just need to top up every now and then until the tyres wear out.

  • in Complete bikes and frame & forks
    Avatar for AlexA.1983

    Gallery:

    As you can see, the frame clears 32mm rubber (plus note the lacquer coat at the bottom of downtube mentioned above):
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    Cockpit update (rate my bar wrap job):
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    If you never tried bars with a backsweep, you will love the ergonomics. Also the drop bend is the most ergonomic I tried, really allows great descending and cruising positions.
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    Hoops and rubber:
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    Cosmetic damage:
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    As you can see, the 105 cranks don't interface too well with Ultegra rings, but I don't care for turbo:
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    Drivetrain pics:
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    Saddle and Ultegra cranks that will come with the bike when sold:
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  • in Complete bikes and frame & forks
    Avatar for AlexA.1983

    Hi all, after over a year of prevarication, I am reluctantly selling my Defy. I bought it new in March 2019, it was THE bike for 1 season, then was the audax / winter bike (I really don't ride in shit weather much), and for the past 1.5 years it's been on turbo duties. All in it clocked 9500km on the road and probably the equivalent of 700km on turbo, but many drivetrain components have much lower mileage.
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    I've always loved this bike: it's super comfy (250km rides under its belt), climbs like a devil and descends on rails. As a loved child, it received some lovely upgrades over time, listed below. Product page here. This same model reviewed here. Specs and geometry here.

    I took it for a photoshoot as it was set up for turbo. Sold as pictured below, plus SKS rear mudguard (the front guard can be seen and is also included), minus the saddle (stock Giant Contact saddle will be supplied, but I will throw in the saddle mount for 9mm carbon rails). The crank is currently 105 in 165mm length, but I will re-install the original Ultegra 172.5 crank for sale, unless you want to keep the shorter crank, and throw in the Wahoo cadence sensor. I also swapped back the brake hoses (right front, left rear - I run my bikes with the continental brake setup) and applied new Fabric Hex bar tape, which is the best tape full stop imho.

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    Full spec:
    Frame: Defy Advanced Pro, smoky black and green, size M, carbon composite
    Fork: Defy Advanced Pro, full carbon, OD2 steerer (1.25 inch diameter)

    Drivetrain: Ultegra r8020 mechanical,
    RD medium cage (rated for 11-28/34 cassettes), hydro disk brakes, front caliper brand new (old one had a crack in the piston)
    Crankset: choice of 105 in 165mm or Ultegra in 172.5mm
    Chainset: compact 50/34 (only 2000km in it, I was running this bike with 52/36 for most of its road career)
    BB: C-Bear hybrid ceramic BB86 press-fit, the CX version with tighter seals for all-weather riding
    Cassette: Ultegra 11sp 11-32 (around 1200km mileage)
    Rotors: Centrelock, RT-MT800 (Shimano XT range), 160mm front 140mm rear
    Chain: Shimano XTR 12sp (works perfectly and is quieter)
    Pedals: none, but can add Ultegra pedals for an extra 30

    Stem: original Contact SL 100mm
    Handlebar: Syntace Racelite 7075 aluminium, 42cm o-o, 6 deg backsweep and 2 deg flare at the drops

    Front wheel: LightBicycle WR38, 38mm deep, 32mm wide, 25mm internal width, UST tubeless (no holes in the rim bed), DT Swiss 350 hub, 24 spokes (Sapim CX Ray) with brass nipples
    Rear wheel: LightBicycle WR50, 50mm deep, 32mm wide, 25mm internal width, UST tubeless (no holes in the rim bed), DT Swiss 350 hub, 24 spokes (Sapim CX Ray) with brass nipples

    The wheels are the real highlight here, they are from LB's Pro series and come with a beautiful paintless finish (rims come out of the mold like this, you can see the actual UD carbon under the clear coat - only Campy make their wheels using the same technology). Both are set up tubeless with 30mm tyres, which measure around 32mm on wide rims at 55 psi, which is how I run them. Front tyre is Schwalbe Pro One Addix with about 1000km in it, the rear is a brand new Hutchinson Fusion Performance (because good luck finding the Pro Ones in 30 these days). They really are very close in performance and especially grip.

    The bike has some minor cosmetic defects from normal use + the shop butchered stickers removal when they built it, hence there's a large lacquered area on the BB shell. The steerer has been cut, but there's 12mm of spacers still left under the stem, which is plenty for this geometry in my opinion. You can see most defects in the gallery below.

    All in, it's a great bike well taken care of, with sensible upgrades where it matters and amazing wheels. Tips the scales at 8.2 kg including pedals. Current year model would set you back 4 grand, I can see a bike like mine for sale at 1600 at CycleExchange, but with vastly inferior wheels. I would like to fetch £1300 for mine. Test ride / collection from Stockwell SW8 or can post at cost.

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