While many of the big brands are turning their endurance road bikes into more rugged ‘all-road’ bikes, Giant has gone the other way with the release of its fifth generation Defy. Although the new version has a pumped-up tyre clearance that matches or even exceeds several more all-road-leaning rivals, Giant has pulled it back from that niche by making this the first Defy to be UCI-approved, giving it a more premium frameset tier, lowering the ride position, dropping weight and increasing stiffness.
It leaves the bike in an interesting and perhaps distinct position these days, possessing many of the hallmarks of a race bike in a package that’s far better suited to normal riders and the roads they ride on. The stigma associated with the traditional endurance bike may preclude some riders from considering the Defy, but more’s the pity. The latest model is one of the best designs you’ll find to prove that
