Price: $1,685
Weight: 20.9 lb. (M)
Use: Road
Sizes: S, M, M/L, L, XL

For years, road cyclists looking for a new bike at a low price have had to decide which is the better choice: a carbon-frame model with lesser parts or an aluminum bike with higher-quality stuff.

Neither option is right or wrong, but let's consider a couple trends: The price point at which riders face that conundrum has steadily dropped over the years, and the “lesser parts” aren’t so lesser anymore. Such is the case with the Giant Defy Advanced 3, which pairs a carbon-fiber frame and fork with quality parts and, in a twist, hydraulic disc brakes.

The result is an affordable recreational road bike that’s made for comfort and control. It’s ideal for fondos, centuries, and other organized rides, or just getting out for that weekend spin.

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The Defy Family
Giant introduced its line of endurance road bikes, called Defy, in 2010, and has steadily updated and upgraded them since. The 2018 line features three broad levels—Advanced SL, Advanced Pro, and Advanced—which correspond to the bikes' carbon fiber grades. (Within those three levels are seven models, whose differences are found in parts and price.)

The Defy line is marked by stable handling, comfortable ride quality, and more-upright rider position. All of the bikes have disc brakes and Shimano drivetrains. Prices range from $1,685 (the bike you see here) to $9,180 for the top Advanced SL 0 model, which is raced in certain events on cycling’s WorldTour.

A High-Quality Frame
Giant is well-known for its expertise with carbon fiber. It’s one of the few bike companies in the world that controls its own frame production from raw carbon thread and is an esteemed “builder of trust” for a number of other brands. Defy Advanced and Advanced Pro frames come from the same molds; the difference is the grade of carbon fiber used, which affects weight and stiffness, but only slightly.

The Defy Advanced frame is fully modern, with 12mm thru-axle wheel attachments and flat-mount disc brakes, as well as an oversize, press-fit bottom bracket and a fork with a conical steerer tube, which offers better torsional rigidity when cornering. The tube shapes and layup are designed for comfort and their ability to absorb road vibration and dampen jolts and bumps, but the frames still feel stiff when you really push into the pedals.

Better Braking, Better Price
Most road bikes at this price use either conventional rim brakes or cable-actuated disc brakes; full hydraulic systems are simply too expensive. Rim brakes work fine, but they suffer in wet conditions and limit tire-size options. Cable-activated discs often lack the power and modulation of a full hydraulic system. Giant gets around this by designing its own cable-to-hydraulic converter, called Conduct. Conduct pairs conventional cable-activated brake levers to a hydraulic caliper with a custom converter box at the handlebar. It adds weight, and its looks are polarizing, but it works as well or better than any other conversion system we’ve tried; the braking control and power are as good as most full hydraulic systems.

Elsewhere, Giant outfits the Defy Advanced 3 with a Shimano Tiagra 10-speed drivetrain, with a wide gearing range. This system uses much of the same technology and design found on Shimano’s pricier groups, with one less cog in the back and lesser materials that make the group heavier. The rest of the parts are Giant house brand, which we’ve come to find are excellent quality. The wheels use Giant’s SR-2 tubeless rims and 25mm foldable-bead tires.

RELATED: The Giant Propel Advanced Is the Ultimate Aero Road Bike

Built for Big Days
Giant’s geometry emphasizes comfortable, upright rider positions and stable handling that’s responsive without feeling nervous. Wheelbases are a little longer than on race bikes, which helps with that smooth-ride sensation. Head tubes are tall, with moderate stack and reach numbers that produce a position that’s aerodynamically efficient but not too aggressive.

Ride Impressions
We’d enthusiastically recommend the Defy Advanced 3 for rides in hilly areas, even despite its weight. The combination of the wide gearing range for climbing and the excellent braking for descents makes it ideal for days with long ups and downs.

The ride is comfortable and smooth even on broken pavement, but the bike carves corners beautifully and is still plenty stiff under hard pedaling. We’re fans of the Tiagra drivetrain, which feels and performs much like Shimano’s pricier groups. And the disc brakes offer consistent, powerful braking in all kinds of weather conditions, so if there’s a summer squall at the top of the pass, you won’t worry about safely getting back down.

Giant Defy Advanced 3pinterest
Courtesy of Giant
The Defy’s geometry puts you in a comfortable, upright position that’s aerodynamically efficient and not too aggressive.