GIANT CONTEND SL DISC
› Farewell Defy, enter the new Contend
The world’s biggest bike maker has always served the entry level well, and the new Contend range offers bikes for a wide range of budgets, taking the place of the old aluminium Defy. The Contend SL is one up from the base model, and the SL 2 offers hydraulic braking and Shimano Tiagra shifting for a penny under a grand.
Giant doesn’t need to prove it can make top-notch aluminium. The brand’s metal frames are up there with the best, and it’s worth remembering that the company actually manufactures for numerous other brands. The Contend’s glossy paintjob isn’t the most luxurious looking but the finish is decent. The Aluxx-SL frame bears obvious similarities to its predecessor, but with some subtle refinements.
The gear cables and the rear brake hose now run inside the down-tube for a cleaner look, and the seat clamp has been replaced with a wedge, the bolt for which nestles under a rubber cover. Other features have carried over, like the seatstays that are dropped down and the seatpost itself, which is squared at the back for maximum rear-end compliance.
Hang on, what’s the big lumpy thing in front of the stem? You’ll note that the Contend has both standard Shimano Tiagra levers and hydraulic disc brake callipers. That growth on the handlebar is the Giant Conduct mechanical to hydraulic converter that lets them work together. The brake cables enter either side of the converter to operate the master cylinder, and hydraulic hoses emerge from the bottom. As a bonus, a range of accessory mounts for Garmins and suchlike can be attached to the front of the unit.
Giant is quite upfront about the fact that this system was chosen for reasons of budget, as full hydraulics would make the bike a good bit more
A very likeable, neutral bike that’s well suited to putting in big miles