Giant SCR Models

Poncherello

Hello,

Can someone explain the difference in the models 3 versus 1.
I am buying for my first triathlon, would like to take relatively seriously but cant see myself doing any more than Olympic distance so would the 1 make much difference to times over 40km versus if you bought the cheaper 3 model.
Also little confused about the clothing issues. You wear a tri suit under a wetsuit right ? Or is a tri-suit enough to keep you warm in the water ??
I have a wetsuit that I use for surfing is it a complete no-no to use this ?

thanks

tunney

Wetsuits are complusary in Triathlon Ireland open water triathlons.
You wear your tri suit under it.
Surfing wetsuits will let you get into the water but thats about it. They're useless for swimming.
Differences are groupsets and components.

Poncherello

Are the bikes any good ....
would you recommend them/know anything about them ?

thanks

tunney

Herself has a Giant SCR2 (women's one).

Nice entry level bike.

Don't like the spec on the SCR3 even for a beginner, can't stand the sora thumb shifters.

Spec difference between SCR3 and SCR2 won't make a huge difference, if any, to your times but it might be a little more comfortable.

Remember if its for a triathlon then you'll have to get tri bars as well (well won't ahve to but should)

hunnymonster

have to agree with Tunney and say the Sora are a pain. If you plan to use this bike for any length of time they will drive you nuts.

Poncherello

Thanks folks

Whatabout tri-bars - as you spend more money on them do they become more comfortable ?
same question about helmets ?

reason i ask is am looking at some of these tri starter packs and wondering are they just throwing in the cheapest gear to make the deal look good.

thx

hunnymonster

any helmet that reaches the requuired CE stnadard should be safe. After that the money buys you speed but you got to spend a lot of money for a little speed (imo) The tribars are a more significant advantage though (for most races, without too much climbing and descending).

An example of some of the time savings are
http://www.bicycleway.com/TT-HC2006/page2.html
"From what I have read and the aero data that I have seen I can make the following list of priorities for a time trial bicycle and the rider. These numbers are fully debatable and represent only my opinion. They were gained from various sources and in most cases represent a rider at 30MPH over a 40K course. Time savings for these upgrades over 40K:
1. Drop Bars >> Riding integrated Aerobars - 4 Minutes
2. Shorts/Jersey >> Skin Suit - 2 Minutes
3. "Box Style" 32 spoke wheels >> Aero Wheels (deep front, disc rear) - 2 Minutes
5. Round Tube Frame >> Aero Frame/Fork - 1 Minute
4. Standard Road Helmet >> Aero Helmet (Louis Garneau) - 30 seconds
6. Adding Shoe Covers - 10 Seconds"

Poncherello

1. Drop Bars >> Riding integrated Aerobars - 4 Minutes

Sorry read the link but unsure exactly what this means

tunney

If you buy the SCR as is it will come with standard road bike bars. aka "drop bars"

If you switch from these "drop bars" to "integrated aero bars" you save 4 minutes over a 40km bike leg.

Integrated aero bars does not mean clip on bars.

That being said clip on bars will save you time.

Its not the bars that make you comfortable its the fit, if the fit is wrong even on the best bars it won't be comfortable.

If you are looking at a tri starter pack and are looking at the Giant SCR I'm guessing you are looking at getting it from Wheelworx. Rob set me up on all my bikes, he's good at fitting for triathlon.

This package here http://www.wheelworxbikes.com/product_info.php?cPath=46&products_id=733

Its a nice package

(Disclaimer: Wheelworx is my LBS [Local Bike Shop])

hunnymonster

yeah, it's not the usual terminology. The drop bars are the standard road bike "racer" bars. The intergrated thingies, I would guess are time trial type bars or bullhorns as in the pic below

you can get a similar areo effect on a road bike by attaching tri bars to the standard set up

Clum

Poncherello wrote: »

Are the bikes any good ....
would you recommend them/know anything about them ?

thanks

I cycle a SCR 2 and I've no complaints. When I was getting it I was told by a few cyclists not to get a Tiagra set (comes on SCR 2) and to go for 105 or Ultegra but these are guys who cycle a whole lot more than me, and there is a big difference in price.

Can't really say much about the Sora set, I've never used it.

tunney

Amazingly hunnymonster the drop bars themselves add a hell of a lto of extra drag.

Tiagra is grand, I was racing on it up until 2 years ago and I passed many a dura-ace/ultegra setup.

Its as functional as 105 etc but is not as light, durable or smooth to use. The smoothness is a big difference.

hunnymonster

tunney wrote: »

Amazingly hunnymonster the drop bars themselves add a hell of a lto of extra drag.

Tiagra is grand, I was racing on it up until 2 years ago and I passed many a dura-ace/ultegra setup.

Its as functional as 105 etc but is not as light, durable or smooth to use. The smoothness is a big difference.

Absolutely but you'll be in a much better position with drops/tribars combo than just drops so it's still worthwhile and has the advantage that the bike can still be used in Dublin/Cork/Limerick traffic which I would be wary of doing on a time trial bike.

+1 for the importance of smoothness. Nothing will make you cranky as much a clanky* changes at the end of a long cycle. It will also slow you a small bit.



*if you've had them you'll know what I mean.

911sc

tunney wrote: »

Don't like the spec on the SCR3 even for a beginner, can't stand the sora thumb shifters.

I was shopping around last month for an entry level racer, and particularly a Giant as i thought their spec was good for the money. I was initially looking at a SCR3, and would agree with above, thumb shifters are not really nice. So, looked at a SCR2.... and ended up buying a SCR1.5 (compare to SCR2: better crank, brake and carbon saddle post (good for pub talk!))
Delighted with it.

hardCopy

911sc wrote: »

I was shopping around last month for an entry level racer, and particularly a Giant as i thought their spec was good for the money. I was initially looking at a SCR3, and would agree with above, thumb shifters are not really nice. So, looked at a SCR2.... and ended up buying a SCR1.5 (compare to SCR2: better crank, brake and carbon saddle post (good for pub talk!))
Delighted with it.

I also love my SCR 1.5.

Marathon Man

hardCopy wrote: »

I also love my SCR 1.5.

Me too. We should form an scr 1.5 bike gang.