Giant TCR

ozzy jr

I've never had a Giant bike, but I'm thinking of upgrading to this model,

https://www.mycycle.ie/Giant-TCR-Advanced-Pro-1-Disc-2020-p/gianttcradprodisc120.htm

Has anyone got any experience of this TCR, or Giant in general?

The pigeon man

I have a giant propel. Top notch bike.

That bike you linked looks fantastic with di2 and disc brakes.

I think you'll be very happy with it

ozzy jr

The pigeon man wrote: »

I have a giant propel. Top notch bike.

That bike you linked looks fantastic with di2 and disc brakes.

I think you'll be very happy with it

If I can get it for the right price, with my trade in!

CantGetNoSleep

I bought that bike last week -I've only managed to use it for 50km so can't comment too much on what it is like, but I did look around and for Di2, carbon wheels, and Ultegra disc level groupset it was among the best value (plus it includes a power meter).

I got it (not in Ireland) for just above 4000, I think 4079, from a Giant dealer.

Not sure about trading in - it's a good time to sell a bike at the moment and you might get a good price with a cash purchase.

The 2021 TCR's have just launched, although there doesn't seem to be a huge amount of stock of 2020 models lying around. I couldn't find one on any of the big online sites

fat bloke

Woah! 5 grand. That's a spicy meatball!!

Great bike though. My last 2 bikes have been tcr's but I remain convinced that the stingy/savvy price point is rim brakes and mechanical ultegra for €3600. A bit lighter and waaay cheaper.

CantGetNoSleep

I used this link to negotiate at an LBS in case helpful (and I'm not in Italy)

This was before the post Corona bikes boom really hit and they hadn't yet reopened, but it didn't take a lot of negotiation to get it down to that price.

I think RRP on that bike is 4799 btw

https://www.bikextreme.it/bici-da-corsa/4037-giant-tcr-advanced-pro-1-disc-2020.html#/misura-m

dahat

fat bloke wrote: »

Woah! 5 grand. That's a spicy meatball!!

Great bike though. My last 2 bikes have been tcr's but I remain convinced that the stingy/savvy price point is rim brakes and mechanical ultegra for €3600. A bit lighter and waaay cheaper.

I'd be inclined to agree with you but the inner urge for disc brakes & my next TCR will be a 5 year bike so don't want to be tied to rim brakes 5 years.

crosstownk

I've a Giant Defy - not quite a TCR but a Giant nonetheless. I bought it in 2013 for €650 new. I've upgraded most of it since then but the frame is still going strong. I've used it in the sh1ttiest of weather - it's now my solidly reliable commuter/winter bike. I do maintain it quite well. There's over 31,000km on the frame but as I said other components have been replaced - not because they wore out but because I wanted to.

Some paint has flaked from the top of the fork but as it's aluminium I'm not worried about corrosion.

While I can't comment on a TCR, I'd recommend a Giant. Lifetime frame guarantee is distinct benefit.

Effects

crosstownk wrote: »

Lifetime frame guarantee is distinct benefit.

Whoops. I just chopped up my old frame with an angle grinder as it had a really bad crack, that finally got to the very unsafe stage.

mamax

ozzy jr wrote: »

I've never had a Giant bike, but I'm thinking of upgrading to this model,

https://www.mycycle.ie/Giant-TCR-Advanced-Pro-1-Disc-2020-p/gianttcradprodisc120.htm

Has anyone got any experience of this TCR, or Giant in general?

I would give my left nut (or right) for that bike, that's all I got

Macy0161

Have a 2017 Ultegra TCR Advanced (rim brake) - got it's first spin of the year when the distance restriction went to 5km, and I fell back in love with it.

Only issue I've had are the stock wheels (needed a rebuild due to spokes breaking), but they're the PR2's rather than what you've got. I also have Alu Giant Defy Disc from a few years earlier still going as my winter (and currently on the turbo) bike.

joey100

I bought a second hand TCR late last year for doing some racing this year on. Love the bike, so much I've building another at the moment. It gets used ahead of my bianchi oltre xr4 and I've sold a canyon ultimate to build the new one. For a race bike I find it very comfy. I've had a fair few bikes over the years and it's my favourite.

MojoMaker

What are you trading in ozzy? You'll get screwed by any shop on a second hand bike. Might do better here and negotiate with pure cash at the shop?

ozzy jr

MojoMaker wrote: »

What are you trading in ozzy?

A Bianchi Sprint,

https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Bianchi/Sprint-Ultegra-Disc-Road-Bike-2020/MBEN

rayman1

CantGetNoSleep wrote: »

I used this link to negotiate at an LBS in case helpful (and I'm not in Italy)

This was before the post Corona bikes boom really hit and they hadn't yet reopened, but it didn't take a lot of negotiation to get it down to that price.

I think RRP on that bike is 4799 btw

https://www.bikextreme.it/bici-da-corsa/4037-giant-tcr-advanced-pro-1-disc-2020.html#/misura-m

Maybe in Italy but the RRP in Ireland is €5299
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/ie/bikes-tcr-advanced-pro-disc

CantGetNoSleep

Bit of a joke.

Btw I think McConvey cycles in Belfast had a previous year version in size ML for 2999 GBP when I was looking. Same spec, older model power meter, and different colour (blue). It wasn't on the website but I emailed them, would be some bargain if it fit, to the extent that spending over 3k on a bike can be a bargain

rayman1

Never had a TCR but I have a 2013 Giant Defy Advanced 1 and have never had a problem with it. I have done 43,000km on it and only fitted a new Ultegra groupset about 18 months ago at 35,000km. Highly recommend Giant carbon bikes.

CantGetNoSleep

fat bloke wrote: »

Woah! 5 grand. That's a spicy meatball!!

Great bike though. My last 2 bikes have been tcr's but I remain convinced that the stingy/savvy price point is rim brakes and mechanical ultegra for €3600. A bit lighter and waaay cheaper.

I spotted a 2019 rim brake TCR Advanced with Ultegra Di2 on a French site for 2199 today

ozzy jr

CantGetNoSleep wrote: »

The 2021 TCR's have just launched, although there doesn't seem to be a huge amount of stock of 2020 models lying around. I couldn't find one on any of the big online sites

I couldn't get the 2020 model. Have had a look online at the 2021 TCR. Not a fan of the colour and the way they have the cables on the frame looks terrible. Have a look at 9.40 in this video,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNirIT26ZTQ

I don't know what to go for now

dahat

Surely that cable management can be corrected or as that model came direct from the factory the shop bikes will be of shorter lenght.

fat bloke

I had a mate of mine turn away from a propel advanced disc for a similar issue - cabling at the front was an absolute mess. Is it a disc thing? I've had no such issue with TCR's

dahat

LBS has same model, I'll pop in for a look in the next few days. The video set up is awful admittedly, even the worst designer could see that.

Tony04

You can sort out the cables of the bike yourself although I guess di2 and hydraulic discs make this much more difficult. Sometimes though the cable routing is drilled cheaply and there will always be play between the entrance to the frame and the cable.

TheBoyConor

Giant are grand, a good bike but they are soft and not as durable as other good brands. For what you are expected to pay for them you would expect them to be a bit more robust and durable. In particular, I find that headstock, crank and pedal bearings tend to fail in them prematurely.

I think the thing with them is they are designed only to deal with good road conditions in good weather, like in their country of design - the USA. That is fine over there are they are probably fine, but when you take it and ride them around on pot holey Irish roads with sideways rain, road salt, Irish damp, mud, etc things start to fail much sooner than they ought to on a new bike.

A ridgeback or trek are far more tolerant of real world conditions.

Large bottle small glass

TheBoyConor wrote: »

Giant are grand, a good bike but they are soft and not as durable as other good brands. For what you are expected to pay for them you would expect them to be a bit more robust and durable. In particular, I find that headstock, crank and pedal bearings tend to fail in them prematurely.

I think the thing with them is they are designed only to deal with good road conditions in good weather, like in their country of design - the USA. That is fine over there are they are probably fine, but when you take it and ride them around on pot holey Irish roads with sideways rain, road salt, Irish damp, mud, etc things start to fail much sooner than they ought to on a new bike.

A ridgeback or trek are far more tolerant of real world conditions.

In fairness to you, you are capable of posting complete boll1x on almost any forum/subject with complete certainty.

Take a bow

rayman1

TheBoyConor wrote: »

Giant are grand, a good bike but they are soft and not as durable as other good brands. For what you are expected to pay for them you would expect them to be a bit more robust and durable. In particular, I find that headstock, crank and pedal bearings tend to fail in them prematurely.

I think the thing with them is they are designed only to deal with good road conditions in good weather, like in their country of design - the USA. That is fine over there are they are probably fine, but when you take it and ride them around on pot holey Irish roads with sideways rain, road salt, Irish damp, mud, etc things start to fail much sooner than they ought to on a new bike.

A ridgeback or trek are far more tolerant of real world conditions.

Pure Bull****. Ultegra cranks are fitted to most top end brands and you fit your own pedals. I have a 2013 Giant Defy Advanced 1 and have never had a problem with it. I have done 43,000km on it and only fitted a new Ultegra groupset about 18 months ago at 35,000km. Highly recommend Giant carbon bikes.

TheBoyConor

Pure bullshít? then why have I had to change headstock bearings and main crank bearings on a less that 2 year old Giant that is fairly well looked after, meanwhile I have a 20 year old Raleigh that has had a more abusive history of use and a lot more kms up on it and everything is original bar the tyres.

who_ru

TheBoyConor wrote: »

Giant are grand, a good bike but they are soft and not as durable as other good brands. For what you are expected to pay for them you would expect them to be a bit more robust and durable. In particular, I find that headstock, crank and pedal bearings tend to fail in them prematurely.

I think the thing with them is they are designed only to deal with good road conditions in good weather, like in their country of design - the USA. That is fine over there are they are probably fine, but when you take it and ride them around on pot holey Irish roads with sideways rain, road salt, Irish damp, mud, etc things start to fail much sooner than they ought to on a new bike.

A ridgeback or trek are far more tolerant of real world conditions.

that's not my experience of riding a Defy for approx 3 years - extremely comfortable bike, and i don't live in the USA. BTW in terms of value Giant are always better value than comparable brands. it doesn't matter where a bike is designed either.

byrnem31

ozzy jr wrote: »

I couldn't get the 2020 model. Have had a look online at the 2021 TCR. Not a fan of the colour and the way they have the cables on the frame looks terrible. Have a look at 9.40 in this video,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNirIT26ZTQ

I don't know what to go for now

The cables on my defy advanced 2 2020 were messy when I bought it. I cleaned them up with a bit of black insulation tape.

I bet down from the hellfire club today on the hardcore trail at 45 klm. Bike handled very well and smooth over rough terrain. Got a puncture though on the stock tyres as they aren't great. But still it was great to really push the bike on hard gravel and see it handle so well.

codie

TheBoyConor wrote: »

Giant are grand, a good bike but they are soft and not as durable as other good brands. For what you are expected to pay for them you would expect them to be a bit more robust and durable. In particular, I find that headstock, crank and pedal bearings tend to fail in them prematurely.

I think the thing with them is they are designed only to deal with good road conditions in good weather, like in their country of design - the USA. That is fine over there are they are probably fine, but when you take it and ride them around on pot holey Irish roads with sideways rain, road salt, Irish damp, mud, etc things start to fail much sooner than they ought to on a new bike.

A ridgeback or trek are far more tolerant of real world conditions

Trek and giant are probably made in the same factory.

ozzy jr

dahat wrote: »

LBS has same model, I'll pop in for a look in the next few days. The video set up is awful admittedly, even the worst designer could see that.

Seen the TCR in the flesh today. It's worse than I thought, ruins the bike.

dahat

ozzy jr wrote: »

Seen the TCR in the flesh today. It's worse than I thought, ruins the bike.

Christ,I've plans to buy one in early 2021. My LBS guy may be able to work his magic on cable lengtht but it is something to bear in mind.

fat bloke

So now the rim brake one is:

lighter
cheaper
better looking
and properly assembled and cabled.

Remind me why anyone wants the disc one again???!! :pac:

ednwireland

fat bloke wrote: »

Remind me why anyone wants the disc one again???!! :pac:

Cos discs are what all the cool kids have

byrnem31

ednwireland wrote: »

Cos discs are what all the cool kids have

I was coming down from blessington yesterday in the wet on my defy at nearly 60klm an hour.
That's when my hydraulic disc brakes really came into their own.
I had hydraulic, went back to rim, changed my bike again to mechanical and now I'm back at hydraulic. Hydraulic is miles better than rim me thinks.

byrnem31

Weepsie wrote: »

You may have got very lucky with the Raleigh and unlucky with the giant. You can't come up with that hypothesis based on the a sample size of 1 though.


On the other hand I'd expect to hear more complaints about giants than most brands, simply because they're one of most common brands.

The headset on my Trek went to ****e pretty quickly, so again not sure where you're coming up that they're necessarily better when they're probably about the same.

Trek frames are made by giant. Plus, I'm on a giant owners forum on Facebook and lads that have giant bikes from 1990 are still flying along on theirs. It's one of the few bike makes that you still see people cycling on decades later.

fat bloke

byrnem31 wrote: »

I was coming down from blessington yesterday in the wet on my defy at nearly 60klm an hour.
That's when my hydraulic disc brakes really came into their own.
I had hydraulic, went back to rim, changed my bike again to mechanical and now I'm back at hydraulic. Hydraulic is miles better than rim me thinks.

Yeah but the only reason you need that snappier braking is to haul up all that extra frame and disc weight!

Mind you the wallet lightness probably counteracts it a bit...

Tony04

fat bloke wrote: »

Yeah but the only reason you need that snappier braking is to haul up all that extra frame and disc weight!

Mind you the wallet lightness probably counteracts it a bit...

Discs arent even more expensive when you consider how you save when replacing the discs rather than rims(wheels).

I guess buying a new bike for racing it might be a way to save a few pennys but than if you want to race on budget you may aswell buy a bike with aluminium and tiagra.

fat bloke

Tony04 wrote: »

Discs arent even more expensive when you consider how you save when replacing the discs rather than rims(wheels).

I guess buying a new bike for racing it might be a way to save a few pennys but than if you want to race on budget you may aswell buy a bike with aluminium and tiagra.

Eh? Most racers use rim braked bikes. Including Team Ineous on the most expensive bikes in the peleton.

I have personally never worn out a set of rims.

byrnem31

fat bloke wrote: »

Yeah but the only reason you need that snappier braking is to haul up all that extra frame and disc weight!

Mind you the wallet lightness probably counteracts it a bit...

8.9 kg is not too heavy for my defy.

Tony04

fat bloke wrote: »

Eh? Most racers use rim braked bikes. Including Team Ineous on the most expensive bikes in the peleton.

In the pro pelothan it's a minority now. And they're going to be phased out in a few years.
It's a bit like 2 x 12 speed record as soon as shimano launches microspline road 11 speed is going to disappear.
After all 1x saves a fair chunk of weight and is cheaper but we couldn't take the embarrassment of walking up steep hills in our lycra, could we now?
Ineos only use rims as their pinarellos are manufactured heavier and need to get down to the 6.8kg. Plus pros have lost of every gram of body fat they possibly can, so minor weight differences might just about be noticeable dont think that's the case for anyone on here.
Ok rim brakes all the way for hill climb bikes but how many people acctually would build a bike specifically for that.

Weepsie wrote: »

They probably calculate how many inclement weather days they actually have and saw that in reality there are only a handful of days where the discs will make a difference, particularly with the bike handling ability of pros

Guessing you haven't rode discs?

If you use that logic xc racers may aswell use rim brakes as usally WC races are done in fair weather, there bike handling is even better than roadies soand they're going up such steep slopes every gram counts.

who_ru

byrnem31 wrote: »

I was coming down from blessington yesterday in the wet on my defy at nearly 60klm an hour.
That's when my hydraulic disc brakes really came into their own.
I had hydraulic, went back to rim, changed my bike again to mechanical and now I'm back at hydraulic. Hydraulic is miles better than rim me thinks.

i've noticed the same, it's in the wet when disc brakes really perform, tremendous stopping power.

Cormo87

byrnem31 wrote: »

The cables on my defy advanced 2 2020 were messy when I bought it. I cleaned them up with a bit of black insulation tape.

I bet down from the hellfire club today on the hardcore trail at 45 klm. Bike handled very well and smooth over rough terrain. Got a puncture though on the stock tyres as they aren't great. But still it was great to really push the bike on hard gravel and see it handle so well.

Any pics of your front cable tidy-up?

Picking up a Giant Propel advanced next week and was thinking of what to do with the cables

Tony04

Weepsie wrote: »

I'd also suspect it's possibly for slightly quicker wheel changes between riders if there's no support car close

Yeh I think that's the main reason as they can use wheels from other teams as quick release is much easier to swap out than thru axles and easier to use other teams wheels.

Tony04

Cormo87 wrote: »

Any pics of your front cable tidy-up?

Picking up a Giant Propel advanced next week and was thinking of what to do with the cables

Shorten the cables and use some heatshrink

dahat

I've watched a few video reviews of the new TCR over the last few days and by god that front end cable system is awful. The cables are hanging out all over the place with the front brake hose a particular horror show.

joey100

There's a fair bit in this thread about the cabling at the front. Can't find the exact post but think it's more the initial set up rather than what you have to have. Plenty of pictures of clean front ends on the thread. Especially if your going disc Di2.

https://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=161064&start=270

byrnem31

Cormo87 wrote: »

Any pics of your front cable tidy-up?

Picking up a Giant Propel advanced next week and was thinking of what to do with the cables

When collecting the bike, get the shop to clean up the cables with cable ties or that. It's s lot of money for a bike so they should do it for you. My bike got delivered when my two young kids were upstairs so I took it in a hurry and cleaned up the cables myself. Join the giant owners club on Facebook and ask the lads for pics of how they cleaned up their cables on their tcr's as I have seen posts about them before and after. It's a great page on Facebook.

Good luck with the bike. The frames on the giants are on another league as they make their own in house.

Tony04

Yeh as above giant and merida make the best value frames for money. The general consensus on other bike forums is that giant was/is a subcontracter for trek, scott, cannondale, bianchi and colnago. While it's for definite that merida produces everything for specialized.

So basically giant or merida have the economies of scale to produce frames for less, although their quality isnt necessary better as different brands have the rights to their own frame moulds that they developed with their own r and d.

The best frames out there are time and look as they manufacture their own frames and have a high quality control standard so if you had the money I'd buy one of theirs.

Some Chinese open mould frames arent half bad either but as it is a open mould the frame isnt as well designed as a bike brands own mould.

But judging a bike by how much its cables stick out is worse than judging a book by its cover. Really when you buy a bike it's not just sticking new pedals on and going for a ride theres finishing touches like helicopter tape to prevent scratches etc. and sorting out the cables is one of them

dahat

Following on from the mention of Merida within the thread.

I've just watched a really positive review for the 2021 Recato 6000 which will come in around €3000. Its alot tidier than the Propel or TCR with weight it's downfall but not a major factor for me.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5MMQZ-VVHB4

Some mods around wheels in time would make this a proper bike. The giant pm isn't a factor for me given the poor reviews for it.

fat bloke

Well make sure you get the disc brakes anyway, cos like rims brakes are crap and there's no way you'd be able to cycle or brake effectively on rim brakes. I mean especially on any kind of loose surface :pac: