Terms and conditions of use. As a subscriber you can read road.cc ad-free, from as little as 1.99.. The fork and seatstays are now symmetrical and more open for greater airflow efficiency along with increased tyre clearance. Over the years, Warren has written about thousands of bikes and tested more than 2,500 from budget road bikes to five-figure superbikes. Was it lively neutral or unresponsive? It's neat. "Additional key updates include added clearance in the frame and fork to fit larger diameter tyres up to 32mm, the latest integrated WheelSystem technology, and a new aero-engineered Contact SLR composite handlebar to make it even faster against the wind. of riding and ability. Ordering a bike from Evo? Free for all orders over $99. The Giant Contact SLR carbon stem is stiff and has an elegant matt finish, but its the handlebar thats the real star. get the product or services you need. Braking is consistent, powerful, silent and full of feel. It also comes with a SRAM Red AXS Power Meter, although its Roval CLX 50 Disc wheels, if bought separately, are considerably cheaper (750 front, 1,100 rear) than the TCR's. Genoapay as your payment option. How does the price compare to that of similar bikes in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc? The swiftness of its handling makes it a bike you can flick around and throw into corners in an instant, where its helped by the high-quality Cadex wheels. try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. My concern was that because I weigh 92kg, the new frame wouldnt be stiff, but I neednt have worried. My complete test bike, a large model fitted with two Giant bottle cages, weighs a mere 6.71kg. to create an account, you will need your Giant says, "A legend reborn. Yeah, if I had the cash. This is where the TCRs most quantifiable gains can be found compared to previous generation models. You can easily alterreach atthe brake lever too, along with the contact point the position you'd like your fingers to be in when the brakes start to bite. Thanks! Some people might be surprised that Giant has left the brake cables exposed between the handlebar and the frame/fork when many other brands have opted to run them through the stem. If you're spending this kind of wedge, try to get a test ride on a few of the models you're considering. If you choose the option Evo Home Delivery at the checkout your order will be personally delivered to you, by an Evo Crew Member, who will also be able to answer any questions you have about your new bike. "Updated and improved in all aspects of road racing performance, the new TCR Advanced SL Disc achieves a previously unobtainable stiffness-to-weight ratio for faster climbing and sprinting, plus new aerodynamic gains for all-around efficiency. As for looks, you can make your own mind up. That said, I had no worries at all with the Giant Contact SLR stem and it's available in lengths from 70mm to 130mm. Your subscription will help us to do more. That's properly light for a disc brake-equipped model. The Propel remains the true aero road bike in the range but Giant says that every tube shape on the TCR was analysed, engineered and tested to create an overall structure with significantly lower drag than previously at a wide range of yaw angles. In other words, the low gear is 4% lower on the Giant's SRAM system while the high gear is just 0.4% lower. Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's comfort? Giant does supply the TCR with two different clamps, one offering 25mm of height adjustment and the other 45mm. That said, they're first rate wheels. The standard clamp, which comes with a carbon composite cradle to save weight, offers 25mm of height adjustment. Frame Advanced SL-Grade Composite, integrated seatpost, disc, Fork Advanced SL-Grade Composite, full-composite OverDrive 2 steerer, disc, Crankset SRAM RED D1 DUB, 35/48with Quarq DZero power meter, Rims CADEX 42mm Disc WheelSystem (F:42mm, R:42mm), Hubs CADEX 42mm Disc WheelSystem, 12mm thru-axle, Tyres CADEX Road Race, tubeless, 700x25mm, folding, Extras Computer mount (Garmin/Wahoo/Giant compatible). In his time as a cycling journalist, Warren has written for Mountain Biking UK, What Mountain Bike, Urban Cyclist, Procycling, Cyclingnews, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike and T3. Ive spent a lot of the last year riding an S-Works Tarmac that weighs 1,371g the Giant TCR Advanced SL0 Disc weighs just 1,266g. Giant doesnt make any claims about frame weight alone, preferring to give a weight for the complete painted frameset, which includes the fork, headset, all the metal hardware and seat clamp. This lightweight bike is hugely responsive and handles precisely. * All specifications listed are subject to change without notice. Maybe the other brands will come back with contradictory results in time, but according to Giant the aero improvements to the TCR are greater than the improvements in stiffness-to-weight. 12 months interest free with no repayments during the stated period. The app also syncs with the TCRs Quarq power meter and at the end of each ride it will report on the number of shifts, maximum power output, average power and a full GPS of your ride. Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. You must TAKE THE SHOT! If you choose Evo Delivery your bike will be delivered completely built, tuned and ready to ride! Find out more about Click & Collect here. All material FarrellyAtkinson (F-At) Limited, Unit 7b Green Park Station BA11JB. The cockpit itself is worthy of high praise. It's exceptionally good, precisely made from high-end carbon fibre. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Combined with the 402mm reach, this TCR has a long, low and aggressive race-focused geometry. Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? How did the bike feel overall? Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions. complete your purchase in real-time and It's aggressive but not extreme. He was easily in phlegm shot. That's aggressive but not radical. There's a little flex in the integrated seatpost and you can run the tubeless tyres at a lower than normal pressure without worrying about a pinch flat. your payment method. What looks like a nipple is the aluminium piece cured on to the end of the spoke to create the thread. Giant has also trimmed weight by using special ThinLine paint, shaving 65g over Giants seven-layer paint applications. This Giant simply refuses to be anything but spot on when it comes to its handling; nothing knocks it offline or knocks your absolute confidence in its ride. Handles with exquisite poise, a bike that's brutally quick to accelerate with a dream-machine specification, GBP 9,999.00 RRP Giant says that while the previous version of this bike was made from Toray T800 carbon-fibre, this material accounts for only 30% in the new model, the remainder being a new higher modulus filament that's stiffer and lighter. Giant says this greatly increases impact strength and reduces weight. And, when your bike needs maintenance, we're here to help with qualified mechanics and a full service centre in all Evo showrooms nationwide. The frames subtle truncated aerofoil tube profiles have given the TCR a wind-cheating, aero bike-like edge, with Giant having the wind tunnel figures to back them up. Every tube shape was analyzed, engineered and tested to create an overall structure with significantly lower drag at a wider range of yaw angles. would you recommend any changes? And did we mention just how light it is? One feature that wont appeal to everybody is the integrated seatpost. The effective top tube was previously 570mm, closer to the 580mm of the large than to the 550mm of the medium. These will help if you come to sell the bike to someone with a longer inside leg than yours. SRAM Red eTap AXS is great stuff. Once you factor in a wide range of 12-speed wireless gears from SRAMs flagship Red AXS groupset, SRAMs impeccably controlled and silent hydraulic brakes and quality Cadex wheels, I reckon Giants TCR Advanced SL0 enhances the reputation of a bike thats been at the forefront of design and performance for more than two decades, and is one of the most complete race bikes on sale today. compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price. Understated looks don't reflect high-end performance, Best Cycling Website, BikeBiz Awards 2018, our launch story for all the technical details, run the chain on both the big chainring and the largest sprocket, in: Police officer borrows bike to chase after fleeing suspect, in: Hoy: Safety screens could have prevented Matt Wallscrash, in: Shimano Ultegra R8170 Di2 Disc Groupset, in: NMotD 807: Maniacal laugh after driver pulls out, in: 2 dead, 3 injured after driver crashes into charity cyclists, in: Commonwealth Games apologises to England tandem team. Giant has cut back paint to a minimum to save weight. The real highpoint of the in-house spec, though, is the Cadex Disc wheelset (Cadex is Giant's brand, a bit like Trek has Bontrager and Campagnolo has Fulcrum). Quite a difference. SRAMs new brake rotors and the flat-mount Red hydraulic units provide consistent, powerful, silent braking thats full of feel. Tell us some more about the handling. I'm not going to tell you that the lack of weight means this bike launches you up the hills like a rocket or any of that stuff, but it all contributes to the greater good. Trek's Emonda SLR 9 Disc eTapis 9,300. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. The Giant's drivetrain gives you a range of 33.07 gear inches to 126.99 gear inches (384%), whereas a 53/39t chainset and an 11-30 cassette would give you a range of 34.39 gear inches to 127.52 gear inches (371%). Use this box to explain your overall score. The most complete race bike on sale today and our 2021 Superbike of the Year. Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad. The latest generation of our flagship road racing series has been winning the biggest races in the world for more than three decades. I've been riding for: Over 20 yearsI ride: Most daysI would class myself as: Expert. This contributes to a frame and fork thats 140.43g lighter than its eight-generation predecessor. It hasn't marked over two months of almost daily use. The TCR now features truncated ellipse tube profiles the leading edge and sides are designed to reduce drag while the trailing edge is cut off square to reduce weight and avoid handling issues and the huge down tube (up to 65mm in diameter) is designed to work aerodynamically with a water bottle in place (other brands have done the same in the past). If you like road.cc, but you dont like ads, please consider subscribing to the site to support us directly. Giant has altered the geometry of the ML size that I rode, changing the effective top tube length from 570mm to 565mm to put it halfway between the M size and the L. Was the bike comfortable to ride? Evo Cycles Copyright 2021 | Privacy Policy | Returns & Warranties Policy, Take your indoor trainer to the next level, Trek Domane SL 5 Disc Road Bike Grey/Orange, Advanced SL-Grade Composite, integrated seatpost, disc, Advanced SL-Grade Composite, full-composite OverDrive 2 steerer, disc, Advanced SL-Grade composite, integrated design, -5/+15mm offset, Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 hydraulic, Shimano RT-MT900 rotors [F]160mm, [R]140mm, CADEX 42 Disc WheelSystem, 12mm thru-axle, CADEX Race, tubeless, 700x25c (26.5mm), folding, Computer mount, tubeless prepared, 32mm max tyre size, Bikes need regular maintenance, just like a car, Regular maintenance improves the ride quality & the bikes performance, Parts can last longer when appropriately serviced, saving you money in the long run, We'll check the bike over to ensure it is safe to ride. A top-level frameset demands kit of equal standing and the Giant TCR Advanced SL0 Disc has it in the form of SRAMs 12-speed wireless Red eTap AXS. Our home delivery charge is only $30 for 15km and $1 per km after that. As with the SRAM groupset, the wheels complement the TCR frameset beautifully. That's interesting. Running them at a reasonably low pressure, I found the level of comfort on offer here to be high I didn't give it a second thought even on long rides and you could always switch to wider tyres (as mentioned previously, up to 32mm) if you wanted. Again, go to our previous article for all the details on this. Giants new Contact SLR bar follows the same design principles as Giants Defy bar and offers the same excellent handholds. Now the effective top tube of the ML is 565mm, splitting the difference between the other two. Giant's figures say that the TCR's stiffness-to-weight ratio is greater than that of key rivals (by which it means the Specialized S-Works Tarmac Disc, Trek Emonda SLR Disc and Cervelo R5 Disc) of course! This bike doesn't come with a power meter, and if bought separately the Bontrager Aeolus XXX 2 TLR Disc wheels are 500 cheaper than the TCR's. portal to receive up to 12 months no payments and no interest. Giant has also switched from seven or eight layers of paint down to just three here, accounting for a saving of about 65g across the frame and fork. Those bikes listed above are three examples, and the TCR is the latest to join the band. If anything, the front end is even stiffer. Lightweight and stiff race bike now with aero features that puts in a superb all-round performance, If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website, Make and model: Giant TCR Advanced SL 0 Disc 2021. Add in aero features and excellent components and it's a real winner. Good because I've done my back in,big time (again). Its also good to see the Quarq power meter as standard and clearance for tyres up to 32mm wide. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. The most accurate way to determine any bike's weight is to have your local showroom weigh it for you. One other huge factor you need to consider is that the TCR Advanced SL 0 Disc comes with a SRAM Red Quarq AXS power meter as part of the package. Two separate pockets within the saddle contain 'high-elastic, free-flowing particles', conforming to your shape and reducing pressure as you ride. Not only do we stock a huge range of bikes at some of the best pricing around, but our crew can help with expert advice to make sure you get the right bike for your style The 48/35 chainset and 10-28 cassette combine for a gear range thats slightly wider than the 52/36 and 11-28 pairing youre likely to find on a race bike of this pedigree. Login or Register for Laybuy and complete your order in seconds, Complete your purchase using an existing debit or credit card, Pay over 6 weeks and receive your purchase now. Contact us to receive up to 12 months no payments and no interest.*. The drop on the 44cm wide Giant Contact SLR carbon composite handlebar fitted to my test bike was 140mm (the drop is shorter on the narrower bars fitted to smaller sized bikes) and with my hands down there I felt in a great position to attack or just shelter out of the wind. View our media pack. The TCR is fitted with a 48/35-tooth chainset and a 10-28t 12-speed cassette (whereas you might in the past have expected something like a 53/39t chainset and, say, an 11-28 or 11-30t cassette). On purchases $250 & over. You can switch to 'Sequential' mode, for example, where one lever moves you to an easier gear and the other to a harder gear, automatically shifting between chainrings if necessary, or you can go to 'Compensating' mode where the system will automatically shift at the rear when you shift at the front, minimising the difference as much as possible. Yes. It's stiff at the bottom bracket and mega-stiff at the head tube. Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork? How was the bike in terms of height and reach? Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated. The app will auto-upload to Strava or you can link directly to your GPS head unit, which can show battery levels, gearing, cadence and all the metrics the Quarq supplies. Those things aside, its pretty much a full house for Giants 2021 TCR Advanced SL0. Flat mounts and new thru-axles boost stiffness and improve overall handling, while added frame and fork clearance allows for larger diameter tires up to 32mm. One difference that I noticed in use was less need to change out of the big chainring. I have previously tested Giants Cadex 42 wheels as fitted to the TCR Advanced SL0 Disc and found them to be among the best wheels around for their balance of rigidity, speed and comfort. Any components which didn't work well together? Giant took the new TCR to the tunnel and tested it with a dynamic mannequin on board and its results say that at 40km/h (25mph), with cages and bottles in place and measured from 15 to -15 yaw, its bike performs marginally better than the Cervelo R5 Disc and Specialized S-Works Tarmac Disc (there's virtually nothing between those three) and significantly better than the Trek Emonda SLR Disc. Giant claims that if you ride 25 miles/40km at a constant 200W power output youll be 34 seconds quicker than if youd been riding the previous TCR. Sign Up Here, Already have an account? I'm a huge fan of Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 but Giant isn't offering it as an option anywhere in the TCR range. New aerodynamic features also contribute to an equally impressive straight-line speed. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed The gear ratios are interesting (well, interesting to a lot of people; if you can't be arsed with that sort of thing, hum for a bit and join in again lower down the page). I've been riding a size L complete bike weighing 6.69kg (14lb 12oz). In common with similar stoppers from other big brands, they're so consistent that you barely give them a thought after a while, solid braking whatever the conditions becoming the new normal. We are also able to offer Evo Home Delivery on previously restricted brands such as Giant & Trek! I've been riding this bike for a couple of months and can say that it's really comfortable. Bought separately, those wheels are priced 1,099.99 for the front and 1,399.99 for the rear. A simple spec sheet analysis can't tell you all you need to know. The new bike shares the same dimensions and a very similar silhouette but is nearly half a kilo lighter. Most bikes equipped with SRAM Red eTap AXS groupsets cost at least 7,500, although Canyon's 6,799 Aeroad CF SLX Disc 9.0 SL aero road bike is an exception. Bike Weight: Many brands strive to list the lowest possible weight, but in reality weight can vary based on frame size, finish, hardware and accessories. How would you describe the steering? Please select a size to see store avaliabilty. Did it do particular things well or badly? Fucks sakes. If you dont want to subscribe, please turn your ad blocker off. We have stores New Zealand I didn't notice it until I just went and checked! One thing Giant hasn't changed radically is the TCR's geometry and that's a good thing because its balance and handling were already excellent. 2008present unless otherwise stated. You cut it to length and then add a clamp on top. It's the ultimate all-rounder for the performance obsessed. Any bike that dips in underneath the UCIs minimum weight limit is going to climb with the best of them and this TCR excels on ascents. You can't perceive improved aerodynamics well, not the relatively small differences that we're talking about between one bike and another you need wind tunnel data here. That said, they're first rate wheels., > Buyers Guide: 21 of the best and fastest 2020 aero road bikes. 2000 to 2400 is a 20% increase, pretty big I'd say. looks a tad staged to me but still funny.. Find all the answers to your frequently You could argue for an overall score of 8 because top-end bikes rarely offer the same level of value as their more affordable stablemates. These have a 170tpi single layer casing.