I guarantee that there will be no difference that improves your enjoyment or performance. I saw a study that compared the performance improvement of professional runners and cyclists over the decades. It was assumed that both runners and cyclists have equally giant mountain benefited from progressively better training and diet. If cyclists equipment had improved dramatically over the years, we could reasonably expect professional cyclists to have improved more than runners because they are more equipment dependant than runners.
The Giant TCR Advanced SL Disc is rated 3 aero stars, which is the highest any standard road frame is rated in Zwift. Not that this makes it special – approximately half of the current frames have a 3-star aero rating. The TCR Advanced SL is aiming for the likes of the Trek Émonda, Specialized Tarmac and Pinarello F10 Dogma—all bikes that have very successfully taken rim-brake ride quality and transferred it to a disc-brake frame. In some ways, the Giant TCR Advanced is as successful as these platforms and in some ways it isn’t. The Variant composite seatpost and Giant WheelSystem with tubeless tires combine for a smooth ride and low rolling resistance. The first Giant TCR sparked controversy with its release more than 20 years ago.
Winding technical Bucks County roads were initially approached with caution. Recently more aggressive lines were explored while 10 psi was exhaled from the tires. Confidence soared as the Gavia tubeless system shrugged off racing clincher tire lines. Initially the Gavias were the first on the list to be replaced prior to the maiden voyage. He’s raced all around the world but now calls the south of France home and has left his racing days behind him, preferring to do his riding at a more leisurely speed in the beautiful Hérault Valley.
This revolutionized the way many frames were manufactured, creating an extremely well balanced road option that is aerodynamic, lightweight and comfortable over a variety of terrain. The development of this style of frame geometry, a compact road frame with a smaller rear triangle and sloping top tube, was said to increase the stiffness of the frame and reduce weight, thus achieving a high stiffness to weight ratio. Even pure road bikes are being influenced by gravel-friendly trends nowadays.
We’ve measured that tube at a whopping 65mm across at the widest point, which is about as wide as it’s possible to go without interfering with the drivetrain. The trailing edge of each tube is cut off square to reduce weight, avoid handling issues in crosswinds, and stay within race equipment rules. A full Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset is par for the course at this price.
This proprietary seatpost design offers an optimized balance of light weight, superior ride quality and simple adjustment to enhance the total race performance of the TCR road range. A recent addition to the Giant family for 2017 is the Contend – an entry-level alloy road bike that is engineered for all round performance. Available in either rim or disc braking options, the Contend is extremely compliant and easy to control, similar to the Defy in design and offers a smooth, fast and fun ride option.
Who spends £5K on a race bike without being interested in how many watts they can produce? Bought separately the Giant Power Pro-equipped Ultegra chainset costs £799.99, so you’re definitely getting value here. Giant still makes the TCR in a rim brake version – almost a rarity for a top race bike these days. Elsewhere, Giant has reduced the number of pieces that make up the frame, using continuous fibres through the down tube, head tube and seat tube.
I haven’t always been a fan of Giant’s house-brand saddles, but this new Fleet SLR model is pretty fantastic . The short length, full-length split, and flat profile are very comfy. There’s no hatch underneath the bottom bracket on this electronic-specific model, so everything has to be accessed through the sides of the bottom bracket shell.
Interestingly, the small size specifically gets a slightly slacker head tube angle, too. I rode the L version with a 580mm top tube, 530mm seat tube (short because of Giant’s compact frame design) and 185mm head tube. This size giant KIDS BIKES has 73° head tube and seat tube angles, a stack of 581mm and a reach of 402mm, giving a stack/reach of 1.45. You immediately notice the Advanced Pro Disc’s tube shapes are mostly identical to those of the SL, for example.