Giant’s TCR Advanced Pro 1 Disc is a lively and efficient road bike that boasts most of the aero features the new, top-level TCR Advanced SL gained earlier this year. Even the massively wide down tube is optimised for airflow when a standard bottle is fitted, according to Giant. The needs no introduction – but here’s a quick one anyway.
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 giant ROAD BIKES 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.
It’s a carbon fiber road bike, in matte carbon with a smoke, orange and blue finish. Giant had a very difficult task of updating its top of the range road racing frame by making it lighter, stiffer and more aerodynamic. To support the frame stiffness a new giant KIDS BIKES fork has been developed too and is also looking sturdier than previous model. The fork arms have leaving plenty of space for air to flow between the the arms and the spokes. Giant calls it a Symmetric design fork and this decrease Air drag as a result.
Taken in total, the changes move the TCR’s handling in a slightly more stable direction, with somewhat calmer handling manners and better high-speed stability relative to last year’s model. Giant’s marketing materials didn’t make a big deal of this, but if you dig into the geometry charts of the new and old bikes, it’s hard not to notice some pretty significant changes. Giant graces the flagship TCR Advanced SL 0 model with a “Thinline” paint job that leaves much of the frame covered in just a bare-bones layer of clearcoat. This bike is a great proposition all round, with no real weakness in the spec.
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.
The idea was that a smaller front triangle was both lighter and stiffer than a traditional frame with a horizontal, non-sloping top tube. While we like KMC chains, shipping a Shimano Di2 bike without an Ultegra – or a 105 at minimum – as standard is slightly perplexing. Being Chris King fans we have already labeled the TCR hubs as contenders for replacement, but they have proved quite enjoyable, too. Some of the replacement parts are combination function and fashion. The Chris King mango line would look great hidden on the TCR’s metallic blue color. Two upgrades to consider are the wireless module and the Di2 sprinter/ climber buttons.
Now pushing 50, he’s riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions. Trek’s new Emonda SL 6 Pro (£3,350) is an interesting comparison, coming with a Shimano Ultegra groupset and Bontrager’s very good Aeolus Elite 35 wheels. Trek does spec power meters on some models in the range, but not on this one.
The suspension and braking surfaces are clean with some signs of usage yet free from grooves & pitting. The tires, grips/handlebar tape, and brake pads may show signs of usage yet have a majority of their life remaining. Team ONCE riders including Laurent Jalabert went on to win dozens of races on it, including grand tour stages and major one-day races.