Talk to me about Giant Bikes. I know nothing about them. They seem like a really good value but I am not familiar with them as there are no dealers in my area. Can’t go touch and feel one.
The TCR Composite 2 sounds like a lot of bike for $2,000 range.
http://www.giant-bicycle.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.000.asp?model=11162
I initially bought a Giant OCR1 with full (everything) shimano 105 for about $1000 three years ago to train for mt bike racing. For that, it was the ideal bike. Since then, I have converted to road racing and for that reason bought a nice wheelset in my price range (Hugi hubs, Mavic open pro’s). I see many people with bikes that cost 2 - 3 times of what mine was, and it has no relationship with the outcome of the race. FTR, I will get a new bike this year.
The TCR comp 2 is a rocket, as long as it fits you. It’s a great buy for 2000 imho, especially as Giant is making it themselves, and don’t farm it out to another manufacturer. you likely won’t get any oohhs and ahhs, though. Don’t know much about using it for tri, except that there’s quite a few out there - normally people buy a slightly smaller than required frame and slap on some aerobars, and it works well. I think cerveloguy had that setup, you ought to get in touch w/ him.
Team ONCE and Telecom race them in the TDF and Luc VL won IM Kona on a TCR. The OCR is similiar but has a more relaxed geometry with a longer head tube and longer wheelbase. The TCR is usually the better choice for what you want.
I had an aluminium TCR which I really liked both as a road bike and for doing tris. And I’m told the carbon version is even nicer. They’re fast bikes and lend themselves very well for tri. For tri all I had to do was swap to a neutral seat post which gave about a 75/76 degree effective seat angle which i really liked. Add aerobars and you’re ready to rock and roll.
Giant is probably the world’s biggest bike maker and they are almost the only major company that makes their own frames in house. That’s why they can give such good value for the money.
It has treated you well in terms of reliability and quality?
I am also big on Felt’s F2c. Another bike that seem to have extreme value.
http://www.feltracing.com/2005_bikes/2005_f2c.html
The Cervelo Soloist really intrigues me but seems at the upper end of what I want to spend. Can it be ordered with maybe Ultegra instead of Dura Ace to save a few dollars.
I ride the 2005 TCR composite (new Ultegra 10-speed)… and you’re right, it’s a lot of bike for the money. I can give you a comparison because I rode the old TCR 2 as well. The TCR composite has the same responsive feel but seems to soak up the road shock a bit better (placebo effect? perhaps)
Cerveloguy is right… Put a neutral seat post and “shorty” syle aerobars on, and provided your suited to that position, your bike won’t be the limiting factor.
The Cervelo Soloist is also a very good choice. The trade off is aero aluminium frame vs carbon frame. The
older Soloists used to come with Ultegra but now it’s Dura-Ace or Campy Centaur. The Centaur is probably a little bit upmarket from Ultegra.
I have a Comp. TCR1. It is a great bike with great spec for the price. To get a comparable bike from most other companies you would need to spend another 1k at least.
Paul
What are you going to be doing with this bike? Tri? Road? Both?
My answer will change depending on your needs…
I have a TCR Comp, Soloist and a Felt F1 (along with others), so easy to compare all of them…
Mostly road. 1-2 Olympic distance tri per year.
I did a ton of research and just ordered my soloist, I can’t wait for it to arrive!
I came to this conclusion because I live in a pretty busy area and I’m also interested in doing group rides and road races along with tri’s at least 3x a year…it seemed the only bike that nobody had anything bad to say about it…
Well, we looked at the TCR 2 and bought the Felt F2C instead. At the real selling price (not the MSRP) they are the same price within $100 depending on your dealer, but the Felt comes in more sizes, has a better top tube to seat tube ratio, a slightly steeper seat angle which we do like for some riders and is more friendly with most aero bars for most raiders and has Shmano Dura-Ace 10 speed STI, front and rear derailleur, cogset and a better wheelset that is about 95 grams lighter than the wheels on the Giant.
So, you are getting Dura-Ace instead of Ultegra and a wider size range with possibly better geometry for the same price.
At the beginning of the year we buy bikes like anyone else. We shop them all. Felt beat Giant on spec, price and geometry.
The Giant OCR2 Tibbs sent me is working quite well. I did a 53mile ride this Sunday and it was loads of fun. Someone here locally is going to give me some old clip-on aero bars too!
I’d recommend the Giant for a road bike, don’t know about them for a Tri-bike though.
If I had the money to afford it, I would probably get a Cervelo Dual.
Trae
The TCR Comp and the Soloist are fairly simliar to me (sorry Gerard). I’d consider them both Porsche 911 whereas the F1 is C Class Benz. The TCR and Soloist are very nimble, quick machines. Probably have to do with the compact geo and short chain stays. Steering is very responsive…perhaps a bit hyper active.
TCR/Soloist - The carbon is perhaps more “damp”, but can’t tell much of a difference unless I hit a pot hole. I’d imagine you’ll have an easier time fitting into a Soloist. The TCR Comp sizing is really screwed up. Sure, you can put on a different stem and post, but you them mess up your ESTA. I’d lean towards a Soloist.
The F1 is your run of the mill road bike, which is maybe why they changed to carbon. Very predictable, nothing really fancy…just a really nice road bike for the money. Very easy to size and perhaps the best value (when available).
I don’t buy the “convert the Soloist to a tri geo” marketing. To me, it’s 100% aero road bike with internal cabling and/or a time trial (5cm rule) bike.
Any of them would make a nice draft-legal tri bike. If it’s a rolling/turning course…I’d lean towards the Soloist or TCR.
If you have explicit question, feel free to PM me or post…
Smitty8, my friend- please- measure the bikes with a tape measure, look at the construction of the chainstays and the bottom bracket.
Looooookkkkk…
Now, see the difference?
Make sure you pronounce that right.
If you have a TCR, its pronounced, “Gheee Aunt.” This is optional if you have Shimano 105 on it. If its a TCR0, with Campy Record on it, or Dura Ace, this isn’t an option, you ride a “Ghee Aunt,” dammit.
Many a new rider of a TCR0 composite has been kicked out of local riding clubs, coming in talking about their new “Jyy Ent” bike. See below about Jolly Green Giant use.
If you have a OCR, its just plain old pronounced, Giant, like the jolly, green Giant. This is required. Don’t be riding around saying you have a “Ghee Aunt” pedaling around on a OCR beater with Shimano Tora. Just don’t do it.
What in particular?
Just measured (I work from home)…both chain stays (center of BB to rear axle) are 40cm.
“At the real selling price (not the MSRP) they are the same price within $100 depending on your dealer”
This has me a bit confused.
Why would someone put a MSRP price that was significantly different margin than their competitors?
At the same price I would agree that the F2C is the better buy spec wise, but everywhere I’ve seen pricing the F2C is 400-500 more than the Composite 2. Hows that work?
~Matt
That’s a question I’ve been asking bike manufacturers for years.
Giant is probably the world’s biggest bike maker and they are almost the only major company that makes their own frames in house.
Number 2 and 3 in the world, just to name two, also make a lot of their own frames in house, so this seems like a strange statement to make.