Does anyone have experience with both of these frames to give a comparison?
The TCR is very light. The Aero, is well, aero.
Personally, I do really like the TCR Aero in size small, it’s okay in size medium, but anything bigger is an ugly bike.
Both are nice bikes.
What are you wanting it for?
I will using it for group rides and a couple/few tri’s per year. I’ve had a TCR in the past and really liked it for road riding(climbed really well). I thought maybe the Aero would be more functional for tri purposes and if it’s similar in ride quality(stiffness/climbing, etc…) then it would seem the better overall pick.
I believe the newer TCR Aero frames have a steeper seat tube, 75 methinks, but maybe somebody else can conform this.
I used my TCR as a dual purpose road/tri bike and it did the job very well.
The aero is going to be a little stiffer, and a bit more aero.
Comfort should be comparable.
(It will weigh a bit more, too.)
The newer models are a bit steeper seatube angle, than the models from a couple years back.
It’s a ncie bike, and at Giant’s current prices, a real bargain for an entry level bike.
We use both - my wife is riding on the new TCR Advanced Composite (US model) while I awaiting mine to arrive (today or tommorow) so I am still riding my 2003 TCR Team Composite frameset both with Shimano DA 10-speed while our TT/Tri bikes are both based on the 2004 TCR Aero frameset setup with Shimano DA 9-speed. Prior to getting the TCR Aero frames, I used my wifes old TCR Zero aluminum frame for a TT bike prior to us getting the TCR Aero frameset and although the seat tube angle made it a little difficult to get a good tt/tri position with a standard seatpost angle, it did the job in 2003. You might be asking why we got the TCR Aeros? Aside from the obvious answer (because we could), starting in 2004 the TCR Aero frameset got an update to the geometry and the seat tube angle and while still fairly slack at 75 degrees, is better than the road geometry used in previous years. Something to consider but a little harder to find, the 2003/2004 European version of the TCR Aero, sometimes referred to as the TCR Team TT (black anodized aluminum), has a deeper aero section downtoube and steeper seat tube angle which is even more suited to TT/Tri but the cost to purchase and ship it from overseas tends to be prohibitive.
You mean this frame?
I think he means this frame:
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the tubing looks identical to my bike, the only difference being a different color and the fact that I only have one bottle mount braze-on instead of two.
This is an alu frame with the following geometry:
**Frame Geometry** **A** **Frame size** **S-46.5 cm** **M-50 cm** **L-55.5 cm** **B** **Distance from front hub center to bottom of headtube** 370 370 370 **C** **Head tube length** 115 130 160 **D** **Top tube horizontal length** 530 540 570 **A'** **Seat tube length** 465 500 555 **E** **Seat angle** 75.0 75.0 75.0 **F** **Head angle** 72.5 72.5 72.5 **G** **BB drop** 70 70 70 **H** **Fork rake** 45 45 45 **fc** **BB axle - front wheel axle (c/c)** 581 592 624 **wh** **Wheelbase** 970 982 1014 **K** **Trail** 59 59 59 **rc** **Chainstays (c/c)** 400 400 400 **Top tube slope ** 91 70 43 **Top tube slope, approx. ** 10 8 4
For some stinking reason mine doesn’t have the seat tube water braze on!!! grr…
Is your frame small or medium? What is your height?
I used to ride a medium one as my road bike and I still have a small frame as a TT bike. I find that I am faster on it than my road bike, but I can’t climb very well when riding this frame. I live in a hilly area and take pride in my climbing, but on the small TCR I really suck and feel lethargic rather quickly.
I believe your one is from 2002 or 2003. I think that it has the same tubing, I am not sure about the geometry.
The frame costs in the UK 599 pounds (wiggle.co.uk). I would not know how much it will cost to ship to the US.
ahhh the 75 degree angle, that is where it differs. no different than a current year or 2004 aero. I got my frame in Taiwan. I think it is a 74 degree seat angle. Also, it is a 2003
I have a size small. I am about 5’6" I fixed the seat angle thing with a thomson setback in reverse position. I think I am running about a 77 degree angle on it. I also found that the top tube was too long, and I had to get a 60mm stem… it still handles nicely. I can still ride it with no hands. I got it off of ebay last June for $430. Shipping was $50 It was shipped from Taiwan.
If giant made an extra small aero frame, I would probably be on that right now. I also ride a 2003 ocr 2 as my road bike
“I can still ride it with no hands”
Not to be a smartass, but… How does stem length impact your ability to ride no hands? Stem length would only matter when your hands are on the bars.
DavidK
oops, I was talking about the forward seatpost and the fact that it has shifted my weight forward
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