The down-tube has been dramatically flattened, the fork has been tweaked to be wider laterally and more aerofoil shaped and the foil shaped seat-tube has been replaced with an in-vogue D shape. The one trend it eschews is dropped seat stays, but the compact frame shape the TCR has kept since its 1997 debut negates the need to do that to get lots of seat post exposed where it can flex. Every tube shape on the Advanced Pro 1 has been aero-optimised. The only bad thing you can really say about it is the shifters have a certain bulbous agricultural quality though thats only really noticeable at the caf stop and not from the saddle. All rights reserved. Another important point that is noticed instantly is the rolling comfort. 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. Since then I've covered Tours de France, World Championships, hour records, spring classics and races in the Middle East. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Your email address will not be published. Some aspects of this site may not work as intended. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Cycling Weekly is supported by its audience. The most accurate way to determine any bikes weight is to have your local dealer weigh it for you. In its favor, all the transport, maintenance and cutting operations of the fork tube are carried out easily, even by the user himself. At first glance, the 2021 TCR strongly resembles last years model, but look harder and youll see that every tube shape has been optimised, aerodynamically sculpted using kammtail profiles a truncated aerodynamic shape (think aeroplane wing cross-section) thats had its pointed tail sawn off to cheat the wind into believing the tail is still there, and making it less disruptive as the frame moves forward. With its proven Compact Road geometry, OverDrive 2 front end, flat-mount disc-brake integration and smooth-riding Variant seatpost, this is a race-tuned performer that excels in all aspects of road riding. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. This podium-seeking all-rounder is re-engineered with an Advanced-grade composite frame that boasts an outstanding stiff-to-weight ratio, along with new aerodynamic tube shaping in the headtube, downtube and fork. The rims are laced to Giants own hubs using Sapims ever-dependable CX-ray spokes (24 per wheel) and spin smoothly, with the 30t ratchet rear freehub picking up quickly too. Start typing to see products you are looking for. It is also very easy to install and adjust thanks to a hidden screw under a silicone protector: Detail image of the back of the seatpost where we can see the flat cut of the ellipse: The Fleet SL saddle we already met last year and we loved it for comfort and contained weight, for this 2021 it repeats: In this second image we see the possibility of integrating the Numen rear light into it, as we already saw in the Propel: The Contact SL handlebar has also been perfected, improving its ergonomics in the upper area where we rest our hands. The real star here though is the wheels. Combine that with the stiffness and efficiency and the TCR climbs beautifully. Dont get me wrong, Ive ridden all of the above bikes in some form and all lead the way in all-rounder race bikes, but it just feels that the Giant TCR Pro Advanced 1offers the best value for money at this price range. Heres why you can trust us. The Pro version gains some girth in the steerer tube to stiffen it up going from 1 1/8 inch at the top to 1 and growing at the bottom from 1 inches to 1 1/2 inches. This website uses cookies to help us give you the best experience when you visit our website. The Giant is also around 550 cheaper than the power meter-less Specialized Tarmac Disc Expert. It is an absolute classic of climbing bikes, with great honors behind it since it was presented to the world in 1997 and the Spanish team ONCE used it in 1998 to compete in the Tour de France, with stars such as Jalabert, Olano or Zlle. Copyright Diamond Publishing 2022. Fast forward two and a half decades and the TCR still sticks out. My test bike had 25mm tyres (set up tubeless as all Gaint bikes are as standard) and while I was in no doubt about the state of the road surface beneath me it wasnt jarring. The frame uses Giants Advanced-Grade Composite technology (high performance-grade raw carbon fibre) and I like that it has kept the slender tube shapes rather than going deeper into aero territory. That stiffness is complimented at the back end, which I couldnt get to flex under load. This arrangement allowed them to gain clear advantages: lightness, rigidity, maneuverability, aerodynamics, comfort . You've been subscribed to our newsletter. The racy 581mm (size large) stack height remains as do the lengthy reach of 402mm and parallel 73-degree head and seat angles. These are all things weve seen on other bikes seeking a few cheeky aero gains but then air doesnt really care what brand is on the downtube of your bike, it treats them all the same, so convergence on similar solutions is to be expected. The bike is fitted with a full Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset, Giants own tubeless SLR-1 carbon wheels and Giants own dual-sided Power Pro crankset power meter. While not all riders have yet been converted, I am and I was personally grateful to be able to run lower pressures on the specced 25mm Cadex race tyres without the risk of pinch punctures straight from the off. More of the same, maybe some more turbulence when we have wind compared to Propel, but the TCR makes up for it with clearly better comfort and absorption, which makes us gain confidence instantly. In the same range, Giant offers the TCR Advanced Pro Disc in a similar spec albeit with 12-speed Sram Force AXS for 5,299. A good summary of the overall performance of the Giant TCR is that it is a bike that does everything well. Summing up the new TCR is easy its simply the finest race-bred bike Giant has produced to date. If you like the site, can we ask a favor? The all-new TCR Advanced Pro Disc gives you the lightweight performance to score the KOM plus the confidence to push your limits on technical descents. The all-new TCR Advanced Pro Disc gives you the lightweight performance to score the KOM plus the confidence to push your limits on technical descents. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Impressive. You notice that the bike climbs with appreciably less effort. The power meter too is Giants own and does what a power meter does with aplomb. Terms of Service apply. A complete redesign from the previous model, they look sleek as hell, hold speed beautifully and pleasingly seem only mildly inconvenienced by crosswinds despite their 42mm deep carbon profile. I had no odd power spikes or drop-outs in readings. Annemiek van Vleuten wins in the yellow jersey on the Super Planche. The TCR will take up to 32mm tyres, depending on the tyre and rim combination youre using, which should deliver you much of the comfort most of us will ever need. Climb, corner and descend with unrivaled all-rounder performance. As you might expect, finishing kit comes from the brands SL line. Its that simple and Giant knows it, so over the years the TCR has changed little, adopting small improvements and updates, but avoiding the big changes. We review in detail all its components, starting with an overview of the transmission, with the Shimano Ultegra R8000 groupset with 52/36 chainrings and 11-30 cassette: The down tube has been increased in width to 65mm to act as an aerodynamic deflector for standard size bottles, a system Giant calls Megadrive: The carbon fork is also new, with a symmetrical design that increases the wheel clearance to a spectacular (for a climber bike) 32mm for disc frames, 28mm for rim brake frames: An upgrade also for the already fantastic Giant SLR1 wheels. The smaller triangles and longer seatpost work in tandem to offer compliance and the results are a smooth ride in which I felt completely in control of the bike regardless of road surface, which led to an ability to ride further and harder. This is where the TCRs most quantifiable gains can be found compared to previous generation models. Of course theres no point in speccing a bike to perfection if it rides like a pig and that I can assure you, the TCR Advanced Pro Disc 1 does not. A change so radical that the UCI had to allow one of its biggest ever concessions on frame designs in order for Spanish team ONCE to use the bike for the 1998 season. Ultimately its a fantastic bike. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. >>> Best road bikes reviewed (opens in new tab). Already have an account with us? Its a fantastic weight in this large size and for a bike in this price range ( 4,000 RRP). The TCR is known for having a balance to it and thats still the case here. Fully-loaded spec for Giants racing legend and our Performance Bike of the Year. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences. The Shimano shifters could be a bit smaller, stems in the Overdrive 2 size can be hard to come by and maybe the saddle wont be quite perfect for you. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Giants ninth-generation TCR may have moved away from its original three-size-only concept (now available in six sizes from XS to XL), adjustable stem and multitude of seatpost lengths to achieve a wide variety of fits, but the Total Compact Roads diamond frame shape remains with its now-familiar sloping top tube and steep road-race angles. Buy this bike if you want a race-orientated bike without any downsides. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. But like the decision to upgrade to that permeable vinyl flooring, spending just over four grand on this Giant TCR Pro Advanced 1 is quite a sound investment. Published 31 July 22, Canyon and other sponsors went big on the Annemiek van Vleuten yellow jersey celebration with a yellow bikes, wheel decals, bar tape, helmets, socks, head unit wraps. By continuing to use the site you acceptour cookie policy. |, Stunning looks; ride and handling; superb wheels. Maybe it is a point of improvement for years to come, but I do not see something crucial in this type of bike (not aero). All rights reserved. Shimanos mechanical Ultegra (opens in new tab) is as reliable and smooth as ever and here you get the full works, no cheapening on calipers or chainsets as is sometimes the case. This features dual-sided measurement that tracks pedal balance, force angle and cadence, and auto-calibrating for temperature and all with a claimed accuracy of +/- 2 per cent. All Giant bikes above 2,000 - this one included - come out of the box setup tubeless. No watts were lost in the researching of this review. Ive even managed to notch some PBs on a couple of local climbs, despite it being winter, and Im convinced it is due to the frames ability to remain efficient with your watts when emptying the tank, while containing that sway all lightweight bikes have when pushing out of the saddle. As a result, the TCR has a devout following among a group of people who value its total devotion to being fast, racy and light. We are talking about a dual system that costs 879 aftermarket and that comes standard with the bike! The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Overall, the range is stunning, not just this premium offering or the TCR SL 0 superbike, so if your budget cant quite stretch to this model Id recommend taking a look at the Advanced 1 Plus, which has to be one of 2021s best value bikes. Line that up against your equivalent-specced Cannondale SuperSix Evo with an integrated power meter and one-piece cockpit and the Giant saves you around 2,000. So we can be confident that when Giant (opens in new tab)s designer sat down to reinvent this bike that first appeared in 1997 they knew they had a task on their hands. Flat mounts and new thru-axles boost stiffness and improve overall handling, while added frame and fork clearance allows for larger diameter tires up 32mm. We've got 11,000+ bikes in the comparison database. Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access, Enjoy your first month for just 1 / $1 / 1, *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription. And to celebrate, we are raffling off a Gobik Absolute 4.0 bib shorts. Whilst these qualities are subjective, it seems that the lower specced Pro model has hit a good balance comparatively. The cables for those are not fully internal as is all the rage but do form a nice symmetrical sweep into the downtube, which at least makes home servicing a touch easier. It also features added frame and fork clearance for larger diameter tires up to 32mm, making it a versatile race machine for all types of road conditions. Tax included and shipping calculated at checkout, Matte Rosewood / Matte Carbon / Gloss Unicorn White, Advanced-Grade Composite, full-composite OverDrive 2 steerer, disc, Shimano Ultegra, 52/36 with Giant PowerPro power meter, Giant SLR-1 42 Carbon Disc WheelSystem (F:42mm, R:42mm), Giant SLR-1 42 Carbon Disc WheelSystem, 12mm thru-axle, Giant Gavia Course 1, tubeless, 700x28mm (25c), folding, Sunday,Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday,Saturday, January,February,March,April,May,June,July,August,September,October,November,December. But throw it into a series of twists with wild abandon, change your line in the middle of them or swerve round potholes and its a lively flickable beast. As a brief summary, we will tell you that 3 key aspects have been worked on: For the untrained eye, comparing this new generation with the previous one, will result in that the bikes are almost exactly the same But if you have the opportunity to see the new TCR live, you will see that each of its tubes has been redesigned, in the interest of achieving the best possible aerodynamic efficiency. Warren Rossiter is BikeRadar and Cycling Plus magazines senior technical editor for road and gravel. It really is all things you could ask for in this department. It works in conjunction with a tapered fork steerer tube, which Giant claims offers better stiffness: The integration of the cables is conspicuous by its absence, the only disadvantage really being the visual/aesthetic one, since the aerodynamic gain is negligible. With a very pronounced slooping (inclination of the horizontal tube), its long seatposts stood out from the rest of the bikes in the peloton. The result is a TCR thats faster than ever in sprints and solo situations. Having been testing bikes for more than 20 years, Warren has an encyclopedic knowledge of road cycling and has been the mastermind behind our Road Bike of the Year test for more than a decade. Not enough items available. You can now search the database by numbers. list of tubeless tyres approved for use with the wheels. If you opt for a version with an electronic group, only the brake hoses will remain exposed: Even with the cables in sight, the termination and quality of finish is very good: Finally, the Shimano Ultegra calipers perfectly integrated into the fork with 160 and 140 mm discs with ICE Technology: As soon as I got my hands on the new TCR Advanced Pro, its lightness was very noticeable. One rung up the ladder is the Pro SL model. Well, the acronym TCR gives us a hint, they come from Total Compact Road, and they already allow us to focus our attention on the word compact. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Thankfully, Giant hasnt messed around too much with the TCRs sorted geometry, which Im pleased about considering the previous generation model is a bike I bought, own, ride a lot and love. Not surprisingly, Giant boasts a saving of 34 s in 40 km at 200 W compared to the previous generation. Impressum. On top of that, since becoming features editor in 2017 I've also been lucky enough to get myself sent to ride my bike for magazine pieces in Portugal and across the UK. It is also adjustable, being able to vary its inclination: The stem retains the Overdrive 2 design, which combines a 1.5 lower bearing and a 1-1/4 upper bearing. Thirty-two of the best bikes ridden and rated. Thats because of the spec you get for your money. It feels efficient, accelerates rapidly and rewards strong efforts by easily retaining its speed. It even gave me the confidence to take this TCR on a few local gravel routes. Few road riders you will find that they havent heard of the Giant TCR. My skinny arms could induce zero flex and I, mindful of a niggling back injury, was running it with a fair chunk of spacers. What is it that makes it so special? Over the years, Warren has written about thousands of bikes and tested more than 2,500 from budget road bikes to five-figure superbikes. The new frame design is claimed to save 34 seconds over 25mi/40km at a constant 200w of power, and while aerodynamics are hard to quantify outside of a wind tunnel, the TCR certainly feels rapid. I was also incredibly impressed by the speed of the TCR Advanced Pro, especially considering the current frameset has done little in the way of aerodynamic optimisation. While were on the subject of value, its worth mentioning that you can buy the frameset for the TCR Advanced Pro Disc for an extremely competitive 1,349 so if you have a preferred set of wheels or a group set in your shed you need to use then, while the best value is most often in-stock models, there is only a minor penalty to building one yourself to your spec. >>> Giant TCR Advanced SL 0 Disc reviewed. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. If I had to be hyper critical, Id like the option to move to a 28mm tyre, due to the poor condition of a lot of my local roads, but having the 25mm tyres come setup tubeless makes the best of them. This uses higher grade carbon and has an integrated seatpost. Having trained as a journalist at Cardiff University I spent eight years working as a business journalist covering everything from social care, to construction to the legal profession and riding my bike at the weekends and evenings. Terms and Conditions. Your email address will not be published. Click now, buy soon, and we'll get a few cents. Ascending on the TCR is a joy too, the efficiency in the chassis is stunning and running on some seriously light rolling wheels all adds up to a bike that wants to go uphill with as much vigour and enthusiasm as you can muster. We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices. Prices - Giant TCR Advanced Pro 1 disc 2021: Annemiek Van Vleuten wins stage 8 and the overall title at the Tour de France Femmes, Why Annemiek van Vleuten kept switching her yellow bikes mid-race, All yellow: Canyon and other sponsors go big on Annemiek van Vleuten's yellow jersey celebration, Exclusive interviews, fitness tips and product reviews, Try a single issue or save on a subscription, Issues delivered straight to your door or device.