Road Cycling - Advice on a new bike

Looking at buying a new bike. Considering purchasing a Giant TCR 1 Composite. Any advice or feedback?

There are a lot of considerations in buying a new bike, such as (not limited to) the price you wish to pay, what you intend to do with the bike (hit the trails, use for commuting, and others), not to mention finding a good local dealer who will work with you or maybe considering buying online, and your experience level (beginner, novice, experienced). Some of those factors, such as the dealer, are very personal decisions...there are also a number of good dealers online, but I would be sure to, especially when buying online, to be sure they are part of the Better Business Bureau (or a reputable bike organization) and have a strong history for selling bicycles. If you aren't set on buying a brand new one, or sometimes if you are, for some (like yours truly), perhaps a look at the offerings on eBay (and other online auctions) is an option if you know (through a local dealer or prior experience, like for me, I have dreamed of getting a used Cannondale in good shape since my hybrid one was stolen in early 2000) what kind of bike you wish to purchase. I don't personally know a lot about the Giant line, but one place you may wish to also look at prior to getting a new bike (or many accessories) is www.mtbreview.com , which is like an online "Consumer Reports" for mountain bikes, and see what they have to say...ordinary people like you and me who have those bikes or accessories write down what they think, like just recently I did a review there for my Cateye Enduro 2 cyclecomputer. Hope that helps and hope you find a bike that will last you for years to come!!

~James~

The TCR1 is a great bike, but they have limited sizes, so you have to ride them to make sure you will fit. It is more of a racing bike which is fine if that's what you will be doing, otherwise you may find it to be not as comfortable on long rides due to the much lower handlebar placement in relation to the seat primarily but also the bikes geometry makes the frame stiff which translates into a harder ride-but it's that same geometry that helps make it one of the lightest bikes on the market.

Looking at buying a new bike. Considering purchasing a Giant TCR 1 Composite. Any advice or feedback?

Great bike. I've ridden several. Rides different than, say a 5200 or 5500 Trek becasue of the compact geometry. Make sure you get sized correctly, as these bikes will fit a range of sizes and are finished out with the seatpost. Very light.

If you give me your inseam size, I can tell you where you ought to look, size-wise, unless you already know.

Giant TCRs have very small tyre clearance. This is fine for racing and dry-weather training/rides. Not so good if you need a winter trainer or all-weather commuter.