Cyclocross - Giant OCR Touring thoughts

What do you all think about the Giant OCR Touring (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.000.asp?model=10807) bike for fireroad/mild single track/touring use?

Obviously a test ride for fit and ride quality would be the best way, but hey, I'm in rural western Colorado without a lot of opportunity to test ride.

I came across it on a search for a review of a Bianchi Axis yesteray. It retails for around $1200 which buys one a butted aluminum frame with compact, touring geometry with a steel fork and 105/LX level, triple crankset/mtb cassette drivetrain which can accommodate at least a 700x32mm tire. Nice extras include Avid mech disk brakes, Fizik saddle, Time clipless pedals, fender/rack mounts, adjustable stem, and internal cable routing.

Thought I was settled on a Bianchi Axis but am giving this Giant some thought. Especially since the Giant is about $200 less and comes with pedals and a saddle that I would actually keep.

Is there much more advantage to the Avid Mech disk brakes over standard cantis on singletrack (i.e. worth the extra pain of disk brake maintenance for the assumed extra stopping power, especially in muddy situations)?

for what it's worth, the 2001 quebec masters cyclo-cross champion won on a devinci touring bike. but please keep in mind that cyclo-cross racing is absolutely irrelevant to cyclo-cross, particularly in this case, where the bike was not a cyclo-cross bike, because cyclo-cross is defined by the bike. ;)

I have the 2003 model that I use on fire roads and its handles nicely. I have 700x35 Ritchey trail mix Alpha bite tires on it and it is great on the trail or road. I have crossed streams on them without a problem. The mechanical disc brakes are way more precise on breaking than cantis or v-brakes in my opinion, especially when wet. It has three water bottle cages and fittings for a rack and fenders if desired. Of course I have a front shock on it to make the down hill ride more appealing on the trails.

I have the 2003 model that I use on fire roads and its handles nicely. I have 700x35 Ritchey trail mix Alpha bite tires on it and it is great on the trail or road. I have crossed streams on them without a problem. The mechanical disc brakes are way more precise on breaking than cantis or v-brakes in my opinion, especially when wet. It has three water bottle cages and fittings for a rack and fenders if desired. Of course I have a front shock on it to make the down hill ride more appealing on the trails.

Good to have your experienced opinion. Is the headtube a 1" or 1 1/8"? The website says 1" fork/steerer tube with a 1 1/8" headset. What suspension fork are you using?

Do the STI shifters work well with the Avid disks? Or do you need some special adaptor?

The stock fork came with a 1 inch fork, but the headset was capable of being changed over to a 1 1/8 headset, so I had the lbs guy change it for me. I'm using a 29'er Marzochi MX Comp fork.

Do the STI shifters work well with the Avid disks? Or do you need some special adaptor?
Avid makes a Road specific model
http://www.sram.com/en/avid/discbrakes/ballbearingroad/ballbearingroad.php

I just got the ocr touring for commuting to work. Bombed over a few cobble stone sections and it seemed pretty stable.
The thing with disc brakes is, you might get the same amount of braking as a mountain bike would on your road bike, but the advantage of good discs are you get a lot better modulation and control, plus they work wonders in adverse conditions.