RhythmRider

If so? This is it!!!

I'm quoting another member here....

post your pictures and videos, show off your mods, give your opinions and reviews, and ask your questions ... Giant owners, fans, and potential buyers unite!

Let's see where this thread goes ...

ps249

There are at least 2 other RX composite owners threads but I will join this one too! I've had mine since October 2013. I am really liking mine its the best bike I ever owned.
My opinions: I am pretty much satisfied with the stock package that comes with it. I swapped out the seat though. The shifting components work flawlessly (which I rarely use as I ride mostly on flat rail trails). Brakes work fine as well. I always add a new bike computer to each new bike I get so I got the Cateye Velo 9 wired. This is the first carbon bike I have owned and I must say I can feel its lightness when I pedal this machine. This bike was meant to be ridden at least 10 miles minimum at a time- not really recommended for spins around town for me. I am impressed with the top tube on this bike (I think Giant should win an award for this bike design). It is wide but thin and sleek. It comes with "Ride Sense" and has rack mounts. The retail price is $1,550 which is the best deal on the market right now for full frame carbon. This bike weighs in at around 19 lbs stock. The color scheme is awesome and people really like to stare at the beauty of this bike. You will get lots of compliments (I have yet to hear anything negative from anyone who has seen this bike). It also has internal cable routing which is now standard for all carbon bikes. It pretty much comes set up as a road bike- I know its labeled as a hybrid but this bike is not really meant for offroad in my opinion.

RhythmRider

When I saw the seat I intended to swap it out but after riding a couple of 15 mile stints, I found that it fits me great! No pain in my butt so I'm sticking with it...I guess it hits my sit bones properly, go figure!

I added:

• headlight - Cygolite Expilion 800
• Cateye Urban Wireless
• two CF bottle cages
• my Airzound (from my old Giant Cypress)
• Upstand kickstand (really great product)

Overthewheels7

Hello folks, very glad I found a thread for this bike! I need help, YOUR FEEDBACK IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. I hadn't done any biking since I was a child & opted for an Escape Composite RX after reading all the reviews and test riding it for a couple of blocks. I am 5'8 and my LBS told me that the Medium (which was the only composite they had) was good for me. I rode out of the store with it today, I'm so ignorant to biking & wanted it so bad for commuting that I didn't think of asking for a fitting, nor did they offer me one. Upon getting home from a 45mt. ride through the street of NYC, I am hurting!! I feel like when I get on this bike, I'm climbing onto it even though the seat post is only about 4" from the tightening/loosening clamp, if I have to lower it even more, should I have gotten a Small? (Picture attached) I'd like to know if there is anyone here who's my height (5'8") and find out which size they purchased.
Also, the bike shop didn't give me any manuals and pretty much gave me the bike that was on display and that had been test-ridden and charged full price, is that how it works? They said it was when I asked them. Also riding on this seat, my bony rear-end feels as if I had been riding on railroad tracks. I am kind of annoyed now, since I dropped a pretty penny (US 1,450.00 + a $187.56 tax) & looking back, all they did was tune it up downstairs (didn't take long), hand it over to me and didn't test fit me given their experience as a bike shop & the money I spent.
Summary:
a) Should I have gotten a small given my height (5'8') and how little tube there is left to lower?
b) Was the purchasing process (no manuals, no fitting, display bike @ full price) honest?

Thank you so much for your time and feedback.
- Andres D.

ps249

What is your inseam? I am 5'11 with a 30" inseam and the medium fits me perfect. Try before you buy - I made the same mistake many years ago. Also remember you are new to biking so maybe your just going through growing pains. The bike manuals today are pretty generic- really no need for them anyway- it just tells you about safety more than anything. Lower the seat a little more and see what happens.

practical

I purchased a Giant Escape 1 - so it's good to see the responses to the higher end version of this bike. So far I'm very pleased with my bike. I shortened my bars and the LSB replaced the original tires with 28 Bontrangers. The Escape 1 has a composite fork and the components are a step below from the RX, but it seems to ride very well. I noticed the RX is $900 more and am wondering what that money would have bought for me and looking forward to hearing your feedback to this bike.

badger1

Forget measuring anything for a moment, and try this very simple test. I'm taking you at your word that you're new to this!

1. Looks (from the pic) as though your saddle is more or less centred in the rails, so leave it there.
2. If you need to, get someone to help you: wearing the shoes you normally wear for riding, get on the bike as it is -- just hold yourself up.
3. With the crank arms lined up with the seat tube of your bike (i.e. not straight down, at 12/12 o'clock) rest your heel (yes, heel!) on the lower pedal.
4. If your saddle is at more or less the right height, your heel should just make contact with the down (lower) pedal and your leg should be more or less straight (fully extended).
5. If your leg is bent (in that position), you need to raise the saddle until your leg is straight. Again, referencing the pic you provided and knowing a little about the geometry of this bike (and Giant's design philosophy), if doing this test you need to raise the saddle at least an inch or two, the Medium may be about right for you.
6. If, on the other hand, you find that you'd have to leave the saddle where it is or even lower it, then my guess would be (in the absence of more information) that the Medium is definitely too large for you -- the Small Escape RX Comp. would fit much better.*

I've left out anything about reach (to the handlebars); that's another possible issue. The geometry on this particular bike runs on the 'long' side. My overall guess is that the Medium might be too big, but try the above and see what happens. It's just a starting-point.

* My two guesses here are based on the fact that Giant uses 'compact geometry'. In other words, your bike's design is such that if it fits you correctly there should be considerable seat post showing -- noticeably more than currently as in your picture. This effect is caused by the downward-sloping top tube.

practical

I am just 5-10 and have a Large which I really like. I have a relatively short inseam (30) but relatively longer arms so maybe that's why I like a bigger bike. I can comfortably straddle the top bar but have to lift my butt up onto the seat when I ride. If you've ridden a motorcycle, then your expectation for fit is different - you expect to have both feet flat on the ground while sitting. I found the handlebars were too wide so I shortened them by pushing the brakes and shifters in, that might help. My preference is to have my leg pretty much straight when the foot is at the bottom of the crank and I'm sitting on the seat. Other people prefer a little bend in the knee in this position. How does your leg fit?

Overthewheels7

Thank you for taking the time to explain this to me! I had to lower the seat ALL the way down today because there was no way I could ride another day with the seat the way it was, it felt a lot more comfortable. I still did the test you suggested, and there was a little bend to my leg (this is with the seat completely lowered) If I were to do the test with the seat the way it was on the picture, I believe that I would have had to either leave it alone or lower it a bit to have my leg extended & my heel touching the pedal. Riding today, I kept finding my self guiding the bike at times with my finger tips to sit up for comfort, perhaps the reach is too long. I would like to try the Small to see how it feels but they only had this Medium at the shop and I don't even know if they'll let me exchange it now that I took it out of the shop for over a day, any knowledge on returning a bike? Thanks again for your time and feedback.

Overthewheels7

Thank you for taking the time to offer me your feedback! I went online to figure out my inseam and measured it as shown online, it seems like I have a (30) or (30.5) inseam, but like I was saying, I felt like I was climbing onto the bike, I lowered the seat all the way down today and it felt way more comfortable for riding and also more comfortable on my pelvic bones. With the seat lowered, I can stand over the bike resting the my toes on the ground (only the the toes), with the seat as shown on the pic, I could barely keep my balance and had to do so with the bare tip of my toes and it was hard. After lowering the seat I felt like I was more arched and found myself guiding the bike with the tip of my fingers to be able to sit up more for comfort. Btw, do you have any knowledge about returning an already purchased bike a couple of days after the purchase? Thanks again for your time.

Overthewheels7

Thank you for taking the time to offer me your feedback! I went online to figure out my inseam and measured it as shown online, it seems like I have a (30) or (30.5) inseam, but like I was saying, I felt like I was climbing onto the bike, I lowered the seat all the way down today and it felt way more comfortable for riding and also more comfortable on my pelvic bones. With the seat lowered, I can stand over the bike resting the my toes on the ground (only the the toes), with the seat as shown on the pic, I could barely keep my balance and had to do so with the bare tip of my toes and it was hard. After lowering the seat I felt like I was more arched and found myself guiding the bike with the tip of my fingers to be able to sit up more for comfort. So, what do you think? also, do you have any knowledge about returning an already purchased bike a couple of days after the purchase? Thank you so much again for your time and feedback .

badger1

You are welcome!

Based on your responses to the other good replies you've received, my conclusion (I could be wrong, but don't think so) would be that the Medium in this bike is definitely too large for you; you should be on the Small size (which is really equivalent to a Small/Medium). There are only three sizes for this model; each is meant to accommodate a fairly large range of rider heights/leg lengths. What you are describing indicates that you'd have a better fit on the Small. By the way, the 'toes/feet touching ground' really is irrelevant. If you are correctly fitted to that bike (Small or Medium makes no difference), it's unlikely you'd be able to stay in the saddle when stopped. You'll get used to it!

I would certainly go back to the shop and explore options. If they are at all reputable, they should be willing to fit you/exchange bikes and make this right.

Overthewheels7

Thank you all for your great feedback.

DowneasTTer

Sorry to be late to the party. But, my wife and I are currently on a 3 month RV Trip through New England and Atlantic Canada and have spotty access to internet. On top of that we have our mtn bikes for this trip and the hybrids back at the summer place. Anyway to my 2 cents. I have a couple of threads on this forum that might be helpful:

https://www.bikeforums.net/hybrid-bic...pe-rx-0-a.html

and

https://www.bikeforums.net/hybrid-bic...e-owner-s.html


To summarize last year my wife and I purchased a couple of Giant Escape RX 0's (hers a small and mine a large) we are 5'6" and 6'0". We are both in our 60's and try to ride every day. The bikes were great. So this year we sold them (we usually do about 8,000 miles/year) and purchased a couple of Giant Escape RX Composites again in small and large frames. We both figured the geometry would be the same but that is not the case. It appears the RX Composites top tube is about 1" longer and the chain stays an inch shorter. My bike fit well. However, my wife had the same problem you are having with handlebar reach. That was taken care of quite easily with a stem change by our lbs. I don't have access to the bike right now. But from memory here goes. The stock small had a low angle 80mm stem. The lbs swapped it out with a Giant Connect 70 mm stem with a greater angle solving her issues. At first the lbs tried to add some spacers to the fork but Giant has cut the steerer tube so much that spacers can't be added. This might help you out though.

On to your buying experience. You should have received the owner's packet. However, it is generic in nature and not overly important. You also should have received the magnet for the "Ride Sense" unless the selling lbs mounted it on the crank arm. (not done at the factory) plus the "Ride Sense plug to plug the whole in the frame if you decide to remove the module from the frame it self.

In looking at my experience it would seem as if the frame size you purchased is correct. Again my wife is 5'6" and takes a small frame with the sit post on the high side while I'm 6'0" and my post is less.

Good luck with you fitting. Once you have found the correct adjustments you will indeed enjoy the ride. We currently have a little over 4,000 miles on ours and have truly enjoyed every mile. Looking forward to another 8,000 mile year. I will continue to update my Composite ownership thread mentioned above.

hammer123

Do you want to sell your bike? One of your posts mentions that it may be too large for you. No doubt, you will take a loss, but I'd be willing to buy it. Let me know.

2702

Giant's USA website has many 2015 models out now. Do not see a 15 Escape RX composite yet. I do think they might have replaced it with this. The geometry is really different, shorter top tube, higher head tube, and much shorter wheelbase. Take a look at the Defys, awesome styling.
FastRoad CoMax 1 (2015) | Giant Bicycles | United States

practical

It looks like a great bike, but it's too bad they messed with the geometry, changing it to be more like a road bike than a hybrid. Beyond the flatbar, the hybrid has a different - and for many riders, a better - geometry including a longer wheelbase.

ColonelSanders

I don't know how comfortable it will be with that short wheelbase and low headset/stem, but Giant have certainly shaken up their line up of flatbar roadbikes/hybrids, now giving Specialized a run for their money on flatbar roadbikes/hybrids with disc brakes.

Trek may have missed the boat here, with only a 7.4 FX Disc to offer.

2702

I like this one the most. FastRoad SLR 1 (2015) | Giant Bicycles | United States
SLR grade aluminum which is their highest of 3 grades.

ps249

I like my 2014 Escape carbon much better than this model. The 2015 offers disc brakes and shim 105 and jacked up the price to $1,750.

themishmosh

It is only $200 more. For the component upgrades (especially shifters), I would buy it in a heartbeat. Not only that, I just think the 2015 looks much better. I was a big fan of Trek but these new Giants lately have me sold.

ColonelSanders

Yep, it looks like a winner.

Again, unless the comfort factor is totally missing due to geometry, I'm wondering who would buy a Trek 7.5 FX, instead of this baby.

2702

Trek better get moving on making the FX line look more modern and make it a better value, there is nothing in the FX line that looks sleek to me right now after seeing the new Giant Fastroad hybrids.

ps249

Here is the link to Specialized Sirrus Expert carbon disc: Specialized Bicycle Components

These bikes are very similar in appearance. Should make for some great competition. The Giant model is $500 (US) cheaper than the Specialized ($2,250 vs $1,750).

badger1

That carbon Sirrus lineup will be replaced in 2015.