2000km/1000mi Review of 2010 TCR Advanced 1
05-21-10, 07:25 AM
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2000km/1000mi Review of 2010 TCR Advanced 1
This is my 2000km/1000mi review of my 2010 TCR Advanced 1. This is going to be a long and thorough review
It came out of the box with the following specs;
Size 46.5 (Small)
2010 Ultegra Groupset 6700
170mm Cranks
Dura Ace Press Fit BB
Giant Road Handlebars
Giant Stem
Mavic Ksyrium Elites
Michelin Pro3Race
Fizik Arione Saddle
Giant Carbon Seatpost
I fitted;
Ultergra 6700 pedals
Cateye Strada Wired Computer
X2 Elite Bottle Cages
7.1kg out of the Box.
7.5 As is.
Instant impressions:
Short cranks suck!
Something's flexing
Isn't very sure of itself in corners.
Super comfy.
Light as a feather
I've ridden a range of bikes, from very low and relatively old to very new and expensive-I'm lucky in that respect as I work in a bikeshop. At the taller end of the scale, I've ridden a Cento1 Superleggera with Fulcrum racing zero's and SR11, and at the bottom end, a steel 10sp with stem shifters. I also race A and B grade in Australia and have enjoyed success in both-especially criteriums. The purpose of telling you this? Just so you know the review is balanced
. I have not to date ridden sram extensively enough to compare, however.
The Review;
The Groupset:
Ultegra 6700 Braking is simply put, phenomenal in both wet and dry. The new lever and pivot actuation ratios offer a lot more power both on the hoods and in the drops, and I've found that there is more then ample stopping power for any situation, however there is also excellent modulation. A standout experience is having been cut off suddenly by a motorist and having to slow from 45km/h to nothing within 10m (roughly). Using both brakes, this wasn't even a stressful situation. Vs. 7900, you cannot pick the difference blindfolded between the two-power and modulation is equal.
As far as braking in the wet, obviously you need to plow the water off the rim, but after that you get almost the same power as when dry. However, if you grab them as you would in dry conditions, once water has been plowed from the rim, the "bite" may prove surprising. I have not broken traction, due to the tires I'm running.
Modulation in dry conditions is great, as for wet conditions, see above.
The Shifting/levers;
The shimano glitch where slight pressure on the upshift (brake) lever weill cause the inner paddle to not engage and not shift when pushed. This is constant through all shimano gear from Tiagra upwards, however.
Aside from this, the Ergonomics are great-but this all depends on your hand sizes and personal preferences, so one cannot judge on this.
Shims are provided to adjust for reach, and they do it in a cleaner manner then the previous generations did.
The shifting itself is precise every time, both front and rear. It's a more positive, mechanical feel then the previous generation, but the shifts are also more accurate, faster, and stands up to MUCH higher loads in shifting without skipping a beat. High loads being in a sprint, out of the saddle, and uphill. When adjusted correctly, I have found that the front will also shift under high loads, and without complaint-both up and down. This can be in part, attributed the the chainring stiffness of the new 7900/6700 setup.
Yes, it is true one can only upshift 2 at a time with the new levers-but in practice, you don't know the difference, and it was never that often i could move my hand in a way to accomplish a 3 cog jump with the older generation stuff.
If anything I've found that the "gold" finish just below the top of the hood can be prone to wear-however I did crash on this occasion. The Unidirectional carbon shift/brake levers are in fact very durable and scratch/damage resistant. Even if you do manage to mangle one (which you probably wont) they are replaceable.
Cranks & BB.
Can you say STIFF? Seriously, the chainring+crank stiffness gives you that feeling of every pedal stroke reaching the road beneath you, in high torque applications.
The press fit Dura Ace BB is also much smoother then any of the shimano stuff I'd ever used before-however Campy still wins when it comes to bearings. 170mm is too short for my liking however, but this cannot be considered a weak point
Pedals:
Don't squeak like my keo carbons, match the bike, and hang well for quick engagement. Very smooth.
Cockpit-
In all my previous bikes, barring the first few, and some loaner bikes from work, I choose Deda Newton Stem+ Anatomical 44cm bars. They are, to me, the standard.
The Giant branded bars and stem however are very very good, and the upgrade to Deda stuff would only shave a few grams, and not add any stiffness. Under maximum force during a sprint, there has been no flex in the cockpit at all, and the bars, whilst appearing oddly shaped, are well suited to my ergonomics and applications.
The Wheels;
Are rubbish, and let down the rest of the bike. I had problems from day 1, with the skewers screeching, then a wheel bearing let go (less then 250km in) and would let out a high pitched squeal under high loads. Both wheels are not laterally or vertically stiff. The flex may contribute to the comfort of the bike, somewhat, but taxes the handling and efficiency of the bike otherwise. When you give 100%, the bike does not rocket forward like it does when a stiffer wheel is fitted, such as a Fulcrum Racing 7 or above. I attribute this to poor spoke lacing in the back end and poorly designed front rim/hub spoke interface.
They're just noodles, and although light, I'd take something like a Fulcrum Racing 7 over these sheerly for stiffness alone. The lateral flex makes this thing feel a lot slower and less sure footed in the corners compared to some of the bikes I've ridden with less stiff frames, but Fulcrum wheels.
Too light for a good trainer wheel and to crap for racing, especially crits.
The Frame;
Incredibly stiff laterally and in the BB area + chainstays, yet very very comfortable in other respects. All the Giant Hype about custom cloth orientation isn't BS after all. This is the most comfortable bike I've ridden, with the exceptions of few. It has been criticised for being relatively un-aero, but the stiffness more then thoroughly accoutns for this. Unless you're on a Cervelo roadie, you won't know a difference.
Tires:
They are race tires. They don't cope with **** roads and I won't pretend they do. For what it's worth, these are the best dry AND wet tire I've ever used. So sticky!
Roll along quite quickly.
The Computer:
I love the user interface and versatility in mounting. I found it very easy to do a clean and fast installation on it. My main complaint, and it's a big one, is that the contact pins in the mount/back of computer are prone to failing in cold conditions, wet or foggy conditions. Easily fixed by removing head unit from mount, wiping contacts with thumb, and reinserting computer. Takes about 5 seconds-however the odo, e.t.c. can drop out, and unless you are obsessed with current/avrg speed then you may not notice it not reading for some time.
And if you are obsessed with those functions, it will irritate you more.
So I just use my HRM now and If I've still got talent in a couple years maybe a powertap
As a whole:
The Giant TCR Advanced 1 is an excellent buy at the price, here in AUS it's RRP is $3,999. If you work for a Giant dealer, like me, that figure drops well below the $3,000 mark. Cheap as chips.
However.
In all respects, This bike performs better then many bikes I've ridden at twice the price. It's also lighter too-Having weighed a Prince without pedals, same size as the giant, also without pedals, the scales show the Prince to be over 7.5kg, with Record 10sp, and Shamals. It's also stiffer and more comfortable.
The finish on the frame and groupset is completely flawless. Not a blemish in sight-which is surprising at this level. I've seen bikes worth 4 times as much with worse finish then this.
You get a lot of bang for your buck-6700, fantastic cockpit, very light weight, Ksyrium Elites (sell them and by different wheels) and a very very nice Carbon Frame. All that is to be gained by spending more money, is reducing your account balance. If you choose wisely, you might lose a little weight, and get better stock wheels, but other then that, you have nothing to gain. This bike destroys the market at it's given price range, with perhaps the exception of the Scott Addict R3 similarly equipped, and it also gives the $6-8,000 market something to worry about. Of course, the people spending that money are not looking to buy something that many people have-which is what this bike is.
To reiterate, the wheels are the only let down. Attempt to negotiate a swap to a stiffer wheel and you will be very pleased
If I've left anything out let me know and I'll change
It came out of the box with the following specs;
Size 46.5 (Small)
2010 Ultegra Groupset 6700
170mm Cranks
Dura Ace Press Fit BB
Giant Road Handlebars
Giant Stem
Mavic Ksyrium Elites
Michelin Pro3Race
Fizik Arione Saddle
Giant Carbon Seatpost
I fitted;
Ultergra 6700 pedals
Cateye Strada Wired Computer
X2 Elite Bottle Cages
7.1kg out of the Box.
7.5 As is.
Instant impressions:
Short cranks suck!
Something's flexing
Isn't very sure of itself in corners.
Super comfy.
Light as a feather
I've ridden a range of bikes, from very low and relatively old to very new and expensive-I'm lucky in that respect as I work in a bikeshop. At the taller end of the scale, I've ridden a Cento1 Superleggera with Fulcrum racing zero's and SR11, and at the bottom end, a steel 10sp with stem shifters. I also race A and B grade in Australia and have enjoyed success in both-especially criteriums. The purpose of telling you this? Just so you know the review is balanced
. I have not to date ridden sram extensively enough to compare, however. The Review;
The Groupset:
Ultegra 6700 Braking is simply put, phenomenal in both wet and dry. The new lever and pivot actuation ratios offer a lot more power both on the hoods and in the drops, and I've found that there is more then ample stopping power for any situation, however there is also excellent modulation. A standout experience is having been cut off suddenly by a motorist and having to slow from 45km/h to nothing within 10m (roughly). Using both brakes, this wasn't even a stressful situation. Vs. 7900, you cannot pick the difference blindfolded between the two-power and modulation is equal.
As far as braking in the wet, obviously you need to plow the water off the rim, but after that you get almost the same power as when dry. However, if you grab them as you would in dry conditions, once water has been plowed from the rim, the "bite" may prove surprising. I have not broken traction, due to the tires I'm running.
Modulation in dry conditions is great, as for wet conditions, see above.
The Shifting/levers;
The shimano glitch where slight pressure on the upshift (brake) lever weill cause the inner paddle to not engage and not shift when pushed. This is constant through all shimano gear from Tiagra upwards, however.
Aside from this, the Ergonomics are great-but this all depends on your hand sizes and personal preferences, so one cannot judge on this.
Shims are provided to adjust for reach, and they do it in a cleaner manner then the previous generations did.
The shifting itself is precise every time, both front and rear. It's a more positive, mechanical feel then the previous generation, but the shifts are also more accurate, faster, and stands up to MUCH higher loads in shifting without skipping a beat. High loads being in a sprint, out of the saddle, and uphill. When adjusted correctly, I have found that the front will also shift under high loads, and without complaint-both up and down. This can be in part, attributed the the chainring stiffness of the new 7900/6700 setup.
Yes, it is true one can only upshift 2 at a time with the new levers-but in practice, you don't know the difference, and it was never that often i could move my hand in a way to accomplish a 3 cog jump with the older generation stuff.
If anything I've found that the "gold" finish just below the top of the hood can be prone to wear-however I did crash on this occasion. The Unidirectional carbon shift/brake levers are in fact very durable and scratch/damage resistant. Even if you do manage to mangle one (which you probably wont) they are replaceable.
Cranks & BB.
Can you say STIFF? Seriously, the chainring+crank stiffness gives you that feeling of every pedal stroke reaching the road beneath you, in high torque applications.
The press fit Dura Ace BB is also much smoother then any of the shimano stuff I'd ever used before-however Campy still wins when it comes to bearings. 170mm is too short for my liking however, but this cannot be considered a weak point
Pedals:
Don't squeak like my keo carbons, match the bike, and hang well for quick engagement. Very smooth.
Cockpit-
In all my previous bikes, barring the first few, and some loaner bikes from work, I choose Deda Newton Stem+ Anatomical 44cm bars. They are, to me, the standard.
The Giant branded bars and stem however are very very good, and the upgrade to Deda stuff would only shave a few grams, and not add any stiffness. Under maximum force during a sprint, there has been no flex in the cockpit at all, and the bars, whilst appearing oddly shaped, are well suited to my ergonomics and applications.
The Wheels;
Are rubbish, and let down the rest of the bike. I had problems from day 1, with the skewers screeching, then a wheel bearing let go (less then 250km in) and would let out a high pitched squeal under high loads. Both wheels are not laterally or vertically stiff. The flex may contribute to the comfort of the bike, somewhat, but taxes the handling and efficiency of the bike otherwise. When you give 100%, the bike does not rocket forward like it does when a stiffer wheel is fitted, such as a Fulcrum Racing 7 or above. I attribute this to poor spoke lacing in the back end and poorly designed front rim/hub spoke interface.
They're just noodles, and although light, I'd take something like a Fulcrum Racing 7 over these sheerly for stiffness alone. The lateral flex makes this thing feel a lot slower and less sure footed in the corners compared to some of the bikes I've ridden with less stiff frames, but Fulcrum wheels.
Too light for a good trainer wheel and to crap for racing, especially crits.
The Frame;
Incredibly stiff laterally and in the BB area + chainstays, yet very very comfortable in other respects. All the Giant Hype about custom cloth orientation isn't BS after all. This is the most comfortable bike I've ridden, with the exceptions of few. It has been criticised for being relatively un-aero, but the stiffness more then thoroughly accoutns for this. Unless you're on a Cervelo roadie, you won't know a difference.
Tires:
They are race tires. They don't cope with **** roads and I won't pretend they do. For what it's worth, these are the best dry AND wet tire I've ever used. So sticky!
Roll along quite quickly.
The Computer:
I love the user interface and versatility in mounting. I found it very easy to do a clean and fast installation on it. My main complaint, and it's a big one, is that the contact pins in the mount/back of computer are prone to failing in cold conditions, wet or foggy conditions. Easily fixed by removing head unit from mount, wiping contacts with thumb, and reinserting computer. Takes about 5 seconds-however the odo, e.t.c. can drop out, and unless you are obsessed with current/avrg speed then you may not notice it not reading for some time.
And if you are obsessed with those functions, it will irritate you more.
So I just use my HRM now
and If I've still got talent in a couple years maybe a powertap As a whole:
The Giant TCR Advanced 1 is an excellent buy at the price, here in AUS it's RRP is $3,999. If you work for a Giant dealer, like me, that figure drops well below the $3,000 mark. Cheap as chips.
However.
In all respects, This bike performs better then many bikes I've ridden at twice the price. It's also lighter too-Having weighed a Prince without pedals, same size as the giant, also without pedals, the scales show the Prince to be over 7.5kg, with Record 10sp, and Shamals. It's also stiffer and more comfortable.
The finish on the frame and groupset is completely flawless. Not a blemish in sight-which is surprising at this level. I've seen bikes worth 4 times as much with worse finish then this.
You get a lot of bang for your buck-6700, fantastic cockpit, very light weight, Ksyrium Elites (sell them and by different wheels) and a very very nice Carbon Frame. All that is to be gained by spending more money, is reducing your account balance. If you choose wisely, you might lose a little weight, and get better stock wheels, but other then that, you have nothing to gain. This bike destroys the market at it's given price range, with perhaps the exception of the Scott Addict R3 similarly equipped, and it also gives the $6-8,000 market something to worry about. Of course, the people spending that money are not looking to buy something that many people have-which is what this bike is.
To reiterate, the wheels are the only let down. Attempt to negotiate a swap to a stiffer wheel and you will be very pleased
If I've left anything out let me know and I'll change
Last edited by Braden1550; 05-22-10 at 03:11 AM.
05-21-10, 03:18 PM
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I have 2500 miles on my Giant TCR Advance 1 here in the states. Mine came with Sram Force and Mavic Ksyrium Sl's. I too enjoy this bike and feel it was a goodbuy at $3,600. Very light and quick with a tad twichiness on corners (or maybe thats just me).
05-21-10, 04:29 PM
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would be lighter and stiffer then mine with the alloy spoked wheels 
05-21-10, 04:48 PM
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excellent review. I couldn't agree with you more about the 6700 brakes. I just put 6700 on a new build and the 2 things that were noticeably much better were the brakes and front shifting. I nearly went over the bars when i had to stop suddenly on the test ride having been used to 105 5600 brakes.
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coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
05-21-10, 04:54 PM
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Yes, let's all listen to the review by the guy who bought the bike at a large discount and works for the dealer. (kidding)
A $3,000 bike is not cheap, unless you've got enough money to actually worry about the capital gains tax.
(also, 1000 miles is 1650 km
)
A $3,000 bike is not cheap, unless you've got enough money to actually worry about the capital gains tax.
(also, 1000 miles is 1650 km
)
05-21-10, 06:16 PM
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My TCR is my go-to bike. I ride others, but enjoy it the most. Built up from a lightly used ebay frame.
Had a creaking seatpost problem at one point, which bugged the hell out of me. I've stopped it for now so I'm happy. I will consider trying an SL if the right deal ever comes around.
Had a creaking seatpost problem at one point, which bugged the hell out of me. I've stopped it for now so I'm happy. I will consider trying an SL if the right deal ever comes around.
05-21-10, 06:22 PM
#7
Peloton Shelter Dog
I replaced my 6700 brakes with Zero G's.
They both suck. They're bicycle calipers. They're all a friggin joke. But the 6700 brakes do suck less.
They both suck. They're bicycle calipers. They're all a friggin joke. But the 6700 brakes do suck less.
