Well hyped in the area and A new Bike store opened in My home County last night. It is a Giant Distributor and no idea how much money has gone into it but I reckon it must be supported by Giant. Unfortunately--I forgot my camera in the rush to Get home- and out to get there but a few pics from my mates will fill the gap.

The whole store is Giant with no other make on show and a good array of every "Type" of Giant bike was to be seen. That was if you could get near the things due to the Crowds round the Bikes. I am looking for N+1 for my retirement next year and wanted to look at the Defy- TCR and TCX range of bikes. Defy I will forget about as I already know that the geometry is not for me. I have a TCR-C that I am quite pleased with but the bikes that interest me are a bit out of my Price range.

But through the door and I first looked at the Rapid range. Basically a defy with Straight bars and it may be what I am looking for. The cheaper end of the Defy and TCR were not up to my standard and I already have two road bikes that are better specced than what I could afford new.



So that left the TCX- The Cyclo-Cross bike. I am still a mountain biker at heart and although the TCX would not be up for the aggressive offroad my area offers- Neither am I now. However- there are plenty of Smoother tracks in the area that will take out the Gnarly stuff and possibly some of the long steep climbs. I know it could still be done on a mountain bike- but It would either be TCX2 at around £800 that would do the job- Or a "NEW" mountain bike for around $1000 that I would still have to modify to get up to my standard.

Then I found "THE" TCX. Only one on show and the first time I had seen this model. Sora 9 speed and slightly low components- but the reason only one bike was here- was because production is not due till next january and this "One" bike was one of the few to be available in the UK. First glance and it looked OK. More detailed look and I think I want to see the TCX1 to see if I can afford it- and if it is worth it. But the TCX2 caught my attention but no-one to talk to about it. Cyclocross is not that big in this area.



But time to look around a bit more and Take advantage of the refreshments. Glad they had food as last time I ate was 6 hours before and the Waitress got to know me very well. We all had to have a word with the CEO of giant UK but I got out of that quick- As I had to chat with one of the salesmen- The one that was giving out the "Goodie" bags before he ran out. I will now be able to let you know what Clif bars and the SIS energy drinks taste like-And whether the giant "T" shirts are any good- Except I am a Small going on medium and my "T" was an XXL



Just another Pic and it is of a Mountain Biker. Older members will remember that I did a long offroad 100 mile ride for many years that is hard. This rider was very pleased that he had an entry next year into the Ride---Over 3 days. He had just bought the bike- A full suspension Giant at around £3,500- spent £800 on lights that would show him the way on the evening rides and had done over 1500 miles this year- with 500 of them being offroad- getting ready for next years ride.

Didn't have the heart to tell him I had done the ride 9 times in one day- 5 times had been on a full rigid and 4 on the Tandem. But Ross Did.



But Later this month will be back at the shop for a couple of test rides on the TCR's-The rapid and hopefully the "Only" TCX2- if they will allow it out.