This is a nice bike...
I went backthis morning to try it again in "real world" conditions.
I got there, they had it already to go, along with a great 10+ mile test loop.
I threw in little extra -just to explore a bit- and got it up to about 12 miles.
Uphills, downhills, flats, false flats, rollers... it had it all.

If this doesn't give you an idea what a bike can do, you'll never have a clue:


Thunderstorms were predicted -and the might yet come- but by the time I got started, the sun was out and it was a glorious, if a bit breezy (nothing new for me), day for a ride.

First off, no question, this bike is better than I am... it is smooth, not only over the pavement but just to get it it and keep it rolling. Almost no effort required, it just glides. Maybe it was the BB, I don't know, but the cranks just sort of pedaled themselves and took my feet along for the ride. Having a 39T second ring, versus the 42T on my LeMond, does make it an easier ride since it's geared a skosh lower overall. I liked that. A very comfortable ride, in all. A real joy was that second drop you see at about 7/5 miles in. A nice windy drop that the Giant handled like it was on rails... left, right, left, right... I just sped on down with hardly any braking at all, the bike felt that secure. The car following behind me just stayed back and let me have my fun. That, alone, was worth the ride

The Ultegra derailleurs are a noticeable cut above my 105s but the FD is just a bit finicky and would take some getting used to.

Now, the part that concerns me -the only part that stopped me from bringing it home today- is that 27T in the back. I don't know if I was just a little tired from last night's ride (I don't usually do Fri and Sat back-to-back) or if it was because -like a fool- I started off hot out of the gate and cooked myself a little but I found myself struggling uphill somewhat and on the steeper inclines, I really missed that 30T. Now, it's true that I'm finding myself using my 28 more and my 30 less but when I need it, I need. Being stuck with a 27 would mean losing some gains that I've made. I'd need more stops up long, steep climbs than I'm needing now. I really don't know what to do... should 3 lousy teeth hold me back from buying an otherwise really fine bike? Anyone know if I can run a 9-speed cluster and chain with Ultegra?

Meanwhile, I came back with some reminders of why I still live here even with the traffic, the general decline in the standard of living and the ever impending, devastating earthquake...

While it would be out of spec for the Ultegra RD, a number of people have successfully substituted a 29t for the 27t.

Gorgeous pics! I drive from Santa Rosa to Mountain View just about every week, and I never get tired of going through the Waldo Tunnel and seeing that beautiful view of SF and the Golden Gate Bridge on the other side. Magical.

Sounds like you're getting some great test rides with that bike!

Great pictures. Is the crank a double?

Well, the 30t is certainly out of spec for the 105 RD, too, but Shimano is apparently well-known to be conservative in its capacity ratings Any idea of where one might find that 29t, Mr Bombadil?

No doubt. Having lived here all my life, I've seen that bridge many, many times. I never tire of it.
Same for the view of Mt Tam out my back window, a view I've seen for 50 of my 55 years.
And every day, since I was 16, I see the view of the coast as I come down Hwy 1.
As I come over the top and it comes into view I an always reminded of how lucky we are to live amidst so much beauty.

Now, yes, back to that bike... I got a good taste of it last week and I got a really good taste of it today. I know what I need to know, now what do I do about it? Since my birthday is next week, the pressure is on

A double? Moi?
No, I am much too much of a weenie to ride a double.
It's a triple (52/39/30 vs the 52/42/30 on my LeMond).

Miche supposedly makes them for both 9-spd and 10-spd Shimano cassettes. Also for Campy cassettes.

https://aebike.com/page.cfm?action=de...=30&SKU=FW1761

https://smartbikeparts.com/search_det...b1602beed14cc6

But the Shimano 10-spd 29t is hard to find.

I see. You are nearly the same on the lowest gear on the middle ring but you are missing 3 gear-inches on your low-low combination. I would think you'll get stronger and not miss it, but if not, you can change to a 26 tooth granny and get it back.

Or the other option: Per Shimano's own site, Ultegra is 9/10 speed compatible.
Uh-ohhhh....

To quote John Madden, "That's the thing"

I have noticed over the past couple of weeks that I am using the 27 more
where I was using the 30 before, so maybe, just maybe...

SaiKaiTai, I tried the same bike, the Giant OCR C. I tried a 0 and a 3. The 0 was set up with Ultegra triple and the 3 with 105 triple. I took three rides on these bikes and had put the 0 on hold last August when the doctor took me off of the bikes due to a problem with my left hand. I removed the hold and the bike sold. Your comments about the bike being so smooth, almost gliding and seeming to pedal itself are the exact feelings I had. I was OK with the cassette as Giant set it up, but that's an individual thing. I envy your position because I'm off of bikes following some shoulder surgery. I wanted to post here to encourage you that your feelings about the Giant OCR C are similiar to mine and the owners I interviewed when I thought I was about to purchase one. I'm confident I will be cleared to ride bikes in less than four months. If that happens I will probably purchase a Giant OCR C. Good luck with your decision.

Great pictures!

I have a 50/39/30 with a 12-27 on my bike and it gets me up the short steeps climbs in the area. I'm sure the extra riding you've done in the past couple days had some impact. Can you take it out for another test after a couple days rest? Fresh legs might give you different results.

I absolutely agree with all of the above.
I am now doing short steep climbs (depending on what you call short and steep, I guess.
Certainly, to me, 500' @ 11-12% qualifies) with a 30/27 (or higher) so I know that's doable.
I can do 1/4 mile of 7% Once I get down to 4 or 5%, I'm OK for a 1/2 mile or better.
Anything much more than that and I start getting pretty cooked.
I'm sure working harder at it would be to my benefit.
I just need to be sure to have my inhaler with me.

So, I don't really need another test, I pretty well know where I stand with a 30/27
A 30/30 just lets me do soooo much more and I feel good about that.

Now. Let's come back in 6 months and see where I am.

The OCR3 has a triple on it with 52/42/30 and a 12/28 rear cassette. That climbed Ventoux which is not that steep but goes on a bit. I did need that 30/28. Now locally on on 10/12% hills and the odd steeper- I also use the lowest gear. Now Boreas and the TCR have a compact double. 50/34 and a 12/27 cassette. Those hills I struggled up with the OCR in Lowest gear----I now struggle up with the Compact gearing on the other two. I often do a ride on the compact gearing taking in a 3 x 1 mile hills. 1 @7.5%, 1 @ 10% and one at 16%. The 16% did take some mental preparation to tackle and I do not do it very often (Swop it for a shorter 15%) as it is hard. But not bad- 3 good hills in a 20mile ride---+ the other up and down bits aswell.

Not saying it will not bother you but in my case- the loss of that 30t triple ring had me worried at first. I started getting confidence in my climbing ability by doing the 7.5's before tackling the 10's- then the 12's. What convinced that the 16% was possible was that the week before I had done a 12% with a 25 mph headwind. It's possible. The bike is lighter- it rolls better so not using as much energy and the climbing ability of the lighter frames is tremendous. Whether that is mental or not-I do not know- as my top speed on the flat has not increased- I don't think it is solely the bike.

Then if you do get the bike and not find you have a low enough gear-Rear cassettes are easy enough to change-----Or failing that- a change to front chainring sprockets is always possible.


Edit------ This is a new bike and if you talk kindly to the LBS- They should be able to sustitute a Mountain bike Crankset for you. A 48/36/26 should be possible- but not certain that the quality of the only one I can think of (Deore) would be as good as the Ultegra set up. But there are other Good quality non OM crankserts out there. And--It would be possible to run a 9 speed set up to get a lower gear- but I am just wondering if that is what you do need. If it worries you that much- The change the crankset from new and perhaps some of the MTB riders can come up with a lower geared quality set that they could recommend.

And for 10 speed and lower gearing- look at one from Harris cycles. The IRD 10 spd cassette-11/32/ or 11/34. Expensive and will also require a rear derailler.

https://sheldonbrown.com/harris/k7.html#10

I dare say you are pushing a smaller package up those hills if I remember right.
Certainly not the 187 pounds I'm packing.
Granted those 187 are a LOT easier to push uphill than the 220-225 I carried when I first started
And I imagine the 180 I'm working toward -slowly (damned March)- will be easier yet.
So, that's kind of my thinking now... deal with the 27 and the perceived loss of progress I've made until I can drop a few more and build up more strength and endurance which is definitely an actively, ongoing process.

That IRD cassette would require an RD swap which is something I don't want to do.
That Ultegra RD is NICE!
But, a smaller inner ring up front might be doable without wrecking the whole set up.
I keep doing it, I keep getting better. I can see it.

SKT...have you considered going to a different crank with a different bolt circle which would allow you to keep your Ultegra rd, but significantly change/lower your gearing? You can go economical with Sugino XD (a little over $100 or pay more for TA, etc.. Check out Peter White's site. I have the stock Sugino on my Riv Romulus. Chain rings are 26/36/48 giving me a 27inch low with a 12x25 cassette. Your low with a 27inch cog would be 26inches. Keep in mind your favorite 30/30 combo gives you 27inches. Voila!

The advantage of the Sugino 110-74 bolt circle is that there are many more chain ring options than the relative few offered by Shimano's bigger bolt circle. You can personalize your shifting far more. You might spin out on fast downhills depending on your big ring, but....you won't grind out going up those hills. Anyway, I have an otherwise Shimano drivetrain (including front der.) with the Sugino and all works fine.

Worth a thought if you want to keep that rd or really fiddle with your gear ratios. As I recall, jppe happily uses mountain bike gearing on the steeps...with a very long cage mtn rd.

This is me. I have a 52/39/26 in front and a 12-27 in back, on my '05 Giant OCR CF. It is great, albeit I find I seldom have to use it. I have figured where the gear ratio is about the same as a compact double and try to stay there or above.

I think you get a lot o' bike for the money with a Giant. I have 16,000 miles on mine and have had no problems. Pull the trigger.

SKT,

On a new bike purchase, you could probably get the shop to swap the Ultegra RD and 12/27 cassette for an XT or XTR MTB rear derailleur and put an 11/34 MTB cassette on. That would give you all the granny ANYBODY would ever need. Maybe jppe will chime in, he did this to his 5900 for hill climbing.

Very nice pics, SKT. You're really getting a good deal of test rides on that bike, and it sounds like it's almost in your hand. You're going to wait another 6 months to decide?

Yes, a good suggestion but as I said earlier, it is something I do not want to do (see above)
So, it's either go with a 26 up front or just "man up" with the 30/27... or just keep the Reno and forget the Giant. Stay tuned

Consider:

Can you improve enough to be comfortable with the as is gearing on the Giant? You know the answer is yes. Does that help?

I absolutely, 100% believe I can, yes.

Does it help? I don't know... today I'm leaning toward just keeping the Reno
I know the bike and I only have 1800-1900 miles ont it. I've only ridden it for a year for cryin' out loud.
What am I doing, thinking of shelling out $1800 for some poseur CF bike when I already have a bike that's more than good enough for my abilities? And it looks good, too <sigh>

Now, as for throwing a 26t on the front; it comes with a Truvativ Rolleur crank.
I've tried to dig up some detailed specs on it but haven't had much luck.
Any idea where I'd find a 26t that'll fit? Who's compatible with a Truvativ crank?

It says a Truvativ Rouleur crankset on the specs but the Current Rouleur Crank is a compact or std Double. But that does not matter. The hole spacing for the Small ring will be conventional 5 bolt Triple as used by all the other manufacturers on road Cranksets. (MTB's are smaller) So getting a smaller small ring is not a problem.

Next problem???


The worries about higher gearing can be overcome- Either mentally or by physical action of changing the ring. The bike rides good- and it looks great. Just the problem as to whether you want a new bike. Need is one of the things that we can disregard at our age. Just go for another test ride and decide. Not going to talk you into it or away from it. Just look at the bike and decide.


https://www.sram.com/en/truvativ/roadcranksets/

Any 26 tooth 5 bolt ring with 74mm BCD will work.

Yep, believe me, the first think I did was "Google" Truvativ and head out to the SRAM site.
Apparently they made a triple, but no more.
OK, so, if I can find a 26t road ring, I'm OK. Good to know.
I'll bring that up with the shop and see what she says.

And, yes, one thing I know is that "need" doesn't even factor in to the equation

Shimano has just come out with an XT touring crank that is 48/36/26. I think you need to use the matching fd also. I use XT on my touring bike and it performs as well or better than the XTR/Ultegra/DuraAce components on my various bikes.

Note that standard rear cassettes with 32 or 34 teeth are mbr and 9 speed. There are special order cassettes that go to 30 teeth but I have heard mixed comments on their quality of shifting (compared to modern Shimano) so do not have personal experience with them. I'd be interested in comments about these 10 speed, 29 or 30 tooth cassettes.