maxpare

Hi guys, I have two choices for my new bikes, both are Giant Propel

Choice 1
Propel Advanced 1
Ultegra
Advanced grade Carbon fork with alloy steerer
Giant PA-2 wheelset
Price 1900usd

Choice 2
Propel Advanced Pro 2
105
"Pro" grade carbon fork with full carbon steerer
Giant P-SLR 1 50mm Aero wheelset
Price 2400usd

Is the pro2 worth it over the adv1? It's basically ultegra vs 105, ALU steerer vs carbon, pro grade vs advanced grade carbon for the fork and better wheels on the pro?
But are these worth it? Maybe get the adv1 and upgrade wheels later?

I am upgrading from a Defy 3, so anything is a step up.. I mainly ride on flat road around an agricultural town so lots of wind.

Thx guys

dvdslw

I like choice #2 because the wheels are worth more than double the price difference and you're getting a better grade carbon to boot. I've never tried the new 105 components but many swear it's as good as Ultegra and if blindfolded couldn't tell the difference. So better foundation and better wheels for $500 is a no brainer.

maxpare

Ok I tought ultegra was a good upgrade over the 105...the bikes are available at 2 different lbs and each is doing a sales pitch why the one they have is better than the other...
Adv1 salesman tells me getting an ultegra bike for this price is a really good deal and he wants to buy back the stock wheels for 200usd replaced them with mavic cosmic sls with a rebate 20% off the wheelset, the upgrade would cost me around 800usd...that would bring the bike in the 2600usd ballpark. And he tells me the giant P-SLR 1 wheels on the pro 2 are crap...

Pro2 salesman tells me to get the pro2 for the better fork which would apparently make a big difference in the ride smoothness... And he says the P-SLR 1 wheels are one of the best in their price range lol

You can see why I am confused

rms13

#2
Giant Propel Advanced Pro 2 - video review - BikeRadar USA

Stucky

The best of both worlds would be to get choice #1 , and with the money you saved, get better wheels. That way you'd have the better group set for the same price. And I would not consider the carbon steerer as being "better"- Personally, I'd rather have the alloy- so #1 with upgraded wheels would be my choice. (Well, personally, I wouldn't even bother upgrading the wheels- it won't make any difference in actual riding)

rms13

The frame is different, not simply the steerer

maxpare

Well just the fork actually... The rest of the frame is the same...

Also you say the better wheels won't make a difference? At my LBS the guys says upgrading the wheels is the best upgrade you could ever do to a bike, like I said I am a noob to all this, been riding my alloy Defy 3 for 5 years now and never really did some serious research except for the past few days

ronbizkit

Other considerations...

What is your budget???
What is your experience with either LBS?

FWIW I was just in the same boat as you and chose better frame and wheels over components, but in my case the price point was basically identical.

Stucky

Yeah...the guy is telling the truth- but "best" is relative. Is doing a ride 30 mile ride 20 seconds faster a concern for you? Is having the feeling that you are accelerating faster meaningful? Is gaining 3 or 4 seconds on a climb (and losing the same on the descent) something that's important to you?

If you're a serious racer, those seconds may matter; if not, they probably don't. There's lots of BS in the cycling world- some of it is partly true....but when the facts are known, even what is true, only amounts to a very slight imperceptible difference, which has no meaning to recreational riders. The thing that makes the most difference, is the rider.