JohnZ

I couldn't find much info on the Giant FCR 4 when I was researching my recent bike purchase, so I thought I'd add my own now that I'm an FCR owner.

After years of cheap hybrid bikes, I got my first road bike, the Giant FCR4, and I love it! I wanted a bike that I could use for my very short commute (1.5 hilly miles) and the occasional longer weekend or workout ride (10-20miles). I find this bike to be perfect for my purposes.

Pro's:
-Inexpensive compared to other road bikes. My budget was $500 to $700, but I got this from LBS for $475!
-This is technically a "flat-bar road bike", which means that the handle bars are flat and more upright, like a mountain bike. Since I don't care too much about aerodynamics, this is an advantage as I find it more comfortable.
-This bike is very lightweight compared to the cheaper models I'm used to riding. I'm lifting this bike up and down my house stairs quite a bit, so the light weight is very nice. It's easy to take front wheel off and put the bike in the car.
-This bike is fast. I went on my first casual group ride last weekend and had no problem keeping up with everyone, even though I'm just getting back into riding shape.
-I love the looks and the silver frame has already gotten positive comments.
-Although I don't have much higher-end bike experience to compare it to, I find the shifting and braking mechanisms to be excellent.

Con's:
-The LBS said that the low-end pedals were standard. I paid $18 to upgrade to the foot straps.
-The seat is average. I might upgrade this.
-I am 6'4" and got the XL, but I think that a slightly longer bike might be more comfortable.
-Bumpier ride than I am used to, but I think this is mainly due to the road bike design.

Overall:
I love this bike. It makes my commute so enjoyable, and I find that I am wanting to do more weekend/workout rides than I anticipated. I just rode for 15 miles this morning, and I can't wait to get back on it.

badger31164

I bought an FCR 4 from my LBS in Texas for $335 in the spring of 2008. I believe the original price was about $200 more than that. Out the door with sales tax was about $400 for me because the shop did a bit of work before I rode it home. I had a Shimano MegaRange casette on another bike which they swapped to the FCR4 which necessitated a new longer (I think 116 link) chain. They also installed better pedals, supplied by me, and they kept the junky stock ones.

Mine is an XL frame size, too big for me, really, but not much. I'm 6'1" but have short legs and a long torso. At the moment I weigh 220 pounds but was closer to 260 in 2008.

I soon removed the suspension seat post and the stock gel saddle. I put on a Gyes leather saddle (Taiwanese copy of a Brooks B67) and a 27.2 fixed alloy seat post.

The stock 32 spoke wheels are flimsy (I wasn't expecting much from a $335 bike) and I broke a spoke on a rear wheel in 2009. I replaced the stock wheels with 36 spokers, built by my Toronto LBS with Shimano Deore LX hubs and Mavic T224 eyeletted rims. Huge improvement.

At the moment I'm running Continental Ultra Gatorskins in 700 x 28c. These are 'way expensive ($44 EACH!) but are flat-protected and have given me nearly 2 years of flawless service (as they should for that price!). When I buy new tires, I'll probably buy Serfas ones at about half the price.

I was wary of the SRAM 24 speed mec but so far, it has worked fine.

What I don't like: no upper rack mount bushings in the rear. I'm using a cheap plastic Schwinn clamp-on rack at the moment.

I have ridden this bike some on gravel, dirt, and caleche roads and trails and it's OK. In November, 2009, I got a proper hardtail mountain bike, so no longer have to punish the FCR4 off road.

John Alldredge 64 years old, winter Texan from Ontario