Help Please, what do you think to this Giant TCR?

[russy01]

Evening Chaps,

Decided that I am going to buy my first RB, do a fair bit of Road Cycling on the MB and have been enjoying using my Brothers Carbon Boardman RB recently. Be looking to do 100miles a week to shave off some fat and generally get outside more often.
I had initially wanted to buy a used bike to save some cash and get better bike for the money, but any bike which comes up for sale is the other side of the country or the wrong size.

I have narrowed it down to 2 bikes and I wanted your opinion.

Local Bike shop have a new 2010 Giant TCR Advanced frame which they will build up for me to look at tomorrow.

Spec is as follows -

Giant TCR Advanced 2010
Giant PSL1 Wheels
Full 105 groupset, shifters, calipers etc etc.

All coming in at £1100.



My alternative and something that I have been drawn to for a while is the Felt F5 105 on wiggle which is coming in at about the same price at of £1150 - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-f5-105-2012/


I am leaning towards the giant as It will look pretty smart when built and I am starting a relationship with my LBS.

I would like to hear your opinions bad and good before I potentially go and blow £1100 tomorrow.

Thanks.

Russ

[sparkyb999]

The TCR's are real nice bikes, I personally would go for this over a felt, not because there is anything wrong with the Felt, but I have always brought the larger manufacture bikes, i.e Trek / Specialized, & Cervelo.

For a grand you cant go wrong with this frame and spec.. I saw Tim Don's race bike in velomotion and in the flesh the Giants are nice.

[Rouleur]

Without any doubt I'd go for the Giant, that frameset is very very good and in a different league to the Felt. The 2013 version costs £1500 which should give you an idea of how good they are.

[russy01]

Rouleur said:

Without any doubt I'd go for the Giant, that frameset is very very good and in a different league to the Felt. The 2013 version costs £1500 which should give you an idea of how good they are.

Yea well he has the 2013 in the shop at £1600. He is literally stripping the components off the new bike to put on this frame for me.

If I like it I see myself buying it quite frankly.

[jackh707]

I've got the bog standard TCR frame aluminium with carbon forks, and a 105 groupset.
I'm 95kg and like to sprint. The frame has been stiff and strong enough for my needs but remained comfortable, finish has lasted well, no stone chips in the 18 months I've had it, and no corrosion on any anodising.

I've been very happy with it, and it looks very nice, and not too bling.

[bakerstreet]

At £1100, I'd snap his arm off. That is a bloody good deal.

I have an 2010 Giant Defy 2 and it has been great

[dangerousB]

Albeit different wheels, that TCR's pretty much my bike . . . can't recommend it highly enough and at 1100 quid, I'd be biting his arm off as well

[MadDad]

GIANT is a good price, I was looking at one earlier this year but LBS warned me away from it. Apparently it is a very fast and nimble bike but has a very harsh ride - OK if you are only planning on 30-50 mile rides but in their opinion much longer than that and you will get off feeling quite fatigued. BTW - I ended up spending much more on a Dedacciai Ti bike!

I have a 2010 Felt F75 as my 'not best' bike and rate it very highly. It is quick, compliant, stiff - the only thing that let it down out of the box was a set of heavy wheels, but a couple of hundred quid spent at Planet-X and I had a set of RS80's that transformed it's hill climbing ability. I test rode the F5 earlier this year and was equally impressed (F5 has the same geo as the F75), a very fast bike that handled extremely well on a very fast descent near me - had I not gone for the Ti bike I would have probably opted for the F3 (exactly same geo as the F5 but with SRAM Red groupo).

Ultimately you can't go wrong with either bike you are looking at, but fit is the most important thing and while I rave on about my Felt it might not be the right bike for you. If you LBS is any good they will let you take both bikes for a test ride back to back - it really would be the best way to figure out which one is best for you!

[fromage]

Couldn't recommend the TCR enough. Had mine (TCR Advanced 1 2011) for 4-5 months now and done 2,500 miles on it now with a mix of long club rides, chain gangs and crit racing and has been perfect. I had come from a Planet X SL Pro and the difference was amazing, it's so much stiffer when sprinting etc and yet feels just as comfortable if not more on longer riders.

Also I think they are awesome looking bikes and I managed to get mine for an absolute bargain (ex team bike so was in excellent condition).

[russy01]

That's a very sexy bike!

So I bought the giant, kitted myself up with a new helmet, new lights, new computer and got out on the road tonight! Only did about 10miles as I had places to be but I am loving it (And it was dark and raining). After just 10miles I agree with what you say already, fairly comfy but stiff as old boots when really putting your weight down.

Here's a grainy picture.



Can't wait to get out in the light and tire myself out!