Giant TCR Advanced 3

Marcosplace

Anyone got one? I fell in love with it yesterday - sat on it in shop - perfect.....

What is it like? How does it compare to other similiar makes?

Thanks

sward29

I thinkj it has just won bike of the year in Cycling Plus. I've got a 2008 TCR advanced and am really pleased with it but the 09 version is supposed to be a lot better.

rollin

Giant TCR Advanced 3 did win Cycling Plus bike of 2009. Race/ sportive bikes 1,200 to 1,700 pounds.

I have never seen one on the road. Around here it's all Colnagos, Treks, Cervelos and Pinnarellos. Personally I think they are ugly, each to his own. The review was glowing.

"The confidence the TCR gave descending was truly awe-inspiring"

"The Giant is just such a perfectly balanced all-rounder that Cycling Plus has no hesitation recommending it"

"Once you's ridden the Giant TCR Advance it didn't matter what groupset it had on it" (test bike was 105)

Second: Time Speeder Veloce

Third: Wiler Mortirolo

They tested 37 bicycles including:

Viner Celer
Madone 4.5
Specialized Tarmac Comp
Specialized Roubaix Elite
Ridley Orion
Scott CR1 TeamFelt Z35
Felt F4 SL
Colnago Arte
Cervelo S1
Cannondale Synapse Carbon 105
Bianchi 928 Mono-Q
Basso Laguna

That's some serious competition.

incog24

I love mine and would recommend it to anyone. Its also worth noting that Giant make similar price trek, colnago, specialized, pinarello, canyon frames. In fact I think they make all the bikes for all those bikes except trek (due to some dispute over how trek like to fit BB's which Giant engineers thought wasn't a great idea). Therefore you can safely assume that you're getting a better bike than any of those other brands, as obviously if you're making the bikes you tend to have the best understanding! Apparently the tcr advanced is stiffer and more compliant than competitors bikes (normal chat I know, but they do have data for it). Another thing to note is that although last years tcr advanced was made of T800, this years one is made of T700 and is still stiffer, more comfortable, and lighter due to design improvements. Not bad considering the cheaper carbon drops the frame price by £700...

The forks do have and alu steerer, but it only raises the weight by 100g. The wheels are pretty bombproof and might actually be about the same weight as the aksiums on the advanced 2. The main reason for the different wheels on the higher spec model is that people like branded stuff on their bike!

Hope that helps

rollin

I hope it looks better than all of the pictures because it looks fugly

giant_man

What's ugly about it? It's the same compact shape evolved over the years from the first TCR by Mike Burrows.

It's virtually a classic! And Giant were the first to offer the compact frame. All the others followed.

CharityRider

I am planning on doing a ride for charity it will be from Cornwall to Paris, i have done alot of mountain biking and DH riding in canada so i'm not new to bikes just very new and unexperienced when it comes to road bikes. It will be a very long ride and i would appreciate any advice. Thanks

rollin

giant mancp wrote:

What's ugly about it? It's the same compact shape evolved over the years from the first TCR by Mike Burrows.

It's virtually a classic! And Giant were the first to offer the compact frame. All the others followed.

Where to start?

I don't particularly like compact frames.
I don't like aesthetic carbon layers.
I don't like huge billboard graphics (they seem to have missed the top tube )

Apart from that it's great

rollin

CharityRider wrote:

I am planning on doing a ride for charity it will be from Cornwall to Paris, i have done alot of mountain biking and DH riding in canada so i'm not new to bikes just very new and unexperienced when it comes to road bikes. It will be a very long ride and i would appreciate any advice. Thanks

I'm guessing you wanted to start a thread.

justresting

beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I think it looks nice, but I think my Defy 1 looks nicer !!!

Marcosplace

Im buying it...got the go ahead from the missus....



It flies....

Hope to pass you all at a road near you soon......

rollin

Good for you. Ride hard, ride safe.

justresting

result !!!!!

giant_man

rollin wrote:

giant mancp wrote:

What's ugly about it? It's the same compact shape evolved over the years from the first TCR by Mike Burrows.

It's virtually a classic! And Giant were the first to offer the compact frame. All the others followed.

Where to start?

I don't particularly like compact frames.
I don't like aesthetic carbon layers.
I don't like huge billboard graphics (they seem to have missed the top tube )

Apart from that it's great

So why bother to even comment on it, I am sure you haven't even ridden one. Who cares what you think?

rollin

giant mancp wrote:

rollin wrote:

giant mancp wrote:

What's ugly about it?

So why bother to even comment on it, I am sure you haven't even ridden one. Who cares what you think?[/i]

Lighten up.

I gave my opinion, because you seemed to ask for it.

I never claimed to have ridden it. In fact if you bothered to read my earlier posts you would see I haven't even seen one in the flesh.

justresting

Surely rollin is just as entitled to his opinion as anyone else, thats the point of a forum.

(Even if I don,t agree)

gabriel959

incog24 wrote:

I love mine and would recommend it to anyone. Its also worth noting that Giant make similar price trek, colnago, specialized, pinarello, canyon frames. In fact I think they make all the bikes for all those bikes except trek (due to some dispute over how trek like to fit BB's which Giant engineers thought wasn't a great idea). Therefore you can safely assume that you're getting a better bike than any of those other brands, as obviously if you're making the bikes you tend to have the best understanding! Apparently the tcr advanced is stiffer and more compliant than competitors bikes (normal chat I know, but they do have data for it). Another thing to note is that although last years tcr advanced was made of T800, this years one is made of T700 and is still stiffer, more comfortable, and lighter due to design improvements. Not bad considering the cheaper carbon drops the frame price by £700...

The forks do have and alu steerer, but it only raises the weight by 100g. The wheels are pretty bombproof and might actually be about the same weight as the aksiums on the advanced 2. The main reason for the different wheels on the higher spec model is that people like branded stuff on their bike!

Hope that helps

Not better than Orbea Onix though and that one is made in Europe. The Orbea is cheaper and uses the same carbon fiber T700 as the Giant and comes with better warranty and components.

And better looking too!

pud77

Has anyone tried a 2009 TCR Advanced against a 2009 Defy Advanced ?

Cycling Plus basically said in the bike of the year article that they couldn't see the need for the Defy because the TCR was comfy enough. I gather the TCR is supposed to be the out and out stiff hardcore machine and the Defy the more relaxed mile muncher for long rides, sportives etc.

Anyone care to comment to add to this thread ?

giant_man

justresting wrote:

Surely rollin is just as entitled to his opinion as anyone else, thats the point of a forum.

(Even if I don,t agree)

of course everyone is entitled to their own opinion, god knows I express mine often enough, but why rubbish something if you haven't even seen one in the flesh? (They are finished really well btw). I don't understand that. No I'm not a compact fan either but you can't argue with the history of that frame or the fact that it beat 36 other frames in the BOTY in the latest C+.

justresting

I like compacts, Love my Giants (Defy 1 & Terrago) but if anyone wants to rubbish them I really don't mind, its a FORUM

HonestAl

I've got a TCR Advanced 2 and love it, well deserving the plaudits it gets. Before I bought it I tried the Defy Advanced. In fact I rode both on the same day. Both felt great but the TCR marginally more "direct". I was looking for a sportive style bike, hence trying the Defy, but once I'd ridden the TCR I was sold despite it not being exactly what I was looking for. So far I guess the farthest I've ridden it in one go is between 50 and 60 miles but it's absolutely fine for that sort of distance, and the only fatigue I feel is due to my old limbs and muscles, not the bike

I'd recommend one if you're looking for something fast and stable. Not the prettiest bike in the world, but very, very good IMO

rollin

giant mancp wrote:

justresting wrote:

Surely rollin is just as entitled to his opinion as anyone else, thats the point of a forum.

(Even if I don,t agree)

of course everyone is entitled to their own opinion, god knows I express mine often enough, but why rubbish something if you haven't even seen one in the flesh? (They are finished really well btw). I don't understand that. No I'm not a compact fan either but you can't argue with the history of that frame or the fact that it beat 36 other frames in the BOTY in the latest C+.

I don't think I "rubbishd" it. I'm sure it's a great bike. Read my first post, it clearly beat of some serious competition, I'm sure it's a great frame.

incog24

I've ridden the defy advanced and giant advanced when they were dressed up in the same components. The Defy is really comfortable, although the biggest difference is that it is a bit less direct on the steering due to the longer wheel base. Although the tcr is selling loads more than the defy advanced, Giant actually think that 80% of people spending that sort of money would be better off with the Defy...

Marcosplace

I bought my GIANT TCR ADVANCED yesterdday. 30 miles late and it rocks.......

What a bike!!!! I am cruising at 20 mph on flat and inclines are much better....

Mark Cavendish must really have a good bike at Scott if he is leaving his success on this one behind.. 8)

incog24

Marcosplace wrote:

Mark Cavendish must really have a good bike at Scott if he is leaving his success on this one behind.. 8)

I think it was more to do with them asking for double the sponsorship money from Giant, and Scott not having a top level team..

Glad you like the bike