Giant TCR Advanced SL Review

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So, too, is the fork. Well, the steerer is, but you can’t see that. The blades follow conventional current practice with mildly-tapered straight blades leading to dropouts placed inline with them; the fork’s not exactly graceful, but it does look effective.

And “effective” is what the bike is. As a pedalling platform the Giant TCR Advanced SL is near flawless – provided it fits. We tested a size M/L/53.5cm, which has a seat angle set at 72.5deg allied with a 57cm “effective” top tube – measured parallel to the ground and between seat tube and head tube centre lines.

By way of contrast, Giant’s Defy model, aimed at riders wanting “pro level performance with a smoother ride”, has a 73deg seat angle and 56cm top tube. For a mid-sized frame, 72.5deg is on the relaxed side, especially for a competition bicycle, and works best for the rider who likes to sit well behind the bottom bracket.

This reviewer was obliged to put the saddle as far forward as permitted by the Inline Seat Post’s clamp, which itself sits behind the post centre line. If you like the saddle to sit centrally over the post, this is where the clamp has to be.

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CTR suspects most riders would find the Defy an easier machine to set up whether for racing, where the steeper seat angle will permit a more aggressive stance, or for leisure riding where the shorter top tube will help with finding a less challenging handlebar placement.

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“Get the fit right, however,

and the TCR proves a trusty, if

somewhat stern, riding partner.”

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Integrated seatpost and fi’zi:k saddle

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