TCR Advanced SL ISP 2016, alternatives to upgrade

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vilegnus
Posts: 60
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2015 7:46 pm
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by vilegnus

Hi, all!

I ride a bike, assembled on TCR Advanced SL ISP 2016 frameset since dec2015. bike has a nice ride, reasonable weight etc., but i have 2 reasons to move to something else.
1) Since this january i fly a lot with my bike and ISP causes a lot of problems with bike packing. I dont think, that ISP is an option for me
2) Annoying OD2 headset. I cant find any stems in our LBS's, cant go for Specialized bikefit, cause their adjusting stem is for 1-1/8 steerer etc. Really cant see any reasons why i'd go for 1-1/4 in the future.

I need a climbing frameset well suitable for ride in the mountains (Cyprus, Italy, Spain) on 10%+ uphills and downhills, frame aero in not an issue for me.

I can see such alternatives for me:
- new tarmac. nice bike, really well reviews, but a bit trivial :)
- supersix evo. had one a couple of years ago. bike rides well overall, but creaking from BB made my life a pain ( and it seems, that headset angle is different from standard. cornering is a bit nervous for me
- cervelo r5. best choiсe in my mind and dreams, but did not ride it to make it sure.
- colnago c60. a lot of hype about this frame from two of my friends. heavy, expensive, but really well made and has some luxury :))
- scott addict. really nice frame, but... for me ride a scott is something like a sex with pig. don't know why :( it's something irrational somewhere in my inflamed brain.

Do anybody have a longterm opinion about comparison of new TCR Advanced SL and frames from the list?

Which frame won't disappoint after TCR?
Last edited by vilegnus on Sun Aug 14, 2016 1:05 am, edited 5 times in total.

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wingguy
Posts: 4318
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2012 11:43 pm

by wingguy

The Colnago and the Tarmac would both be great to ride, but also significantly heavier for system weight on the same build. The Addict is as light but tests as the flexiest frame of the main contenders. Not an issue if you're a really lightweight climber, but still... The Evo is all around excellent but if you don't like it you don't like it - I've found it a bit more subdued in handling than some other bikes which is brilliant when you're carrying shedloads of mid-corner speed but doesn't always feel as exciting as some other bikes.

The R5 would be a great option. Or what about a Bianchi Specialissima or Wilier Zero.7? I loved the first gen Zero.7 and the Specialissima looks and sounds amazing but I haven't ridden one or know anyone with one.

vilegnus
Posts: 60
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2015 7:46 pm
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by vilegnus

wingguy wrote:The Evo is all around excellent but if you don't like it you don't like it - I've found it a bit more subdued in handling than some other bikes which is brilliant when you're carrying shedloads of mid-corner speed but doesn't always feel as exciting as some other bikes.

I dont know why, but i felt something like oversteering, riding my EVO. May be too acute angle of headset or something else.
the main issue with SS Evo for me is BB30, really annoyed with creaking on all my bikes with same BB shell: SS Evo, Flash and custom made MTB carbon frame by garbaruk.
Now, with TCR this problem have been solved, but now i have a couple of new PITA's

wingguy wrote:Or what about a Bianchi Specialissima or Wilier Zero.7?

I've never ridden neither Bianchi or Wilier, and don't even familiar with their model lineup.
Thanks for mention of this models, will do a google search about them.

mimason
Posts: 654
Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2009 11:43 pm
Location: Florida

by mimason

What size frame is your TCR and what case do you use? I recently flew with my ML TCR and used a Biknd case. Im sure there are other good cases but this one worked well for me. Im not sure what my bb to top of isp measurement is but bb to saddle is 75cm. I removed the stem with bars attached, removed the isp clamp with saddle still attached to isp topper , removed rear mech, and was able to leave the compact rings on. I think next time i might remove the cranks to lower the isp height some more but all was fine.

gavin
Posts: 57
Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2016 9:33 pm

by gavin

Bike box alan is the bike box i use and offers one of the best protections for travelling . ISP is no problen fitting in .

You wont find a better frame than the TCR SL for the money

vilegnus
Posts: 60
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2015 7:46 pm
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by vilegnus

mimason wrote:What size frame is your TCR and what case do you use?

I use scicon aerocomfort MTB for both road and mtb bikes.
BB-saddle top height is 73.5 on M-frame and fit in the case is really tight. really risky for zipper and saddle integrity.
Of course i can remove saddle clamp, and handlebar (do latter anyway) but i dont like an idea to screw-unscrew a m3-size bolt on the clamp.
there are at least 3 ways to fault:
- to damage a hex socket which has an idiotic small size (m3). bolt itself on 2016 model unlike older ones is really rare, didn't find a spare when tried
- to damage an aluminum thread in the clamp. its impossible to find a spare clamp in our LBS and next to impossible on ebay
- to overtorque a clamp and damage a carbon-fiber tube. clamp tends not to creak in very narrow range of torques. lower torque causes a play and damage of carbon fiber, higher torque damages a tube another way. irony here is that a torque could be too low and too high at the same time :)). passport torque is enough to damage a varnish, unfortunately.

and yes, i have all torque wrenches, carbon fiber assembling compound and lots of bike maintenance experience. but didn't find a way to keep a part of ISP tube under a clamp undamaged
Last edited by vilegnus on Sun Aug 14, 2016 8:33 am, edited 1 time in total.

Oswald
Posts: 794
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 10:11 pm

by Oswald

Maybe you can remove the chainrings instead of the isp clamp? That should make it sit in the box a bit lower.

vilegnus
Posts: 60
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2015 7:46 pm
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by vilegnus

gavin wrote:You wont find a better frame than the TCR SL for the money

Had exactly that feeling during my first ride on SS Evo Hi-mod after an old TCR Advanced SL retired after 4 years, 50K km's and dozen of crashes.

btw i liked a color scheme of an old tcr a lot. much better than all new designs for me
Image

vilegnus
Posts: 60
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2015 7:46 pm
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by vilegnus

Oswald wrote:Maybe you can remove the chainrings instead of the isp clamp? That should make it sit in the box a bit lower.

in cases like scicon aerocomfort bike is mounted on the aluminum frame by dropouts and absence of chainrings cant change anything.

stoney
Posts: 474
Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2011 11:26 am

by stoney

I suggest the 2016 Giant TCR Advanced Pro frameset. It's the same frame without the ISP.

vilegnus
Posts: 60
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2015 7:46 pm
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by vilegnus

stoney wrote:I suggest the 2016 Giant TCR Advanced Pro frameset. It's the same frame without the ISP.

unfortunately, this frame has 300gr. weight penalty, compared to advanced sl, cause made of cheaper carbon fiber

gavin
Posts: 57
Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2016 9:33 pm

by gavin

Correct ⬆️⬆️

jeffy
Posts: 1325
Joined: Sun Oct 05, 2014 11:51 pm

by jeffy

vilegnus wrote:
stoney wrote:I suggest the 2016 Giant TCR Advanced Pro frameset. It's the same frame without the ISP.

unfortunately, this frame has 300gr. weight penalty, compared to advanced sl, cause made of cheaper carbon fiber


in medium, the SL is ~150g

vilegnus
Posts: 60
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2015 7:46 pm
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by vilegnus

jeffy wrote:
vilegnus wrote:
stoney wrote:I suggest the 2016 Giant TCR Advanced Pro frameset. It's the same frame without the ISP.

unfortunately, this frame has 300gr. weight penalty, compared to advanced sl, cause made of cheaper carbon fiber


in medium, the SL is ~150g

i had both framesets on the scale, new and uncut when bought mine in Giant LBD. weight difference was about 285 or 286 grams, dont remember exactly and it was a decisive point for me.
both M, both 2016 year, both with hanger, seatpost and headset.

jeffy
Posts: 1325
Joined: Sun Oct 05, 2014 11:51 pm

by jeffy

even Giant say the weight saving is ~10%

by Weenie


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