Giant TCR Advanced SL family

[chupster98]

Heres’s my contribution to the small army of Giant fans.


2016 TCR Adv SL 2:
6.68 kg / 14.73 lbs - Dura Ace 9100 (current)
6.81 kg / 15.01 lbs - Ultegra 6800 (stock)
52-36 , 11-30 DA group
SLR1 30mm wheels
Conti 5000 28mm tires
Tubolito inner tubes
Easton EC 90 SLX 42cm carbon bar
Giant SLR OD2 carbon stem
Xpedo Thrust 8 Ti pedals
San Marco Concor Carbon FX saddle
Lizard Skin 2.5mm tape
Fizik Gel handle bar pads
Blackburn carbon cages

2012 TCR Adv SL Rabobank:
7.28 kg / 16.04 lbs - Dura Ace 7900 (current)
7.0 kg / 15.43 lbs (stock)



With the 2016 SL2 - the Ultegra 6800 group was a huge improvement over the 7900 DA & more than enough -performance wise- for daily use.

Got a great deal on the DA 9100 group set & jumped at the opportunity to build my dream bike. Bike rides really smooth, perfect for long days in the saddle.

Prior to these 2 toys, the previous iteration was:

2010 TCR Adv 2 :
7.48kg / 16.5 lbs - Ultegra 6700

This is my 5th Giant over the years & won’t be the last.









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[integration]

Love the high-vis yellow and the era-specific team livery!

Did you have any issues setting up the dura ace 9100 front derailleur? I'm about to go from 6800 to 9100 on my TCR and read thatsome people had a bit of trouble setting up the dura ace 9100 front derailleur, as the frame was designed aroung the previous generation 9000.

[chupster98]

It took me a couple times to set & adjust the front der. properly, but mostly related to the new derailleur design & learning the new adjustment steps. There’s no issues with the frame.

I would recommend to add a lot of tension when pulling the cable the 1st time, the way the cable is routed along the der. body, creates a marked crease on the cable once you tighten the bolt/washer/cable tension gizmo.

I didn’t put the old inline cable tension adjustment knob on the housing & plan to add it once I ride the bike a couple times. I thought the new built in cable tension screw would leave some room for future tension adjustment, I’ve maxed out the adjustment screw & I won’t have room to add extra tension once the new cable stretches a bit.

I would also recommend to download the Shimano dealer manual with step by step install & adjustment guide. Also look for the Shimano dealer video, it is key to understand the proper trim positions when adjusting the high & low screws.

Send me a PM & I can share the PDF.



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[robertg]

Great looking bikes! I have owned multiple TCRs and they were all great riding bikes, never disappointed.

[shotgun]

Rabobank is such a classic and awesome livery!

Hi-viz definitely helps others see you on the road, additional safety feature right there.

I agree with you, I need 2 hands to count the number of TCRs I've gone through and I don't think it'll change anytime soon

[chupster98]

I was reluctant at first with the Fluoro yellow....after a life of “murdered out” bikes !

The Rabo bike changed my approach to color on bikes.

I didn’t know the Rabo doping past when I first bought the bike (mountain biker turned roadie) & considered repainting it many, many times. I even sourced the original Adobe Illustrator files from one of Giant’s graphic designers (through a designers forum I followed) in order to change the color scheme.

At the end I kept it as is, once I learned more about Giant’s history & contribution to the sport. I truly became a fan after Degenkolb’s Roubaix & Domoulin’s Giro’s victories.


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[kolarzyk]

chupster98, how do you compare Rabobank TCR to the newer Yellow one in terms of riding, stiffness, comfort? I also have one TCR Adv SL Rabobank and second one stripped form pain, that I like very much. Recently my friend insisit on selling him the naked TCR so I'm thinking of new TCR SL '19 in chameleon paint but I'm curious if there's any noticable difference between current and previous generations?

[shotgun]

I've had the SL version of the rabobank SL '17 ( which I think is still similar to the '19 still). The '17 was more compliant, but with a less responsive front end (which isn't a bad thing).

[chupster98]

chupster98, how do you compare Rabobank TCR to the newer Yellow one in terms of riding, stiffness, comfort? I also have one TCR Adv SL Rabobank and second one stripped form pain, that I like very much. Recently my friend insisit on selling him the naked TCR so I'm thinking of new TCR SL '19 in chameleon paint but I'm curious if there's any noticable difference between current and previous generations?

Tough question.... I don’t think is possible to quantify a noticeable difference without riding both bikes on the same wheels.

My first ride on the 2016 / Yellow was tough....until I realized I was running the 25mm Conti 4k’s at 95 -100 psi / rear, on stiffer carbon wheels.

Once I read a bit & understood the advantages of running wider & lower pressure tires, I eventually switched the 2016 / Yellow to 28mm Conti 5k’s - at 78 psi / rear & 73 psi / front.

The 2012 / Rabo running on DA C24’s aluminum wheels, was switched to 25mm Conti 4k’s at 83 psi / rear & 78 psi / front.

With those wheels & tire combos both bikes feel equally comfortable.

Not sure if that helps, but tires & wheels have a bigger impact on comfort than the frame itself, in my opinion.

If I was in your shoes , I would sell the naked Rabo & jump at the chance of getting the Chameleon paint 2019. That is the best looking paint Giant has ever done!

The fact is that you get a Tour grade bike, that can be built really light, fits reasonably wide tires & can be purchased for a fraction of the price than other ‘high end’ bikes & it is comfortable like the best. You can’t go wrong.




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[shotgun]

The fact is that you get a Tour grade bike, that can be built really light, fits reasonably wide tires & can be purchased for a fraction of the price than other ‘high end’ bikes & it is comfortable like the best. You can’t go wrong.

Couldn't agree with you more

[kolarzyk]

Many thanks for quick replys!

Naked TCR SL 2013 sold, TCR Adv SL Chamelon frame ordered, should land by the end of next week and will be built with DA 9100.

I know and I'm completely aware of quality, great mixture of stiffness, lightess and compliance of TCR frames. I love its allround, snappy charater and handling too. I'm a mechanic in big bicycle store and I've been riding for 20 years, had many bikes but I stuck to TCR since 2014 even despite possibility of getting latest, gratest frames in good prices. Often I build some super, hyper, mighty bike and I wonder how it is that frame launched in 2013(TCR SL) for so much less money is so much better made and engineered/

[chupster98]

Latest winter updates to the 2012 Rabo:

sold the 7900 DA groupset, installed an Ultegra 6800 groupset I had in storage, found a great deal on a set of SLR 1 30 mm wheels, finally found a ‘cheaper’ Selle San Marco Concord Carbon FX, got new Conti 4000 ii 25mm tires - w. Conti Supersonic inner tubes.

New weight: 7,27 kg / 16.02 lbs



Updated family photo:




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[chupster98]

While doing our part by staying home during these Corona times....decided to dig out the previous TCR's:

2006 TCR 2

2010 TCR Advanced 2

[shotgun]

Nice! I'm a TCR lover as well!

Ok, granted my first one was a Cadex

[chupster98]

Nice! I'm a TCR lover as well!

Ok, granted my first one was a Cadex

That is a proper TCR stable enjoyed over the years!! Lucky man!

Would like to know your opinion on the Disc Brake TCR.
I've had disc brakes on the MTB's for years & I'm not convinced on having them on the road bike.
Been on many rides where we have to collectively suffer with someone's rotors dragging like hell....I can't understand why it is so hard to adjust them on the road calipers.

My biggest argument against them is mostly weight.