3-4K budget - Upgrading the 2013 Giant TCR

[Killswitch]

Hi all,

Its time to buy a new Roadbike. The TCR (https://www.giant-bicycles.com/au/tcr-advanced-2-2013) has been great to me besides the wheelset.

A bit of a broad question, but before I do the rounds at the LBS's, can anyone recommend a stand out model in the price range I am looking in? I use it 70% communing (50km a day), 30% weekend, social, events, hills (between 50km to 130km). Not brand specific, so happy to look at anything worth looking at.

Cheers,

KS

[g-boaf]

I have slight thought that you should look at Specialized at the moment -there is some sort of launch of a new bike coming soon.

Also maybe think about Giant Propel or the TCR Advanced Pro Team, that's a nice bike, unless you don't like advertising caffeine shampoo.

http://giantsydney.com.au/tcr-advanced-pro-team/

[nickdos]

Canyon have their "ENDURACE CF 9.0 DI2" on special ($400 off) for $3800, plus delivery ($200):

https://www.canyon.com/en-au/road/endur ... 0-di2.html
other models on sale:
https://www.canyon.com/en-au/specials/e ... ason-sale/

Pros: Di2, light (7kg), nice DT Swiss (climbing) wheelset (1415g), good climbing gear range (34-32), 25mm tyres stock and room for 28mm (I think),
Cons: no disc brakes (needed for commuting?), might not have your size in stock, delivery could be slow.

[g-boaf]

Disc brakes are not essential for commuting I don't think. The DT-Swiss wheel set seems good, and with that sort of weight, you'd have great options to upgrade it later on to Dura Ace and put some really light wheels on it and you'll get it really, really light.

Good bikes.

[jaseyjase]

Disc brakes are not essential for commuting I don't think..

would be handy if you intend on riding in the wet/rain

[Velt]

You should be able to pick up a new defy or tcr disc in that price range. May even be able to grab a last year model defy at a great price.

[Killswitch]

Cheers for the ideas. How do the Giant wheel sets stack up these days?

Ill have to check out the Specialised models.

Canyon make some really nice bikes from what I can see, but yes waiting 6 months for delivery is not an option. I have already sold on my TCR. Defiantly some nice kit on it though for the price tag.

So is disk brakes on road bikes the new norm? I thought it was more for the cyclocross setup. I haven't really had an issue with the 105 gear in the wet. Just ride to the conditions.

[rodneycc]

I reckon you might be a little underwhelmed whichever way you go as the 2013 TCR is such a wonderful bike. But good luck - maybe one of the 2016 TCR Adv 'SL' models. Hard act to follow the 2013 though.

[cyclotaur]

Canyon .....
Pros: Di2, light (7kg), nice DT Swiss (climbing) wheelset (1415g), good climbing gear range (34-32), 25mm tyres stock and room for 28mm (I think),
Cons: no disc brakes (needed for commuting?), might not have your size in stock, delivery could be slow.

Apart from the fact that using your 'Ferrari' as a 'daily driver' still seems weird to me (I used an old hybrid), how did anyone ever commute safely before disc brakes came along....

Still, I guess if you only want/use one bike then go for the best you can. Good luck Killswitch, and have fun with the search.

[g-boaf]

Cheers for the ideas. How do the Giant wheel sets stack up these days?

Ill have to check out the Specialised models.

Canyon make some really nice bikes from what I can see, but yes waiting 6 months for delivery is not an option. I have already sold on my TCR. Defiantly some nice kit on it though for the price tag.

So is disk brakes on road bikes the new norm? I thought it was more for the cyclocross setup. I haven't really had an issue with the 105 gear in the wet. Just ride to the conditions.

I've only got a set of the PLSR wheels that came with a 2014 TCL Advanced SL1 (a very high end bike). Those are fine. I put heaps of kms on those wheels across bumpy roads, cycleways, commuting, a bit of racing here and there. They are still going well. I'm only 60kg however, so your mileage might vary.

I never had an issue with normal cable operated rim brakes, I've had 105, Ultegra and Dura Ace 9000, and Planet X Ultra Light CNC. On the other hand, another bike has Magura RT8 TT hydraulic brakes which I've never really liked as much as Dura Ace. I think the only time I've ever had interesting moments in the rain has been with carbon wheels and cork brake pads. You have to remember to touch the brakes once to get rid of the water, then a second time to slow down. Apart from that, no bother at all.

Specialized I think must be getting ready to release something as I got an invite to go and have a look at some new bike. Don't ask what it is, I don't know.

As for bikes for commuting, I use a pair of Giant TCR Advanced SL bikes for commuting. One of them a stock 2014 SL1, the other a 2013 SL3 that got heavily upgraded to DA9000 and very light wheels and is now a 6.6kg machine. And sometimes, a Cervelo P5 TT bike.

They are all bikes, designed to be ridden. Why use those? Because I like riding those bikes, especially the SL3, it is huge fun to ride.

[Duck!]

How do the Giant wheel sets stack up these days?

New ones are a lot better than the early editions. The first iteration were underdeveloped & put to market before they were ready. Many sets have been fine, but there were also many failures. Just very hit-&-miss. New ones have had all the bugs ironed out.

[DG1984]

I am biased towards Focus, so I'll recommend the Cayo Ultegra Di2 for $3.5-3.8k depending on where you are.

It does have a 105 cassette, but everything else is Ultegra running gear. Fantastic frame, wheels aren't much chop but they could be worse and shouldn't be an issue for commuting. Love mine to bits and I only have the 105 gear.

[li2099]

I've also sold my 2013 TCR and have been researching on a new bike.
Price points to a Defy as the others that interests me are Focus Cayo, Focus Paralane (RRP$4800 out in Oct according to Focus FB), Canyon Endurace and BMC Roadmachine.
To conclude, if you don't mind a plain looking bike, the Defy should tick all boxes.

I am biased towards Focus, so I'll recommend the Cayo Ultegra Di2 for $3.5-3.8k depending on where you are.

It does have a 105 cassette, but everything else is Ultegra running gear. Fantastic frame, wheels aren't much chop but they could be worse and shouldn't be an issue for commuting. Love mine to bits and I only have the 105 gear.

Where did you see a Ultegra Di2 Cayo for that price? I've only seen the mechanical version.

[DG1984]

I've also sold my 2013 TCR and have been researching on a new bike.
Price points to a Defy as the others that interests me are Focus Cayo, Focus Paralane (RRP$4800 out in Oct according to Focus FB), Canyon Endurace and BMC Roadmachine.
To conclude, if you don't mind a plain looking bike, the Defy should tick all boxes.

I am biased towards Focus, so I'll recommend the Cayo Ultegra Di2 for $3.5-3.8k depending on where you are.

It does have a 105 cassette, but everything else is Ultegra running gear. Fantastic frame, wheels aren't much chop but they could be worse and shouldn't be an issue for commuting. Love mine to bits and I only have the 105 gear.

Where did you see a Ultegra Di2 Cayo for that price? I've only seen the mechanical version.

https://www.bikeexchange.com.au/s/?quer ... by=nearest

Though I see in the clarity of day you're in WA (edit, not you, but killswitch) - no listings there unfortunately, doesn't mean they shouldn't be able to match the pricing - most of which should be dictated by the distributor trying to get rid of stock before 2017 models hit the market.

[slowK]

There's quite a few Cannonade Synapse Carbon Ultegras on sale on BikeExchange (both disc and non-disc). Smooth, comfy, still fast.

[Killswitch]

So I have been having a good hard think about my options.

With the TCR, put a lot of money into it over the time I had it. As cyclotaur said, riding a Ferrari to work when a Commodore would do the job.

- $70 tyres, I cut up so expensive tires on the commute. It would be better to have a cheap set of tyres so if they get destroyed before they are worn, no big deal.
- Wheels, I worry with the condition of the PSP in some sections, destroying a high end wheelset is not the way to go.
- Backpacks, I hate them, and would normally do the Sunday night run into work to drop off a week’s supply of clothes. Ironed stuff. The heat from the backpack in summer impacts on the nice commute to work.
- Wear and tear, especially in the wet. Riding with Di2 in the wet, and not cleaning up after the ride, no good. My old commuter (Charge Mixer was a sealed Alfine 8 speed internal hub, great to ride home and chuck it in the garage covered in sand and water. I don’t think I will be doing that with a Cervelo S3/S5.
- Crashes! Drivers and sometimes PSPers do dumb things, crashes happen. If I bin a 4K Carbon bike, I am going to be unhappy. If I crash a 1K bike, I will deal with it...

That said. I might be better to invest in a 1k commuter sealed hub for the commute and get a 2.5k Roady for the weekends/night rides/events.

This takes me back to what I did before and didn't enjoy. Though that said, I feel this was because the huge change in geometry between the Charge and the TCR. Plus the Charge was a Steel Framed bike.

Decisions, decisions.

[rodneycc]

Can't see why not you can't keep the TCR as the commuter (you are obviously pretty comfortable on it and that's the key to the commuter in my opinion) and buy a nice $2.5k-3k secondhand weekend bike. Plenty of nice secondhand bikes around. I just bought myself a 2013 Lynskey Helix with DA9000 running gear minus cranks, wheels, and stem for $2k posted. lots of really nice bikes in that $2-3k price range from 2013/14/15.

Edit: Actually come to think of it, I haven't bought a 'new' bike for 4 years (which I sold) and all my current bikes have been bought secondhand. And all in that above range.

[biker jk]

Can't see why not you can't keep the TCR as the commuter (you are obviously pretty comfortable on it and that's the key to the commuter in my opinion) and buy a nice $2.5k-3k secondhand weekend bike. Plenty of nice secondhand bikes around. I just bought myself a 2013 Lynskey Helix with DA9000 running gear minus cranks, wheels, and stem for $2k posted. lots of really nice bikes in that $2-3k price range from 2013/14/15.

Edit: Actually come to think of it, I haven't bought a 'new' bike for 4 years (which I sold) and all my current bikes have been bought secondhand. And all in that above range.

The TCR has been sold according to an earlier post in this thread.

[rodneycc]

Oops that makes it hard then Nothing wrong with using a nice bike to commute on.

[daft1024]

Maybe have a think about the Cervelo R2? They can be had for $2.3K in WA.



The standard wheels are a bit heavy but they seem to roll ok. Certainly they would be fine as a spare or wet weather set.

Add on a set of fulcrum 3's for ~$490 and upgrade the pads ($30) and you've got a pretty decent bike for under $3K.

[Killswitch]

Maybe have a think about the Cervelo R2? They can be had for $2.3K in WA.



The standard wheels are a bit heavy but they seem to roll ok. Certainly they would be fine as a spare or wet weather set.

Add on a set of fulcrum 3's for ~$490 and upgrade the pads ($30) and you've got a pretty decent bike for under $3K.

I had my eye on the Cervelo's. I like the S3/S5. But yes getting back into that big dollar bracket. Something to think about that's for sure. Use the Fulcrums on weekend rides and the one that come with it for the commute. Could even go all out, and go the Zeros. ;P