How much is a Giant TCR-framed bike in your neck of the woods? These are Giant's step up from the OCR series..

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Peter
Cannondale Synapse Carbon Scalpel Cyclocross Ultra

Yes you are helping pay USPS salary when buying Trek so you should save a few $$$ on a Giant. I have a Giant TCR carbon frame and love it. My compact frame fits great and rides good.
And you know everyone has a Trek, may as well go for the GEE-on-ta.

Personally, I prefer a compact frame. Trek is over-priced where I am also. Between the two, my vote would be for the Giant.

Although, I think the Specialized Allez Elite is much better than both ($1050 where I am). Ok, so it's $50 over your limit, but it is more than worth it!

I own three (3) Treks myself but the bike shop I do business with quit selling Trek and started selling Giant. So I bought a Giant TCR also. Now I look at my Treks and wonder why I spent the money. Besides, the compact frame is much more ridable. I'm here in Houston, Texas and "Lance" lives in Austin. So we have to ride something different just to let him know we're different. (Just think, Lance. You cudda had a Giant!")

Just saw a 2003 Giant at my local bike shop. Brand new for $680.00. I am new to biking as well....

Sounds like a good deal...any thoughts?

Lance rides a Trek because he is sponsored by Trek\USPS. I'm sure if Giant came around in the late 90's and sponsored Lance when nobody else would, he would be riding a Giant TCR Composite right now. BTW, Lance will no longer be sponsored by USPS next year.

Taiwan is not communist. China is communist. Taiwan and China are two different countries despite China's claim that Taiwan is still part of China. They are a Republic much like the US. The money does not go to support communism but democracy.

I own several Treks and Giants in the past and the low end Giants are a better value. You can get an '04 OCR1 with Ultegra\105 components for under $1k at Performance bicycles. Giants are not sold over their website but if you live near one, you can get one at their store sometimes with 0% financing depending on the time of year.

I like trek better, partly because the dealer in my area is nicer than the giant one.

compact frames are great, but, the s, m and L type sizing often benefits the CEO, or whatever, of companies like Giant more than it benefits its costumers.

Trek has been a good quality brand, with excellent customer service since the '80s. Can the same be said for Giant? I'm not sure. If I had narrowed my choice of bike down to two, I would decide which bike had a better wheelset., that is, if test riding the bikes hadn't already decided it.
Good Luck!

Is that a OCR2 or 3?

Is that in Aussie dollars?

If it is, then it sounds like a great deal.

Where abouts did you see this?