Giant TCR Composite handling VS others

Sven Graham said:

I am getting close to settling on the Giant TCR Composite 1 as a new bike but am getting negative feedback from some LBS's about handling and quality of bike compared to european frames such as the Orbea Onyx

Does anyone have thoughts on why or why not to get the Giant...it seems like incredible value for money...full carbon frame and Ultegra 10 speed with Ksyrium Elites.

Any help greatly appreciated

Well, I personally love mine. However, I'm not really a heavy rider so flex probably isn't a major issue with me. The short wheelbase makes the handing a little twitchy, but after I got used to it I ended up liking it a lot. I believe that Giant increased the length of the chainstay for the 2005 models (pretty obvious if you look at the 2004 models where the tire is almost hitting the seat tube and the 2005 models with plenty of clearance) making the wheelbase a little longer.

I've attached a document with some stiffness figures taken from Tour magazine (you can pretty much ignore the weights, they're off a fair bit). If you notice, the bottom bracket is plenty stiff, however, the head tube leaves a little to be desired. For the money, I think it's hard to beat the TCR series bikes. I can't comment on the Orbeas as I haven't ridden one (saw the Onyx at the SF Grand Prix and it looked beautiful)

Sven Graham said:

I am getting close to settling on the Giant TCR Composite 1 as a new bike but am getting negative feedback from some LBS's about handling and quality of bike compared to european frames such as the Orbea Onyx

Does anyone have thoughts on why or why not to get the Giant...it seems like incredible value for money...full carbon frame and Ultegra 10 speed with Ksyrium Elites.

Any help greatly appreciated

It is an incredible frame, and it is great value. It just doesn't suit everyone.

I had a TCR and, whilst very light, well made and cheap, I found it to be quite twitchy and a little too responsive at anything over 50kmh and downright terrifying over 70kmh.

The straight blade forks are partly to blame. I believe, however, it is the extremely short head tubes that feature on the TCR that contribute to the nervousness. The seat is really high above your handlebars and your hands are way below your hips. My Medium had a head tube of only 130mm.
I recently bought a 61cm Bianchi XL Carbon that has a head tube of 200mm which results in a seat-h.bar difference of around 8cm. With a 72.5 seat angle, that bike is the epitome of stability!

F.

Feideaux said:

... My Medium had a head tube of only 130mm.
I recently bought a 61cm Bianchi...

F.

I am not surprised that your TCR comp was unstable, if you are sized for a 61cm frame, there is no way in hell you should have been riding a medium Giant TCR, you should have been on a large at the least, possibly even an extra large.

I am sized at 53cm and ride a medium Giant TCR, and it is an incredible bike; light, fast, responsive, and climbs like a demon.