Giant OCR 1 vs. Trek 1500

SWEETRIDE4ME said:

Hi all,

I have ridden both of these bikes and they feel very similar to me ( being a newbie going for first bike I don't know much) I just didnt know if anyone had any reason to get one or the other since they both felt good. Any help would be appreciated.

Does the Trek have Ultegra? that would help me considerably in the decision process (once you climb with Ultegra, you'll never use anything lower)

The trek 1500 for 05' has ultegra rear derailleur, while the giant for 04' has ultegra shifters and rear derailleur. They both have 105 for the front and the trek has 105 for shifters.

i think it depends on wether or not you like Giant's compact frames. I have a giant TCR comp 2, and I absolutely love how nimble and responsive it is. I went with Giant over trek and many others because i like fell in love with the compact frame. The OCR is compact too except for that it's a little more upright and aluminum.

i agree too that you can't go wrong with the full ultegra group sans the brakes on the OCR. i feel like trek is overpriced in general because of Lance. They have a 15% armstrong tax on everything.

i would try them both out again, and check out what people are riding at www.roadbikereview.com. You can search by price and read tons of reviews on almost every roadbike built in the last 3 years. it might introduce you to some different manufacturers too that you didn't know about-

Yeah- I have to ride a compact frame (short legs and really long torso- circus act really) because traditional frames that fit me are to small in the top tube length and very dangerous anatomically. Anyway, that is definately a deciding factor, but if both are comfy and feel right, then the Ultegra, at least for me, is the deciding factor. Course, that is just on the der., I wouldn't know about the shifters because I ride a Giant Cypress SL- its basically a flat-bar OCR 1 (with a slightly longer wheelbase- nimble is not something I crave, stability at 210lbs is really important for me)...Anyway, that Ultegra rear derailleur is the s*&t, always a positive shift even under huge loads on climbs, and I will never own anything else, I'm glad Trek has included it on their competative model

2 cents and then some...