Giant Bicycle Inc. TCR Elite 0

Price Paid:  $3200.00 at Bob's Bike Longview,

Favorite Ride:
20-50 milers

Bike Setup:
Ksyruium SSC SL wheelset with additional wheelset of Spinergy xareo lite. Michelin Pro Race or Michelin carbon tires. Ride is even better using the Spinergy Xareo lite, pbo spoked, on the front and Ksyrium on the back. Avocet 02 Air 40 Kevlar seat, Ritchey handle bar.

Summary:
Purchased as retirement gift to myself for ride quality with rear carbon stays and carbon fork and carbon seat post.

Strengths:
Fast when you want speed and very stiff. Great climber and light. approx. 16.5# with speedplay pedals and meter. Love the 700x26 tires I use lised under bike set up. The carbon stays,fork and seat post make the stiffness of the alum frame go away.

Weaknesses:
Just one, makes my legs tired from the joy of riding it.

Similar Products Used:
nothing close to this.

Price Paid:  $3500.00 at Sun Bike Shop

Favorite Ride:
Any as long as I get a minimum of 20 miles per day

Bike Setup:
Handle bar: Easton EC- 90
Frame: TCR elite 0 size small
Cranks: Dura ACE
Rear Cassette and deraillers: Dura ACE
Seat/Saddle: Selle San Marco Era Composite
Water bottle Cage: TACX TAO

Summary:
A very race-ready bicycle. I've ridden the bicycle for over 2000 miles of consistent riding (20 miles per day minimum to 40 on days off from work. Spec'd with Dura Ace components, Dura Ace pedals, EASTON EC-90 handle bar, Selle San Marco ERA Composite seat, and CAT EYE Astrale computer, and TACX TAO water bottle cage

Strengths:
Bicycle responds well to sprints and hill climbs

Weaknesses:
Stock seat was uncomfortable that I swapped it for the Selle San Marco era composite (carbon) and stock handle bar good but to narrow to be a size 42. The Easton EC-90 size 42 felt wider. Occasional descents with occasional vibration if head set not regularly tightened.(personal preferance)

Similar Products Used:
Demo'd Litespeed Sienna (Felt a drag on the sprinting in comparison to the TCR elite 0

Price Paid:  $3200.00 at giant dealer

Favorite Ride:
mtn--road

Bike Setup:
stock new 03

Summary:
nice ride happy with geometry and new school look .time will tell . i have problems with getting stiff neck and body but this bike helps a ton with posture and you dont look like a wank bag with a high angle stem bike...make sure you get mavic spoke holder and nipple tool with new bike for the ksyrum wheels it comes with new wheelset,tires are sweet...

Strengths:
light, great groupo , 44cm bars , nice seat with cut out grove, sweet wheelset ,new school geometry,

Weaknesses:
stiff, rides hard, cables were routed poorly on bars,valve stems to short had to swap out to 46mm,fitting stem and seat post was a hastle at shop i down loaded chart off giant site and i knew more than shop guys it was a good shop to..i ended up using a # 1 stem and #2 post iam 5-10 and 162lbs 30in inseam ,normal build .

Similar Products Used:
previous bike was a lightspeed catalyst campy chorus,helium wheelset, ti frame

Price Paid:  $3300.00 at Ray's Bike Shop

Favorite Ride:
Ojai Loop

Bike Setup:
Stock from company

Summary:
Racy & comfortable. The perfect blend of all that I want in a road bike. The gearing is ideal for all types of rides and all the components on the bike are excellent quality.

Strengths:
Very lightweight, my bike is 16.5lbs with speedplay pedals, computer AND water bottle cage. It is lighter than my old full record bike!

Weaknesses:
Haven't discovered any yet

Similar Products Used:
Giant Once Record bike. I like the geometry on the Elite better. Longer wheel base, higher head tube & carbon wishbone is sweet.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Bike Setup:
All Dura Ace components and Mavic Ksyrium ssl wheels.

Summary:
It comes with the gears I need to do the hills up and down. A great racing and touring bike. Comfort is good and the front and rear carbon forks and stays give the right road feel.

Strengths:
The gearing, wheels, and frame all make hill climbing as good as it gets.

Weaknesses:
The head bearing is not all it should be and you can get vibration on fast decents.

Similar Products Used:
Cannondale--old and heavy but rock steady