Giant Bicycle Inc. 2001 OCR 3

Price Paid:  $550.00 at Performance Bike

Favorite Ride:
WOD/Custis/Mt. Vernon trails

Bike Setup:
Stock with the following upgrades:
Forte Classic look style pedals.
Mavic Open Pro wheels with Ultegra Hubs.

Summary:
Great bike for the price. Despite being the low end of the Shimano groups when tuned properly I've never really had any problems with the Sora group. This was my first road bike and after 3000 miles I still love this bike. I had to replace the stock rear wheel at about 2800 miles with a Mavic open pro/Ultegra hub. I've replaced the handle bar tape and tires and thats it. The fork does tend to creak so I have to regularly loosen and re tighten it and it goes away. I have to believe it's one of the best beginner road bikes for the price.

Strengths:
Price, saddle and weight.

Weaknesses:
Creaking noise in fork.

Similar Products Used:
Fuji Professional

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Price Paid:  $500.00 at FreeWheeler Bicycle

Favorite Ride:
Windless Rides!

Bike Setup:
Stock except: Rockwerk SPD pedals, and Sigma Sport cyclometer.

Summary:
Good bike for price. Stock Alex Rims could be changed to Mavic Open Pro's. Sora with the Cyclone makes for a bad gruop/drive-train. The frame is great(no flex), the fork is also good.

Strengths:
Frame and Fork

Weaknesses:
Wheels, Drive-Train

Similar Products Used:
Giant OCR 2, Specialized Allez

Price Paid:  $499.00 at Performance Bikes

Favorite Ride:
Anything Fast

Bike Setup:
Stock plus Cateye computer and Forte' Pro Clipless pedals.

Summary:
Overall I would have to agree with the other reviewers comments. I was getting a bit worried that I had a lemon on my hands with the ticking and shifting problems and was thinking about returning it to the store. I will definetely be spending a couple of bucks to upgrade the group.

Strengths:
Beautiful Fast bike for the Buck! 175mm Cranks at this price point, you gotta love pounding those things on the Tri-Scene!

Weaknesses:
Gotta be the wheels! Stupid things popped a Bead before I even left the store on my demo ride! Sora groupo Sucks!!! What is with this not shifting while pedaling? It has left me high and dry on a couple of climbs! My 10 year old STX stuff does a hell of a lot better! Get rid of those narrow short toe-clips!

Similar Products Used:
Schwinn, Diamond Back, Performance, Mongoose

Price Paid:  $500.00 at Deans

Bike Setup:
stock with the following upgrades
wheels (rsx/DT/cxp21)
Ultegra rear der.
sora tripple (stock cyc

Summary:
I bought this bike as a commuter and overall I am pleased, however I wiegh 220+ and the poor old Alex wheels could not handle the stress, if your doing heavy duty riding or are a big guy spring for the 2002 OCR 2, Tiagra components and I believe it has mavic cxp21 wheels.

I love the bike but I have to score it low due to the wheels and the crank and B/B (the medium bike comes with a 175, too long for me)

Strengths:
Price, frame.

Weaknesses:
as noted in other reviews the B/B sucks, get a litle water down the down tube or the B/B shell and it ticks untill you pull it down and re-install it putting grease on all mating surfaces. My rear wheel started popping spokes after 600 miles and the wheel literaly split from one spoke hole to the next. I bought a set of rsx/cxp21 wheels from nashbar and all is well.

Similar Products Used:
Last road bike was an 80's era miata

Price Paid:  $375.00 at Gearhead Outfitters

Favorite Ride:
12 mile loop east of town

Summary:
Great 1st bike, I bought it used only 2 months old and not a scratch on it. This is a very solid bike that doesnt flex under my weight of 225lbs. Im going to buy my wife the new 2002 model for xmas. For the money you cant touch this bike.

Strengths:
The solid frame and weight for the price.

Weaknesses:
The sora drivetrain is sometimes a pain not shifting correctly.

Similar Products Used:
None