Giant Bicycle Inc. TCR Advanced 2

Price Paid:  $2100.00 at LBS

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Mt. Haleakela (Maui....8000+ ft in 30 miles!!)

Bike Setup:
All stock (Shimano RS20 wheels with full 105 components)

Summary:
This is for the 2009 TCR Advanced Rabobank, essentially a spiffy Advanced 3 version. This is an incredible machine! I am 210 lbs and wheels (even heavy duty ones) squirm when I stand up to pedal. Not this bike. The frame is sooo stout, I have never felt any flex in the bb. The front end is sooooo ridiculously stiff, I have had to adjust my braking zone on descents because I scrub off so much speed yet stays on line. It absolutely disappears beneath you, making you feel like you are riding nothing. Rabobank paint scheme is absolutely sublime...gets noticed everywhere even among Colnagos and Pinarellos.

Strengths:
Weight (even with heavy Shimano RS wheels, 105 group), still under 17 lbs for medium. Stiffness where it counts. Absolutely disappears underneath you.

Weaknesses:
About the only thing (due to riding a Colnago C50) is the lack of road feel. The C50 lets you know every little ripple and pebble through the frame and fork, letting you know if your tires are at the limit of adhesion on high speed corners. Hard to get that type of feel with the Giant.

Similar Products Used:
Colnago C50, Merckx Majestic, Giant OCR, Cannondale R900, Time VXRS, Ducati 1198

Price Paid:  $4200.00 at chain reaction cycle

Favorite Ride:
long bays

Bike Setup:
standard but put easton EC90 aero wheels on.

Summary:
review is for the 2009 model. I cannot recommend this bike highly enough. handling is great, enormous bottom bracket ensures excellent power transfer, very comfortable for rides over 3 hours.

Strengths:
climbing, handling. I descend far faster through the turns than on my old bike

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
EMC EQUIPE

Price Paid:  $2700.00 at Indianapolis

Favorite Ride:
Road ride

Summary:
My bike(2008)is a great product by Giant. I was looking Felt F4 or Madone but Giant is a better bike. Felt (for me) is too rigid and my test ride wasn't to comfortable. The Madone is a great bike as well. Now with Giant I feel that I'm in other level... I have only one word for this bike... Awesome

Weaknesses:
None...

Similar Products Used:
Madone 5 series
Felt F4

Price Paid:  $3400.00 at Bicycles of Tulsa

Model Year:
2007

Bike Setup:
TCR Advanced 2 frame & fork, Ultegra SL, Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels, Michelin Pro Race 2 tires, Fizik Arione saddle, Race Face bar & stem

Summary:
I've had this bike for about 1,000 miles. Best I've ever owned. Same frame as the higher models without the seat mast. Very stiff, without beating you up. Corners like a dream, sprints just as well

Strengths:
Light, Stiff. Fairly comfortable. Ultegra SL components--Almost as good as DA, but cheaper

Weaknesses:
None, really. Not the highest-end wheels(Mavic Ksyrium Elite), but solid for my needs.