Giant OCR 1 Road Bike Reviews

Price Paid:  $1000.00 at Mama's Board n Bike

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Blueridge Parkway

Summary:
I have logged 13,000 miles on this bicycle including 1,200+ on the Blueridge Parkway. It is a workhorse and built tough. I expec to get another 10,000 on it before I move to a touring bike in retirement.

Strengths:
all around workhorse

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
Giant Hybrid and MTB

Price Paid:  $725.00 at local shop

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Anything with killer hills

Bike Setup:
strictly road, swapped the pedals and cheap stock tires (Kenda) for Continentals

Summary:
Mine shipped with a poorly installed bottom bracket assembly;
one which (amazingly) has a plastic cup incorrectly installed that
was causing some clicking. Once the shop fixed it under
warranty, it has spun like a top since.

I like the wheels a lot, but I do all I can to avoid potholes
and tracks at high speeds. The bike transitions nicely; spins
out of corners well and climbs like a goat. Mine is all stock
except for the pedals, tires (I went to Continentals, it shipped
with a really cheap 23mm Kenda) and a shorter stem. I went nuts
and weighed it at 17 lbs on a digital scale. My feeling is that
I could have spent a tall four figures on a cf bike that weighed
the same, and this frame doesn't flex at all like cf (and I stand
a lot while climbing).

My only knock are the serrated rims, which are machined presumably to
improve braking. In actuality, they eat brake pads. I am replacing
mine after one season, and I have never replaced brake pads on any
bike in my life. As far as I can tell, I will be doing this as long
as own this ride or keep the wheels.

Long story short: Keeping in mind that I bought this as a year-end
closeout ($725 for a $1600 ride), I am very pleased. The bottom bracket
is a concern; I would never pay top dollar for a bike with plastic parts.
Likewise, the rim/brakes are simply a bad design. That said, for the
substantial savings, the bike was and is a screaming deal. On my club
rides, I routinely out-gun similarly talented peers on much more expensive
bikes. Now that four figures is the low-end for road bikes, this bike is
a price/performance bargain.

Strengths:
Great deal, climbs extremely well

Weaknesses:
Poor bottom bracket design, brake/rim interface

Price Paid:  $1100.00 at Campus Bicycles

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
Red Rocks Golden Denver Platt River C470Loop

Bike Setup:
2006 Giant OCR1 with American Classic Wheelset, Terry Ti Saddle and Fusion 2 Hutchinson tires.

Summary:
Great 1st road bike. Use it for long (30 - 70 mile) recreational rides and for commuting to work. I have put around 2,000 miles on it. Made a couple of significant upgrades over the years. Replaced the stock saddle with a Terry Ti Fly. Replaced my wheelset with American Classic Victory wheelset - these wheels make a world of difference over the stock ones on this bike. The rest of the bike is stock with the exception of the tires. I kept the triple ring because the granny gears have come in handy on some of the steep climbs in the rocky mountain region. This bike may not be the best climber but it will get you there and not beat you up. Just an all around good bike that will take you anywhere the pavement goes. My next upgrade will be the stock breaks.

Strengths:
Durability, Comfort, Touring, Commuting, Fun, Price

Weaknesses:
None that really stand out as a recreational/commuter rider.

Price Paid:  $1000.00 at Bay Ridge Bicycles

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
NJ (Chathams, 9W to Rockland)

Bike Setup:
2008 Giant OCR1
Mavic Ksyrium Elite
Shimano 105 grouppo
Fast enough

Summary:
For some reason, the 2008 model, the one I have, doesn't show.

This is a great bike. I swapped the wheelset for my old Ksyrium Elites and the triple crank for a double, which made it so much better (and lighter). At 20 lbs (my setup), it's not a feather, but it's certainly not a tank. Power transfer to the cranks is pretty good, though I've tested bikes that are much smoother. (This might be partly due to the FSA BB.) It's climbs alright, though the construction of the frame (emphasis on the BB area) doesn't do much to make it any easier. :)

It's a really comfortable ride for an aluminum bike; the (stock) carbon seatpost helps. The stock wheels are parachutes; I recommend replacing them or using them for climbing torture-fests. As usual with mid-range bikes, the saddle is half-decent for most, and will probably be replaced sometime down the line.

What's really great about this frame is that it works really well with higher-grade gear. People I know with the same bike or bikes from previous years have gotten even better performance from upgrading it. It's a great buy for a long-term investment, especially if it'll be used for long distance riding or commuting.

Strengths:
Little road vibration
Good acceleration
Versatile
Not heavy

Weaknesses:
Not enough color schemes
Sizing doesn't fit all (problem with Giant)
BB is okay; not stellar

Similar Products Used:
Trek 1000

Price Paid:  $900.00 at The Bike Rack

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
DC city streets

Summary:
I actually have the 2008 Model and it rides great. I would definitely recommend this to anyone. It retails at 1167.00 but for the price you get a great ride at low and hi speeds.

Strengths:
Weight and comfort.

Weaknesses:
Gears make alot of noise when you shift gears.