[Closed] Giant TCR Advanced or Propel

Propel if Aero matters to you.
Personally I think of the TCR as more of a "racer"

The new propel with a disk takes a 28mm tire from what i can see I'm sorely tempted.

They advance 2 disk looks like a shed load of bike for the cash.

The only real reason I saw not to buy a propel was the old style brakes being shit.

I do like a tcr but I've always wanted a propel so I may indulge....only 5kg to lose before it's worth while:)

Not sure a Propel will take 28mm tyres. I had the previous model and just about squeezed some 25's in there, but It was close. Similarly not sure the new TCR will take them. I've seen some reviews on YouTube which suggest it wouldn't be able to. I guess it should be easy to find out.

My mate swears by his TCR...he's had three now and loves them. I had a Defy then a Propel. Loved the Propel, great looking bike, rode really well and I did feel some benefit from the aero...definitely rode better in head winds. Even the brakes were fine for me, did the business for me in the Alps compared to any other rim brake I've ever had, but disk brakes will mean that's not an issue.

Not sure you can go wrong with either...the Propel was very stiff compared to the Defy, as you'e expect, but the TCR is a race bike too, so that's probably going to be similarly stiff, and reasonably aero too. I think the TCR is the slightly lighter 'climbing' bike, the Propel the sprinter and flat bike. That seems to be how the Pro's deploy them anyway. The Propel is alot of bike for your cash...I got mine in a season end sale for under £2k, full Ultegra spec (apart from brakes of course). Nothing else could touch it at the time.

Ended up getting rid of it because I wanted something with a bit more compliance for the crappy roads around me, so wanted something that could take 28mm (or even wider) tyres, and disc brakes of course. Ended up with a Scott Addict Endurance disk (had to own a Scott at least once in my life) which I'm very pleased with.

Propel was completely redesigned when it went disk and giant peg it specifically as being about tofit a 28......but only a 28....there's no breathing room.

So comparisons with the shit brake model are not really fair/relivent.

The other bikes I have my eye on are the Scott foil (never liked their ethos as a company when I used to sell them though which puts me off) and the Merida reacto which looks a bit Xmas cracker toy.

Oh oh I know this one.  As the owner and racer of two propels, a previous TCR owner and a Defy SL, I’d say that since you just want a nice road bike, I’d go with the TCR. If you can add the nice slr carbon wheels so much the better. The cabling in the Propel is a bit of a pain, mine don’t take 28c tyres (non disc), the bars don’t have a round section to clamp a garmin onto. Geometry the Propel is really the same. TCR is stiffer. And I really like the compact frame. It’s an iconic design.

if I had to choose just one bike for all riding, I’d swap my propels and Defy for a TCR Advanced SL with no regrets.

Thanks some good comments

think it would be the TCR Advanced 1 disc I would go for so don’t think it will have carbon wheels but has full Ultegra kit on it

You won't be disappointed with a tcr.

I had the use of an advance built with ultegra and ksyriums  for racing for a year. Won the club hill climb on it and put in a pb on a 25 on it (59.50 on a roadbike with clip ons and no other aero goodness)

You do t say how fit or flexible you are or how you like to ride or for how long. Both Propel and TCR have relatively aggressive geometry as they are both race bikes. A Defy will carry a negligible weight penalty but will provide a more compliant ride in a more neutral position. It'll also take 28s.

Just to prove I'm not talking complete unjust shit

"There's enough space for you to swap the 25mm tyres for 28s if you fancy putting more air between yourself and the road."

https://road.cc/content/review/242050-giant-propel-advanced-disc

I've owned both briefly, and built many for customers, and would go for the TCR every time. The Propel isn't a bad bike, but the cable routing is annoying, and it doesn't have much of a 'zing' to it. That 'zing' is what makes the TCR so great in my eyes. It's just fast, zippy and stiff. Better value generally too.

Been a mountain biker for years and fairly new to road cycling so probably average fitness for my age (49)  averaged 15mph over a 45 mile run with friends last week ride, some of our routes fairly hilly

My Defy and Propels have exactly the same position. I’m not very flexible. Stem on the Defy is a cm longer. The TCR has a shorter head tube than the Propel, but both are 73 degree parallel. You’ll need an extra spacer on the TCR

some very good deals at the moment. The graphics are also rather smart. There are no bad choices here to be honest. My Defy is the lightest, stiffest frame Giant ever made. TCR is stiffer than the Propel. In races I do notice a slight difference due to aero. It’s not huge. I’ve ridden all three on rides over 100 miles in comfort.

I tested equivalent level TCR and Defy models when first purchasing about 5 years ago and ended up on a Defy Composite as it felt more comfortable.  Now on my second one, an Advanced Pro 2.  I cannot fault it in any way and have never questioned the level of comfort even on my longest rides of up to 100 miles. All standard spec apart from ISM PL1.0 saddle.

The tcr advanced 2 disk  comes in at 2599 with full 105 and carbon wheels.

The propel advance 2 disk comes in at 2299 with full 105 and  the P2 sl Ali aero wheels. .

Either are great value for 2019 yet to be released models.

I have a Defy which is a great bike for long rides, would like to try a TCR but in reality I'm not sure it would offer anything I really need. Looking at it realistically I'm only getting older and the roads are only going to be getting worse.

Anyway as a mountain biker of many years I think the Defy may be the better starting point for you, it certainly was for me in a very similar situation.

TCR every time. It’s lighter than propel and you don’t look such a tit doing 10mph on a time trial bike

Tcr gets my vote I’ve owned a few 🙂

"TCR every time. It’s lighter than propel and you don’t look such a tit doing 10mph on a time trial bike"

You seem to have the propel and trinity mixed up there .

Speaking of which dude turned up to our infrastructure demo on an new trinity in the old school black blue orange boulder era colour scheme. Looked fast even at 10mph.

I have a TCR advanced. A bike fit came with the bike, but all that needed changing were a few pedal spacers and the saddle position. I don't think fit is the issue.

I would say that compared to my old Cannondale CAAD4 road bike, the handling is 'lively'. I've not ridden a Defy so can't compare, I guess it may be a bit more forgiving. That said, a few miles in the brain adjusts and it's great. Likewise there's not much difference in ride and it feels quite forgiving at the back.

I have a propel and it has been a great bike for the last 3 years. I was looking at a TCR pro 0 disc to replace it as i had the chance of an ex demo but the one thing that really put me off was the brake hose just cabletied to the fork, it should be integrated and looked really messy for spending £3k on a bike.

On the other hand though i think the propel disc looks too integrated with the fairing on the stem and those silly rubber spacers that didnt return back to their correct position on my test ride.

Overall though I am really not sure I feel much aero benefit from the propel frameset unless at 30mph, the giant aero wheels are the biggest advantage and even turn my winter bike into a rocket

I've got a rim brake, 2016 TCR Advanced Pro and it's a absolute weapon. I made the mistake on hiring one in Majorca for a week, came home and bought one! Best handling road bike i've even ridden. I love it. Very light and super stiff. Not the comfiest of rides but I've done lots of big days on it with no problems. The carbon wheels that come with the pro models are top class. The only thing i've changed was to put my preffered SMP saddle on it.

Never ridden a Propel but I think at the speeds / terrain your talking about the TCR (or Defy) would make more sense. The TCR is a race bike and so the front end is quite low on it. Make sure you have the flexability to match it.

Just out of interest is it possible to upgrade to Carbon wheels when purchasing a Giant?

I would think it would make more sense to buy the next model up ?

The propel 2 is 2299 with aluminium wheels or 2999 with carbon wheels and ultegra

And the tcr 2 with carbon wheels/ultegra is 2599.

For comparison a set of carbon farsport clinchers 50mms on disk hubs that fit the giants is 689. Quid direct

Well I put my money where my mouth is.

Large propel advanced 1 disk ordered

10 week lead time for the first batch

trail_rat

wher did you order the propel from if you don’t mind me asking? I will be biting the bullet very shortly, Advanced 1disc or the Advanced Pro disc. The pro is the best option with carbon wheels but it is a bit more cash

My Local bike shop Angus Bike Chain

Some places showing stock online but most are pre-order giant say they are expecting first batch in 9-10 weeks depending on model.

are you looking at 2018 or 2019 models ? the PRo disk is quite a bit more cash on account of a better quality frame.

2019 Advance disk 1 has the 65mm/45mm aero SLR-1 Carbon wheels same as on the 2018 Advance Pro but using the lesser quality frame.

The one im

looking at is Advanced 1 Disc at £1999

but only has Giant PR2 rims which I think are alloy

that looks like the 2018 TCR advance disc 1 ?

if so be sure to check out that Giant Disc brake system well.

they are actually cable levers going to a hydralic junction box on the front of the stem before becoming hydro.

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-TCR-Advanced-1-Disc-2019-Road-Bike_200585.htm?sku=602899&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google_shopping&mkwid=shFSvhjGl_dm%7Cpcrid%7C43133748173%7Cproduct%7C602899%7C&pgrid=12311179853&ptaid=pla-185165664293&utm_source=shopping_google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=**SHOPPING+-+Bikes&utm_content=hFSvhjGl_dm%7Cpcrid%7C43133748173%7Cpkw%7C%7Cpmt%7C%7Cproduct%7C602899%7C&gclid=CjwKCAjwxILdBRBqEiwAHL2R88PuAyK_MaL5PwWBqmKWvYK8E6KetWwYoSPQli0bMwvF3M0j1xCuARoCUVQQAvD_BwE