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Giant 2009: seven new road bikes

Giant was ridiculed ten years for its then-radical compact frame geometries but few are still laughing now.

  • Giant's new TCR Advanced SL is noticeably stiffer and more comfortable than the previous version. It looks better, too, especially in top-flight trim as seen here with SRAM Red and Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate wheels.
  • The Dura-Ace version is only slightly more sedate with a purposely black-and-white paint job.
  • The new TCR Advanced SL's defining feature is arguably the tremendously reinforced head tube which houses a tapered and oversized 1 1/8
  • The top tube and down tube of the TCR Advanced SL is actually a bit wider than the head tube. Fore-aft stiffness under braking and steering precision were superb.
  • How much stiffness do you want? The TCR Advanced SL's top tube flares noticeably up front.
  • The matching fork's stout legs and 1 1/4
  • The huge down tube uses a rounded rectangular profile that contributes to the claimed 42 percent increase in overall rigidity over the previous TCR Advanced.
  • Naturally, the giant down tube also provides plenty of room for a correspondingly huge logo.
  • Giant's use of the new press-fit bottom bracket format allows the down tube to reach roughly 80mm across in width.
  • The seat tube certainly isn't much narrower at the bottom bracket, either, and the asymmetric chain stays are wide-set, too.
  • The trick rear brake cable routing apparently isn't just for show; it virtually guarantees that you'll never rub your leg on the housing and the centered position underneath the down tube easily accommodates reverse-style lever setups.
  • In spite of current trends, Giant is sticking with one-piece aluminum dropouts and fork tips instead of carbon fiber.
  • Giant was ridiculed ten years for its then-radical compact frame geometries but few are still laughing now.
  • Production TCR Advanced SL bikes will all be equipped with integrated seatmasts. Bare frames will be offered with standard posts but the integrated design actually flexes more fore-aft for increased comfort.
  • The newly refined seatmast head is far cleaner looking and offers 10mm or 23mm of setup simply by flipping the clamp hardware 180 degrees.
  • Giant's 'Fusion' process is used at the seat cluster on the new TCR Advanced SL. The joint is wrapped but then re-baked in a mold for better compaction and joint strength.
  • Relatively slim seat stays contribute to the (reasonably) comfy rear end. Standard seatpost versions sport a deeper seat tube profile than the roughly round shape of the ISP frame.
  • The standard TCR Advanced is all-new as well and while it uses slightly lesser materials, the overall feel is very similar to the full-blown TCR Advanced SL.
  • The TCR Advanced's head tube is also noticeably oversized and houses a 1 1/8
  • There's a lot of beef up here and the solid front end promises sharp handling and braking.
  • Standard TCR Advanced frames are equipped with conventional aero-profiled seatposts and a slightly cutout in the seat tube.
  • The top tube of the TCR Advanced is vaguely trapezoidal in profile.
  • There isn't quite as much flaring up here as on the TCR Advanced SL but the proportions are still awfully big.
  • A more conventional bonded modular monocoque construction is used for the standard TCR Advanced.
  • The two-bolt seatpost head holds tight and cleverly integrates both 10mm and 23mm offsets without having to swap parts.
  • The Defy Advanced is Giant's new 'performance' bike for 2009 with a slightly more relaxed geometry than the TCR series.
  • A taller head tube and longer chain stays make for a more upright fit and more stable handling.
  • Giant is using tapered and oversized 1 1/8
  • The front end of the Defy Advanced isn't quite as humungous as the TCR bikes and provides a noticeably softer ride.
  • Although pegged as a 'performance' rig and not a full-blown race machine, there's still plenty of beef to be found around the Defy Advanced bottom bracket shell.
  • Yup, press-fit cups can be found here, too.
  • The aero seatpost profile carries through to the top portion of the seat tube.
  • Sorry, you won't be fitting your Thomson seatpost in here but Giant has thankfully gone to the trouble of including a rather nice bit here for you already.
  • The Avail Advanced is the women's-specific version of the Defy Advanced.
  • All of the Defy Advanced's major tech features are included here but the geometry has been adjusted for women's typically-shorter torsos.
  • Giant has wholeheartedly adopted the press-fit bottom bracket standard.
  • Need to go faster? Women have their own version of the TT/tri-specific Trinity called the Aeryn.
  • Bladed fork blades help slice through the air.
  • The Aeryn Alliance uses an aluminum lower half paired with a carbon fiber top half for reduced cost, better stiffness and good ride quality.

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Giant was ridiculed ten years for its then-radical compact frame geometries but few are still laughing now.

© James Huang