The Avail Advanced is the women’s-specific version of the Defy Advanced, featuring the same carbon construction technology but with a slightly shorter top tube and taller head tube.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
Tube shaping on the Avail Advanced is somewhat softer than on the TCR series with smoother lines and more rounded forms. The front end still uses the same mega-oversized OverDrive2 1 1/4-to-1 1/2in tapered steerer, though.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
Visually speaking, the Giant Contact SLR’s massive carbon fiber extension is proportional to the Giant TCR Advanced SL frame but it suddenly makes “oversized” 31.8mm-diameter handlebars look puny in comparison.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
The Giant Contact SLR stem uses a gargantuan carbon fiber extension that yields a noticeably twist-free cockpit. Claimed weight is very light, too, at just 135g for a 110mm size.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
The Defy range is Giant’s answer to the long-distance, “endurance”-type rider who is seeking a lightweight and efficient chassis but also more comfort than is provided by most race bikes.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
Tube shaping on the Defy range is very similar to the top-end TCR, including the bulbous squared-off head tube housing the new OverDrive 2 1 1/4-to-1 1/2in tapered steerer tube.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
The top tube and seat stays on the Giant Defy Advanced are more offset than on the TCR to help provide more seat tube flex under load.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
The Defy Advanced SL’s down tube is more rounded as compared to the TCR Advanced SL but it’s still comparably sized in terms of width and girth.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
Giant’s new Defy Advanced SL is designed to offer more stability and ride comfort than the more aggressive TCR Advanced SL but it’s actually the lightest frame in the company’s road range with a claimed weight of just 799g.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
The seat cluster on the new Giant Defy Advanced SL is notably minimal, allowing for extra fore-aft flex from the integrated seatmast for extra comfort on rough surfaces.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
The new Giant Defy Advanced SL isn’t just lighter than the standard Defy Advanced – its integrated seatpost also allows for more minimal seat tube shaping since it doesn’t have to accommodate a telescoping, aero-profile seatpost.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
Giant is jumping into the pre-built road wheel market with two models. The P-SLR1 Aero features a 49mm-deep scandium-enhanced aluminum and carbon fiber clincher wide-profile rim, bladed straight-pull stainless steel spokes, DT Swiss hub internals and extra-wide spoke flanges that notably boost lateral rigidity. Claimed weight is just 1,575g for the pair.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
The Giant P-SLR1 front hub features a spoke anchor design borrowed from DT Swiss’s Tricon range but the flanges are spaced a more generous 60mm apart for extra lateral stiffness.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
The Giant P-SLR1 rear hub uses DT Swiss’s proven star ratchet driver mechanism and straight-pull spoke anchors borrowed from the Tricon design but with more widely spaced flanges and radial driveside lacing to gain wider bracing angles, thus improving lateral rigidity.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
Giant’s new P-SLR1 Aero rims measure a versatile 49mm deep for good performance at speed but they’re still reasonably light at 1,575g for the pair.James Huang/BikeRadar.com