Giant 2015 performance road, mountain and cyclocross ranges - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Propel Advanced Pro 0 (US$5,850 / AU$5,499 / £TBA), in bright orange, looks fast and its component list means it's ready to race - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Giant Propel recieves an updated brake design, something learned from its WorldTour riders and mechanics - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Propel is Giant's answer to the 'fastest road bike' - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Propel Advanced SL LTD (AU$9,799) - perhaps a more style-focused version of what the Giant-Shimano team ride - it's will only be available as a frameset in most countries - David Rome / Immediate Media
A mix of bright blue and yellow makes the Propel Advanced SL LTD stand-out - David Rome / Immediate Media
The top Propel Advanced SL models feature this Giant Contact SLR aero-integrated handlebar and stem - David Rome / Immediate Media
The TCR continues mostly unchanged from 2014. Pictured here is the TCR Advanced SL 0 (US$N/A / AU$9,499 / £TBA) - Courtesy
Giant TCR Advanced Pro 2 (front) and TCR Advanced SL 1 (back) offer some brighter paint - David Rome / Immediate Media
Like the TCR, the Giant Trinity goes into 2015 without any major changes. The Trinity Advanced SL 1 (US$TBA / AU$4,599 / £TBA) pictured here looks like great value - Courtesy
The Giant FastRoad Comax 1 (US$1,750/ AU$1,899 / £TBA) offers a composite frame and fork, Shimano 105 gearing and hydraulic disc brakes - David Rome / Immediate Media
A new model for 2015, the Giant FastRoad is a disc-equipped flat bar road bike with a performance kick - David Rome / Immediate Media
Just like Giant's high-end Defy, XTC and TCX bikes, the FastRoad features the D-Fuse seatpost design for a smoother ride - David Rome / Immediate Media
The FastRoad Comax 2 (US$1,500 / AU$1,599 / £TBA) is a little cheaper with its Shimano Tiagra gearing - David Rome / Immediate Media
The AnyRoad series gains a carbon model. The AnyRoad Comax (US$1,875/ AU$1,999 / £TBA) is ready for adventure touring, fitness riding or commuting - Courtesy
For the little ones, the TCR Espoir 24 (US$700 / AU$699 / £TBA) brings road bike speed into a 24in wheel package - Courtesy
New for 2015, the Giant Anthem Advanced SX (US$5,575 / AU$4,999 / £TBA) takes a standard Anthem and adds a longer 120mm front fork and dropper post for some fast-paced trail riding - David Rome / Immediate Media
The frame doesn't change from a standard Anthem, there's still 4in (100mm) of travel in the rear - David Rome / Immediate Media
This paint work reminds us of the old Giant-sponsored Radobank team - David Rome / Immediate Media
Dropper post on an Anthem? It's been done before by many, but never before out of the box - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Trance 27.5 range continues mostly unchanged from its update in 2014. Pictured is the Trance Advanced 27.5 2 (US$3,600 / AU$3,499 / £TBA) - David Rome / Immediate Media
A MRP 2x lower chainguide is fitted for additional chain security – the better models feature SRAM's X01 and XX1 drivetrains - David Rome / Immediate Media
A RockShox Sector Gold RL fork sits upfront the Trance Advanced 27.5 2 - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Trance Advanced 27.5 1 (US$5,575 / AU$5,299 / £TBA) features SRAM's new Guide brakes, SRAM X01 drivetrain and a RockShox Revelation RL fork - Courtesy
As a starting point into Giant's performance mountain bike range, the XTC 27.5 1 (US$N/A / AU$1,799 / £TBA) offers a taste of race speed - David Rome / Immediate Media
A new model for 2015, the Giant Stance 27.5 is a budget-orientated Trance - David Rome / Immediate Media
Giant displays its well-known mastery of aluminum on the Stance 27.5 - David Rome / Immediate Media
Basic Shimano Alivio gears are used to reach the US$1,450 / AU$1,599 price point on the Stance 2 - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Stance 2 features a basic RockShox Monarch R rear shock - David Rome / Immediate Media
To help keep the price low, the Stance does away with Giant's Maestro suspension system and instead uses a far simpler single-pivot design - David Rome / Immediate Media
Ready for racing, the Giant Anthem Advanced 27.5 0 Team (US$8,250 / AU$6,799 / £TBA) - David Rome / Immediate Media
Like Giant's other high-end mountain bikes, this team version uses SRAM's 11-speed gearing - David Rome / Immediate Media
A RockShox SID XX fork sits at the front - David Rome / Immediate Media
Although this is the top-end race dual suspension bike, it still features an aluminum rear end - David Rome / Immediate Media
Looking to race but don't want rear suspension? The nearly entirely black Giant XTC Advanced SL 27.5 1 (US$5,150 / AU$4,799 / £TBA) is worth a look - David Rome / Immediate Media
Like the TCX and updated Defy ranges, the XTC Advanced SL features a D-Fuse seatpost for greater vertical compliance - David Rome / Immediate Media
A RockShox SID SL sits at the front of the XTC Advanced SL 1 - David Rome / Immediate Media
The TCX Advanced Pro 1 (US$3,950 / AU$3,799 / £TBA) looks like a solid performer for serious racers on a budget - David Rome / Immediate Media
Shimano hydraulic brakes are a common theme on Giant's 2015 cyclocross bikes - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Giant cyclocross range doesn't recieve any major changes, having already been completely revamped with through-axles, disc brakes and other goodness in 2014 - David Rome / Immediate Media
Easily adaptable Rotor cranks continue on from last year - David Rome / Immediate Media
The top-end TCX Advanced Pro 0 (US$7,450 / AU$6,499 / £TBA) will offer Shimano Dura-Ace shifting in a simpler 1x11 configuration - David Rome / Immediate Media
A Wide-Narrow chainring helps with chain security and a further top-mount chainguide (not pictured) ensures it will stay on - David Rome / Immediate Media
We're told the top-mount chainguide is made by Giant specifically to be mounted off the rivets usually used for the front derailleur braze-on tab (guide not pictured) - David Rome / Immediate Media
The latest Shimano Di2 system allow you to program what shifter does what. Without a front derailleur, you're free to use both shifters to control the rear derailleur - we can see this being a game-changer in severe conditions - David Rome / Immediate Media
And just like the high-end XTC and Defy models, the TCX has a D-Fuse seatpost for greater comfort - David Rome / Immediate Media
The biggest news for Giant Bikes' 2015 range is the already unveiled new Defy and Avail endurance disc brake road bikes. But that's not all that's new. On top of a few things we can’t talk about yet, Giant has also revealed a trail-ready Anthem, a budget-orientated Trance dual suspension bike called the Stance, and a small, yet important update to the Propel aero road bike range.
Giant’s aero road racing bike – the Propel – was unveiled during the Tour Down Under in 2013. Since then, the bike has built itself a strong reputation for everything but its brakes, which were commonly considered its weak point.
For 2015, Giant will replace the carbon brakes with a new SpeedControl SL aluminium version, which shares many features found on the Fouriers DX005 model used by Marcel Kittel and the Giant-Shimano team. The new brake has two positions for the cable noodle, to enable easy changes between wide race-day wheels and skinny training wheels. Propel Advanced SL and Advanced Pro models will receive brakes with titanium hardware.
Propel advanced pro 0 (us$5,850/ au$5,499) in this bright orange looks fast and its component list means it's ready to race: propel advanced pro 0 (us$5,850/ au$5,499) in this bright orange looks fast and its component list means it's ready to race - David Rome / Immediate Media
The 2015 Giant Propel Advanced Pro 0
The Propel Advanced Pro 0 (US$5,850 / AU$5,499 / £TBA) is one model that's likely to receive plenty of attention. This bright orange, Ultegra Di2 equipped bike will feature a 55mm deep Giant P-SLR0 Aero wheelset, making it completely ready for race day. Keeping the bright theme going, the Propel Advanced SL LTD (AU$9,799) in bright blue-and-yellow features Zipp 404 tubulars and a Dura-Ace Di2 groupset – unfortunately though, most markets outside of Australia will only offer this model as a frameset (US$3,900 / £TBA).
Both the road racing TCR and triathlon/TT Trinity models continue without frame changes for 2015. Instead, they've received plenty of bright paint and spec updates. Based on Giant’s typical three-year product cycle, we suspect both these models will receive some significant updates in 2016.
The giant fastroad comax 1 (us$1,750/ au$1,899) offers a composite frame and fork, shimano 105 gearing and hydraulic disc brakes: the giant fastroad comax 1 (us$1,750/ au$1,899) offers a composite frame and fork, shimano 105 gearing and hydraulic disc brakes - David Rome / Immediate Media
The all-new FastRoad Comax 1
Serving the flat-bar road market seeking a performance edge is the new FastRoad. The FastRoad Comax 1 (US$1,750 / AU$1,899 / £TBA) and 2 (US$1,500 / AU$1,599 / £TBA) both feature a composite frame with a D-Fuse vibration dampening seatpost, as found on the new Defy range. The aluminium framed FastRoad SLR 1 is slightly cheaper, at US$1,075 / AU$N/A / £TBA.
All FastRoad models feature 700c wheels and hydraulic disc brakes, and prove that bar ends aren’t dead yet.
And for the young ones, there’s the TCR Espoir 24 (US$700 / AU$699). With 24in wheels and Shimano Claris gears, this mini road bike is aimed at riders between 135 to 155cm tall.
Mountain bikes
While the road range continues with Giant’s OverDrive2 1 1/2 to 1 1/4 in tapered steerer system, many will be pleased to hear that the mountain bikes are returning to a standard 1 1/2 to 1 1/8in steerer and stem.
As with the 2014 range, Giant is surging ahead with 27.5in (650b) wheels as the main option, offering even fewer 29er bikes in the lineup for 2015. Another common theme is that all high-end models now feature 11-speed SRAM XX1 and X01 groupsets along with SRAM's new Guide brakes. Trance, Anthem and XTC models – which were all updated in 2014 – continue mostly unchanged, except for spec and paint.
New for 2015, the giant anthem advanced sx (us$5,575/au$4,999) takes a standard anthem and adds a longer 120mm front fork and dropper post for some fast-paced trail riding: new for 2015, the giant anthem advanced sx (us$5,575/au$4,999) takes a standard anthem and adds a longer 120mm front fork and dropper post for some fast-paced trail riding - David Rome / Immediate Media
Not a slimmed down Trance – this is a burly Anthem. The Anthem Advanced SX has a longer fork and dropper post
The Anthem SX is a new platform based roughly on what factory sponsored US rider Adam Craig used to race world cup cross-country on (before switching to enduro racing). It’s a standard 4in (100mm) travel Anthem with a 120mm travel front fork to rake out the head angle, along with a stealth dropper post. This creates a fast, lightweight XC bike with a little trail riding personality.
There will be two versions of the Anthem SX. The aluminium Anthem 27.5 SX (US$3,000 / AU$2,999 / £TBA) features Fox suspension and Shimano SLX and XT components. While sporting a carbon front triangle, the Anthem Advanced 27.5 SX (US$5,575 / AU$4,999 / £TBA) weighs 11.3kg with SRAM X01 drivetrain and RockShox Revelation front fork.
A new model for 2015, the giant stance 27.5 is a budget orientated trance : a new model for 2015, the giant stance 27.5 is a budget orientated trance - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Stance is a budget Trance – it drops Giant's Maestro suspension system for a simpler single-pivot design
It has been a few years since Giant last offered a budget dual suspension option, but for 2015 there is the Stance 27.5. The aluminium frame features 4.7in (120mm) of travel through a simpler suspension design that Giant has dubbed FlexPoint. It’s a single-pivot design that uses tuned flex in the seat stay and chain stay junction in place of a pivot; a concept we’ve seen from other brands before. The Stance 27.5 2 (US$1,450 / AU$1,599 / £TBA) is the starting point and has a RockShox 30 Gold fork, 27-speed Shimano Alivio components and 2.25in Maxxis Ardent rubber.
Cyclocross bikes
Having been completely revamped in 2014, Giant's cyclocross range hasn't received any frame changes for 2015. While the mountain bikes show plenty of love for SRAM, all 2015 cyclocross models move to Shimano gears and brakes.
The top-end tcx advanced pro 0 (us$7,450/ au$6,499) will offer shimano dura-ace shifting in a simpler 1x11 configuration : the top-end tcx advanced pro 0 (us$7,450/ au$6,499) will offer shimano dura-ace shifting in a simpler 1x11 configuration - David Rome / Immediate Media
The TCX Advanced Pro 0 features 1x11 gearing, but not from SRAM
Leading the range is the TCX Advanced Pro 0 (US$7,450 / AU$6,499 / £TBA), which now features Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 set up 1x11-speed with a custom chainguide that mounts in place of the front derailleur braze-on bracket. This setup can be programmed to allow for both left and right shifters to be used together to control the rear derailleur.
A cheaper race-focused option is the TCX Advanced Pro 1 (US$3,950 / AU$3,799 / £TBA) in a cool blue, featuring Shimano Ultegra 11-speed shifting and Shimano RS685 hydraulic disc brakes.
As indicated throughout this article, UK pricing and availability is still to be annouced. Where a price is listed as N/A, the model is not available in that region.
For a closer look at the new range, click or swipe through our gallery above.
