Giant's 2020 vs 2021 TCR - How do you feel about it?
 

So long story short, summer is ending and I've started looking for a replacement to my current 2018 Pro 0 Disc. I want to get a new bike instead of upgrading my current one mainly because I want deeper wheels (I have 30mm right now and would like 42mm) & I want a Power Meter. Fortunately, Giant now offers both OEM on their Advanced Pro lineup! I am also considering cheating on Shimano and going with SRAM since I've heard good things about it and I like the fact of having less wires hanging. Here are my narrowed choices:

1- TCR Advanced Pro 0 Disc 2020 (Sram Force) - Could get one right now with 10% off the 6599$ MSRP
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f15d8d343e.jpg

2- TCR Advanced Pro 0 Disc 2021 (Ultegra DI2) - Could get it in a few weeks for 6499$ (MSRP)
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...172c5312a6.jpg

I know the 2021 is redesigned and is better (plus, it has wider clearance for wider tires and comes factory with 28mms which is something I would most likely appreciate), but I simply don't like the blue color of the 2021 Pro 0. The 2020 looks much better IMO and I am trying to figure out if I will regret going with a 2020 instead of the 2021 just because of the color. What do you guys think?

Buy what you will look at every day and be excited about riding. Some may call that vanity, but most of us don’t ride bikes for a living, we do it for fun. I want to be excited every time I look at my bike to take it out for a ride. That said, looks like a pretty significant head tube redesign between the two model years.

Never buy an ugly bike.

If you don't like how a bike looks, don't buy it.

Personally I like the blue color. What's so great about black. I have a black Giant Sedona now. Next time I'm definitely getting one with more character. Black is boring IMO.

That said, And you really like the color of the 2020 better, I would look carefully at exactly what has been changed. I like the new head tube and wider tires as well as the color. But if the 2020 checks all the right boxes, It might be good for you too. I much prefer a comfortable ride, so I would look carefully at what has been done to improve it.

The 10% discount wouldn't effect my choice for a bicycle. On a washer or vacuum cleaner OK, But not something I have a passion for.

Price isn't what's going to influence my decision, but it's always nice to shave off a few hundred bucks out of a significant expense like a bike. My other option was to go with a Pro 1 2021 (Matte Black) and upgrade it with DI2, but it would run a little more. Not sure if the redesigned head tube & wider tires is worth not getting the color I like or paying a little more and that's why I was asking member's opinion. I don't find the blue one ugly, it's just not my preference. Black has always been my color :) Plus, the 2020 TCR can run some of the 28mm tires out there with no rubbing.

I doubt you will notice the difference of the redesigned head tube and the wider tire option is only an advantage if you ride tires that need that clearance. As long as the tire width isn’t a deal breaker, I would go with the bike with the color you like.

It's not. I can put 28mm depending on the brand/model on my current one so I'd be able to on a 2020 as well.

Get the 2021 Black TCR and add di2 later. Yes it will cost you a little more but you’re getting the lighter, more aero, and the color you want.

My wife has that 2020 TCR. She loves it.

And it's not clear in the pic, but it's really more of an all-black bike. The green Giant logo is reflective, so it only really shows in certain lighting.

I was looking into getting a Giant but realized that the wheels are largely "proprietary" in that the list of compatible tires is minimal.

Thoughts on this?

I have the Giant Contend SL1 with 105s, carbon fork, disc, internal cable routing....but its AL frame...having never ridden a carbon bike...can anyone tell me what i'm missing? The contend is my first road bike, just hit 4k miles on it! I freaking love it...but i always wonder what i'm missing...besides the extra 3 thousand $$...

JAG

If I'm spending that kind of money, I don't want to feel like I had to compromise. If the Giant offerings don't have what you want in a color you love (or at least like), look elsewhere.

Huh. We just put Conti GP5000s on my wife's bike after the OEM tires wore out. Not sure what is so proprietary about the rim?

I should add, her one complaint is she hates the handlebar shape, but we are going to swap on another bar when we replace the bar tape.

I wondered the same, and then I read their page on Hookless Rims: https://www.giant-bicycles.com/ca/hookless-technology

GP5000 is specifically advised against use on those rims.

Good to know.

Wondering why the first half of that page, listing which tires to use, is in English, while the second half, listing what tires not to use, is not?

Sorry that was the Canadian Giant Site (no excuse though!!). I'm sure there's an equivalent site for the US :)

https://weightweenies.starbike.com/f...c.php?t=156634 found another website that talks about it. Apparently the GP5000TL are simply not Hookless Compatible, period, due to the bead size.

So I guess its not so much that the technology is proprietary, but there is less selection when it comes to Hookless Rims.

Interestingly, when I look on the US site, I don't see any mention about the hookless issue.

The Canadian site you originally listed has a link to what tires work. The US version does not. https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/sl...sc-road-wheels

Are the US rims different? Did I put improper tires on my wife's bike? Now I'm a bit worried.

One was made for the 2020 model year and the other for the 2021 model year. Other than that, same stuff applies that you'd use to judge any purchase.

If she has hookless rims, then yes, I'd be concerned, there have been reports of certain tires blowing off of hookless rims, especially at road pressures (part of the reason I won't use them, I don't want to worry about compatibility issues to save a few grams).

I've got a 2019 Defy Advanced 2 with the Giant PR 2 wheels and I'm riding on GP5K tubeless without any issues.

To my knowledge, USA and Canada both have the same models.

Agreed. I would not use tires that aren't ''hookless compatible''. Giant has tested a few of them and put the list on its website. Schwalbe Pro Ones are in the list of approved tires so I'm good! lol

I had a Giant TCR and sold it...immediately bought a Lapierre Sensium 500 Di2 Ultegra...so glad I made the switch. The Lapierre looks so much better, very smooth, comfortable, and quick. I also have a Scott CR1 Team with 105 group set...love both bikes better than I ever did my TCR.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...47fb6f54f6.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a3ebd8461c.jpg

Lots of wheel companies seem to dislike the GP5kTLs. Enve doesnt support them either. A former Spesh product designer over on WW says he wouldnt use them on any tubeless tire, period.