smasha

I'm thinking about a 2022 Giant ToughRoad SLR 1, and I can't find any real-life reviews or close-up pictures. The published specs don't specify, and the local shops haven't seen these yet…

Do these bikes use QR or thru-axle?

Perhaps more importantly, does it really matter on a 2022 bike with a rigid carbon fork?

Also, I've almost never used a bike with a carbon fork, especially for commuting. There's a part of my head that says it's a bad idea to ride a plastic bike, but I guess the reality of it is that it's at least as tough and durable as any ALU fork, right? Part of what makes me wonder about that is the front pannier rack that it comes with; that's in two pieces, one on each side of the fork. The engineering part of my brain is thinking that loaded front panniers would put a torsional stress on the bolts and bolt-holes; it seems like a one-piece front rack, ideally with a "stabiliser" bolt at the front-crown, would minimise any torsional forces on the other bolts, and on the bolt-holes. Am I just over-thinking this?



2022 Giant ToughRoad SLR 1

tyrion

I bet Giant specs a weight limit on the front racks and I would trust it.

smasha

I can't find a spec for that. Still, uneven loads, bumpy roads… As I understand it, carbon fibre isn't subject to stress fracture like metals are, but it still seems like it would be more prudent to use a one-piece front-rack, ideally with a bolt at the top, for extra stability.

Troul 

I would agree.

Looks QR from the picture, but that's relying on the calibrated eye-a-scope.

sean.hwy

I think Giant tends to overbuild things ( not the lightest bike ). If Giant sells it with a front rack it should fine.

I thought all the big manufactures moved away from QR for disc brakes.

Looks like a fun bike to commute on.

Troul 

Unless a law/reg is forcing engineering to have a certain safety equipped feature, the OEM is most likely to choose the faster/lower cost design that meets the design objective rather than a perceived safety concern.

smasha

My guess is that they've got however many forks/frames at the factory that they need to get through, before the re-tool from QR to thru-axle. I'm wondering if the lack of published spec might indicate a change from QR to thru-axle during the production year.

A few of the reviews I found for the 2021 model expressed surprise that these bikes were still using QRs, and expected the 2022 model to have thru-axle.

Koyote

That is speculative, and probably often incorrect.

OP: I would much rather have a carbon fiber fork than one made of aluminum on any kind of bike. Aluminum is subject to fatigue, while carbon fiber is not.

I suggest that you send Giant an email asking about the weight limit on the front load… But it is probably sufficient for anything you would want to carry on that bike.

PS: some posters will act as if quick releases with disc brakes is some kind of tragedy… It is not. It will work fine.

Chilepines

I have QR on my gravel bike with discs, and on my tandem with discs. Never had a problem other than minor alignment issues.
Having said that, my new bikes will both have thru axles because if you have a choice it is a better one, but as stated above, QR will work.

veganbikes

It looks like QR front and rear and wouldn't surprise me. I think it is sort of one of their better bikes but like most Giant stuff leaves a good bit to be desired.

Point

It doesn’t matter if it’s QR or thru axle.

shelbyfv

It might not matter to you....

Koyote

I have both on disc brake bikes; prefer t/a, but q/r works fine. And I’ve never seen a different opinion on BF, until your post.

jcbenten

According to this review, QR it is: https://road.cc/content/review/giant...-1-2021-285285

prj71

That bike is not available in the U.S. right now for some reason. It's only being shown on the Internal Giant Website.

Currently it is a QR axle front and rear.

Having had QR bikes in the past where it has loosened up on a gravel ride...I won't ever buy a bike unless it has thru axles.

Koyote

A good internal cam qr, used properly, won't "loosen up." Hell, I don't even know what "loosen up" even means in this context.

HillRider

A properly tightened internal cam qr skewer accompanied by adequate "lawyer's lips" on the fork dropouts are sufficient to make disc brakes reliable and secure. However, a thru axle avoids these issues by design and provides more reliable alignment of the rotor and caliper after wheel removal and reinstallation. There are good reasons thru axles are nearly standard on disc brake bikes of all types.

prj71

Is it that hard to understand?

From the vibrations on the road the lever will loosen up releasing the tension, then it slowly starts turning and then the front wheel becomes loose in the fork or rear wheel in frame. Had this happen numerous times. Thus I know longer own bikes with QR. Thru axle only. Also, QR and disc brakes don't work well together.

Koyote

You're confusing user error with a design flaw.

shelbyfv

This is incorrect. If your wheel has become loose it's because you did something wrong or your equipment was faulty. FWIW, I'm no fan of QR and discs and wouldn't buy a new disc brake bike w/o thru axles. Nothing to do with fear of the wheel coming loose, however.

HillRider

From the above information I have to conclude you don't know how to use a qr skewer correctly. The flag on a properly tightened qr skewer cams "over center" as it is closed and, therefore, it gets tighter as it is opened the initial few degrees. Unless it is physically caught on something it is almost impossible for it to loosen spontaneously from vibration. In over 240,000 miles of riding I have never had a qr skewer show the slightest signs of loosening by itself and none of my riding friends have either. I believe you should get someone who knows how to use them show you how it's done.

prj71

Absolutely not. I'm a mechanical engineer for a living. I know how this stuff works.

Plenty of evidence on this forum and elsewhere on the interwebs of QR axles coming loose on people.

prj71

I should mention that my previous QR axle bikes had disc brakes. One was a Fat Bike and the other a Road bike. The axle loosening up on the fat bike was more of issue than the road bike due to the terrain I would ride the fat bike on.

A front disc brake caliper behind the fork blade generates a powerful force tending to loosen a quick release and pull the wheel out of the fork. A special hub, and a fork with a hole rather than a slot for the axle, are needed to surmount this problem.

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/disc-brakes.html

In any case, QR axle bikes are going away and will soon only be found on department store bikes.

shelbyfv

I don't know about fat bikes but I'm skeptical that you pulled a correctly installed wheel loose on a road bike, disc or not.

Koyote

He claimed it happened on a gravel ride.

I've got over 10k miles on a gravel bike with QRs and disc brakes, and that includes plenty of gravel riding - including some famously gnarly and steep races - and have never had a problem. 'Course, I am using XT skewers and, umm, I know how to use them.