Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

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

Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

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

Old 09-13-20, 10:53 AM
  #1  
eduskator
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
eduskator's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Québec, Canada
Posts: 2,053

Bikes: SL8 Pro, TCR beater

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 950 Post(s)
Liked 559 Times in 421 Posts
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


2- TCR Advanced Pro 0 Disc 2021 (Ultegra DI2) - Could get it in a few weeks for 6499$ (MSRP)


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?

Last edited by eduskator; 09-13-20 at 01:08 PM.
eduskator is offline  
Old 09-13-20, 12:09 PM
  #2  
Plainsman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,503
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 169 Post(s)
Liked 40 Times in 30 Posts
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.
Plainsman is offline  
Likes For Plainsman:
Old 09-13-20, 12:26 PM
  #3  
rubiksoval
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Music City, USA
Posts: 4,444

Bikes: bikes

Mentioned: 52 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2622 Post(s)
Liked 1,429 Times in 711 Posts
Never buy an ugly bike.
rubiksoval is offline  
Likes For rubiksoval:
Old 09-13-20, 12:28 PM
  #4  
HTupolev
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Seattle
Posts: 4,261
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1971 Post(s)
Liked 1,297 Times in 629 Posts
If you don't like how a bike looks, don't buy it.
HTupolev is offline  
Likes For HTupolev:
Old 09-13-20, 12:33 PM
  #5  
xroadcharlie
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Windsor Ontario, Canada
Posts: 531

Bikes: 2018 Giant Sedona

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 179 Post(s)
Liked 116 Times in 95 Posts
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.
xroadcharlie is offline  
Old 09-13-20, 01:10 PM
  #6  
eduskator
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
eduskator's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Québec, Canada
Posts: 2,053

Bikes: SL8 Pro, TCR beater

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 950 Post(s)
Liked 559 Times in 421 Posts
Originally Posted by xroadcharlie
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.
eduskator is offline  
Old 09-13-20, 06:20 PM
  #7  
colnago62
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,433
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 741 Post(s)
Liked 412 Times in 230 Posts
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.
colnago62 is offline  
Likes For colnago62:
Old 09-14-20, 07:52 AM
  #8  
eduskator
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
eduskator's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Québec, Canada
Posts: 2,053

Bikes: SL8 Pro, TCR beater

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 950 Post(s)
Liked 559 Times in 421 Posts
Originally Posted by colnago62
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.
eduskator is offline  
Old 09-14-20, 07:54 AM
  #9  
Noctilux.95
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Southern California
Posts: 595

Bikes: Bianchi Oltre XR4 Celeste, De Rosa SK Pininfarina, Giant TCR SL, Giant Revolt Advanced Revolt 0 Gravel Bike, Trek Madone SLR, Cervelo R5 Disk

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 376 Post(s)
Liked 124 Times in 65 Posts
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.
Noctilux.95 is offline  
Old 09-14-20, 08:59 AM
  #10  
topflightpro
Senior Member
 
topflightpro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,567
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1851 Post(s)
Liked 675 Times in 427 Posts
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.
topflightpro is offline  
Old 09-14-20, 09:25 AM
  #11  
WorldIRC
Canadian eh?
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Toronto
Posts: 2,135

Bikes: 2020 Specialized Roubaix Expert

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 131 Post(s)
Liked 96 Times in 54 Posts
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?
WorldIRC is offline  
Old 09-14-20, 10:01 AM
  #12  
sirjag
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Round Rock, Texas
Posts: 189

Bikes: Giant Contend SL 1 Disc

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 154 Post(s)
Liked 77 Times in 51 Posts
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
sirjag is offline  
Old 09-14-20, 10:57 AM
  #13  
Ogsarg
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Hollister, CA (not the surf town)
Posts: 1,721

Bikes: 2019 Specialized Roubaix Comp Di2, 2009 Roubaix, early 90's Giant Iguana

Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 636 Post(s)
Liked 1,484 Times in 541 Posts
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.
Ogsarg is offline  
Old 09-14-20, 11:06 AM
  #14  
topflightpro
Senior Member
 
topflightpro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,567
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1851 Post(s)
Liked 675 Times in 427 Posts
Originally Posted by WorldIRC
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?
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.
topflightpro is offline  
Old 09-14-20, 11:11 AM
  #15  
WorldIRC
Canadian eh?
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Toronto
Posts: 2,135

Bikes: 2020 Specialized Roubaix Expert

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 131 Post(s)
Liked 96 Times in 54 Posts
Originally Posted by topflightpro
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.
WorldIRC is offline  
Old 09-15-20, 06:20 AM
  #16  
topflightpro
Senior Member
 
topflightpro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,567
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1851 Post(s)
Liked 675 Times in 427 Posts
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?
topflightpro is offline  
Old 09-15-20, 06:41 AM
  #17  
WorldIRC
Canadian eh?
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Toronto
Posts: 2,135

Bikes: 2020 Specialized Roubaix Expert

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 131 Post(s)
Liked 96 Times in 54 Posts
Originally Posted by topflightpro
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.

Last edited by WorldIRC; 09-15-20 at 06:45 AM.
WorldIRC is offline  
Old 09-15-20, 06:58 AM
  #18  
WorldIRC
Canadian eh?
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Toronto
Posts: 2,135

Bikes: 2020 Specialized Roubaix Expert

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 131 Post(s)
Liked 96 Times in 54 Posts
So I guess its not so much that the technology is proprietary, but there is less selection when it comes to Hookless Rims.
WorldIRC is offline  
Old 09-15-20, 08:26 AM
  #19  
topflightpro
Senior Member
 
topflightpro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,567
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1851 Post(s)
Liked 675 Times in 427 Posts
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.
topflightpro is offline  
Old 09-15-20, 08:37 AM
  #20  
Iride01 
I'm good to go!
 
Iride01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,703

Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020

Mentioned: 50 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6063 Post(s)
Liked 4,694 Times in 3,238 Posts
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.
Iride01 is offline  
Old 09-15-20, 08:47 AM
  #21  
Rides4Beer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: VA
Posts: 1,437

Bikes: SuperSix Evo | Revolt

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 732 Post(s)
Liked 814 Times in 413 Posts
Originally Posted by topflightpro
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.
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).
Rides4Beer is offline  
Old 09-15-20, 08:52 AM
  #22  
ririder
Senior Member
 
ririder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 93

Bikes: Giant Defy Advanced 2, Giant Talon , Specialized Sequoia, Fuji Crosstown

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 30 Post(s)
Liked 65 Times in 32 Posts
I've got a 2019 Defy Advanced 2 with the Giant PR 2 wheels and I'm riding on GP5K tubeless without any issues.
ririder is offline  
Old 09-15-20, 11:00 AM
  #23  
eduskator
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
eduskator's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Québec, Canada
Posts: 2,053

Bikes: SL8 Pro, TCR beater

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 950 Post(s)
Liked 559 Times in 421 Posts
Originally Posted by topflightpro
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.
To my knowledge, USA and Canada both have the same models.

Originally Posted by Rides4Beer
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).
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
eduskator is offline  
Old 09-15-20, 10:33 PM
  #24  
Armystrong
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Bonney Lake, WA
Posts: 21

Bikes: 2014 Lapierre Sensium 500 Di2 58cm, 2015 Scott CR1 Team 105 group set 58cm

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
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.

Armystrong is offline  
Old 09-17-20, 09:46 AM
  #25  
guadzilla
Pointy Helmet Tribe
 
guadzilla's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Offthebackistan
Posts: 4,338

Bikes: R5, Allez Sprint, Shiv

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 519 Post(s)
Liked 627 Times in 295 Posts
Originally Posted by WorldIRC
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.
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.
guadzilla is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.