[Closed] Propel or TCR ?

controversially: test ride?

Stack and reach are the same. Aero frame will make diddly difference from a performance perspective, as with the difference in weight. Down to aesthetics and how it feels to ride.

Depends how STRAAAAVVVVVAAAAAAA you are. New TCR has been spotted if that bothers you, should be "announced" at the Tour.

Not fussed at all ref Strava. Availabilty of both is pretty bad as far as test rides go in my area. Maybe able to get a test at the weekend as im down in Wales, providing Tredz have stock...

Propel. I've had both (TCR was alloy) and also have a Defy SL. The geometry is supposed to be the same, but I found my TCR to be slightly longer than my Propel.

I've raced and sportived both. 100 miles on my Propel was perfectly comfortable.

That said, the brakes can be a pain (I upgraded mine at huge expense), the internal cables rattle due to the angle of entrance, and the aero effects can be easily achieved with other options is you need them.

If I had to keep one bike for life, it would be the Defy SL. If I were to keep one race bike for racing, it would be the Propel. It's just such a great ride.

I've just bought a carbon Defy and I'm really pleased with it. I was riding a carbon TCR and find the Defy just as quick, but with the added bonus of disc brakes and Di2, not to mention out of the box comfort. Availability was an issue for a medium (I went for the Pro 0), but I hit lucky in the end, after many phone calls and emails. I swapped the wheels out for Giant's P-SLR0s which I sourced from Germany. They're now set up tubeless with Schwalbe the One tyres. The Defy is a great bike which is fast, comfortable and well specced for the money, especially as I somehow got a decent discount! So, maybe check out a Defy, as well.

If you're not racing and screaming STRAVA at your comm(petit)utors then I'd go for the TCR or as noted above the Defy if you fancy discs.

TCR, the brakes on the Propel are horrible things accoridng to my mate who has one. Unless you're racing and/or chasing Strava segments the aero-ness of the Propel is not worth the brake based hassle in my eyes.

I'm kind of in the same dilemma, I'm trying to decide over a defy advanced or a propel.
I must admit the propel looks the business.
But on another roadie forum I asked this question.
I think for what I need it's going to be the defy.
Sportives and general riding.
But the price of the propel does sway you doesn't it??

Got a Propel a few months ago and its awesome. No problem with cable rattle as went with Di2

There was an issue with pre 2015 models and the brakes but it seems to have been sorted now. I test rode a Propel when it was first released and liked the ride but the brakes put me off from buying however a couple of years down the line i test rode another one and all the good qualities were still there plus the brakes were working good so ended up getting it. Havent had any brake issues but on building the bike i took the unusual step (for me!) of reading the instructions and placed the pads as recommended and tweaked the spring tension. I suspect if riders are having issues with the redesigned brakes then its an issue with how they have been set up and should be a simple fix. The brakes themselves are really good in terms of power.

Giant have "upgraded" the brakes on this year's model and will retrofit older ones. They now use alloy, but the cable clamp is still a small Torx screw. The Fourier brakes I use have a massive cable clamping bolt as you would see on most brakes, which made them easier to set up. Modulation and power are excellent on both new and Fourier. It was cable clamping that I found to be the biggest issue as the screw was made of cheese. both brakes have two cable stop positions for narrow and wide rims. Rapid wheel removal is still harder than a nice little lever on the caliper. But my bike fits in the car without wheel removal.

But I still love the Propel, and was happy to buy another. I didn't say, but my Defy SL has caliper brakes, so I swap wheels; and with nice aero wheels, it too is a flying machine. I'm not a fan of disk brakes for road bikes, personally. Both bikes have the same set-up in terms of position and contact points. Handling is sharper on the Propel, but I've raced all three bikes to no acclaim, and the Propel was nicest to race, the Defy the nicest all day.

There are no poor choices to be honest. Giant make excellent bikes.

^^ I'd second that. My TCXAdv has been one of the best bikes I've ever owned. It's not only bullet proof but light and stiff. There are few bikes that come alive offroad but this just zings.
Awesome.

I had a 2014 Propel on loan last year for a couple of months and most of the riding I did on it back then was up in Herts with my Club who ride out that way a lot. For the lane hacks and stuff it was stable and zingy enough but when the road surface flattened out it flew. I wouldn't say it was a comfortable machine for long distance on rough roads (I really do mean gravel strewn/pot holes/single lanes I normally ride in Hampshire) but it wasn't any worse than a light bike with carbon 60mm rims on.
I have a discount £value from Giant which I'm undecided what to do with, had I not already gotten hold of my R5ca I'm darn sure I would now have a PropelAdv.

But I'm not you, can you not at least try one out? Giant are famous for test bikes availability..

Got both booked on demo but not till August locally. That said I'm in South Wales this weekend so will see if Tredz have any demos free..the saga continues.

[URL= http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz211/dansipods/F8B5193F-1060-4532-9082-231FE9771469_zpszwj6o8fc.pn g" target="_blank">http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz211/dansipods/F8B5193F-1060-4532-9082-231FE9771469_zpszwj6o8fc.pn g"/> [/IMG][/URL]

general riding and Sportives.

Still awaiting test ride (Aug 16th) of the TCR and Propel, but must admit i like the Defy but discs are putting me off for some reason....

@shanta

I've spent a lot of time this season riding the Defy Advanced Pro, TCR Advanced Pro and Propel Advanced Pro bikes in medium and medium / large sizes (I am 5'10" with 32" inseam).

[img] [/img]

I prefer the Propel to the TCR because I found the fit more comfortable. I've had some shoulder injuries over the years and cannot tolerate an extreme drop.

Taking advise from an experienced bike fitter I tried both the M and M/L TCR and found the M/L a better fit with less extreme drop and minimal difference in reach.

The steering geometry on the TCR is very similar to the Propel but the Propel with its "conventional" rather than "compact" tube layout means a slightly taller head tube, which I prefer, meaning I can ride the M size very happily.

I also found the Propel to be a better "balanced" bike with excellent handling and feel, whereas the TCR felt very 'efficient' but also quite neutral / clinical and dominated by the large OD2 head tube junction. I must quantify that I don't race, so the TCR is wasted on me...

[img] [/img]

My own bike is actually the Defy Advanced Pro 1, but this is a very different bike to either the TCR or Propel which are both caliper brake racing bikes.

the hydro disc brake Defy is simply an awesome bike, I cannot see any disadvantages except a cost premium over caliper brake bikes.

[img] [/img]

I recently tested the 2016 TCR Advanced Pro, a very different beast to the older TCR and much more "lively", felt like my Tarmac SL4 and I mean that as a compliment

however I've ridden many S-Works Tarmacs in all variants and the new TCR is extremely punchy in comparison when putting down power, I have ridden too many bikes and heard too much hype from bike manufacturers but the TCR I tested was easily the best race bike I have ever ridden and I've built £12,000 custom builds with all the best parts...

[img] [/img]

Very much torn now..looking at keeping the Defy for long rides in all weathers, and whether to get a Propel or new TCR for sunshine rides!

I got a TCR Advanced SL frame a couple of years ago and have been very pleased with it.

If I was to do it again, I'd probably lean towards the Propel as I prefer a horizontal top tube for aesthetic reasons :roll:. Would need to be comfortable with the brake set up though.

@m1kea

brakes on 2015 Propel have been fine.

only thing to watch out for is the rear tire, the brake cable can foul certain 25mm tires, depending on the rim choice and "real" size of inflated 25mm tire which varies from brand to brand

@ esher shore, great little review. As ive said , i ahve a test ride on the TCR and Propel 2015 models soon so will see how they go but after your review it seems the TCR maybe too harsh.

Interesting comment about the head tube height on the propel. I sized down to a M/L TCR and already run a -10 140 stem on it. Sounds like I'd struggle to get as good a position on a Propel which would probably negate any aero advantage from the frame.

I thought the TCR and Propel geo was the same?

Checking out the giant site, the only geometry figures that are different is, unsurprisingly, the standover.

I went from a carbon Defy to an advance Propel and it rides great, have done sportives upto 130 odd miles and its more than comfortable enough. However, its for sale as the new ones are just arriving 8)
[img] ?oh=16e5a599b98002b9eb1e4bfccf382552&oe=561199B9[/img]

Really..how much snakebite?

I'll give you a cheeky backwards cuddle for it?

I'm surprised you struggled to get a test ride. I got a week long loan of a TCR from my LBS before I bought one (2013, Advanced 2). I can't fault the TCR. It's a better bike than I'll ever be a rider. I find it very comfortable having had it specced and fitted to my needs and riding style. It's absurdly responsive with all the power going to where it needs, nothing lost in flex. It makes my aluminium Trek 1.9 feel like wet spaghetti in comparison. It also handles like it's on rails, happy to turn in and be leaned around corners at speed without flinching. I can't compare it to a Propel (though they do look lush) or a Defy but I'm certainly very happy with my choice.

Took my Defy up Col de la Colombiere today and it climbed well. It was fast and stable on the descents. I got up quicker than on my old TCR. The discs were nice on the warp speed descents, but the front did complain by squealing a little. Still, one finger braking from nearly 50 mph is nice.

Fast? But its not aero?

Aero enough down an Alp, and aero enough going up slowly!

Fast? But its not aero?

Isn't it? Why isn't it aero?

Well I just thrashed the Propel around Hillingdon E123 race this evening (av speed 28 mph). What a bike. I like them both, but come Sunday, it will be the Propel I shall wheel out again this year for the 100.

New TCR is probably the best compromise, and I'm lucky enough not to have to. But seriously, all three are great and just offer (very) slightly different flavours. If you are near me, you are welcome to a test ride.

Thanks for the offer TiRed but im in the Worcs...

As for test ride availability, i got one booked no probs but availabilty of the bikes was the issue, thats why ive had to wait weeks.

Thanks for the offer TiRed but im in the Worcs...

My local bike shop has some great deals on both. They've also got some stupidly cheap frames adorning the walls 56cm Propel £600, Tcr £350 etc.
http://www.partridgecycles.co.uk/p/sale-bikes

They only sell in-store sadly 🙁