Received: Giant TCX SLR1

With Lars van der Haar riding a top flight, carbon Giant TCX Advanced bike to great effect in the pro races, Giant are no strangers to the cross scene, but it’s a slightly more humble aluminium framed TCX SLR 1 that we’ve got our grubby little mitts on.

The Taiwanese mega manufacturer has massive amounts of experience with aluminium manipulation, and it shows on the TCX SLR frame, the contours mimic the more expensive brethren very closely. We’ll know in the coming months whether or not this is purely a cosmetic approach or whether it lives up to its athletic promise too. As you’d expect from Giant, the spec levels are good, with a 105 and Ultegra mix drive and cross specific Shimano RS500 outboard bearing chainset. Own brand wheels provide tubeless ready rims, nice hot rod finish, machined edge hubs and the front is obviously ready for the 15mm bolt through axle.
As befits a bike with racing heritage, we’ll be putting this under one of the test team with a bit of oomph – Louise Mahe. We’ve dropped the bike of with Lou now, so for those in the south east, you can expect to see this at the sharp end of races in the next couple of months, and she’ll be delivering her first thought on the bike in the next couple of weeks with a Ridden article.