Giant TCX SLR 2?

[PlanetWilson]

I am just about to purchase a Giant TCX SLR 2 to replace my cheapo road bike as they are on offer in the Giant shop reduced to 799 from 999 which seems pretty good for the spec. I love the ride and the disc brakes. I just have one concern about the D shaped seat post and the fact it is carbon. I have a Topeak rear rack which attaches to the seat post which I don't think I can use with a carbon one.

Is it possible to switch the carbon one for something else does anyone know? I guess I should probably just look into replacing the bag with a normal rear rack one. (I only use it once or twice a year when going on a touring weekend with friends)

 

[vickster]

Can't see why you couldn't switch to an alu one as beam racks and carbon posts don't mix? Ask the giant store? They'll probably do you a deal too

 

[PlanetWilson]

The guy in the shop didn't seem to know. Also I wondered if the size sounded right, I know it sounds daft. I got a little test ride on it and it felt fine. I am getting a medium, my inside leg is about 33 inches and I am 5'11'' tall. Just worried I should be getting the M/L instead. When it came to sizing he wasn't a massive help when I asked him to check.

 

[vickster]

Have you looked at the geometries? If it compares to a Defy, either size should be ok, but sizing is not only determined by height

 

[PlanetWilson]

I looked at this :-

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/backoffice/_upload_au/rider_height_frame_size.pdf


and I did sit on it and ride it up and down a path outside a few times, it felt fine but I think I might have ben reading too much on various sites about sizes etc as now I am unsure

 

[vickster]

Only you can really decide. It is however easier to make a bike that is a little small, bigger but less easy the other way round. Depends if you like lots of seat post, a more racy position

Looks like you are between sizes. Personally I'd go smaller, a too big bike caused me a chronic injury so am cautious now

 

[roadrash]

to be honest i would expect the chap selling me the bike to be able to answer the above questions, the fact that he doesnt seem to know about the product hes selling , would see me walk out of the door and somewhere more knowledgeable would get my hard earned dosh,..... if your unsure... hold off untill you are, would be my advice.

 

[PlanetWilson]

I know what you are saying but these are really good bikes and with 200 quid off they won't be around long. This is an actual Giant shop too in York, I'm going to go along tomorrow and see if I can speak to someone else I think just to check. They do say that for crossbikes you should get a size smaller than normal, I had tried a Whyte earlier in the day at my LBS and that guy was adamant I should be on a 54cm for those which I would have thought was too small without trying it but it was fine actually. (he also said what vickster said, in that you can make a small bike fit a little bigger but you can't do much about the other way round, and that loads of people buy bikes that are too big)

Also I just found this link seems to indicate it is the right size:-

http://www.shopgiant-bicycles.co.uk/sizing.aspx

At the end of the day it felt right when I tested it (as far as you can with shops these days), I'll go along and just see who else is about in the shop to double check. It could have just been the guy's manner which I am interpreting as being hazy.

This probably also stems from the fact that I always thought as myself as reasonably tall so getting a medium "feels" wrong if you know what I mean

 

[Albert]

I have one of these excellent bikes. For your height I would say buy an M/L.
The bike come with a seatpost clamp extender for fitting racks, so you have no need to worry about fitting your rack.
Only criticism of this bike is that the wheels are h e a v y and not that well built. I have bought some lovely Hopes and the bike is transformed.

 

[PlanetWilson]

Picked it up this morning and dealt with a different guy. Ended up with the M, rides really nicely and still it's if scope to increase the reach if I need to. Lovely bike.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Nice bike! Esp' at that price.

Medium is right size I'd say - I'm 5' 9" and ride a Small TCX1 with stem +2cm over standard. Fits perfect.