After seeing an awfully polished looking prototype at Sea Otter, Giant’s TCX Advanced carbon fiber disc brake cyclocross bikes get official with two complete bikes and a frameset. There’s also the very well equipped TCX SLR alloy men’s and Brava women’s version. All of the above strut outta the factory with thru-axle forks and 135mm rear spacing. For diehards, there’s the TCX Advanced SL that’s still rockin’ the cantilevers.
Shown above, the top of the line TCX Advanced 0 uses their Advanced-series carbon for a sub-1050g frame (claimed, medium unpainted). Weight savings come from a modified monocoque construction that eschews an outer woven cosmetic layer. The carbon seat tube, which you can see in better detail in that Sea Otter link, is D-shaped, which they call “D-Fuse” and claims to absorb impacts. It’s held in place by a stealthy, flush seatpost binder.
The frame is disc-specific, devoid of cantilever mounts, and has a flattened top tube for easier shouldering. Up front, the fork has a 1.25″ to 1.5″ tapered steerer and 15mm thru axle at the bottom. The “0” is spec’d with the new SRAM Red 22 group and Hydro RD disc brakes, Rotor 3DF crankset and Giant CXR0 wheels with Schwalbe Super Swan 700×35 tubeless ready tires and retails for $7,150.
UPDATE: From Schwalbe: “The Super Swan is a tire that we produce exlusively for Giant and will not offer in the aftermarket. It is a 700x35c tubeless version of our old Rocket Ron (HS 406) tread pattern.”
The TCX Advanced 1 adds color on top of the same carbon frame, drops down to SRAM Force 10-speed with Hydro RD disc brakes and CXR1 wheels.
It keeps the same tires and crankset and carries a $4,050 retail.
The TCX Advanced frameset retails for $2,200 and includes the D-Fuse seatpost, Overdrive 2 fork with headset and a DT Swiss thru axle. Frames use a BB86 pressfit bottom bracket.
The women’s Brava SLR has Giant’s ALUXX SLR butted alloy tubing with a slightly shorter top tube and taller head tube than the men’s TCX SLR.
Spec includes the top end SRAM Red 22 with Hydro RD disc brakes, Rotor 3DF crankset and CXR1 wheels. It keeps the D-Fuse carbon seatpost and retails for $4,800. There’s also a Brava SLR2 that shares the same frame and post but drops down to Shimano 105 with R515 mechanical disc brakes for $1,600.
The men’s alloy TCX SLR also uses the ALUXX SLR alloy built with SRAM Force 10-speed with Hydro RD disc brakes, an FSA Gossamer Pro crankset, Giant CXR1 wheels and the same carbon D-Fuse post for $2,975.
While it’s a bit hard to get excited about a non-disc ‘cross bike anymore, Giant’s TCX Advanced SL still gets their premium tech. It uses the lighter Advanced-SL carbon construction, an integrated seatmast and carries with it some big race winning pedigree. Spec is SRAM Red 10-speed, Avid Shorty Ultimate brakes and Giant’s P-SL1 wheels. Retail is $4,350 complete, or get just the frameset for $2,700.
Find one near you at Giant-Bicycles.com.
