The bike is graced with a SRAM SX Eagle 11×50 drivetrain and crank with Shimano MT201 brake levers and MT200 callipers. The wheels come from Giant in the form of the AM 29 wheels and they’re wrapped with Maxxis Forekaster 29×2.35″ EXO tyres both front and rear. The dropper, handlebars and stem come from Giant, as does the Romero saddle. If you ride on the road, the best wet weather grip belongs to slick tires with no tread pattern that have carbon black tread. Oops, you cannot buy a tire without a tread pattern, because it’s so SCARY!!!
If you’re a fan of lightweight aluminium-framed bikes, then the Contend SL models are well worth a look. When we reviewed the Contend SL1 (above, £1,249) we called it a “balanced and assured aluminium endurance bike equally suited to long rides at pace and commuter pothole-bashing”. Step up a level to the Shimano 105-equipped TCR Advanced 2 and you get the choice of either rim brakes (above, £1,999) or disc brakes (£2,299). This model is built up with a SRAM Red eTap AXS groupset, including a Quarq power meter, and excellent wheels from Giant’s Cadex brand. Two TCR Advanced SL bikes are available in the UK, each of them with disc brakes. The vast number of Giant road bike models might seem daunting at first but the range is structured logically so it’s easy to work out the best choice for you.
The crank is a TruVativ Descendent 6k and it comes with a 30t chainring – and a SRAM DUB press-fit bottom bracket. It gets the same wheels as the spendier bike and comes with Giant’s own finishing kit, including the dropper this time. The frame comes in four sizes, compared to the spendier version, which is missing the small size.
In addition, the Devote Advanced platform is compatible with a 30.9mm dropper seatpost. All of the Enviliv 2021 models available in the UK use the Pro platform (which is Giant/Liv’s middle level of three), and have disc brakes. The designed-for-women Enviliv (formerly called Envie) bikes are branded Liv rather than Giant, and they’re essentially women’s versions of Propels, with an adjusted frame geometry (shorter top tubes, most notably) and women’s saddles.
After President Trump started his trade war with China in 2018, Giant moved some of its manufacturing for the American market from China to the company’s home base in Taiwan to avoid the added tariffs. The next year, the European Union imposed schwinn bicycles antidumping duties on electric bikes from China, so Giant began making those in Taiwan, too. Yamaha’s passion will forever be driven by our racing heritage, and the YDX-MORO 07 is a true thoroughbred for the next generation of eMTB riders.
“The Giant Contend SL 1 is an absolutely spot-on all-day ride,” we said. “It’s a comfortable and versatile sportive/endurance bike with a dependable feel that encourages you to keep going and just do those extra few miles.” Most obviously, the Advanced Pro has a seatpost that slots into the seat tube whereas the Advanced SL has an integrated seatpost, and the seatstay yoke is slightly lower on the Advanced Pro. Giant also has a women’s brand called Liv that offers an impressively large range. One of the highest-volume bike manufacturers in the world, Giant consistently outperforms competitors on value and performance.