Giant's latest top-end carbon cyclocross race bike
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Giant's TCX Advanced Pro 1 is its cyclocross weapon for 2017 (Image credit: Russell Eich / Immediate Media)
And the UCI approves of the fork as well (Image credit: Russell Eich / Immediate Media)
FSA's SLK Light crank spins a 40T ring (Image credit: Russell Eich / Immediate Media)
MegaTooth sounds like a dinosaur, but it's just FSA's name for narrow/wide teeth on a chainring(Image credit: Russell Eich / Immediate Media)
Looks are clean with bolt that thread in from the back(Image credit: Russell Eich / Immediate Media)
A mini chainguide takes the place of a front derailleur (Image credit: Russell Eich / Immediate Media)
Swapping stems might be tricky since Giant's OverDrive2 still exists with its interesting 1 1/4in steerer (Image credit: Russell Eich / Immediate Media)
Shimano's Di2 electric drivetrains are incredible but the placement of the junction box still baffles me (Image credit: Russell Eich / Immediate Media)
Giant's D-Fuse SL seatpost is built for comfort(Image credit: Russell Eich / Immediate Media)
Auto Align, never worry about a crooked saddle again(Image credit: Russell Eich / Immediate Media)
Do not fret, the frame is UCI-approved(Image credit: Russell Eich / Immediate Media)
Schwalbe tires are making some big claims right there(Image credit: Russell Eich / Immediate Media)
A press-fit BB386 channels your power (Image credit: Russell Eich / Immediate Media)
The frame is ready for a front derailleur or alternate cable routings(Image credit: Russell Eich / Immediate Media)
Plenty of clearance back here (Image credit: Russell Eich / Immediate Media)
Shimano's flawless Ultegra Di2 changer handles the 11-speed gearing(Image credit: Russell Eich / Immediate Media)
A 12mm thru-axle is up front(Image credit: Russell Eich / Immediate Media)
Plenty of carbon at the junction of the down tube and chainstays (Image credit: Russell Eich / Immediate Media)
Giant's unique OverDrive2 head tube provides steering prowess (Image credit: Russell Eich / Immediate Media)
Giant's own saddle looks nice and flat (Image credit: Russell Eich / Immediate Media)
The CXR 1 wheels are wide and tubeless ready out of the box(Image credit: Russell Eich / Immediate Media)
A little rubber cover keeps things clean(Image credit: Russell Eich / Immediate Media)
Here's Giant's cyclocross race bike for 2017, the TCX Advanced Pro 1. With a full composite frame, thru-axles front and rear, Schwalbe tubeless tires and a 1x11 electronic Ultegra drivetrain, this rig is ready for going fast in not-so-nice conditions.
The Taiwanese company Giant makes bikes for every type of riding and sponsors some of the biggest names and teams in the world. They're considered the world's largest bicycle manufacturer and are known to leverage that weight in offering some incredible bikes with even more incredible specs. At $4,400, the 2017 TCX Advanced Pro 1 is a prime example.
Giant TCX Advanced Pro 1 spec overview
Advanced-grade composite frame with D-Fuse SL composite seatpost
Advanced-grade composite fork with full-composite OverDrive 2 steerer and 12mm thru-axle
Giant CXR 1 WheelSystem with Schwalbe X-One tubeless tires
Giant makes four TCX cyclocross models, three in composite (Giant-speak for carbon fiber) and one in ALUXX SLR (again, Giant-speak for aluminum). All the models share the same geometry, 12mm thru-axles front and rear, and Giant's unique D-Fuse composite seatpost that's designed to damp vibrations and is impossible to line up crooked in the frame.
The TCX Advanced Pro 1 is the top of the line race machine and looks the part with a mini chainguide wrapping a single 40T ring partnering with Shimano's Ultegra Di2 rear gear changer. Tiny 140mm disc brake rotors keep the weight low, especially when shouldering the bike, and are clamped down by Shimano hydraulic calipers.
Up front, Giant's full-composite fork features its OverDrive 2 tapered steerer. Interestingly, it tapers from the standard 1 1/2in base to 1 1/4in at the stem, instead of the hugely more common 1 1/8in standard. Swapping stems won't be easy on this one, but maybe the stiffness will make up for it. We'll see...
Giant's own CXR 1 wheels are aluminium and have a nice 24mm width to spread out the 33mm Schwalbe X-One tires. The whole set up is tubeless ready and Giant thoughtfully included valves for just such purpose. The 28-spoke wheelset's weight is a claimed 1,755g/pair which is nothing to write home about, but we'll see how they fare in use and abuse.
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We'll rack up the miles and the laps on this TCX and report back. And by the way, Giant calls the colour Lime Green, but all my eyes see is bumblebee.
