Felt Ar5 or Giant Propel advanced 3?

Ok, I’ve tried both bikes as
Ok, I’ve tried both bikes as my LBS stocked them.

The giant and felt are great bikes both comfortable stiff and responsive.

I was really attracted to the look of the Felt when I first saw it in the shop and loved the way they had gone for the black and white (like the previous years AR4) but there where a couple of things that put me off.

Didn’t like the rear brake position nor the brake release which is ugly as sin! Also I found the seat post a bit flimsy. Ride was good but with a bit of wheel flex out of the saddle.

They shop had only just built and put the propel out on display the day I went in to buy the AR5 so I thought I would give it a go before deffo going for the felt.

The Giant is lighter (Sub 8kg) at stock and to be honest I didn’t like the orange colour on the frame when I first saw it. The frame looked really nice and under power the wheels did not flex as much as the felts I liked how the cables where routed etc and though the aesthetics of the bike just edged past that of the Felt.

So I bought the Giant…Is it worth the extra £200? That’s the question. You do get a lifetime warranty with the frame against defects etc which is always a bonus, it has head turning looks(due to the orange no doubt which I really love now by the way 😀 ) it’s stiff, it’s fast and it does what it says on the tin. Also Aero bike of the year (if you go offa the reviews that is).
So what’s the bad points? The brakes are crap…fiddly to adjust to get the pads equidistant (takes an age to get them central) didn’t inspire confidence,spongy..etc etc. I upgraded to a pair of Fourier BR-DX005 (these have gone up by another 50 euros!!) very expensive BUT amazing compared to the standard TRP!
The wheels though light are not the best but what set are at this price range they are round and aero and do the job.

I found the Giant a better ride overall but it’s not perfect and if budget is an issue go for the Felt but know that the Giant has a better frame.

I have paired the bike with a set of Mavic Cosmic SLE with the Exalith braking surface, a carbon crankset and Elite stealth bottle cages.
It truly is thing of beauty, like a unicorn walking though a dew drenched sunlit forest,is as good going uphill as down and also slices through the wind like a knife through butter.

I love riding my Propel but I’m sure people like riding their AR5’s just as much (even though the Giant is better 😀 ) So get out on both bikes and make your choice from there!

I am seriously considering a
I am seriously considering a felt ar4 as my n+1.
I bought an f85 in the sales last year as my commute and after over 3000 miles I am very impressed with it. I just need something to tip me into the purchase – probably the sales again !

I had a similar issue while
I had a similar issue while choosing my upgrade, i went for propel simply because it indeed is the most aero bike with aero details looked up right to the T for instance aero brake calipers, Giants own PA-2 aero wheelsets. To me overall the bike looks slightly more proportionate compared to other aero options like AR5 or BMC time machine. Propel surely is more value for money as well

I have an AR5 2014 and I’m
I have an AR5 2014 and I’m really impressed with it. to be honest they’re both pretty bikes but the felt edges it – hence my purchase choice. its true that the rear wheel flexes when really pushed (and was a bit annoying when i got out the seat), but one of the reasons i chose the felt is because of the more agreeable price, meaning i had more for a budget to buy wheels (Reynolds Strike). have done a century on it and felt fine. Seriously fast on the flats too!

The Felt. Giants wheels are
The Felt. Giants wheels are in my experience not all that and I’ve had numerous spoke tension issues with them on both TCRs I’ve owned in the past. A friends Defy has also seen his wheels constantly go out of true and his rear hub packed up too. Ergo the stock wheels are going to need upgraded on either IMO. The Felt is by all accounts an ASTONISHINGLY good bike. The AR1 frame is on my shopping list.

The Giant is, well it’s a Giant. The epitome of meh.