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Buying advice - Giant or Cube?

by scotthunter
Fri, Apr 27, 2018 10:04
8

Hi there,

I am new to this forum and I am looking for some buying advice for my second road bike - currently ride a 2013 Cube Peloton Pro (ally frame with full 10 speed Tiagra groupset). I am looking for a lighter bike that climbs a bit better.

Would like to go full carbon and want an upgraded groupset and lighter wheels. I don't race but do long distance endurance rides, long club runs and sportives up to 100 miles.

I am looking at the Giant TCR Advanced 2, carbon frame, 23mm wheels and full 105 groupset:

https://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/road-bikes-c5/road-c37/tcr-advanced-2-road-bike-2018-p19026

Normally £1449 but I can get it for £1,159.

Also considering the Cube Attain GTC SL, £1,599, which has an Ultegra groupset, although the brakes are not. It has 28mm tyres.

https://www.cyclesurgery.com/p/cube-attain-gtc-sl-2018-Q2214218.html?colour=3618

Any thoughts? I am used to 23mm wheels on a 9kg ally bike so will going to 28mm make the bike feel heavier on the hills?

The Giant looks a bit flash for my taste but it does seem good value.

Any thoughts?

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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8 comments

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BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
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Comfort is different for everyone but a decent saddle and good tyres with importantly correct tyre pressures is more important than the frame itself IMHO. I've done a 75 mile brevet populaire on a really stiff ally frame/ally forks with 23mm tyres and felt non the worse for wear. It was actually a flat bar and my daily but I had a nice saddle on it and despite the wrong side of 95kg for the last 20 years I've never felt fatigue due to a comfort factor just physical effort put in.

good luck.

Avatar
scotthunter | 6 years ago
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Thanks.

I found a 2017 Cube Agree with disc brakes for £1300. I really like the look of it, especially with the chunky down tube and understated black and white paint job.

https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b67s6p8339/CUBE-AGREE-C%3A62-DISC-2017/RS_GB/33269?gclid=Cj0KCQjw2pXXBRD5ARIsAIYoEbd_M5C04wWXZ96a8L6WrWbnwKB9KqiTjpPrH9R-2Ire530D7xH0ntsaAj-qEALw_wcB

It's a massive £1200 cheaper than the 2018 model, with the main differences being half a kilo heavier at 8.65kg, which still seems quite light for a disc bike at that price, and 105 groupset instead of Ultegrea. I expect the frame is the same.

Do you think the Agree would be comfortable enough for 8 hour 110 mile sportives?

I had a look at the Giant bikes but don't get on with the small handlebars. I like chucky handlebars for when I am climbing. Small detail I know but something that makes a big difference comfort wise in real world use.

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BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
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Cube is quoted at 8.8kg from the sources I've seen and the Giant at 8kg, that will be without pedals btw. If you're a tall bugger there's a new 62cm 2017 model Cube Attain for sale at £800 from a bike shop that has it listed on ebay.

At the other end of the scale they also have a  51cm Storck Visioner, one of the best handling mid range bikes, that's £1400 reduced from £2350. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Storck-Visioner-Shimano-105-Carbon-Road-Bike-...

Shop  is nothing to do with me.

You might also consider a KTM, round the car park demo bike from a shop with warranty for £1230  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KTM-Revelator-Sky-Shimano-105-11speed-full-ca... or from various shops for £1500, better frame than the Giant and £500 cheaper and not much difference to the Ultegra.

good luck finding something

 

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scotthunter | 6 years ago
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I can't seem to find the advertised weights of any of the Giant bikes.

I am now leaning towards disc brakes but don't want the weight to be over 8.5kg (without pedals), hence why I am looking at a higher price point.

I am now torn between these two:

https://www.solent-cycles.co.uk/80505/products/2018-giant-tcr-advanced-1-disc-carbon-road-bike.aspx

https://www.cyclesurgery.com/p/cube-attain-gtc-slt-disc-2018-Q2214219.html?colour=3651

I know the Cube is 8.4kg, but I'm not sure about the Giant. I want the bike to climb fast and slow quickly, but maybe I am asking too much!

Also I am not sure about the geometry. I want the comfort to be similar to my old bike, which seemed to have a good combination of comfort/race feel, and don't really know enough about bike geometry to interpret what the numbers translate to. My old bike is here:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cube-peloton-pro-compact-road-bike-2013/rp-prod111954

Thanks!

Avatar
700c | 6 years ago
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Sounds like you're looking for a Scott..

 

But seriously of the two the tcr is a better imo but like most people on here I'm biased. happy doing 100 miles on mine - well as much as I can be doing that distance - but check you're comfortable on it though as it's pretty racy.

 

I don't believe it's worth paying extra for discs , arguably detracts from the tcr's appeal as a light, stiff race bike, but that's a personal view too. Regardless, giants own wheels are top drawer, they make them in house as well which not many (if any?) bike manufacturers do..

 

 

 

 

Avatar
Russell Orgazoid | 6 years ago
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Giant.

The frame has a lifetime warranty, unsure about the Cube.

Tubeless ready wheels are a big plus of the Giant too.

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peted76 | 6 years ago
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The Cube is a more relaxed sportif bike and the TCR has race geometry, so over longer distances you might be more comfortable on the cube. 

There's not much difference in weight between them either by the looks, 8.1 for the TCR and 8.3 for the Attain.. 

The giant wheels are tubeless ready, the fulcrums I don't think are tubeless.

Six of one and half a dozen of another.. you'll be pleased with either bike I'm sure.

The TCR is a cracking bike and I'd personally go for that one, there's not much in it but I'd imagine you'll have more upgrade potential with the TCR frame. They are much of a muchness regarding specification, Ultegra is nice, but you get non series brakes on the cube, looks like full 105 on the giant. 

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scotthunter replied to peted76 | 6 years ago
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Thanks.

I am also considering the Giant TCR Advanced 1 with discs and Ultegra.

2017 version (£1600):

https://www.solent-cycles.co.uk/77727/products/2017-giant-tcr-adv-1-disc-carbon-road-bike.aspx?currency=GBP&gclid=CjwKCAjwlIvXBRBjEiwATWAQIt0cXQEZRFPN8nyHmp4arF4kLPU8nlTqAMbv8tSr7ZTVDoj4IT-WBhoCfrEQAvD_BwE

2018 version (£2000):

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/tcr-advanced-1-disc-2018

This is the Cube equivalent (£2,050):

https://www.cube.eu/en/2018/bikes/road/road-cyclocross/attain-gtc/cube-attain-gtc-slt-disc-carbonnflashyellow-2018/

Is it worth paying the extra for discs? For the same price you could get the Agree C:62 which has rims but is only 7.9kg.

https://www.cube.eu/en/2018/bikes/road/road-cyclocross/agree/cube-agree-c62-pro-carbonnblue-2018/

peted76 wrote:

The Cube is a more relaxed sportif bike and the TCR has race geometry, so over longer distances you might be more comfortable on the cube. 

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