Good evening! It’s Nabetaku!
Thanks for waiting. Here is the third installment of my exhibition blog.
This time, I’ll be introducing the bikes that caught my eye at the GIANT exhibition!
For 2017, Giant has narrowed down its lineup compared to previous years, with a trend toward keeping prices for retail models more affordable.
Giant has always had a reputation for great cost-performance, but I felt that the value for money has been raised even further.
While Giant is actively introducing new technologies, their core performance remains consistently high—it’s quality you can count on.
So, let’s take a look!
IDIOM 2 ¥60,000 (excl. tax)
The Idiom 2 in Matte Moss Green is a beautiful bike. It features a lightweight aluminum frame inherited from road bikes, and the nimble acceleration characteristic of small-wheeled bikes is addictive. Its lightweight 9.6kg frame is another recommended point. Since the handlebars fold down, it's also a great choice for those who want to load their bike into a car and go cycling on a trip.
GREAT JOURNEY ¥100,000 (excl. tax)
What do you need when you want to go on a long journey by bicycle?
Normally, if you don't have a bike, you have to factor in the cost of the frame, pannier bags, and a rack, which can add up to quite a bit, but the Great Journey covers it all in one package. Offering this at this price with all equipment included is something only Giant can do.
It’s a popular model that sometimes sells out at the manufacturer level during the touring season. To those of you who think, "I want that Great Journey!", I offer this quote:
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." (Mark Twain)
TCR SLR Series ¥165,000〜 (excl. tax)
The TCR SLR is the pinnacle of the aluminum road bikes that Giant boasts.
It achieves a weight of under 8kg for an aluminum road bike. It possesses performance that even surpasses carbon bikes.
People tend to think race bikes are just stiff, but this bike takes comfort into account and will provide an amazingly pleasant ride.
It doesn't lose that crispness unique to aluminum, and the joy of its acceleration is top-notch.
At 165,000 yen for the 105 spec and 230,000 yen for the model with Ultegra and a one-tier higher wheelset, this is a highly recommended bike for those who want to start racing or enduros, or just want to ride fast. Once you buy the complete bike, there is almost nothing left to upgrade!
LIV ESCAPE R3 ¥50,000 (excl. tax)
The Liv Escape, which features smaller sizing and a more feminine color lineup than Giant's famous Escape cross bike, is recommended for women looking to upgrade from a standard city bike.
If I had to ask for more, swapping the saddle for a women-specific design would make it even more comfortable!
The Escape, which is great for everything from daily errands to casual weekend cycling, has also updated its men's model with poppier colors, making it look even cooler. Perfect as an entry into sports bikes.
AVAIL 2 ¥78,000 (excl. tax)
Among the Liv models, this Avail 2 really stood out to me.
It features a women-specific frame design that shortens the distance from the saddle to the handlebars for a more relaxed, upright posture. The drop bars are equipped with sub-brake levers. With a Claris 11-32T gear setup, it's designed to make climbing hills much easier.
The Avail series is a perfect first choice for any woman looking to get into road biking!
TCX ADVANCED PRO 2 ¥280,000 (excl. tax)
Finally, as someone who can’t wait for the start of the Tokai Cyclocross, I’m naturally interested in Giant's cyclocross bikes.
The TCX Advanced Pro 2 features a carbon frame with a reputation for excellent mud shedding, is equipped with SRAM's RIVAL1, and weighs in at 8.6kg—it's a bike built to win races right out of the box. The move to front and rear 12mm thru-axles is another point not to be missed.
BRAVA SLR ¥195,000 (excl. tax)
For women cyclocrossers, Liv offers the Brava SLR, which comes equipped with hydraulic disc brakes. Hydraulic brakes provide high stopping power with little effort, which not only allows for safer racing but also helps reduce fatigue.
As the number of female cyclocrossers increases, it’s becoming easier to choose equipment suited for women. I highly recommend a cyclocross bike—you can even put on thicker tires during the off-season for touring!
I was also moved to see that they offer a 24-inch cyclocross bike for kids, making Giant a fantastic brand that lets parents and children match their bike colors. Don't you think it's wonderful when the whole family can enjoy cycling together?
There were plenty of other great models I couldn't even finish introducing here.
Please come by the shop, and I'd be happy to talk more about Giant in detail!
We are closed tomorrow, Thursday, so I look forward to seeing you at Circles from Friday onwards!
See you then!