Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2016 17:34:24 GMT
It’s not that long ago since I introduced myself on the forum as a complete newbie to ‘hobby cycling’. Sorry if the term sucks but I don’t really know what to call it because although I enjoy it, I wouldn’t describe myself as serious or a total enthusiast. My level will probably never extend beyond 2 or 3 sportives a year and the odd week end jaunt sitting proportionately with my running, sax playing and family time.
So its odd then that I have made yet another purchase. I entered the world of road bikes after being encouraged to avoid trading a mountain bike and old steel touring bike for a hybrid.
Friends and colleagues talked me into a road bike and keeping the mountain bike. I listened and found myself with the Triban 540 and i’m loving it.
No need to sell the other bikes, I had the best of both worlds thanks to the VFM that BTwins offer. But there was still one bike from my window shopping that I couldn’t get out of my head.
That was the GIANT Toughroad SLR. It comes in 2 versions (SLR1 and SLR2).
In the end I decided to put my gorgeous but barely used 2008 model Gary Fisher on fleabay. If it sold I would treat myself. A decision that still doesn’t sit comfortably with some of my colleagues. But as fate would have it I got the good buy it now price after 1 day! I think the price was fair but we all know times are tough. You have to hope you tap into the right audience so I must have done alright . That was a great deposit and the green light in my mind so the purchase was on.
I favoured the colour scheme of the SLR2 but the gearing is different than the SLR1 and the SLR1 gearing is much more me as well as a few other minor gains likes carbon seat post, detachable racks.
So what to do??
Well, once more fate played a part as the 2017 model is now out, so the 2016 model has literally just been reduced by just shy of £200 and my LBS had one! Not just had one but had the very SLR1 displayed high off the ground that caught my eye all those weeks ago…..in my size. If anybody is interested there are stores that still have end of stock at £719 and do interest free up to 18 months. The SLR2 is a little harder to find discounted but it is out there at £559
I feels like it was always my bike and it was ready to go, so I picked it up the same day and have had just a handful of rides on both the 540 and the SLR1.
So early days but whats it like?
Light, almost as light as my 540 without the racks I reckon and way lighter than the Gary Fisher.
Comfortable, more natural to me then my Gary Fisher especially when standing out of the saddle.
Different than my 540 (yeah OK I know…sounds like a dumb observation) but giving me opportunity to continually compare Hydraulic discs vs Rim Brakes, SRAM vs Shimano, Flat bars vs Drops all on a common theme of light aluminium frame with rigid composite forks and 700c/29” wheels. The early signs are that road bikes (or is out just the 540?) gives me far more sense of occasion/excitement but the GIANT feels great for more everyday versatility (across the park, over the speed humps, into the local gravel paths in the woods and back onto the roads and pot holes before reaching the gym). In fact since I started to write this piece a few days ago I have had more rides on the Giant and it’s been a pleasure to mix it up negotiating kerbs, grass, pot holes, pedestrianised cobbles and slabs on local jaunts.
I love the way it looks and incidentally despite the earlier claim about preferring the colour scheme of the SLR2, the SLR1 is great and has presented a fine pairing with my 540. I doubt you’d get a closer colour match so accidentally.
I can’t really give any technically inspired evaluation because its all so new to me but it fits my purpose better than something with front suspension and i’ve swapped out 26” wheels for 29er’s.
I looked for reviews on the web and have found very little to be honest, so this was a real punt for me. I usually like to understand what I’m dealing with first. So I’m relying on the GIANT reputation. It really seems to be under the radar or perhaps unfancied??? either way it’s something I found too hard to resist when things worked out the way they did.
I am puzzled though as to how how I ended up here as I was looking to save money hence bujyng the 540 and joining the Tribe. I’d turned down the tough road down initially. Now … I ended up buying it as well!!!!
All I need now is work to ease off a little bit so I can ‘get out there’ on both bikes as per original intention. I know if BTwin did the same sort of thing as the Giant it would be cheaper and I would probably gone for it. But this is a little love affair and I’m having a crisis…
So far so good.
Any regrets?
Only that I haven’t been out on the 540 enough (but the Giant isn’t to blame for this lack of genuine opportunity).
So its odd then that I have made yet another purchase. I entered the world of road bikes after being encouraged to avoid trading a mountain bike and old steel touring bike for a hybrid.
Friends and colleagues talked me into a road bike and keeping the mountain bike. I listened and found myself with the Triban 540 and i’m loving it.
No need to sell the other bikes, I had the best of both worlds thanks to the VFM that BTwins offer. But there was still one bike from my window shopping that I couldn’t get out of my head.
That was the GIANT Toughroad SLR. It comes in 2 versions (SLR1 and SLR2).
In the end I decided to put my gorgeous but barely used 2008 model Gary Fisher on fleabay. If it sold I would treat myself. A decision that still doesn’t sit comfortably with some of my colleagues. But as fate would have it I got the good buy it now price after 1 day! I think the price was fair but we all know times are tough. You have to hope you tap into the right audience so I must have done alright . That was a great deposit and the green light in my mind so the purchase was on.
I favoured the colour scheme of the SLR2 but the gearing is different than the SLR1 and the SLR1 gearing is much more me as well as a few other minor gains likes carbon seat post, detachable racks.
So what to do??
Well, once more fate played a part as the 2017 model is now out, so the 2016 model has literally just been reduced by just shy of £200 and my LBS had one! Not just had one but had the very SLR1 displayed high off the ground that caught my eye all those weeks ago…..in my size. If anybody is interested there are stores that still have end of stock at £719 and do interest free up to 18 months. The SLR2 is a little harder to find discounted but it is out there at £559
I feels like it was always my bike and it was ready to go, so I picked it up the same day and have had just a handful of rides on both the 540 and the SLR1.
So early days but whats it like?
Light, almost as light as my 540 without the racks I reckon and way lighter than the Gary Fisher.
Comfortable, more natural to me then my Gary Fisher especially when standing out of the saddle.
Different than my 540 (yeah OK I know…sounds like a dumb observation) but giving me opportunity to continually compare Hydraulic discs vs Rim Brakes, SRAM vs Shimano, Flat bars vs Drops all on a common theme of light aluminium frame with rigid composite forks and 700c/29” wheels. The early signs are that road bikes (or is out just the 540?) gives me far more sense of occasion/excitement but the GIANT feels great for more everyday versatility (across the park, over the speed humps, into the local gravel paths in the woods and back onto the roads and pot holes before reaching the gym). In fact since I started to write this piece a few days ago I have had more rides on the Giant and it’s been a pleasure to mix it up negotiating kerbs, grass, pot holes, pedestrianised cobbles and slabs on local jaunts.
I love the way it looks and incidentally despite the earlier claim about preferring the colour scheme of the SLR2, the SLR1 is great and has presented a fine pairing with my 540. I doubt you’d get a closer colour match so accidentally.
I can’t really give any technically inspired evaluation because its all so new to me but it fits my purpose better than something with front suspension and i’ve swapped out 26” wheels for 29er’s.
I looked for reviews on the web and have found very little to be honest, so this was a real punt for me. I usually like to understand what I’m dealing with first. So I’m relying on the GIANT reputation. It really seems to be under the radar or perhaps unfancied??? either way it’s something I found too hard to resist when things worked out the way they did.
I am puzzled though as to how how I ended up here as I was looking to save money hence bujyng the 540 and joining the Tribe. I’d turned down the tough road down initially. Now … I ended up buying it as well!!!!
All I need now is work to ease off a little bit so I can ‘get out there’ on both bikes as per original intention. I know if BTwin did the same sort of thing as the Giant it would be cheaper and I would probably gone for it. But this is a little love affair and I’m having a crisis…
So far so good.
Any regrets?
Only that I haven’t been out on the 540 enough (but the Giant isn’t to blame for this lack of genuine opportunity).