Giant Bicycle Inc. OCR 2

Price Paid:  $850.00 at Pathfinder

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
WV backroads

Bike Setup:
Stock +
Computer
Bottle Cages x 2
Very small saddle bag
Emergency Pump

Summary:
The Giant OCR 2 is my first road bike. It has been a very rewarding investment.

I ride usually about four or five times a week. The bike is very durable. It performs like a dream.

On the downhills, I have had it up to 46 mph. Above 40, the bike is stable. I usually set my knee to the bar to help it out a bit though. At these speeds the aluminum begins to vibrate slightly.

About the frame: I live in West Virginia. The road conditions here are not ideal. Slightly sandy/rocky roads tend to make the frame rattle a bit. However, 90% of the time the frame is vibration free.

Strengths:
Price! Great for long weekend rides. Very quick cycle for commutes. Not so nice/expensive you'll feel guilty leaving it tied to a rack during a class/a short stop. Looks very attractive. Not very heavy for an aluminum cycle.

Also, my ORC 2 came with clipless pedals. For an entry level biker, not having to purchase your first set of clipless pedals makes your life a lot easier.

Weaknesses:
Triple chain ring seems like overkill. I never use the granny gear. It just is not needed, even on the steep grades!

Wheels are sort of mushy. Curb hopping will beat them to death after awhile.

The clipless pedals the bike comes with are MTB pedals.

Price Paid:  $725.00 at Bike Stop - Michigan

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
Hammond INdiana to Kenosha WI

Bike Setup:
I decided to trade the stock components for Ultegra shifters, 10-27 ultegra drive train and Neuvation M-60 wheels that my brother gave me. Nice brother.

Summary:
I ride about 250 miles a week commuting plus longer weekend rides and wanted a dependable bike that holds up well. This bike exceeded all my expectations. It seems light compared to previous road bikes I've owned. It climbs well, but as others have said, the wheels are a little soft. The bike is the best fit for me, and it came with a WTB saddle that is the first one ever that is comfortable other than a selle Anatomica that I have on my KHS steeley road bike. It is my favorite bike. The components work well enough, and seem to shift under stress. I have had it up to 40 MPH with total stability. I thought the aluminum frame might be too stiff, but I've ridden it on a couple of 120 mile rides with no backside soreness. The bottom bracket needed serious tightening around the 2000 mile mark, but other than that, it has ridden well for close to 4500 miles and moves along well. If you want a solid, dependable, and reasonably light bike for commuting and weekend riding - this is it.

Strengths:
Inexpensive, decent components that work well, compact frame is fairly light.

Weaknesses:
A carbon seatpost would be nice, bottom bracket seems to get loose easily (I know three other guys with OCR2's who had the same problem). I am in the process of swapping the drive train to ultegra and putting on my trusty Neuvation wheels.

Similar Products Used:
KHS Steel frame road bike, Fuji road bike, Trek 2100,

Price Paid:  $1200.00 at North brisbane somep

Model Year:
2003

Favorite Ride:
Speed sessions

Bike Setup:
Sella Italia seat replaces standard seat
Basic bike computer
Tri bars for Time trails
rear tire has tube tape to protect from high number of punctures (roads with broken glass)
Water bottle holders x 2

Summary:
bought in 2004 - aussie dollars
hardly used till 2008
now i clock in around 5hrs of use per wk over the last 3months - coming off running background
Frame seems light - although during longer rides, hill climbing and speed sessions the cranks feel "heavy" (or perhaps the entire drive train?"
up hills when going hard, the bike feels "spongy" - i feel this is coming from the wheel set rather than the frame, esp when you can hear the computer pick up hitting the spoke magnet at certain angles.
The wheels seem to roll nice and don't appear to drag on flats and downhills.
Even though spongy - they seem strongish, i have a broken gear side spoke nipple just sitting there, small wobble in rim at that spot, but not getting bigger even on some rather crap roads - ill replace it one day. So far its not causing problems, just leave brakes open a bit more, and braking still seems ok.
I hate the triple front gears - a double would be tons better. Front derailer gives me all sorts of strife. Big front gear and small rear gear and the chain falls off the front - adjust it so that don't happen and you have all sorts of trouble getting the chain up onto the front big gear without being in the smallest rear gear 1st! So max speed efforts suffer (ie when looking for over 55k hr or approx 35M-Phr on the flats)
Rear derailer seems fine
Adjustable front head set is good if you also want to turn the bike into a cheap Time trail bike, no need for 2 head sets. It does get noisy, but just lub it
the entire front end makes squeeks etc when applying force - some lub should help.
At 30-40k Hr the bike feels fine, however add speed power and try to get to 60k hr on flats and the bike feels very "flimsy". Perhaps its just the wheels as per the hills reason - or perhaps there is more to it? unsure as its the only bike i have used - but it does feel very weak at them speeds and almost as if it will buckle and fall into a heap
however, down hills without adding in that power from the cranks, at the same speed and up to 75k (my max so far) it seems fine
Brakes havnt so far let me down - i have even done a front wheely by accident one day. Sure they needed adjusting at the pads when new, but they seemed ok. Around 1500 klms on same pads to date.

Saddle, is shocking - half hr and my right leg would go numb. Replaced it with a Sella Italia seat and after 1wk all was good.

On slightly rough roads its a shocker - it bounces your back teeth out. On one 80k ride, i hit some rough stuff, and pace slowed down dramatically, and Heart rate rose around 10beats. In the middle of no-where, i hit a small town with super smooth roads, pace went from 27k hr to 37k hr and heart rate dropped from 149 down to 142 - its that rough. However, on smooth roads its a pleasure to ride.

Strengths:
Frame seems strong and nice finish. Easy to adjust to fit user. Fast on smooth flat roads. rear derailer

Weaknesses:
Alum frame is harsh on rougher roads
Front gears and derailer
Seat is a pain
Spoke nipples
Wheels seem spongy on hard fast efforts and hills.

Price Paid:  $800.00 at LBS

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Along the Mississippi

Bike Setup:
Stock, except for the stem.

Summary:
Very good bike for the money. The component level of this bike is just as good if not better than most of the other bikes available at this price range. It is a shame that Giant has decided to go with lower level components for 2008.

This is an excellent entry level road bike. It is also very comfortable. It might not be the best bike for racing, but it can be ridden for long distances with little discomfort.

Strengths:
Low price, comfort, well equipped when compared to other similarly priced bikes.

Weaknesses:
The wheels are heavy and they easily go out of true.

The adjustable stem sometimes makes creaking noises, especially when climbing hills. I replaced mine with a fixed stem.

Similar Products Used:
LeMond Chambery

Price Paid:  $100.00 at Private sale

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
ANYWHERE IN NEW MEXICO

Bike Setup:
singlespeed, FSA crank, converted 10 speed rear, Kinesis carbon fork, flat bars, BMX front brake lever, 105 hubs and brake, Ritchey seatpost, Aheadset, no name seat, bars, lights, 25mm/700c cheapo Michelin Dynamics with tireliners and tread from another set of tires inside the liners and then, thornproof tubes to protect against goatheads.

Summary:
Excellent frame. I ride a 2004 Team Once TCR Alloy as my main long distance bike. The OCR came my way as a frame, carbon Kinesis fork, no name stem, Ahead headset and no name seatpost and stock shim with Giant's stock seatpost collar. I built it up as a single speed with left over parts with flat bars on front. It is my gadabout bike with a couple of long rides under its belt.

The welds are not as well finished as those on the TCR, particularly on the BB and seatstays but are attractive given the finish of the bike, nonetheless.

The chainstays are noticibly longer than on the TCR suggesting a very stable frame at speed and that is what I have found. The frame is not as jumpy as my TCR but that is just a matter of degree as I find the both to be rock solid in handling stable and reliable. According to the specs, the frame is more relaxed in fit than the TCR but I have not been able to find a real difference in handling. 1 degree is very little difference, after all. Most of the differences I feel seem to be based on the more upright position of the handlebars.

The finish of the frame is polished aluminum w/ yellow and grey accents and black lettering, an attractive, minimalist scheme. The frame does not flex that I can tell and will allow room for the rider to grow as skill and budget allow.

I am a 225 lb. rider and I would be able to flex a frame but that has never been an issue with any of the Giants I have ridden. I would say that neither bike gives an overly harsh ride considering I rode 89 Criterium for years and have some idea what a harsh ride feels like.

I had a problem with the seatpost creaking, even after buying a new shim and seatpost. I went to a larger, 31.6 mm (I think)seatpost without a shim and still had the creak. It appears to have disappeared now that I have replaced the narrow stock Giant Seatpost collar with a wider quick release one. It seems the narrow Giant collar was only providing a pivot point for the seatpost to move in instead of securing it with a broad enough grip over a larger area of the seat post and seatpost tube. The TCR has an integrated double wide seatpost collar so that has never been a problem with the other Giant. Does anyone know why Giant seems rely on shims for their seatposts?

The ride is confident, sure footed and precise. Weight does not seem to be an issue as the frame is remarkably light for a bike in this price range. What this frame lacks in Bling is more than made of for in its ride quality:smooth, precise and reliable.

Strengths:
cost, ride quality, viability of upgrading,stiffness without being harsh, screws for a rear rack present the option of converting it to a touring bike, for which it would be great.

Weaknesses:
seatpost collar problems resulting in a creaky seatpost.

Similar Products Used:
2002 Giant TCR Team Once
1989 Cannondale