Photos: Propel Advanced SL details

Canadian Cycling was invited to the launch of Giant’s all new Propel Advanced SL, their entry into the Aero Road market.  For technical details of the bike, please go to our launch story.

The Propel Advanced SL is Giant’s first entry into the Aero road bike segment.

Evidence that Giant sweated the details are apparent everywhere on the Propel, such as these aero shaped spacers.

Giant specially designed the SpeedControl SLR for the Propel Advanced SL.  Essentially a mini V-brake, the SpeedControl SLR are designed to “draft” behind the fork and seatstays, and specifically shaped to function as a trailing edge.

By moving spacers built into the brake pad holder, the SpeedControl SLR can be adjusted for traditional narrow rims, or the  newer wide rim that the latest aero wheels are using.

The brake arms offer a thin profile, and are tucked nicely inline with the seat stays.

Giant included the Ride Sense Speed/Cadence sensor on the left chain stay.  The integrated sensor, first introduce on the TCR line, are ANT+ compatible, meaning it will work with any ANT+ enabled head units, like Garmin.

Shimano’s Di2 battery are also directly mounted to the left chain stay, offering a clean and secure mounting point.

Giant retained the 1.5″ to 1.25″ tapered head tube design, what they call Overdrive 2, for maximum steering stiffness.  But the head tube is given a dramatic hour glass shape to minimize frontal area.  According to Jon Swanson, Giant’s road category manager, “there is only a couple of mm of clearance, between the head tube and the steer tube”

The head tube and front triangle are not painted, just bare carbon with a clear coat, Showcasing Giant’s ability with carbon.  No filler or bondo here.

The Propel’s fork has a deep aero profile, but weighs only a claim 380g with an uncut steer, impressively light for an aero fork.

The fork may be deep when viewed from the side, but are quite narrow when viewed from the front.

The front brake integrates into the front fork even more cleanly than the rear.

Giant’s decision to do their development and testing with a bottle on board, led to down tube flaring at the bottle mount position, to “shield” the bottle, and more smoothly direct airflow around it.

The Propel is compatible with both mechanical and electronic shifting system, all derailleur cable entry and exit point can handle wires or cable with a switch of the cover.  Cables enters the frame just behind the stem.

And does not exit until near the drop outs, keeping the clean aero profile of the frame.

The Propel uses the same Powercore bottom bracket Giant developed for the TCR line.  The Powercore or PF86 bottom bracket is essentially a Shimano Hollowtech II BB, but instead of the thread in cups, the frame is widened to the width of the cups, and the bearings are press fit into the frame.  The wider width boost BB and frame stiffness, while dropping weight by eliminating the thread in cups.

The Propel’s uses a Integrated Seat Post, instead of a traditional seat post, which means it requires cutting in order to fit, an inconvenience. But Giant contends this design is lighter, and more importantly allows them to tune the ride feel by manipulating the design and carbon lay up of the ISP, building in more compliance there, while keeping the frame rigid elsewhere.  The ISP cap offers two position, with a simple flip of hardware, the post can offer 5 or 25mm offset.

Giant went through 88 revisions before settling on the final design of the Propel, every tube’ shape was considered.  Even the top tube, tapering front to back, is shaped minimize drag.

The Propel is UCI approved.

Giant sponsored Team Blanco, the ex-Rabobank team, will be campaigning aboard the Propel Advanced SL throughout 2013, starting with the Santos Tour Down Under.