Having been teased in the press some time ago (like all good embargoed product apparently these days), the new generation Giant Propel have been highly anticipated by both consumers and retailers alike.
Re-engineered with a raft of improvements, greater aero and lighter weight, it was the silhouette that first grabbed our attention. The new Propel is sleeker, more svelte and leaner than its predecessor. A form that takes it closer to its stablemate, the TCR.
And that is exciting. Aero bikes have long been heavier, harsher and arguably (subjectively) less elegant beasts.
The new Propel is one of a new breed of Aero bikes that is shunning the old ways thanks to refinements in technology and materials. Indeed, the new Propel is up to 225g lighter than the outgoing model, a weight figure that few, if any (the Sarto Raso perhaps) can come close to, and one that allows for complete builds at the 6.8kg mark. At the same time the new Propel is an impressive 9% stiffer to boot, giving the sprinters some extra power transfer when it counts and keeping it even more competitive in the hills.
The enhanced performance characteristics do not affect the comfort of the ride though, and this speaks to the design approach. The new Propel is less out-and-out aero beast, but rather an all day performance race bike, which is ostensibly what performance-focused riders want.
The comfort is largely delivered by an impressive 85% increase in compliance at the rear end, courtesy of some refined tube shaping and further enhanced by clearance for up tp 30mm tyres. While this approach to greater versatility must - by design - compromise the aerodynamic possibilities for the frameset, that hasn’t stopped Giant from surpassing the aero efficiency of their 2018 Propel platform. At the peak specification, the new Propel is a claimed 6.21 Watts faster at 40kph (~25mph), the equivalent of 27 seconds over that distance. Not to be sniffed at.
When you factor that the Propel is close to a kilo lighter (yes, a kilo) than the fastest aero road bikes, it is easy to see how a small aero penalty can be swiftly mitigated through agility and significant benefits when climbing. After all, few of us ride everywhere on the flat and the ability to attack everything with equal vigour knowing you’re in the running, is added impetus to push-on.
Coupled with the refinements to the geometry, which now mirror the TCR and are marginally shorter in the reach, the new Propel is more accessible than before and better suited to longer days in the saddle. Moreover, it is spritely and engaging in a way that the outgoing model wasn’t and like the TCR, it is confident rather than edgy and unsettling.
The cockpit - a critical area for aerodynamics and more importantly routing, has undergone some revisions. Chief among them is the move to a D-shaped Fork Steerer which allows for gear cables (where present) and brake hoses to be run internally through the bar and under the stem through the upper headset bearing. Not only does this make the Propel a much cleaner looking bike and in keeping with the market, but it reduces cable induced drag and improves day to day practicality.
The new Propel is an adroit performer in all areas and while it may not be the most aero or the absolute lightest, it is extremely competitive in all technical areas and over a host of terrain. As such it will widen the eyes of those that love the idea of an aero bike but have shied away in favour of the traditional all-rounder, the TCR.
As with previous iterations of the Giant Propel, the Propel Advanced SL remains the flagship model, however every version of the new Giant Propel revolves around the same principals, so you can be sure that, wherever you purcahse in the range, the ethos is the same.
Key features:
AeroSystem Shaping, a result of CFD analysis and dynamic wind-tunnel testing, optimises aerodynamic performance at every yaw angle. The truncated ellipse airfoil tube shapes and Contact SLR/SL Aero cockpit produce the best overall aero performance.
All-new cable routing through the handlebar and frame makes it quicker and easier to adjust or change cockpit components and fine-tune performance and riding position.
Advanced-grade composite frameset features high-performance materials and proprietary manufacturing processes. As a result, it’s now lighter than the previous generation for an improved stiffness-to-weight ratio.