Giant Bicycles - Models

Models

Giant currently categorises its bikes in seven groups:

• Road - Training, advanced and professional road bikes are included in this group.
• Mountain - Includes bikes for various riding styles. From casual single track to race specific downhill bikes.
• Comfort - A range of casual city bikes.
• Mode - Bikes designed for youth teens.
• Indoor Cycling - Indoor fitness bikes.
• Family Cycling - Bikes designed for children.
• Speciality - HALFWAY and the CLIP are the only bikes in this folding bike group.

In 1995, Giant designed its Compact Road design featuring a smaller rear triangle and sloping top tube. The tighter chainstay/seatstay configuration is said to be inherently stiffer than a more conventional frame design, and because less material is used, the Compact Road design is also said to be lighter. Add to that more responsive cornering and improved acceleration, as well as improved aerodynamics, and the Giant design became much imitated.

By 1998, with Mike Burrows refined the design for racing by the professional ONCE team. This was only after initial resistance by the Union Cycliste Internationale and subsequent amendment to its regulations to allow for bicycles with a sloping top tube.

The Giant frames were originally made of 6061 (ALUXX) aluminium and were also characterised by bladed forks and seat posts to reduce air resistance. Frames came in 3 sizes (Small, Medium and Large) with riders fitted through the use of stems and seatposts of different lengths. Another Mike Burrows innovation that featured on the original TCR bikes included a height adjustable stem, later removed from road racing bicycles due to flex under heavy load.

In 2003, the TCR frame was offered in carbon fibre construction and marketed as the TCR Composite range. In 2006, Giant added a higher-grade carbon fibre frame marketed as the TCR Advanced frame, which was characterised by an integrated seat post (ISP). These frames were most notably raced at the Tour de France as the pink and black chariots of the professional team, T-Mobile. Using this design the seatpost on a new frame must be cut precisely to fit the owner by a trained Giant dealer. In 2010, the TCR frames with ISP continue to be raced internationally, most notably by the Rabobank team.

In terms of other innovations, Giant also introduced its Maestro suspension in 2006. Maestro Suspension, according to Giant, is designed to deliver an efficient rear suspension power transfer. Maestro utilizes a set-up of four pivot points and two linkages to create a floating pivot point which is designed to reduce pedal bob and enables the rear wheel to travel vertically.