The first generation of Giant’s Propel aero road frame was launched in 2013, and has remained in the brand’s line largely unchanged. For a top end race frame from a major brand – with a Pro Tour race team – that’s a very long time. But Giant have now officially unveiled the first major revision to the Propel – first spotted at the 2017 Tour de France with disc brakes under Australian sprinter Michael Matthews.
Photograph by Matt Phillips
The most obvious addition to the Propel: disc brakes. The first generation Propel was launched before disc brakes on road bikes were a thing, and used integrated side-pull brakes. By using disc brakes, Giant’s frame design team was able to clean up and minimise the shape of the fork, and the seat stays, potentially reducing drag in those areas. The Propel Disc is designed for flat mount brake calipers. Which is good, because team sponsor Shimano’s new Dura Ace calipers are only offered for flat mount.
Photograph by Matt Phillips
The Propel disc appears too have good tyre clearance for an aero road racing bike. Matthews’s bike is equipped with 25mm Vittoria Corsa tubulars, and it appears there is clearance for at least a 28, and possibly a 30mm tyre.
Photograph by Matt Phillips
Remote switches on the dropouts let Matthews shift without releasing his grip.
Photograph by Matt Phillips
Matthews’s bike rolls on Shimano’s new Dura Ace 60mm-deep tubular wheels for disc brakes. The wheelset, which called WH-R9170-C60-TU in Shimano’s language, has a claimed weight of 1500 grams. It’s wrapped with Vittoria Corsa 25mm tubulars.
Photograph by Matt Phillips
No more quick releases on this race bike: 12 millimeter thru axles front and rear.
Photograph by Matt Phillips
Matthews’s bike is equipped with the stealthy Shimano’s Dura Ace power meter crank. First announced previous to last year’s Tour de France, the Dura Ace power meter crank hasn’t yet been seen in large numbers among Shimano’s sponsored teams.
Photograph by Matt Phillips
Like Giant’s other high-end race frames, the new Propel Disc uses an integrated seat post (ISP). Giant’s product information claims than an ISP saves weight, improves compliance, and is more aerodynamic than a traditional post.
Photograph by Matt Phillips
While most of the Team Sunweb rides on Giant’s Contact saddles, Matthews sits on a Velo-branded saddle.
Photograph by Matt Phillips
Another significant change is found in at the bar and stem. In the style of many aerodynamic road bikes–Specialized’s Venge ViAS and Trek’s Madone for example – the Popel’s brake and derailleur-control lines are almost completely internally routed. They run into the handlebar and, likely, though the stem before entering into the frame.
Photograph by Matt Phillips
In a press release to officially announce the new Propel in August, Giant said: “Integrated aerodynamics. Total control. Unrivaled efficiency. With the all-new Propel Disc range, we set out to redefine speed. To achieve what was once unachievable. The frame is engineered with all-new airfoil shapes that are proven faster at various wind angles. It has the highest stiffness-to-weight ratio of any bike in its class. And It’s integrated with disc brake technology. This is how we define speed. Ultimate speed.”
Photograph by Matt Phillips
Certainly the disc brakes and hidden routing are significant, but apart from those changes, the new Propel’s frame shape does not appear radically different than the outgoing model. But there are some changes to the headtube and top tube which hint at a laterally/torsionally stiffer frame. And because it’s a carbon frame, there could be loads of unseen changes that can significantly change the way the new Propel performs in comparison to the outgoing model. We’ll know when we get to ride one later this year.
Photograph by Matt Phillips
Giant have now announced prices for the Propel in Australia. The Advanced SL 0 with Dura-Ace Di2 comes in at $11,999, while the Advanced SL 1 with Ultegra Di2 will set you back $7,999.
The Advanced Pro Disc version, with Ultegra, is priced at $6,999, while the cheapest bike in the range is the Advanced at $4,999 which comes with a heavier alloy fork steerer.
Copyright © 2016 Rodale Inc.