Giant Propel
Giant Propel
The Giant Propel will be familiar to fans of pro cycling as the aero machine on which the likes of sprinter Marcel Kittel and 2015 Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix champion John Degenkolb ply their trade.
Featuring the Advanced (three bikes), Advanced Pro (three bikes and a frameset) and Advanced SL (four bikes and a frameset) frames, the Propel series, first launched in 2013, remains fundamentally the same for 2016, with aggressive, wind-cheating tube profiles and integrated brakes. The series-topping Advanced SL frame continues to be built around Giant’s Advanced SL T-800 carbon with an integrated seatpost.
The Propel Advanced 2 is the entry point to the range at £1,299 with Shimano Tiagra, with the Propel Advanced 1 (Shimano Ultegra, £1,599) and Propel Advanced 0 (Shimano Ultegra Di2, £2,499) also available.
Like the Propel Advanced, the Propel Advanced Pro is made from T-700 carbon fibre but with an upgraded fork and components. The Giant Propel Advanced Pro 2 gets Shimano 105 components for £2,149, the Propel Advanced Pro 1 gets Shimano Ultegra for £2,599 and the Advanced Pro 0 is dressed in Shimano Ultegra Di2 for £3,599. Like the rest of the bikes across the entire range, the wheels get upgraded as you move through the line-up, swallowing up some of the extra cost. The Advanced Pro also comes as a frameset only for £1,499.
Moving up into the flagship Propel Advanced SL range – the frame ridden by Kittel and capable of, well, propelling the German to eight Tour de France stage wins – and there are bikes with Shimano Ultegra (£3,299), Shimano Dura-Ace (£4,999 – including an option in Giant-Alpecin’s team colours) and Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (£5,499). Once more you can have the frameset only for £2,499.
Thumb through the gallery below to see the entire Giant Propel 2016 line-up, or open the next page to see Giant’s women’s bikes.