{"id":50808,"date":"2023-06-15T18:00:12","date_gmt":"2023-06-15T16:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=734463"},"modified":"2023-06-15T18:35:37","modified_gmt":"2023-06-15T16:35:37","slug":"bikeradar-builds-pete-sampsons-7-7kg-1x-all-road-giant-tcr-advanced-pro","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/bikeradar-builds-pete-sampsons-7-7kg-1x-all-road-giant-tcr-advanced-pro\/","title":{"rendered":"BikeRadar Builds | Pete Sampson\u2019s 7.7kg 1x all-road Giant TCR Advanced Pro"},"content":{"rendered":"

A custom go-fast gravel bike for light off-road adventuring <\/p>

By Jack Luke\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 15 June 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

Pete Sampson works in BikeRadar\u2019s commercial team and, although he\u2019d bashfully deny such claims, he\u2019s also probably the fastest rider in our office.<\/p>\n

Worse still, he\u2019s a nice guy with impeccable taste in bikes and an adorable sausage dog.<\/p>\n

The coolest in Pete\u2019s collection is, without a doubt, this very special Giant TCR Advanced Pro<\/a> all-road bike<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Pete\u2019s minuscule size-XS, pink-tyred bike is regularly the most eye-catching build locked up in our bike cage \u2013 and trust us, there are some very tasty bikes in there.<\/p>\n

In this edition of BikeRadar Builds<\/a> \u2013 and in celebration of our Gravel Week<\/a> \u2013 we decided to share the love and take a closer look at his oh-so-cool bike.<\/p>\n

Does a Giant TCR make a good gravel bike?<\/h2>\n
\""Pete\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Pete uses his TCR all-road build for light gravel riding.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Why build a gravel bike around a Giant TCR frameset? Well, Pete isn\u2019t ashamed to admit he\u2019s a TCR fanboy.<\/p>\n

Prior to building this bike, he already owned a rim brake TCR SL and got on well with the geometry and ride of the bike (he now owns three TCRs and is considering a fourth).<\/p>\n

Inspired by similar builds ridden at the Belgian Waffle Ride gravel race<\/a>, Pete felt the 32mm maximum tyre clearance of the disc version of the bike would be a perfect candidate for the all-road-ish bike he wanted to build.<\/p>\n

\""Pete\"<\/picture><\/div>
The 32mm-wide GravelKing SK tyres are about as wide as you could go on this bike.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Pete\"<\/picture><\/div>
The clearances are similarly tight up front.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Pete\"<\/picture><\/div>
The tyres are fitted to a pair of Hunt Aerodynamicist wheels.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

While the best gravel bikes<\/a> generally have clearance for tyres as wide as even 50mm, a 32mm gravel tyre<\/a> is wide enough to link together roads with light off-road diversions, which is exactly what this bike was built to do.<\/p>\n

Pete says his TCR all-road bike is absolutely fine on anything except high-speed rocky descents.<\/p>\n

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the bike comes unstuck slightly then \u2013 this is, after all, a lightweight road bike frameset that is raced right up to a WorldTour<\/a> level and was never intended to be a gravel wagon.<\/p>\n

\n
\""Pete\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Pete rides a size-XS frame.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The bike is also not suitable for riding in wet conditions \u2013 the 32mm-wide Panaracer GravelKing SK tyres<\/a> fitted to Hunt\u2019s 20mm-wide (internal) Aerodynamicist 44 wheels are already pushing the clearance of the bike to the limits, so anywhere muddy is a no-go.<\/p>\n

However, for lighter stuff, the bike is a perfect partner \u2013 in Pete\u2019s words: \u201cit\u2019s quick on the road and climbing, but the 1-to-1 gearing and disc brakes help when it\u2019s gnarly\u201d.<\/p>\n

Does Ekar work for road riding?<\/h2>\n
\""Pete\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Pete\u2019s TCR Advanced is built around a 1x Campagnolo Ekar groupset.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

On gearing, Pete opted to build his all-road Giant TCR around a Campagnolo Ekar groupset<\/a>, primarily because he fancied trying something different (his other two bikes have SRAM Red eTap groupsets).<\/p>\n

Despite being 1x<\/a>, the Ekar groupset features a wider overall range than the 2x setups on his road bike. This makes it a perfect choice for vertiginous gravel climbs.<\/p>\n

Pete says the 1t steps on the first 7 cogs of his 10-44t cassette feel great, but the changes in cadence can be a bit choppy when riding in a chain gang<\/a> (though he assures me he\u2019s yet to be dropped when he has taken the bike out on group rides).<\/p>\n

\""Pete\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Like many others, Pete really rates the feel of Campagnolo\u2019s disc brakes.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

He has no such issues when riding solo on the road \u2013 with a switch of tyres, this is Pete\u2019s preferred road bike for winter riding.<\/p>\n

Like many others, Pete also loves the feel of Campagnolo\u2019s disc brakes and the ergonomics of the Ekar shifters.<\/p>\n

A road-inspired build with gravel touches<\/h2>\n
\""Pete\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Pete prefers a low front end.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Pete favours a long and low position on the bike \u2013 though he could probably fit on a size-small frame, he prefers the look and feel of the XS bike.<\/p>\n

\""Pete\"<\/picture><\/div>
Pete is currently riding with a Route Werks bar bag.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Pete\"<\/picture><\/div>
This features an integrated computer mount.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Pete\"<\/picture><\/div>
The bag is perfect for longer gravel adventures.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

The 36cm bars with inward-tilting levers add to his aero credentials, although they\u2019re probably negated by the boxy Route Werks bar bag Pete has fitted to the bike.<\/p>\n

This neat bar bag attaches via a machined alloy clamp and features an integrated computer mount. While big enough to bring everything he needs for his comically long rides, sadly, we think it will be too small to accommodate Pete\u2019s aforementioned dog.<\/p>\n

Pete Sampson\u2019s all-road Giant TCR Advanced specs<\/h2>\n
  • Frameset:<\/strong> Giant TCR Advanced, XS<\/li>\n
  • Groupset:<\/strong> Campagnolo Ekar, 44t chainring, 10-44t cassette<\/li>\n
  • Wheels:<\/strong> Hunt Aerodynamicist 44<\/li>\n
  • Tyres:<\/strong> Panaracer GravelKing SK, 32mm<\/li>\n
  • Stem:<\/strong> Zipp Service Course SL, 130mm<\/li>\n
  • Bars:<\/strong> Pro PLT Ergo Compact, 36cm<\/li>\n
  • Saddle:<\/strong> Prologo Dimension Nack<\/li>\n
  • Weight:<\/strong> 7.7kg (inc pedals, bottle cages and computer mount)<\/li>\n<\/ul> <\/body><\/html>\n
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