Publication-Bicycling

Date-March 2007

Title- "OCR COMPOSITE W : BEST $2,000 CARBON BIKES"

• "Its a fact of life: Looks matter. Beautiful people tend to get first choice of mates and make more money. We like pretty things and studies show, we tend to believe that they work better. It's true with bikes, too. Since 1999 this magazine's testers have reviewed nearly a dozen Giant OCRs, so we know that they work well. And yet, there's something about this cream-and-carbon looker that excited us anew, like the surprise of seeing an old friend who has lost weight. It wasn't just us. One cyclist on the group ride admired the sophisticated paint scheme, which includes the logos-there are no stickers on this bike. Another pointed out the eye-catching woven metallic cable housing, supplied by Jagwire."
• "On the road, the bike proved comfortable, stable and smooth. Bumps are erased by the carbon frame, the luxurious 25c Michelin tires and the longer chainstays, which also contributes to the neutral handling. The more-upright OCR rider position makes the bike stable and true. On flats and rises, and in easy bends, we felt ourselves steering with our hips rather than our hands. And while the comfort touches limit the OCR C W's aggresion in sprints and crowded corners, the bike is still snappy, an ideal mate for centuries or anytime you want speed, but without a backache."
• "This bike is pretty, and its spec is sharp, too. Shimano's reliable Ultegra drivetrain with compact gearing devours climbs, and short-reach brake levers fit smaller hands. Fi'zi:k's women's saddle adds comfort and even more style."