Giant reveals new Propel Disc aero road bikes

Giant has finally released details of the Propel Disc aero road bikes that we first saw raced in this year’s Tour de France, claiming that the flagship model, the Propel Advanced SL Disc, has the highest stiffness-to-weight ratio of any bike in its class and a lower drag coefficient at a wider range of yaw angles than its non-disc-brake predecessor.  

Rim brake versions of the Propel have been in the Giant line-up for years but this is the first time that disc brakes have been added.

Giant says that the Propel Disc had a three year development phase involving its engineers, Team Sunweb pro racers and aerodynamics experts at the Aero Concept Engineering facility in Magny-Cours, France.

“To best simulate actual riding conditions, we created a dynamic mannequin,” says Giant. “This allows us to more accurately replicate real-world riding forces and conditions without the variables that are intrinsic to testing with human riders. Some other brands use a static mannequin, but our dynamic one more accurately reveals the aerodynamic effects of a rider while pedalling.

“We used a 24mph windspeed in a temperature and humidity controlled environment, with yaw angles ranging from 0 to 30 degrees. With the dynamic mannequin, spinning wheels and moving drivetrain, we were able to produce the most real world aerodynamic analysis possible. Our process is an industry first. It helped us sculpt the design of the new Propel Disc range and fine-tune an overall system that considers the aerodynamic forces of rider and bike together.”

The new range features new frame profiles and an integrated disc-brake design, and there’s also a new combined aero handlebar and stem with internal cable routing, and aero wheelsets with different rim depths front and rear, the idea being to reduce drag without compromising control or power transmission.  

Read our complete guide to Giant’s 2017 road bikes here.

Giant claims that the Propel Advanced SL Disc has the highest stiffness-to-weight ratio of any bike in its class, and says that wind-tunnel tests reveal the Propel Disc bikes have lower drag coefficients at a wider range of yaw angles than their rim brake predecessors.   

“One of the key breakthroughs is a new truncated ellipse airfoil shape – a design that lowers drag at a wider range of wind angles than traditional teardrop frame tubing,” says Giant. “Engineers also found that, with proper integration, a disc-brake design can actually improve aero performance compared to rim-brake configurations.”

That’s a significant claim in that one of the arguments often put forward against disc brakes is that they increase drag. 

“This is because the location of traditional callipers (either in front or behind the fork crown/ legs) creates 'dirty' air,” says Giant. “Opening up the fork crown area (by placing the disc-brake callipers down at the hub) means that the air hitting the new disc-brake calliper has already been disrupted by the leading edge of the tyre/wheel. This effect is further enhanced by an asymmetric fork that helps smooth out airflow over the calliper.”

The frame is engineered for Flat Mount disc-brakes and is thru axle front and rear.

Check out our review of the rim brake Giant Propel Advanced 1.

Giant claims that the top level Propel Advanced SL Disc frameset is lighter than the Specialized Venge Disc and Trek Madone. The frame has a claimed weight of 982g and a fork weight of 378g (the corresponding figures for the rim brake Propel Advanced SL are 950g and 380g). Giant also says that the Propel Advanced SL Disc is significantly stiffer than its key rivals.

The Propel Disc range features new component tech including an “integrated Giant WheelSystem” where the rear wheel has a 65mm deep rear rim for aero efficiency and power transmission while the front wheel has a shallower 42mm rim for improved crosswind stability. 

“The result is a bike that not only accelerates and slices through wind faster, but also corners with greater precision and handles better in all types of racing situations,” says Giant.

The new Contact SLR/SL Aero combined handlebar/stem was designed with internal cable routing for better aerodynamic efficiency. 

Giant says that it could easily have got better aero figures by sacrificing stiffness or light weight but it wanted to keep a large head tube, down tube and bottom bracket area to maintain the bike’s efficiency and handling characteristics. 

As usual with Giant, the Propel Disc lineup is divided into three series: Propel Advanced SL Disc, Propel Advanced Pro Disc and Propel Advanced Disc, in descending order or price.

The Propel Advanced SL Disc range, ridden by Team Sunweb, uses Giant’s highest grade Advanced SL composite and Giant says the bikes have the highest stiffness-to-weight ratio in their class. All models in this series feature the Contact SLR Aero handlebar/stem unit. The series also features the new Giant SLR Aero WheelSystem with a 65mm rear rim depth and 42mm front rim. These wheels are matched with Giant’s new Gavia tubeless tyres.  

The Propel Advanced Pro Disc bikes are made from Giant’s Advanced-grade composite. This series features Giant’s Tubeless Ready SLR 1 Aero WheelSystem with a 65mm rear rim depth and 42mm front rim. This series also includes the Contact SLR/SL Aero bar and stem.  

The Propel Advanced Disc series bikes, also made of Advanced-grade composite, are the least expensive but Giant says that they’re still among the lightest in their category. 

For more information, go to www.giant-bicycles.com/PropelDisc