Some may have called me a little crazy when I recently sold my beloved Giant Anthem 29er 1 and brought a Giant Advanced XTC 29er 1. The shift back from a dually to a hardtail is not common these days with the quality of the lock-out systems for suspension, however my reasons are simple. The races I plan to do this year are not overly steep or technical so will suit a stiffer frame. I also really want something lighter, more affordable and with less componentry to break in transit or while racing overseas.

I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how smooth the transition has been and how much I have enjoyed getting stuck into the trails on the XTC. I’m no expert on bikes to be honest and I tend to just get on and ride, grateful for what I can get however in doing so there are a few things I have observed while riding Giant bikes over the last few years, one of which is that Giant bikes are good value for money. Unlike some other brands where you pay so much for a brand sticker, you get what you pay for with Giant and I find that you can always replace parts easily. As for the new XTC 29er 1, I love that it has moved to full XT componentry. I find XT to be best for fast, fluid shifting and coupled with the new 11-speed set-up, it allows for finer control over variable terrain.

I recently raced in Rotorua at the 3D Multisport Festival through the Whakarewarewa forest. Although I didn’t have the best race overall, the XTC performed superbly over those smooth trails. It was light and responsive on the uphills, as expected with the carbon composite frame and lock-out and I don’t think I would have lost any time to the Anthem on the downhills either. I really felt I was able to work the corners with the same speed and aggression that I am used to on the dually. I was worried I might not find that same flow on the downhills with the XTC but I barely noticed the difference, even over the rough stuff I could still hold my line! It has nice geometry and the 2 x 11 set-up also put any doubts to rest. I could make finer gear adjustments without having to drop my cadence, which is especially handy on steep pinches/climbs. The only thing I need to change is the grips. The ones Giant put on are not very durable and I prefer ESI silicon grips.

Overall the Giant XTC is proving to be a versatile bike for me and I look forward to the coming year racing on it. I’m sure it will only serve to enhance my technical skills.

One thing I will add is that it’s smart to make/buy a chain protector straight after purchase as Giant’s frame protection measures don’t quite do the job and can add a lot of trail noise to your ride. I learnt this the hard way with two paint chips after the first session!!

With that, I leave you to go check out your nearest Torpedo7 for a range of Giant bikes and we’ll see you out there!