2023 was a turbulent year for the bike industry, but nothing sent cycling media into a greater feeding frenzy than when the men’s UK National Hill Climb Championships were won on a disc-brake equipped road bike.
In the UK hill climb scene, weight almost always trumps aero – it was, in some ways, the last area where high-end rim brake road bikes remained more competitive.
The fact the bike in question was being piloted by arguably the best amateur hill climber in the world may have contributed a tiny bit, but if you looked on any cycling media site during early November 2023, it was official – rim brakes were finally RIP.
So, it may come as a surprise to you that, with the ink on the death certificate for rim brake road bikes not yet dry, there are still people, like me, buying them.
And I didn’t just go out and buy any old rim-brake bike, I went for an all-time classic – the Giant TCR.
I also decided to cause as much damage to my bank balance as possible by buying the top-spec Advanced SL model (yes, the one with the funny seatpost) and speccing it with Campagnolo Super Record.
“But why would you buy such outmoded technology you idiot?”, I hear you ask. Here, I’ll make my case…
Why a Giant TCR Advanced SL?
I first rode a Giant TCR Advanced SL in 2019 and fell in love with its combination of all-around ability and low weight.
It’s also highly regarded by professional bike testers worldwide, with BikeRadar’s Warren Rossiter paying to keep his back in 2020. Warren has ridden hundreds of high-end road bikes during his career, so if he likes something, it’s usually a good sign.
I believe it’s also one of the last truly pro-level bikes you can buy with rim brakes.
The only other two I can think of are the Pinarello Dogma F and the Colnago 68.
This TCR variant was first ridden in 2019, and became available to the public in 2020. As such, I suspect Giant will likely release a new TCR during 2024. Given the overall trajectory of road bike tech, this is unlikely to be available with rim brakes.
All this means 2024 could be one of the last chances for anyone to buy a new high-end rim-brake race bike from an actual bike shop.
But why rim brakes?
I competed in hill climbs seriously until 2018. As my main racing focus, it’s been hard to shake the idea that lighter is always better.
So, even though it’s now 2024, and I’m a much older, slower, greyer, self-employed father of two, a lightweight rim-brake bike still gets my pulse racing.
Being more time-pressed than ever also means I want a bike that involves minimal difficulty when it comes to home maintenance.
Road bike disc brakes may offer theoretically better performance but, speaking from experience, they are nowhere near as simple to maintain.
Rim brakes probably need more regular maintenance, but it’s usually a 10-minute job, rather than 30, and doesn’t require me to use a syringe.
Bike brands aren’t spending any R&D cash on rim-brake bikes, which means they haven’t fallen victim to some of the less desirable traits of the modern-day road bike. Specifically, I mean, hiding every cable internally within the bike.
Internal everything might make me 0.001 per cent faster over 40km, but it will probably take me 110 per cent longer when it comes to work on my bike.
Unbeatable looks
Rim-brake road bikes also look much, much nicer than their disc-equipped counterparts.
You could be forgiven for thinking I sound like a nostalgic luddite who should have gone out and bought himself something more sensible/appropriate for his age and ability – perhaps a mid-range gravel bike – so you probably shouldn’t listen to me. But I call foul!
Everyone likes to say they buy their dream bike purely on its performance or mechanical merits. However, I’m pretty sure (even though it’s not cool to admit it) a large proportion of buying decisions come down to looks and marketing. I count myself in that group.
With its classic lines, rounded tubes and relatively subdued paintjob, I think my TCR looks amazing. And that will probably motivate me to get out on a cold Saturday morning more than anything else.
It may not be as fast as the Cervelo S5 that won the 2023 Tour. However, with its bulging shapes, proprietary standards and aero optimisation, I think the S5 looks absolutely rubbish (sorry Cervélo!).
Again, it’s not cool to admit, but nothing kills motivation more than having a bike you think looks horrible, even if it is fast.
A dream groupset for a dream bike
What could be one of the last truly pro-level rim-brake road bikes, of course, deserves a fittingly high-end build.
There’s no doubt Campagnolo Super Record is an indulgent choice for almost any build. After all, Shimano 105 is good enough for most situations.
However, I wanted to keep the weight low, while keeping the build 100 per cent mechanical.
So, no beeps or batteries – just the comforting clunk of cables and friction. This meant Super Record was the way to go.
I’m a huge fan of the deep, contoured shape of Campagnolo hoods, and I still like the thumb-actuated downshift lever.
It’s not for everyone, but I feel I can get much more precise shifting when the shift levers are separate, as they are on mechanical Super Record.
I love the organic appearance of mechanical Super Record, and that also played a huge part in my decision-making.
A perfectly mismatched build
Bora Ultra 35s are an old-school wheel choice. They’re not particularly wide or aero but, in this case, they compliment the overall build perfectly, and coming in around 1,360g, are light enough for carbon clinchers.
For tyres, I went with a set of 25mm Michelin Power Cup Competition 4s in tanwall.
Again, 25mm is a strange choice in 2023, but old habits die hard – the hill climber in me still wanted something fairly lightweight. They also size up nicely on the aforementioned Bora Ultra 35s.
The rest of the finishing kit comes from old BikeRadar hill climb builds, so once again, lightweight with plenty of carbon.
The weight? Just about bob-on the UCI minimum weight limit at 6.92kg, which makes it perfect for all that UCI racing I won’t be doing.
Epic plans for 2024? Not quite
If my comments on looks didn’t annoy you enough, wait until you hear what I plan to do with the bike.
If I’m being really honest, I probably won’t be riding this bike that much.
Being a self-employed father of two means finding time (and motivation) to ride can be tricky. So, the chances are, this bike will spend more time in the shed than it deserves.
When I do get out, it’ll be to cruise around the Mendips with some pals from BikeRadar at a far more subdued pace, compared to my hill climbing days of old.
For me, that’s fine. The TCR may not have been the bike I should have bought, but it’s the one that makes me the most happy every time I get a chance to ride. Surely that’s what matters?
And if I do decide to start hill climbing racing again in the future, my perfect rim-brake bike will always be there waiting for me.
