The range-topping Big TCR Superior SL gained our prestigious Climbing Bike title in our newest Race Bike of the 12 months check. Nevertheless, at £11,999 / $12,750, it’s far past attain for many of us. With Big identified for providing glorious worth for cash, we needed to check a extra inexpensive possibility and see if the trickle-down impact extends to the decrease tiers of the TCR vary.
Now in its tenth technology, the TCR is designed to be gentle, aerodynamic, and stiff—every part you’d anticipate from an all-round race bike. Visually, this newest model differs from its predecessor with totally built-in cables, and a extra aggressive truncation of the tubing, giving it a noticeably beefy entrance finish. Big claims that the wind-tunnel examined frameset and cockpit enhance ‘total aero efficiency in comparison with the earlier model’.
Trying on the spec sheet, it’s clear that you simply get a variety of bike for the cash—or, at the very least, a well-specced bike for what continues to be a major worth. A full 105 Di2 groupset and carbon-rimmed wheels put it forward of most rivals on this worth bracket.
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The development
The body and fork are constructed utilizing Big’s Superior Composite carbon fibre, primarily utilising Toray T700 with some T800 across the backside bracket space. With costs beginning at £2,699 / $3,300 (on the time of writing) and going as much as £3,799 / $5,200, the Superior vary sits on the third tier inside the TCR hierarchy. Above it, the mid-range Superior Professional fashions begin at £3,999 / $5,700, whereas the flagship TCR Superior SL vary advantages from Big’s highest-grade SL carbon, superior layup, superior bonding processes, and is mated with prime finish groupsets and Big’s premier wheels and ending package.
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When it comes to geometry, the whole TCR vary stays the identical, which means you’re getting the identical race-oriented DNA as the professionals.
Probably the most putting visible options is the way in which the bike tapers from a chunky entrance finish to a slender rear. The cumbersome head tube, down tube, and backside bracket distinction sharply with the skinnier prime tube, which narrows from 51mm on the head tube to only 26mm on the seat tube. The slim seat stays additional improve the glossy silhouette.
It doesn’t resemble a standard aero bike – Big nonetheless has the Propel for that – so that you may assume aerodynamics weren’t a precedence. Nevertheless, the huge downtube has been optimised to work with a 500ml water bottle, and to carry out effectively throughout a spread of yaw angles, making Big’s aero claims convincing.
Tyre clearance is fairly beneficiant and in step with present highway bike tendencies, accommodating as much as 33mm tyres.
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This mannequin options an nearly full Shimano 105 Di2 groupset, with 140mm rear and 160mm entrance RT70 rotors and 105 callipers. The gearing consists of a semi-compact 36/52 175.5mm chainset paired with an 11-34 cassette, linked by a KMC chain. A Shimano press-fit backside bracket completes the drivetrain.
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The cockpit and get in touch with factors are Big’s proprietary elements, with refined branding. The Strategy saddle options metal rails and a cut-out design, mounted on a D-shaped seatpost that balances aerodynamics with a level of compliance. The handlebars measure 42cm (C-C) on this M/L measurement mannequin. Brake hoses run neatly beneath the Contact stem and combine with the body by way of a spacer just under it.
That is the primary mannequin within the vary geared up with carbon wheels as normal. The in-house SLR 2 wheelset is 36mm deep, offering all-round possibility. Designed to be run tubeless, the hookless rims have an inside width of twenty-two.4mm and an exterior width of 26mm. The tyres are Big’s personal Gavia Course 1 in 25mm, although Big claims they measure 28mm when mounted on these rims—I measured them barely wider.
The trip
A motorcycle so carefully resembling these raced at WorldTour stage will all the time be well-balanced, deal with exactly, and reply immediately to rider enter. From my first trip, it was clear that even at this worth level, the Big stays an out-and-out race bike. On the spot accelerations delivered a direct and environment friendly really feel.
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On quick, sweeping bends, the bike impressed confidence, whereas in tighter, crit-style corners, it felt agile and straightforward to regulate mid-turn—superb for reacting shortly to surprising line adjustments.
There’s little doubt it is a stiff bike. Inside the first few hundred metres, that a lot was apparent, and if I had one way or the other missed it, the SLR 2 wheels chimed in with a few noticeable pings as they settled in. Because the trip progressed, I discovered myself questioning how a lot of the bike’s full of life nature got here from the wheels and tyres.
On rougher roads, the trip was undeniably agency. I wasn’t anticipating an opulent expertise—this isn’t that sort of motorbike—however I did double-check my tyre pressures and wheel width after the trip. Regardless of being arrange tubeless from the manufacturing facility, I questioned whether or not I had mistakenly inflated the tyres greater than meant. Given the 22.4mm inside and 26mm exterior rim widths, plus 25mm tyres that measure 28mm in actuality, the setup ought to present sufficient compliance to soak up higher-frequency vibrations. A extra supple tyre casing would probably enhance consolation—a standard statement for bikes on this worth vary
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Shimano’s Di2 shifting wants no introduction—it’s a pleasure to make use of, and Big deserves credit score for together with practically a full Di2 setup at this worth. There’s additionally a SRAM Rival eTap AXS model obtainable for an additional £100 if Shimano isn’t your choice.
Regardless of weighing 7.94kg, the TCR feels lighter than the scales counsel, with each ounce of power transferred effectively to the highway.
Personally, I would like the bars to have a slight flare, which might permit for a narrower prime part, extra in step with the higher-end fashions. Whereas I don’t thoughts a wider place, the 42cm bars felt broad in comparison with what I’m used to on race bikes. Angling the hoods inwards helped, nevertheless it’s a subjective choice and a simple swap. A notable portion of this technology’s claimed aero features come from the aero bars and built-in cables, so it’s a disgrace this mannequin comes with normal spherical bars—they appear to be the one cost-saving compromise.
The opposite facet value contemplating is the wheels. If you happen to already personal a good set, it could be value questioning whether or not you want the carbon ones equipped with this mannequin. They dealt with winter crosswinds admirably, providing stability and confidence, and the tyres felt sturdy. Nevertheless, the alloy-rimmed model of this bike is £500 cheaper and the remainder of spec is an identical. That raises the query: must you save that cash and put money into a deeper, quicker wheelset for the flats?
Specs
- Sizes: S, M, ML, L, XL
- Colors: Gloss Frost Silver/Chilly Iron
- Body: Superior-Grade Composite 12x142mm thru-axle, Disc
- Fork: Superior-Grade Composite, Full-Composite OverDrive Steerer, 12x100mm thru-axle, Disc
- Handlebar: Big Contact
- Stem: Big Contact Aerolight
- Seatpost: Big Variant, composite, -5/+15mm offset
- Saddle: Big Strategy 7mm Metal Rail, with UniClip / ParticleFlow know-how
- Shifters: Shimano 105 Di2 2×12
- Entrance Derailleur: Shimano 105 Di2
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano 105 Di2
- Brakes: Shimano 105 hydraulic disc, RT70 160/140mm rotors
- Cassette: Shimano 105, 11×34
- Crankset: Shimano 105, 36/52
- Rims: Big SLR 2 36 Carbon Disc Wheel System
- Hubs: [F] Big Low Friction Hub, CenterLock, 12mm thru-axle [R] Big Low Friction Hub, 30t pawl driver, CenterLock, 12mm thru-axle
- Tyres: Big Gavia COURSE 1 Tubeless, 700x25C(28mm efficient)