Giant Trinity
Giant position themselves under athletes of the calibre of current world champion Helen Tucker, with the Trinity the introductory model in Giant’s time-trial range.
The ride
First impressions aren’t great, as the steering’s twitchy nature becomes apparent. However, once moving in a straight line it’s smooth and, when settled in a good rhythm, it feels quick. The own-brand SL37 wheels with aero rims are a nice touch over the standard-box rims found on other similarly-priced competitors. They banged and creaked a bit during the ride but this was probably more to do with settling-in over the odd pothole.
The combination of the stiff frame and wheels continued to hold firm when climbing out of the saddle. But it was difficult to get the feel of consistent speed when dropping down one hill and rolling into the next. Stretching to change gears using the Dura Ace bar-end shifters highlights that the FSA TriMax Plus bars can be cut down to the precise size, using the on-bar scale.
This would be necessary for all but those with the longest of limbs. The shifters themselves coupled with the Shimano 105 derailleurs work well as a team; quick and precise changes across the 11-23 cassette means there’s little disruption to riding rhythm when tucked into the aero position on gently undulating roads. However, while saddles are often highly personal, this one was a little too ‘up close and personal’.
If this was our race bike, the saddle wouldn’t be staying around for long. The 53/39 chainset allows a wider spread of gears to assist with tough climbs, but doesn’t wholly compensate for the smallest of large sprockets (23-tooth) on the cassette. You’d be wise to consider changing the cassette or sticking to flat courses.
The build
The compact design means reduced weight and increased lateral rigidity. The largest frame in the range comes in at 55.5cm, so riders over six foot might find themselves in a very aggressive position, with a large amount of weight over the front of the bike.
The near teardrop-shaped front forks have a similar design to that of the down tube, while the rear chainstays are shaped to deliver the best compromise between power transfer and limited vibration. One minor niggle, though, is with the compact frame design: there’s only room for one bottle cage.
While the internal cable routings whip the cables out of sight for both aesthetic and aerodynamic purposes, the model we tested had one big problem. With the bike set up in the normal UK way – rear brake lever on the left and the brake cable crossing the front of the bike and entering on the right of the top tube – we found that the brake cable was too short.
As a result, the bike developed a strange turn-the-handlebars-left-to-brake system. Hopefully it was an anomaly but it summed up the feel of the Trinity, which was one of disappointment – a surprise (and shame) as Giant have so many great road bikes at this price point and below.
Spec
Frame AluxX aliminum compact design
Forks Advanced composite
Groupset Shimano Dura-Ace 10-speed; Race Face 53/59 chainset; Shimano 105 derailleurs; Tektro TL-720 aero calipers
Wheels Giant SL37 aero rims; Michelin Lithion 700 x 23 tyres
Cockpit FSA Base Bar Aero RD-B250; FSA Clip-On TriMax Plus
Seating Giant Advanced composite aero seat post; Giant Performance tri saddle
Weight 9.5 kg (no pedals)
Sizes43, 46.5, 50, 55.5 cm
Contact : www.giant-bicycles.com
Matt Baird
Editor of Cycling Plus magazine 
