LOOK KEO BLADE POWER PEDALS
Now disc brake-specific, the seatstay yoke has been entirely removed, while the seat tube junction and part of the top tube have also been slimmed down. Finally, the geometry has remained unchanged compared to the previous TCR.
Total System Improvement
The frameset is just one influence on a bike’s speed, though; the rolling resistance and aerodynamics of the tyres and wheels are significant too.
So, to make the TCR faster as a complete package, Giant’s component brand Cadex has developed some new rolling stock for this 10th generation edition, for what it’s calling a ‘Total System Improvement’.
For the Cadex Max 40 wheels, Giant has been focusing on the aerodynamic drag of the spokes as they rotate. The result is 16 carbon spokes on the front and 24 on the rear, each directly bonded to the carbon hub’s flange, with hidden nipples inside the rim for adjusting the spoke tension.
As their name suggests, these have a 40mm rim depth and a reasonably wide 22.4mm hookless internal rim width. They weigh a claimed 1,249 grams.
Meanwhile, the Cadex Race GC tubeless tyres have been made with a supple 240 TPI casing and a Silica-based RR-S compound for decreased rolling resistance. They also feature ‘microprofile shoulders’, which are designed to decrease the contact patch when riding in a straight line yet increase the contact patch when railing through the corners.
Made entirely in France, Look’s new Keo Blade Power pedals aim to blend performance, accuracy, and durability.
The former is largely achieved through its familiar blade technology that sees you clipping in and out of a carbon blade, rather than a metal spring. Look says it’s lighter and more aerodynamic while still providing solid foot retention.
The power measurements are claimed to be accurate to +/- 1% “regardless of air temperature or altitude”, and use “proven algorithms” to help achieve consistency. You can opt for dual pedals, which measure
“The new frame is claimed to weigh 75 grams less than its predecessor”