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Narrow tires, curved handlebars, light frames, derailleur gears - these are typical features of racing bikes.
They lack mudguards, lights and luggage racks.
Racing bikes are slimmed-down, light and agile sports equipment that repeatedly cast a spell over bicycle aesthetes.
But they should know the differences that depend on the purpose of the bike.
There are professional racing machines that focus on maximum weight reduction and are so outrageously expensive, as well as particularly aerodynamic triathlon bikes with their special cockpits.
So-called endurance racing bikes are often used for ambitious training purposes.
The bridge to everyday life is built by entry-level bikes, some of which the manufacturers sell as all-rounders.
They have more moderate frame geometries, on which cyclists sit less stooped than on the aforementioned.
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They are suitable for the evening lap or the entry into racing cycling.
One such bike is the Contend AR 2 from the Taiwanese brand Giant.
Giant Contend AR 2: The purpose
For a racing bike, the Contend AR 2 is versatile, says Marc Kessing from Giant Germany.
Although the model was developed as a sports device, it can also be used well in everyday life and on uneven roads due to the 32 millimeter wide tires, which offer more comfort.
The frame even allows tires with widths of up to 38 millimeters - so the Giant is already fishing in the area of the currently extremely popular gravel bikes due to their versatility.
Kessing classifies the Giant as "something in between the two worlds".
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Those who want to go faster and less comfort can switch to 28-millimeter tires; those who often turn on gravel get the most out of it.
Technology of the Giant Contend AR 2
The light carbon frame material is not available in this price range.
The Contend AR 2 rolls with an aluminum frame and just undercuts the ten kilo mark by 100 grams.
Gear shifts are made with components from the Tiagra group, which Shimano attributes to "ambitious entry-level performance".
In other words: there are better things like the 105 group, but also worse ones like the Claris group.
The question is whether a beginner needs and can use the advantages of components that are often several hundred euros more expensive and a few grams lighter.
The tires are 32 millimeters wide ex works.
If you want, you can go up to 38 millimeters, but you can also pull on 28 millimeter tires
Source: dpa-tmn
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A special feature is the in-house rim-tire combination from Giant.
The rubbers are delivered without hoses - not a matter of course in the league of all-rounders.
On the one hand, this brings weight advantages (according to Kessing around 50 grams per wheel) and reduces the rolling resistance of the carcass.
On the other hand, very expensive sealing milk has to be refilled every few months in order to prevent creeping plates.
But the breakdown security of this solution is great, says Kessing.
If the tire suffers a small puncture on the way to the office or for shopping, that is “no longer a problem”.
The sealant quickly closes the area again.
In order for you to suffer a flat foot, you need a larger shard, for example.
Driving impression of the Giant Contend AR 2
On the move on slippery roads, the Giant rolls smoothly - thanks to the tubeless tires.
The frame feels stiff and gives a stable impression - which is partly due to the material aluminum.
But the frame geometry with the top tube sloping backwards (sloping geometry), which makes the tube construction more compact and stable, counteracts the twisting of the frame.
Due to the fairly flat steering angle of 72.5 degrees, the bike is also less nervous.
More ambitious racing bikes tend not to have this fine plus in smoothness and directional stability.
On the other hand, they are more agile and offer better power output.
The bike actually rides less hard on gravel, but you will still be jolted - it's still a racing bike without explicit suspension elements.
The brake levers of the Giant Contend AR 2 are also the shift levers for the double derailleur.
On the left you operate the front derailleur, on the right the rear derailleur on the pinions
Source: dpa-tmn
The quickest way to notice that the Contend AR 2 makes compromises within the racing bike segment is when you look at the components.
The 105 circuit works more precisely than the built-in Tiagra;
with ten instead of eleven sprockets, this also offers one less in the cassette and thus the somewhat coarser gradation.
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The brakes on the test bike are disc brakes that are less sensitive to moisture.
However, it is about the mechanical variant, which, compared to hydraulic solutions, requires more force in the fingers for the same braking power and is not so easy to dose.
This effect can be clearly felt on the Giant with 160 millimeter brake discs at the front and rear.
Equipment, accessories, peripherals
The entry-level racing bike does not build a digital ecosystem around itself.
Due to the class, there are simply no motors and sensors that can be linked to apps.
For this, the AR 2 seat post and fork are made of carbon.
Compared to the harder aluminum, the comparatively flexible, but more expensive composite material increases driving comfort.
The support with its special D-shaped profile offers "flex" of up to 15 millimeters to the rear, says Kessing.
So equipped, the bike is “not as rock-solid” as with a rigid aluminum post, but to some extent as flexible as a heavier parallelogram seat post.
The suitability for everyday use is also increased by the attachment points on the frame tubes.
On which mudguards, a lock or a frame bag could be mounted - but which you have to buy separately.
To underline this claim, Giant includes an adapter for the seat post to which an optional luggage rack can be attached.
Also standard: a bell.
The fork of the Giant Contend AR 2 is also made of carbon and increases comfort - although comfort is very relative on a racing bike
Source: dpa-tmn
Conclusion:
an all-rounder is not a specialist.
But if you are looking for a racing bike that offers you other options in everyday life in addition to the evening training session, the Giant is well advised - because of the mounting options and the tires that are quite wide for a racing bike, which increase comfort but reduce pure racing suitability.
The price of the Giant Contend
The Giant Contend in the driven version AR 2 costs 1249 euros.
If you pay 1599 euros, you get the Contend AR 1, which weighs 9.4 kilos with Shimano 105 components.
Since Giant is also currently affected by delivery bottlenecks, there may be months of waiting for orders.
But bikes are still available in stores, says Kessing.
The Giant Contend in the driven version AR 2 costs 1249 euros.
If you want the 105 group, you pay 1599 euros and then get the AR 1
Source: dpa-tmn