Zwift’s newest update includes a new bike frame – the third Giant frame to be added to the game! It’s the TCR Advanced SL Disc, and an update to the TCR Advanced SL which has been in game for quite some time.
Available at level 14+ for 745,500 Drops, the frame is rated at 3 stars for aero and 3 stars for weight. Here’s how Zwift describes it:
“Everything about the Giant TCR Advanced SL Disc screams high performance. It’s the choice of pro racers for challenging road courses that favor all-arounder abilities. Proven compact road geometry, an OverDrive 2 steerer tube, and the massive MegaDrive downtube all work together to deliver legendary handling that’s synonymous with the TCR name.”
Of course, experienced Zwifters know that real-world performance doesn’t necessarily translate to Zwift performance. So at Zwift Insider we run frames and wheelsets through a battery of tests to figure out just how well they perform in Zwift’s virtual world.
Here’s everything you need to know about the new Giant TCR Advanced SL Disc in Zwift…
Aero Performance
The Giant TCR Advanced SL Disc is rated 3 aero stars, which is the highest any standard road frame is rated in Zwift. Not that this makes it special – approximately half of the current frames have a 3-star aero rating.
This frame’s aero performance sits mid-pack compared to the full list of Zwift road frames, clocking in at 2 seconds faster than the older Giant TCR Advanced SL frame.
The TCR Advanced SL Disc turned in a time of 51:31 on our test course (two laps of Tempus Fugit). By comparison, the fastest frame in game (Specialized Venge S-Works) turned in a time of 51:18. (Both of these test times were done with Zwift’s stock wheelset, the 32mm carbon).
This means the TCR Advanced SL Disc is better than approximately 1/2 of the road frames in game, in terms of aero performance.
Climb Performance
The TCR Advanced SL Disc is rated at 3 stars for weight, so we know it won’t be as fast as the very best climbing frames. But precisely how well does it perform?
The TCR Advanced SL Disc turned in an Alpe du Zwift time of 49:19. By comparison, the fastest frame in game (Specialized Tarmac Pro) turned in a time of 48:57. (Both of these test times were done with Zwift’s stock wheelset, the 32mm carbon).
This means the TCR Advanced SL Disc is only better than approximately 1/3 of the road frames in game, in terms of climb performance.
Color Slider
One oddity we noticed: this frame includes a color slider to customize the look – but it doesn’t actually do anything! Regardless of where you slide it, the frame remains black with white accents.
Comparisons + Alternatives
There are no frames in game which turn in the same performance as the Giant TCR Advanced SL Disc, so we have no direct comparisons. However, we can say that, at the price point of 745,500 Drops and a level lock of 14, there are certainly better performers available.
See our Zwift Shopping Guide for a list of recommended frames all the way through level 50 >
Based on this frame’s lackluster performance, we don’t anticipate many Zwifters using it for racing purposes. If you’re a Giant fan, though, you might want to pick it up for those less competitive rides – especially if you ride this bike IRL!
Questions or Comments?
Share below!
Important note: this post contains speed test results for Zwift frames or wheels. These results may change over time, and a bike's performance relative to others may also change. We don't always revise posts when performance rankings change, but we do keep current, master versions of our speed test results which are always available. See the frame charts, wheel charts, and Tron vs Top Performers for current performance data.
When a 3/3 rated bike turns out to be so mediocre then the rating system needs an overhaul
https://forums.zwift.com/t/replace-star-rating-for-frames-and-wheels/548198
Maybe, maybe not. I know from Zwift’s perspective, they want to keep things simple. I get that. Then there are the racers/nerds like you and I who want more granular data.
The truth is, even though this frame is “mediocre” in terms of percentile, the difference in overall times is pretty small.
I get the simplicity, and i guess the rating even make sense but i would assume that this is only the case because of outliers such as the Mountain bikes, or the Buffallo bike.
In the end it will not make the game meaningfully more complicated introducing a 10-star rating to give more accuracy. But i also get that this is, if at all, at the very bottom of their priority list.
A Giant waste of Drops, if you ask me.
The bike is nice, just like the Colnago V3Rs, but with such subpar performance, just like the Colnago V3Rs, you simply don’t want to ride it, just like the Colnago V3Rs.
😁
So 2 seconds faster on flat and 14 seconds slower on Alpe than the old frame? Pretty bad. You sure this isn’t another frame with broken settings from the beginning? The color slider and climbing performance would indicate that.
It’s rated 3 stars for both, which is max for aero and 75% for climbing, so I doubt it….
The star rating, especially for weight, is worthless. It’s basically that the lightest bikes get 4 stars, other road bikes get 3 stars, and TT bikes and MTBs get 1 star.
It’s funny that this bike gets -14 seconds on Alpe compared to the old model when Giant themselves boasted how light the new frame is (it really is pretty light in reality). Perhaps 14 second penalty on Alpe for weight penalty from disc brakes? 😀
i think the rating is what ever party pays the most. sworks i think
What’s the point of putting new frames in the game if they’re average. And won’t get used.. why not unlock the concept bike for a week for everyone to try .then another month make the best TT frame available for a week ..etc..
u gotta earn that tron bike son 😉
But that will ruin the fun!!!
I find once you’ve got a decent all rounder and climber (manageable quite early on) the drop shop becomes pointless. I hoped they’d start putting things in that actually improve stuff, like aero helmets that do in fact reduce drag, or maybe the ability to buy boosts that you can bank and use in game. Either way, these new middling bikes are a bit pointless unless you simply want to collect them for the sake of it.
I wonder if they have any long term direction on frames and wheels? Continuation of the current approach makes the bike shop chaotic and somewhat superfluous long-term. If they would like to promote more variety in bike frames that are actually being used, it would be better to have these frames perform almost equal (as the star rating suggests).
An example could be to classify road bike frames as Aero (fast at high speeds but heavier thus slower on climbs), Sprint/Punch/All-round (still reasonably aero but lighter for fast acceleration) or Climb (lightest but slower on flats). Frames within a class only to perform within seconds of each other. Possibly allow upgrades to each frame to ultimately bring its performance more on par with the Tron. Think: Carbon handlebars, Ceramic bearings, Carbon seat etc. I would also like to see a non-disc wheelset that could bring (a specced up) road bike performance on par with the Tron. The discs just don’t look right, and nor do the xmas-tree bikes. I only use them for the not-so-marginal gains.
Yeah the frame and wheelset guide kept me from burning my drops early on with bad performers … now I got the better stuff and am left going… sheesh why would I want to spend drops on what is not an improvement on what I got … heck right now there is only one racing frame I don’t have only due to my not being a high enough level to get it yet =\ … I think ZwiftHQ is at a loss for bike improvements as any multi-year user has been on ALL the ROUTES and has virtually ALL the gear and badges minus the WATTs ones which for me anyway best I gotten to has been 800 watts -_- … and some bikes that are top performers you get easily early on if one does the Volcano 25 laps and 100 lap deal levels come easily … I’d being lying if I said I was not disappointed that I am not just spending drops just because … but then it only makes my switching bikes and setting up harder …
… a nice feature to add would be to make and be able save bike builds … colors wheels and frames to make fast changes easier =\
Not arsed about the stats as only do workout mode. Would like a GT Grade too.
I’d like a system where you have base stats for a bike but should you want to you can spend drops to improve stats up to a point. That allows those that don’t care to ignore and those that do to tweak.
But first I want a 3T Strada in game! 😀
Btw when will we get the nice Cadex wheels?
well my real TCR advanced 0 disc is at 6.13kg size m/l (~56). if you buy the bike from stock, its weight is slightly under the UCI limit. several tests came out with the result, that its lighter, stiffer and more aero than the tarmac sl7. it should definitely get 4 stars for the weight!
I myself ride a TCR Advanced SL Team Sunweb in the real world, and the first bike I bought in Zwift is the TCR, though it’s not the best choice for racing.
Same. It’s my RL bike, so it was just a bit of novelty to get it in zwift and is the main one I use