Giant is one a few bike manufacturers that actually manufactures the carbon frame in house, which might also partially explain the cost advantage. Good video!
I've got one too from 2019, first TT bike for me and i find that it's a really great bike overall, i find it pretty lightweight for a tt bike, very fast even when you're tired and have less power. My complains are almost the same: Breaks, front bottle and i would add the rear system to take off or install the rear wheel, it's a real pain in the ass for me...
Can you please tell me your opinion on the overall riding experience on the Trinity. QUESTION 🙋♂️ Will this be practical & comfortable for daily rides & longer wkd rides. ( in addition to Triathlon training ) which will be perfect
Agree with you on the bottle. Definitely an afterthought. I moved the di2 junction out of the bento on mine and got the one that fits in the back of the pole, still crap though only being able to fit 3 X sis gels. Brakes are fine if you've got the right wheels. I've got HED Jet's on mine, no problem whatsoever with braking, in fact they feel pretty strong set up right. Bang for buck it's a no brainer like you say. Even forgetting the money, it's one of the fastest out there still on a design that's knocking on for 10 years old.
I've got the same bike! I'm also a bike mechanic. Pretty fair review here. The front screws coming loose are annoying, but I've stayed on top of that and have never had issue with the bottle like you have. I regularly inspect so my bottle always feels rock solid to be honest. My biggest issue is the wiring for Di2 and brake cable routing going through the front tube and going around the headtube through a small hole in the frame. I've had multiple Di2 wires broken and like any high end TT bike, it is NOT fun to re-route new ones. Brakes admittedly are not great, especially the rear one with all the stuff they had to do to get it integrated. I've settled with a "at least it slows me down and doesn't rub" attitude. The front works as well as any rim brake. I race shorter distances so I often remove bottles entirely, but I'd love to see more bento storage too. All that said, TT bikes are notoriously difficult to work on and I've never worked on a TT bike that ticks all the boxes. This one is such good bang for buck and when it comes right down to it, it's fast!
@@Harry-Palmer LocTite is your friend! Definitely want to be careful when removing them with said locktite, but it'll keep em from working back out. I always had an issue with Giant bolts, especially the seatpost clamp on the older TCR Advanced models and my Trinity Composite. Still, love those older frames, but I prefer the change they made to the wedge design. Speaking of the Trinity, I'm currently building up a 2013 Advanced SL 0 model, and having a tough time finding the Handlebars and UCI Legal stem. Any tips for where I should look? I found one guy in the Netherlands selling his partial bike, and a set of bars online for about $500 or so, but the prices to get both are a bit too high for my liking. Unfortunately almost all of the models you can find for sale have the triathlon style nosecone...
Really good to see you talking about the issues. I got a Boardman ATT and I can see why they discontinued them: the cable for the rear hidden brake is a nightmare for getting full of grit and sticking… oh and I converted to 1x because the internal routing for the front mech is gunned up too! 😤 Hopefully you get a bike sponsor soon and you can be riding a sick-looking beam bike or something equally excessive!
Agree with everything, I use the Xlab bottle as well. Still a fantastic bike though! and if it's good enough for the Norwegians, it's good enough for me.
Good honest video. Little tip for anyone with a Propel or Envie looking for better brakes; Fouriers make brakes for these bikes, and it's what the pro UCI teams that use Giant, immediately switch out onto the frames. Used them on my other half's Envie and they're much better.
Great review! I've always loved Giant road bikes. The colours and design of this Trinity looks amazing. I'd be happy to hang this one on the wall and enjoy it as a piece of art! 👍👌😎 New subscriber incoming...
Great video Harry! The giant is bascially the only tri bike not upgraded to disc brakes (Cervelo, Specialized, Canyon, Argon, Scott, trek etc.) If they manage to refine current one a bit put disc brakes on it AND keep it the budget friendly option, they have the whole market for themselves! Canyon used to be their rival but they have gone up in price!
Cool honest review 👌🏻 I'm a giant trinity & propel owner. But also a specialized fan boy tbh. But same I went with the Trinity and propel, vs. The venge and transition at the time... because of price; because the spec version of similar bikes were 2,500 to 3,000 $ more in price but the transition when observed had a faulty fork/headset design that rubbed itself to crumble on its proprietary edges when turning the fork all the way to left/right for car fitment. Which seemed like a design fail on specs part. So I got the Trinity and never looked back. Upgraded from a Kestrel Talon TT bike, been happy ever since. wba. I don't feel the NEED to upgrade it, since everything I ride it, people say "nice NEW bike". And they are surprised when I tell them it's like 5 or 6 years old, really. It is at the higher echelon of tt tech IMHO, so I'm staying w it for many a year. Done.
Hey, I have a full black DI2 Trinity (2016) - Generation 1 - I love this bike, only thing missing is disc brakes. While I agree with you about the bottle rubbing, I have had mine upgrade to Gen 2 bottle and bento box. She has been a machine and half for me. I have many 70.3 and 1 x full ironman + some OD, sprint's on this unit. Out of the box I change the saddle, bars and added an Ant+ Di2 Wireless Transmitter. I also have the SLR0 Wheels. As for price it was on par with Trek, and others at time of purchase. After 6 years she went in for a service and had a total rebuild from front to back. It's like new. Bikes and setups are like underware, you got find what works for you best.
Thanks for the feedback. I am in the market right now. I like the Trinity, but am concerned the 2021 model looks essentially the same as your 2016. Hate to buy a new bike right before they redesign it. They must be planning to go disc. Definitely looking at Canyon, Argon 18 and Quintana Roo in a similar price point.
the water bottle slightly makes the bike tiny bit aero but the main advantage might be is the balance is moved forward that it slices through wind while maintaining speed
Do you remember our bikes side by side at the Cotswold Water Park in 2018?! Still got mine too (although new frame on order). You're right about the bento box. I've had a better experience using Loctite on the front fairing bolts and bottle, but it's still something you have to check regularly. One thing you don't mention, but is definitely another strength of the Trinity is just how adjustable it is. Tons of cockpit setup options, especially if you include the aftermarket items from D2Z, Wattshop, Kismet etc. There's a walkround of my bike on my "channel" (it's not really a channel).
hahah yes I remember that well! Be interested to hear what you think of the new one. Yeah bang on about the adjustability, there's a lot of 3rd party companies like revolver that make some great stuff for the Trinity too
I nodded so many times while I was watching this video! I bought the TT version because I've got short legs. That extra hight at the front with the triathlon version won't let me have a low enough front height to accomodate aftermarket aerobars for my body. Also with the size small frame I read issues with the front hydration box rubbing the front wheel. I was going to do the BTA hydration anyway, so it was not a brainer to go for the TT version. One problem with the TT version is that the upper stem plate is quite thin and the hole for the main screw has very thin base, so you can ruin it quite easily. I bought a spare immidiately after I bought the frame. About the brakes... As I bought the frame I wanted to experiment with the position, so I used cheap brake cables and the outers. I coudn't stop at all even though I was using wheels with aluminum rims. I swapped the cables with a Jagwire set and Campagnolo red brake pads for carbon wheels, then it was great. The rear brake is kinda useless with the trispoke, but if I use a Ron disc rear it stops very well. The front is perfect with the trispoke though. I chose this bike because it's got rim brakes. Despite what many manufacturers say, rim brakes have lower drag in general. I do not have much problem stopping even with that aformentioned trispoke for the rear. I used it for 70.3 Greece with a bit of down hill. My body weight is fairly light at 70 kg. Just before a big corner, what I had to do was to held my elbows wide to get extra air resistance to slow down. I guess it won't work if someone is heavy though. Or if a dog or something just randomly come into the course... Here is my setup. I've updated the BTA bottle holder mount though. Now it's a part of self designed 3D arm cups. Plus the Ron disc. th-cam.com/video/ItwOnVxgE-c/w-d-xo.html Since then I got a rear storage box, so I can store a spare tube, a CO2 pump and a hex key. Why a hex key? I have to put the saddle slammed to the front and I can't keep the nose high up if I hit a bump. I sorted out with some paste to hold it tighter, but still carry it as a caution for a long race. I still want to put the saddle further forward. I am considering about a Selle Italia SP-01 saddle now. I'm using a 'fake' ISM saddle to bring me forward at the moemnt (Don't worry I bought a real one too). The next step is to make a completely new front setup. I am designing aerobars which is actually a mono bar. I really liked how I have the BTA bottle/Torpedo to fill the void between my arms and the chest. I am going to have that, but with a better position while keeping the Karoo 2 under my arms (I had to have it above my Torpedo and couldn't look at the power except for the climbs). My arms will be behind a 'hull' and my MET helmet will be a part of the flow. It's going to be a combination of a carbon pipe and Multijet Fusion 3D printed parts. Now I have subscribed your channel. This video really nailed me to your channel! Well done!
Thanks so much for this comment Triathlon Sushi! Love the detail you went into. Sounds like you've had some difficulty but also sounds like you are pretty handy and are coming up with a quality bespoke bike for you. I'll check out your bike for sure, keep me up to date with you progress
Good honest review, As a fellow owner… I put some arm rest foam on the outfront bottle on the area that touches the frame,in your case the removed paint area,packs it nice and tight and snug,no rubbing on the frame,no rattling about,no bolts coming undone, You did miss a biggie on the bottle tho…and that’s the shite ‘fill on the move’ opening,Im sick to death of all the fluid splashing out when on a ruff bit of road (which in the uk) is every fooking road,so have to use the closed rubber bung, Brakes are shite…100% I put better pads in,which did improve stopping power but not by much, Other than that,given my ability it’s better than I will ever be or need,so I cant grumble with it,could I justify a 8k bike…nope. As for storage I think you answered ya own question…the bikes 6 years old,and in the fast moving development of kit,it’s an antique,plenty of other brands have developed and changed and with that up goes the price,like ya say,Giant didn’t …and with that, the price is very competitive for a tri/tt bike.
Ace comment Mathew! Great idea with the padding!! Yeah I completely forgot to mention the filling off the bottle 🤦🏼♂️ it’s useless isn’t it. Yeah absolutely other modern bikes seem to really be developing but unfortunately giant seem to have stayed still, I think that’s the reason for the price
Exactly what I felt. I have the exact same model as you with the Same color but with a extra problem on the brake. Somehow my brake has lose all of its tension and I can't brake right at all and it cost a huge amount of money to change it cause from what I heard from the mechanic, giant is stopping the manufacturing of this batch of brake hence making it very hard to find. Not too sure the newer trinity is using a newer version but the 2016 or 2017 trinity brake are going to be very hard to get at least in my country
Giant, Bianchi, Scott (outside of Plasma 6) will soon be all disc. I had a Giant Trinity between 2012 to 2014 (great bike) that was the last time I had a TT bike before last season when I bought a Plasma 6. I'd been doing a lot of sprint/Olympic distance since then but now 70.3 plus.
Leave the BTA bottle on (it does significantly improve aerodynamics), but empty and with some helicopter tape to protect the frame. Can't tell, but with the upward sloping extensions, you may be able to run a BTA cage for a standard bottle.
Great review, thanks for the insight Harry! Question or you, you mention that you use the xlab cage in between your arms ( I do too) but this year I ma going from 70.3 to the full distance. I was thinking of getting the xlab torpedo so that I can keep refilling the bottle during the 180k (grab a bottle at the aid station, fill it then pitch the bottle - keeping 2 extra bottles on my bike at all times in case I run out and there is no aid station near me). Thoughts on this?
I use an xlab Torpedo between my arms. I have 2 bottles behind the saddle, one with thick sugar concentration and one with water. Just before an aid station I add the concentration to my Torpedo, then fill it up with water from the aid stazion. The rest usually goes on my body to cool down. I also use the Giant aero-bottle for the concentration too. I took 110 g of carbs per hour during IM Frankfurt and still had some left, so it should be enough for the majority of people.
You're right Harry, Giant offer phenomenal value for money, although the new bikes are increasing in price. It's a lovely looking bike, I was looking for one before I found my Argon!
@@Harry-Palmer I love it, very comfortable following a bike fit, but the handling is great and the storage options they give are great, bit of a pain the arse to get spares for, but I have struck lucky on ebay when I have needed something. It's hugely adjustable though. The new ones are simply stunning.
@@Harry-Palmer Just remember, looks are not everything. It the nuts and bolts that count. I owned 2 Giant road bide but just switched to a Trek Madone Speed. Love it. Cross between a Tri bike and a road bike. Can't afford to have both types of bikes at once.
You hit the nail on the head. on mine the bottle started leaking too bad so i just chucked it and got an aftermarket one. Then breaks are dull and mushy especially if you're on carbon wheels. an other issue with the bento box is that if you're on mechanical, you need perfect cable length or else they're gonna put pressure and make is not close completely. but otherwise? its a freaking missile. like seriously, all the negatives dont make a difference enough to not get this bike and since nothing major changed in a couple years, you can get a 2017-2018 for cheap then put money on upgrades. 8/10
Just bought an old trinity frame, bars & crank for 825. Transfered my old zipps, old 7800 crankset and had a bike fit. Dropped my pb on local 10 from 22.15 to 20.45. Absolute rocket compared to my old felt DA. Cost me about 1250 in total. Bargain. Agree with all you’ve said really but I just can’t justify the cost of other newer TT bike (new or second hand) market has gone bonkers. This is a great upgrade for someone not wanting to Spend the earth.
@@GingerBoy1974 Awesome to hear mate! Yeah absolutely, the prices of newer bikes now is eye watering. Theres a reason they haven't changed the design- It's rapid
Hey Harry, been following you for a while now, love your videos always good fun! I also ride the Trinity but find it a little iffy when descending, hands are slipping easily, noticed you have some other tape on the horns, is is stake board tape? how do you find it?
They haven’t changed the trinity at all since in think 2014/15 when the design shown in the video was released. The brakes are not the best but with some skill they can be setup to work and feel really well. As a mechanic I hate working on them, they are a pain to get right and it takes forever. We have had good luck at my shop with threadlock on the bolts on the front but we do that straight from the beginning so there is no extra gap from any wear caused by vibrating loose over time. And to be clear, every Trinity that comes with the fairing (if you can call it that singes it’s structural) has that problem with the bolts. The lower end version doesn’t have the fairing and matching bottle I’m not sure if they still sell them but Felt used to be really good at having a lower price point IA and then their B series. Both are as easy to work on as a standard road bike and are just really well thought out from a mechanics perspective. Giant makes awesome products at unbelievable price points but they also always seem to rush ideas out the door before they have actually been tested enough to find the kind of issues that crop of every day like bolts vibrating loose.
Yep my front water bottle was scat across the road at Stafford half, bolts tightened up that day as was aware of the problems,No way I was stopping for it tho lol .What you haven’t mentioned is the hassle to travel with it ie bike bag/box as it doesn’t come apart straight fwd. and the constant noises it makes round the cockpit even without the water bottle attached. Fast in a straight line that’s about it.I would not buy again 🤪
Hi Harry, loving your work. Have you seen Ruth Astle's latest video talking about how much she has earned this year? It's a really great insight into what it means to be a pro-triathlete and how hard it is. I think for someone like yourself who is just starting out it would be fascinating to see a similar type video and try to understand some of the challenges you have at the outset of a triathlon career.
Fellow trinity owner. All of what you said is correct. BTW the 2016 model you have is identical to my 2018 model and the same with the 2021 model. they havent changed anything but the paint job in a LONG time. so these issues have been going for a number of years now. The problem with the front bolts is unacceptable to me, could easily cause a massive crash. I changed mine to different bolts and havent had an issue since but everyone i know who used the stock bolts had their rattle loose aswell
@@GingerBoy1974 the stock bolts are plastic with recessed heads. I used flat head metal hex bolts. They pop out a little on the side. Worth the potential "aero" cost for the knowledge i wont die because my front hesd falls off
I found a guy selling a slightly used Giant Trinity Advanced SL2 (think the model is from 2011? Not sure.) The bike itself looks like its in pretty good shape, and I can get it for a rather good price. At least something I could be willing to pay for. But is it worth? To buy my 1st tri-bike that is very old and slightly used?
I have a Giant Propel Advanced with the V-brakes. When I first got it, I thought the brakes were a death trap. I then realized the pads that came stock with it are GARBAGE. I switched out the pads with a couple of Campagnolo pads that I had on a fresh set of brakes I wasn't using (seeing as this frame had V-brakes), and I instantly got good, safe, normal, rim braking. And I'm a heavier rider at 200lbs, so maybe I should look into discs, but here I am bombing Angeles Crest Highway descents with confidence. The real pain is always having to balance the brakes every 2-3 rides, but it's good practice to check any braking system regularly.
Trinity owner here! In fact you helped me out with my bottle issues when I got the bike last year!… so cheers mate. After having it for a year now I can offer some feedback. The bottle is absolute toss. It leaks and I have to duct tape it on each ride as it falls off! Refilling on the go just is unachievable as it just spills out when you use the refillable bit. I have to use the blanking plate and not bother. I’ll be using a BTA but it’s rather tight between the poles and I’ve got no room to eject the bottle so I’m going to try a side mounted bottle cage and see how that goes. Those bolts at the front are a joke. They used to come loose and when I tightened them they caused it to creak like crazy, literally unrideable creaking. Thankfully I bought a stick of locktite from Halfords and it’s worked a treat and they’ve not come loose at all! The horizontal drop outs for me were a nightmare and I’ve only worked out how to take the rear wheel off without losing my mind. I think this was more of a problem with me rather than the bike 😂 The brakes are turd 100%. Going from riding my disc brake propel to a rim brake trinity was eye opening! I’m surprised I’m still alive to be honest! Great vid mate
haha love this comment mate, very honest stuff and i agrre with everything you've said. It's really frustrating having a bike and probably giant knowing of these issues and doing nothing about it
I own both a Giant Trinity Pro and a Felt IA. Both are set up alike with top shelf components and I will take the Giant hands down. Better ride comfort, better handling and I believe faster on a long course.
Hi, I own a Giant Trinity 2019 and I have to agree about the front bottle. It’s absolute trash. Living in Canada, we have (a lot) of bumpy roads and my bottle (full of water) fall few times wile riding 35kph+. Almost make me fall. Since then, I change it for a profile design one and it’s been great. Appart from that, I love the bike!
I’ve got a 2019 model and totally agree with all of that. Front bottle is useless, storage is tiny and getting the rear wheel off with the brake housing is bit of a pain. Also if you upgrade to slightly wider wheels the rear brake housing can be a pain to fit, dunno if you’ve had that issue? But to be honest like you said, for the price it’s a cracking bike and I’ve been happy to put up with those issues or upgrade those parts 🤷🏻♂️
I bought a 2021 Pinarello Bolide and I wish I loved it, but it’s piss poor quality from Taiwan. Some of the engineering behind it is questionable. I’d go with a Cervelo P5 next.
@@Harry-Palmer Pinarello uses 19mm aero bars and not the standard 22.2mm. No angle aero bar adjustment. I went with Wattshop to workaround all that. Loose sharp carbon fiber strands on the inside of the frame that will gut you. If you pick up the bike and you don’t hold the bars you could accidentally crush the fork/neck to the frame which cracks the carbon. The stand over height is pretty tall. I know Cervelo has is a pretty low height. Might help for transitions. Bento box is like yours…holds maybe 3 PH gels. Love your channel. Good luck this year from Arizona.
@@bakerdj80 dammm you would have thought a premium brand like that would be really refined. Sorry to hear you are having issues. Thanks for the support!!!
Hard stop. Even if they're not supported by the Brand I find most you tubers are scared shitless to say anything truly bad for fear that if "one day" they become popular a brand may avoid them.
Using the word quality is wrong. Giant has better quality bikes. Better QC, better finish, just overall better workmanship. Just look at Luscher Teknik's videos. But in terms of "technologies" and design, giant is a bit more conservative and other brands just have cooler and some better ideas regarding integration. Id only trust giant, time, and new 3t bikes with my life. If their bikes failed, its on me.
How much do you recon Giant pay him to ride the bike? I'm sure that will have something to do with it. Not a slow bike by any means, but definitely not the best quality at all
I do believe what my fellow human is struggling to communicate is “what is s***t? Is it a clickbait technique” and to which I answer it must unequivocally be shirt. See the 5 syllables? Means it can’t be sh*t. So it must be another word. Now we can narrow down to triathlon related words because why would Harry use words not related to his content? Feels misleading. And so through a vigorous process of getting drunk and watching Jeopardy I land on Shirt. And for if it’s a click bait technique? Well the definition of clickbait is “(noun) content whose main purpose is to attract attention and encourage visitors to click on a link to a particular web page.” so yes, using obscured words in order to mislead or intrigue you WAS Harry’s marketing technique, and a good one at that because here you are watching the video. You’ve been baited 🤝
Fab video - so informative and a great overview! Thanks so much 🤙🏻🤙🏻
Glad you like it Ethan!!!!
Giant is one a few bike manufacturers that actually manufactures the carbon frame in house, which might also partially explain the cost advantage. Good video!
That’s really interesting I didn’t actually know that
Thank you for the review! I was just looking to get one
It's a great bike overall, you'll love it
I've got one too from 2019, first TT bike for me and i find that it's a really great bike overall, i find it pretty lightweight for a tt bike, very fast even when you're tired and have less power. My complains are almost the same: Breaks, front bottle and i would add the rear system to take off or install the rear wheel, it's a real pain in the ass for me...
Nice one Harry I wish other triathletes would review their bikes the same way.
Great video Harry! 🙌🏻
Glad you like it Shane
Useful feedback.
I’m planning on buying the new Giant 2022 TRINITY ADVANCED PRO 2 next month here in Taiwan 🇹🇼
Very excited
Can you please tell me your opinion on the overall riding experience on the Trinity.
QUESTION 🙋♂️ Will this be practical & comfortable for daily rides & longer wkd rides. ( in addition to Triathlon training ) which will be perfect
Agree with you on the bottle. Definitely an afterthought.
I moved the di2 junction out of the bento on mine and got the one that fits in the back of the pole, still crap though only being able to fit 3 X sis gels.
Brakes are fine if you've got the right wheels. I've got HED Jet's on mine, no problem whatsoever with braking, in fact they feel pretty strong set up right.
Bang for buck it's a no brainer like you say. Even forgetting the money, it's one of the fastest out there still on a design that's knocking on for 10 years old.
Yeah absolutely bang on with this, It's a rapid bike that's for sure and think ultimately that outweighs the issues with it
Great video ! Wish Giant would bring a disc version out. Giant rim brakes in driving rain at ironman UK last year was scary in places !
I've got the same bike! I'm also a bike mechanic. Pretty fair review here. The front screws coming loose are annoying, but I've stayed on top of that and have never had issue with the bottle like you have. I regularly inspect so my bottle always feels rock solid to be honest. My biggest issue is the wiring for Di2 and brake cable routing going through the front tube and going around the headtube through a small hole in the frame. I've had multiple Di2 wires broken and like any high end TT bike, it is NOT fun to re-route new ones. Brakes admittedly are not great, especially the rear one with all the stuff they had to do to get it integrated. I've settled with a "at least it slows me down and doesn't rub" attitude. The front works as well as any rim brake. I race shorter distances so I often remove bottles entirely, but I'd love to see more bento storage too.
All that said, TT bikes are notoriously difficult to work on and I've never worked on a TT bike that ticks all the boxes. This one is such good bang for buck and when it comes right down to it, it's fast!
I have the same model for a year now, and I agree 100% with your review :) Unfortunately I've learnt about bolts the hard way - during my race :D
Ahhh yeah it’s such a shame really🤦🏼♂️ I’ve tried so many things and they still come loose
@@Harry-Palmer LocTite is your friend! Definitely want to be careful when removing them with said locktite, but it'll keep em from working back out. I always had an issue with Giant bolts, especially the seatpost clamp on the older TCR Advanced models and my Trinity Composite.
Still, love those older frames, but I prefer the change they made to the wedge design.
Speaking of the Trinity, I'm currently building up a 2013 Advanced SL 0 model, and having a tough time finding the Handlebars and UCI Legal stem. Any tips for where I should look? I found one guy in the Netherlands selling his partial bike, and a set of bars online for about $500 or so, but the prices to get both are a bit too high for my liking.
Unfortunately almost all of the models you can find for sale have the triathlon style nosecone...
Really good to see you talking about the issues. I got a Boardman ATT and I can see why they discontinued them: the cable for the rear hidden brake is a nightmare for getting full of grit and sticking… oh and I converted to 1x because the internal routing for the front mech is gunned up too! 😤
Hopefully you get a bike sponsor soon and you can be riding a sick-looking beam bike or something equally excessive!
Ahhh Scott that's really frustrating. Haha fingers crossed!
Agree with everything, I use the Xlab bottle as well. Still a fantastic bike though! and if it's good enough for the Norwegians, it's good enough for me.
Haha yeah absolutely 👍🏻
Good honest video. Little tip for anyone with a Propel or Envie looking for better brakes; Fouriers make brakes for these bikes, and it's what the pro UCI teams that use Giant, immediately switch out onto the frames. Used them on my other half's Envie and they're much better.
Dammm thanks for this Phil! Awesome insight and not something I had any idea about. Thanks for the comment
Great video Harry .. yep I find the bottle cage rattles aswell .. never took any notice of the bolts tho 😳😂
Yeah it’s a right pain isn’t it. Fingers crossed your bolts are ok
Great objective review. I hope Giant sees the need to make you a partner. I’ve been following your channel from the start. Much success!
Thanks so much for this comment! Really appreciate it
Great review! I've always loved Giant road bikes. The colours and design of this Trinity looks amazing. I'd be happy to hang this one on the wall and enjoy it as a piece of art! 👍👌😎 New subscriber incoming...
you got some money out of that bike!! looking forward to your Argon 18 if you get the plus model
Great video Harry! The giant is bascially the only tri bike not upgraded to disc brakes (Cervelo, Specialized, Canyon, Argon, Scott, trek etc.) If they manage to refine current one a bit put disc brakes on it AND keep it the budget friendly option, they have the whole market for themselves! Canyon used to be their rival but they have gone up in price!
Absolutely bang on with this. It’s a real shame so many bike manufacturers are just crazy money
Cool honest review 👌🏻 I'm a giant trinity & propel owner. But also a specialized fan boy tbh. But same I went with the Trinity and propel, vs. The venge and transition at the time... because of price; because the spec version of similar bikes were 2,500 to 3,000 $ more in price but the transition when observed had a faulty fork/headset design that rubbed itself to crumble on its proprietary edges when turning the fork all the way to left/right for car fitment. Which seemed like a design fail on specs part. So I got the Trinity and never looked back. Upgraded from a Kestrel Talon TT bike, been happy ever since. wba. I don't feel the NEED to upgrade it, since everything I ride it, people say "nice NEW bike". And they are surprised when I tell them it's like 5 or 6 years old, really. It is at the higher echelon of tt tech IMHO, so I'm staying w it for many a year. Done.
Hey, I have a full black DI2 Trinity (2016) - Generation 1 - I love this bike, only thing missing is disc brakes. While I agree with you about the bottle rubbing, I have had mine upgrade to Gen 2 bottle and bento box. She has been a machine and half for me. I have many 70.3 and 1 x full ironman + some OD, sprint's on this unit. Out of the box I change the saddle, bars and added an Ant+ Di2 Wireless Transmitter. I also have the SLR0 Wheels. As for price it was on par with Trek, and others at time of purchase. After 6 years she went in for a service and had a total rebuild from front to back. It's like new. Bikes and setups are like underware, you got find what works for you best.
Disc brakes are a scam. What is the point of disc with a 25mm tire? Rim is more aero to.
Thanks for the feedback. I am in the market right now. I like the Trinity, but am concerned the 2021 model looks essentially the same as your 2016. Hate to buy a new bike right before they redesign it. They must be planning to go disc. Definitely looking at Canyon, Argon 18 and Quintana Roo in a similar price point.
I have a q roo pr6 fantastic bike.
the water bottle slightly makes the bike tiny bit aero but the main advantage might be is the balance is moved forward that it slices through wind while maintaining speed
Do you remember our bikes side by side at the Cotswold Water Park in 2018?! Still got mine too (although new frame on order). You're right about the bento box. I've had a better experience using Loctite on the front fairing bolts and bottle, but it's still something you have to check regularly. One thing you don't mention, but is definitely another strength of the Trinity is just how adjustable it is. Tons of cockpit setup options, especially if you include the aftermarket items from D2Z, Wattshop, Kismet etc. There's a walkround of my bike on my "channel" (it's not really a channel).
hahah yes I remember that well! Be interested to hear what you think of the new one. Yeah bang on about the adjustability, there's a lot of 3rd party companies like revolver that make some great stuff for the Trinity too
That's a nice D2Z dinner plate matching with the frame!
2 years late, but you got it spot on. My front bottle works fine less having a very heavy forward CG
But those brakes gosh.
I nodded so many times while I was watching this video! I bought the TT version because I've got short legs. That extra hight at the front with the triathlon version won't let me have a low enough front height to accomodate aftermarket aerobars for my body. Also with the size small frame I read issues with the front hydration box rubbing the front wheel. I was going to do the BTA hydration anyway, so it was not a brainer to go for the TT version. One problem with the TT version is that the upper stem plate is quite thin and the hole for the main screw has very thin base, so you can ruin it quite easily. I bought a spare immidiately after I bought the frame.
About the brakes... As I bought the frame I wanted to experiment with the position, so I used cheap brake cables and the outers. I coudn't stop at all even though I was using wheels with aluminum rims. I swapped the cables with a Jagwire set and Campagnolo red brake pads for carbon wheels, then it was great. The rear brake is kinda useless with the trispoke, but if I use a Ron disc rear it stops very well. The front is perfect with the trispoke though.
I chose this bike because it's got rim brakes. Despite what many manufacturers say, rim brakes have lower drag in general. I do not have much problem stopping even with that aformentioned trispoke for the rear. I used it for 70.3 Greece with a bit of down hill. My body weight is fairly light at 70 kg. Just before a big corner, what I had to do was to held my elbows wide to get extra air resistance to slow down. I guess it won't work if someone is heavy though. Or if a dog or something just randomly come into the course...
Here is my setup. I've updated the BTA bottle holder mount though. Now it's a part of self designed 3D arm cups. Plus the Ron disc.
th-cam.com/video/ItwOnVxgE-c/w-d-xo.html
Since then I got a rear storage box, so I can store a spare tube, a CO2 pump and a hex key. Why a hex key? I have to put the saddle slammed to the front and I can't keep the nose high up if I hit a bump. I sorted out with some paste to hold it tighter, but still carry it as a caution for a long race. I still want to put the saddle further forward. I am considering about a Selle Italia SP-01 saddle now. I'm using a 'fake' ISM saddle to bring me forward at the moemnt (Don't worry I bought a real one too).
The next step is to make a completely new front setup. I am designing aerobars which is actually a mono bar. I really liked how I have the BTA bottle/Torpedo to fill the void between my arms and the chest. I am going to have that, but with a better position while keeping the Karoo 2 under my arms (I had to have it above my Torpedo and couldn't look at the power except for the climbs). My arms will be behind a 'hull' and my MET helmet will be a part of the flow. It's going to be a combination of a carbon pipe and Multijet Fusion 3D printed parts.
Now I have subscribed your channel. This video really nailed me to your channel! Well done!
Thanks so much for this comment Triathlon Sushi! Love the detail you went into. Sounds like you've had some difficulty but also sounds like you are pretty handy and are coming up with a quality bespoke bike for you. I'll check out your bike for sure, keep me up to date with you progress
Good honest review,
As a fellow owner…
I put some arm rest foam on the outfront bottle on the area that touches the frame,in your case the removed paint area,packs it nice and tight and snug,no rubbing on the frame,no rattling about,no bolts coming undone,
You did miss a biggie on the bottle tho…and that’s the shite ‘fill on the move’ opening,Im sick to death of all the fluid splashing out when on a ruff bit of road (which in the uk) is every fooking road,so have to use the closed rubber bung,
Brakes are shite…100%
I put better pads in,which did improve stopping power but not by much,
Other than that,given my ability it’s better than I will ever be or need,so I cant grumble with it,could I justify a 8k bike…nope.
As for storage I think you answered ya own question…the bikes 6 years old,and in the fast moving development of kit,it’s an antique,plenty of other brands have developed and changed and with that up goes the price,like ya say,Giant didn’t …and with that, the price is very competitive for a tri/tt bike.
Ace comment Mathew! Great idea with the padding!! Yeah I completely forgot to mention the filling off the bottle 🤦🏼♂️ it’s useless isn’t it. Yeah absolutely other modern bikes seem to really be developing but unfortunately giant seem to have stayed still, I think that’s the reason for the price
If anybody has a good solution to stop the fluid splashing out using the ‘on the move’ fill top
Pop ya solutions below 👍🏻
Exactly what I felt. I have the exact same model as you with the Same color but with a extra problem on the brake. Somehow my brake has lose all of its tension and I can't brake right at all and it cost a huge amount of money to change it cause from what I heard from the mechanic, giant is stopping the manufacturing of this batch of brake hence making it very hard to find. Not too sure the newer trinity is using a newer version but the 2016 or 2017 trinity brake are going to be very hard to get at least in my country
Giant, Bianchi, Scott (outside of Plasma 6) will soon be all disc. I had a Giant Trinity between 2012 to 2014 (great bike) that was the last time I had a TT bike before last season when I bought a Plasma 6. I'd been doing a lot of sprint/Olympic distance since then but now 70.3 plus.
Leave the BTA bottle on (it does significantly improve aerodynamics), but empty and with some helicopter tape to protect the frame. Can't tell, but with the upward sloping extensions, you may be able to run a BTA cage for a standard bottle.
Yeah don’t think I’ll go back to the front bottle. I’m trying to find a better way of attaching than zip ties haha
Great review, thanks for the insight Harry! Question or you, you mention that you use the xlab cage in between your arms ( I do too) but this year I ma going from 70.3 to the full distance. I was thinking of getting the xlab torpedo so that I can keep refilling the bottle during the 180k (grab a bottle at the aid station, fill it then pitch the bottle - keeping 2 extra bottles on my bike at all times in case I run out and there is no aid station near me). Thoughts on this?
I use an xlab Torpedo between my arms. I have 2 bottles behind the saddle, one with thick sugar concentration and one with water. Just before an aid station I add the concentration to my Torpedo, then fill it up with water from the aid stazion. The rest usually goes on my body to cool down. I also use the Giant aero-bottle for the concentration too. I took 110 g of carbs per hour during IM Frankfurt and still had some left, so it should be enough for the majority of people.
I think this is a great idea Jeremy. The torpedo has a straw as well so will make like a bit easier refuelling and staying in position
You're right Harry, Giant offer phenomenal value for money, although the new bikes are increasing in price. It's a lovely looking bike, I was looking for one before I found my Argon!
What do you think of the argon mate?
@@Harry-Palmer I love it, very comfortable following a bike fit, but the handling is great and the storage options they give are great, bit of a pain the arse to get spares for, but I have struck lucky on ebay when I have needed something. It's hugely adjustable though. The new ones are simply stunning.
@@GogglesTyresandTrainers Great to hear! Yeah I'm looking at getting one of the new ones as they just look amazing
@@Harry-Palmer Just remember, looks are not everything. It the nuts and bolts that count. I owned 2 Giant road bide but just switched to a Trek Madone Speed. Love it. Cross between a Tri bike and a road bike. Can't afford to have both types of bikes at once.
@@martyf.8088 sounds like an ace bike. I think those top end brands are just that bit more refined
My dad bought a 2019 model and he bought it without the front bottle and bought it after and didn’t get any problems
You hit the nail on the head.
on mine the bottle started leaking too bad so i just chucked it and got an aftermarket one. Then breaks are dull and mushy especially if you're on carbon wheels. an other issue with the bento box is that if you're on mechanical, you need perfect cable length or else they're gonna put pressure and make is not close completely.
but otherwise? its a freaking missile. like seriously, all the negatives dont make a difference enough to not get this bike and since nothing major changed in a couple years, you can get a 2017-2018 for cheap then put money on upgrades.
8/10
Awesome comment Joe! Bang on 👊🏻
Just bought an old trinity frame, bars & crank for 825. Transfered my old zipps, old 7800 crankset and had a bike fit. Dropped my pb on local 10 from 22.15 to 20.45. Absolute rocket compared to my old felt DA. Cost me about 1250 in total. Bargain. Agree with all you’ve said really but I just can’t justify the cost of other newer TT bike (new or second hand) market has gone bonkers. This is a great upgrade for someone not wanting to Spend the earth.
@@GingerBoy1974 Awesome to hear mate! Yeah absolutely, the prices of newer bikes now is eye watering. Theres a reason they haven't changed the design- It's rapid
Hey Harry, been following you for a while now, love your videos always good fun! I also ride the Trinity but find it a little iffy when descending, hands are slipping easily, noticed you have some other tape on the horns, is is stake board tape? how do you find it?
Ahhh yeah I use skate board grip tape. It’s not very comfortable to start but once it is used a bit it’s actually really good
Thanks @@Harry-Palmer I'm gonna give it a shot!
They haven’t changed the trinity at all since in think 2014/15 when the design shown in the video was released. The brakes are not the best but with some skill they can be setup to work and feel really well. As a mechanic I hate working on them, they are a pain to get right and it takes forever.
We have had good luck at my shop with threadlock on the bolts on the front but we do that straight from the beginning so there is no extra gap from any wear caused by vibrating loose over time. And to be clear, every Trinity that comes with the fairing (if you can call it that singes it’s structural) has that problem with the bolts. The lower end version doesn’t have the fairing and matching bottle
I’m not sure if they still sell them but Felt used to be really good at having a lower price point IA and then their B series. Both are as easy to work on as a standard road bike and are just really well thought out from a mechanics perspective.
Giant makes awesome products at unbelievable price points but they also always seem to rush ideas out the door before they have actually been tested enough to find the kind of issues that crop of every day like bolts vibrating loose.
Yep my front water bottle was scat across the road at Stafford half, bolts tightened up that day as was aware of the problems,No way I was stopping for it tho lol .What you haven’t mentioned is the hassle to travel with it ie bike bag/box as it doesn’t come apart straight fwd. and the constant noises it makes round the cockpit even without the water bottle attached. Fast in a straight line that’s about it.I would not buy again 🤪
Ahhh I had the same Peter! So annoying. Yeah thanks a very good point and something I’ve come to get very annoyed with over the last few years
iv owned two trinitys, and then had a cervelo p5, and a cannodale slice , all have had their teething troubles, the cervelo more so.
Hi Harry, loving your work. Have you seen Ruth Astle's latest video talking about how much she has earned this year? It's a really great insight into what it means to be a pro-triathlete and how hard it is. I think for someone like yourself who is just starting out it would be fascinating to see a similar type video and try to understand some of the challenges you have at the outset of a triathlon career.
Thanks for this! Yeah absolutely I’m more than happy to make a video like this 👍🏻
@@Harry-Palmer 3k on bike maintenance, ouch
@@gourami7 😂
Question, why would you do a review on your bike, what is your agenda for doing so. Curious to know. Love all your vids, wish you a great 2022
Fellow trinity owner. All of what you said is correct. BTW the 2016 model you have is identical to my 2018 model and the same with the 2021 model. they havent changed anything but the paint job in a LONG time. so these issues have been going for a number of years now.
The problem with the front bolts is unacceptable to me, could easily cause a massive crash. I changed mine to different bolts and havent had an issue since but everyone i know who used the stock bolts had their rattle loose aswell
Thanks for this comment. Yeah I think it’s crazy that you can buy a bike that falls to pieces. They must know about this issue too
What new bolts did you buy? Link if poss?
@@GingerBoy1974 the stock bolts are plastic with recessed heads. I used flat head metal hex bolts. They pop out a little on the side. Worth the potential "aero" cost for the knowledge i wont die because my front hesd falls off
@@jamesd5241 bought mine second hand and bolts are metal. He must have replaced them I guess. Re aero, can always tape over the sticky out bits.
@@GingerBoy1974 do yours rattle loose? if not then dont worry about it
Could you do a video on your aero bar upgrade?
I found a guy selling a slightly used Giant Trinity Advanced SL2 (think the model is from 2011? Not sure.) The bike itself looks like its in pretty good shape, and I can get it for a rather good price. At least something I could be willing to pay for. But is it worth? To buy my 1st tri-bike that is very old and slightly used?
I think Cervelo did it completely right when they used Magura hydraulic brakes on the P5 Six.
Stainless steel bolts have fixed mine and a number of others Trinity's on the front end
I have a Giant Propel Advanced with the V-brakes. When I first got it, I thought the brakes were a death trap. I then realized the pads that came stock with it are GARBAGE. I switched out the pads with a couple of Campagnolo pads that I had on a fresh set of brakes I wasn't using (seeing as this frame had V-brakes), and I instantly got good, safe, normal, rim braking. And I'm a heavier rider at 200lbs, so maybe I should look into discs, but here I am bombing Angeles Crest Highway descents with confidence. The real pain is always having to balance the brakes every 2-3 rides, but it's good practice to check any braking system regularly.
My Canyon speedmax front hydration system is crap too, it leaks all over the front wheel and brake causing brake judder and terrible screeching...
Oh no I thought the canyon one would be a lot better 🤦🏼♂️
@@Harry-Palmer horrendous
3:34 Aha, look in the background. Giant sent secret agents to checkout the criticism
I got a giant trinity and I love it. But the breaks suck and the bento box needs to be bigger.
You could try red loctite (made for permanent locking)
I’ll give that a go 👍🏻
I have a blue white and black one from 2012
Trinity owner here! In fact you helped me out with my bottle issues when I got the bike last year!… so cheers mate.
After having it for a year now I can offer some feedback. The bottle is absolute toss. It leaks and I have to duct tape it on each ride as it falls off! Refilling on the go just is unachievable as it just spills out when you use the refillable bit. I have to use the blanking plate and not bother. I’ll be using a BTA but it’s rather tight between the poles and I’ve got no room to eject the bottle so I’m going to try a side mounted bottle cage and see how that goes.
Those bolts at the front are a joke. They used to come loose and when I tightened them they caused it to creak like crazy, literally unrideable creaking. Thankfully I bought a stick of locktite from Halfords and it’s worked a treat and they’ve not come loose at all!
The horizontal drop outs for me were a nightmare and I’ve only worked out how to take the rear wheel off without losing my mind. I think this was more of a problem with me rather than the bike 😂
The brakes are turd 100%. Going from riding my disc brake propel to a rim brake trinity was eye opening! I’m surprised I’m still alive to be honest!
Great vid mate
haha love this comment mate, very honest stuff and i agrre with everything you've said. It's really frustrating having a bike and probably giant knowing of these issues and doing nothing about it
I own both a Giant Trinity Pro and a Felt IA. Both are set up alike with top shelf components and I will take the Giant hands down. Better ride comfort, better handling and I believe faster on a long course.
Any ideas on hybrid bikes
I've the 2021 model and it has the same issues, which is frustrating that they're just updating paint and components!
Why did you buy it?
Ahhh sorry Philip that’s really annoying to have the same issues
Fellow Trinity owner. Mines a 2016 too and agree the rear brake particularly is useless and a complete t*at to adjust :D
Ahhh yeah it’s a bit of a ball ache 🤦🏼♂️
Surprised you did not mention the geometry of the trinity which is quite tricky
Yeah I guess it is very personal isn’t it. I actually find it pretty good but I can see how others don’t
Hi, I own a Giant Trinity 2019 and I have to agree about the front bottle. It’s absolute trash. Living in Canada, we have (a lot) of bumpy roads and my bottle (full of water) fall few times wile riding 35kph+. Almost make me fall. Since then, I change it for a profile design one and it’s been great. Appart from that, I love the bike!
Chainring size?
55t
I’ve got a 2019 model and totally agree with all of that. Front bottle is useless, storage is tiny and getting the rear wheel off with the brake housing is bit of a pain. Also if you upgrade to slightly wider wheels the rear brake housing can be a pain to fit, dunno if you’ve had that issue? But to be honest like you said, for the price it’s a cracking bike and I’ve been happy to put up with those issues or upgrade those parts 🤷🏻♂️
Sounds like someone wants a new bike 😆
Hahahaha 😂😂
It won’t be a freebie from Giant !
I bought a 2021 Pinarello Bolide and I wish I loved it, but it’s piss poor quality from Taiwan. Some of the engineering behind it is questionable. I’d go with a Cervelo P5 next.
No way? Dammm I would have thought it would be dreamy. What’s wrong with it?
@@Harry-Palmer Pinarello uses 19mm aero bars and not the standard 22.2mm. No angle aero bar adjustment. I went with Wattshop to workaround all that. Loose sharp carbon fiber strands on the inside of the frame that will gut you. If you pick up the bike and you don’t hold the bars you could accidentally crush the fork/neck to the frame which cracks the carbon. The stand over height is pretty tall. I know Cervelo has is a pretty low height. Might help for transitions. Bento box is like yours…holds maybe 3 PH gels. Love your channel. Good luck this year from Arizona.
@@bakerdj80 dammm you would have thought a premium brand like that would be really refined. Sorry to hear you are having issues. Thanks for the support!!!
Hard stop. Even if they're not supported by the Brand I find most you tubers are scared shitless to say anything truly bad for fear that if "one day" they become popular a brand may avoid them.
lmao I just bought this bike, I sure hope this review is kind
Also where do you store your spare, and CO2?
@@fluidathletics on a seat bracket 👍🏻
I tucked mine up under the seat in a *small drawstring bag,held in place with Velcro straps 👍🏻
You didn’t explain why you are in the woods though 🤣
Hahaha mysterious 😂
I was wondering about that too TILL THE END! 😂
Just got a new trinity, not been out on it yet, paid 2k couldn't justify 5k on anything else at my standard 😁
Yeah you can’t really argue with the price. Happy riding 👍🏻
Pedals are removed :D
Good eyes !
So ur new bike is better then . . . .
I hope so 😂😂
Very dubious about the reviews I see on anything tbf
The brakes are horrendous yes
It looks like it belongs in a spinning class rather than in the outdoors, but cool nonetheless.
Using the word quality is wrong. Giant has better quality bikes. Better QC, better finish, just overall better workmanship. Just look at Luscher Teknik's videos. But in terms of "technologies" and design, giant is a bit more conservative and other brands just have cooler and some better ideas regarding integration.
Id only trust giant, time, and new 3t bikes with my life. If their bikes failed, its on me.
To be honest none of these integrated water storage systems work properly.
maybe the problem is not the bike.. but you ! think about😀you're not a Pro of Nothing Gustav Iden win Ironman 2022 with this bike 🤣
How much do you recon Giant pay him to ride the bike? I'm sure that will have something to do with it. Not a slow bike by any means, but definitely not the best quality at all
bike ? , woods ?, get a noose and you're almost Graham oBree
Why did you ruin a perfectly good spiel by saying that “incase if they want to sponsor me” bla bla bla. Good job!
hahahaha
I just think its ugly, is that a fault
Hahahah it is if you’ve got one 😂
This review could have taken 3 minutes if you didn't repeat everything 5 times.
Someone’s not a very happy bunny today. Who crapped in your cornflakes?
What is s***t is the clickbait technique
Welcome to TH-cam
I do believe what my fellow human is struggling to communicate is “what is s***t? Is it a clickbait technique” and to which I answer it must unequivocally be shirt. See the 5 syllables? Means it can’t be sh*t. So it must be another word. Now we can narrow down to triathlon related words because why would Harry use words not related to his content? Feels misleading. And so through a vigorous process of getting drunk and watching Jeopardy I land on Shirt. And for if it’s a click bait technique? Well the definition of clickbait is “(noun) content whose main purpose is to attract attention and encourage visitors to click on a link to a particular web page.” so yes, using obscured words in order to mislead or intrigue you WAS Harry’s marketing technique, and a good one at that because here you are watching the video. You’ve been baited 🤝