"The Trance and Reign have had significant development too. The "shock basket" is gone in favour of a full-length down tube with a big hole in it and a kind of cantilevered bracket to mount the shock to. This means that the shock shaft sticks out of the bottom of the bike in a rather exposed manner, but the bikes come with a neat little carbon guard to ward off any errant trail debris."


I don't think I'd be too keen on my shock poking through the bottom of the downtube in front of the chainset, carbon 'debris guard' or not. Surely that's a vulnerable area for a shock to be mounted to

but those baskets didn't look too fantastic either, which would you prefer?

Well the basket may have been a potential mud trap, but at least it looked like it kept the shock out of harms way

here

imo, i think it'dd be ok, although not quite the same as having it in the middle

but, if the maestro platfrom is good, i don't think it would matter where they put it, as long as it rides well, who cares?

Did you notice that Thomson stem Mike, I hope it's on your christmas list of unbreakable parts.

Lots of bikes on cross wheels I see, but Mike spotted the best of them - the cross bike. No 20" or 24" wheels though, don't they make bikes for us short arses in the U.S.? Surely Felt had something 20".

mmm, thomson stuff....

i bet i'd end up rounding a bolt if i got one....

..... I'll have to see one first hand but by the looks of that, it's put me right off getting the Trance I wanted. :( Well vulnerable by the looks of that picture - for the way I ride anyway.

If something is sticking out it is odds on to get damaged when i am riding.

I rated the new Giant bikes but that strikes me as an afterthought which may cause more problems than the intitial issue.

Pitty.

It looks like Giant may finally produce a bike that I like! Giant Anthem. Short travel lightweight, rather than all the long travel stuff that people 'think' they need these days.

I've never lusted after a Giant

i have....blimmin marvolous my Giant is.

If it's value for money then Giant have got to be one of the best

aye - but my custom built giant wasnt very good value for money :/

But what do you expect building a frame from scratch.

That pro pedal lever looks real easy to get to in a hurry

Yeah, I think that Anthem is quite nice too Mike.

Has anyone ever hit their down tube in the area where the shock is on those Giants?

Ever seen a frame damaaged by a hit there?

Nope?

I reckon that looks pretty nice. And no, Giant's may not be lust items, but they sure as hell do ride well, and that's what really matters.

Yep on the non-driveside though, that's why I mentioned it

Seems to be relying on the chainset to protect the shock

OK, good point, but still can't remember seeing a bike damaged in that area.

like i said i lust after a Giant. Not the stock ones that are sold, but i have lusted after building my Giant NRS for ages now.

"OK, good point, but still can't remember seeing a bike damaged in that area."

*whistles and walks out*