In this article, I’ll guide you through a comparison between the Giant Propel Advanced and Cervelo S5; both popular road bikes among cyclists.
I’ll walk through the Giant Propel Advanced and Cervelo S5 models lineup, their specifications, and retail pricing (USD). I’ll explain the carbon fiber technology used (Giant Advanced Composite vs ), and unique frameset features for each bike.
The goal is to help you get a better understanding before you make your final purchasing decision.
| Giant Propel Advanced | Cervelo S5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of bike | Aero | Aero |
| Frame material | Advanced-SL carbon Advanced carbon | Cervelo carbon |
| Frame sizes | XS, S, M, ML, L, XL | 48, 51, 54, 56, 58 |
| Groupset | Shimano, SRAM (12-speed) | Shimano, SRAM (12-speed) |
| Brakes | Hydraulic disc | Hydraulic disc |
| Cabling | Internal | Internal |
| Price (USD) | $6,000 to $12,500 | 48, 51, 54, 56, 58 |
Giant Propel Advanced
The Giant Propel Advanced is an aero road bike designed for speed.
At first glance, it’s evident that this bike is fast and stiff with its slim frontal end and deep-dish wheels. All Giant Propel models are disc-only and have hidden cables for a clean aero profile.
The Giant Propel Advanced SL is the lightest among them, with an integrated seat post, and uses Giant’s highest-grade carbon fiber, the Advanced SL. The Advanced is one step down and heavier due to the different carbon fiber used and non-integrated seat posts.
| Model | Frame material | Groupset | Wheelset | Retail price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giant Propel Advanced SL | Advanced SL carbon | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (R9200) | CADEX 50 | $12,500 |
| Giant Propel Advanced Pro 0 | Advanced carbon | Shimano Ultegra Di2 (R8100) | Giant SLR 1 50 | $8,000 |
| Giant Propel Advanced Pro 0 AXS | Advanced carbon | SRAM Force eTap AXS | Giant SLR 1 50 | $8,000 |
| Giant Propel Advanced 1 | Advanced carbon | SRAM Rival eTap AXS | Giant SLR 2 50 | $6,000 |
Giant Propel Advanced vs others
Cervelo S5
The Cervélo S5 is all about aerodynamic performance and maximizing speed.
This can be seen throughout the frame’s design. Most road cyclists would concur that the Cervélo S5 is among their top choice for an aero road bike. They come with 25mm tires, but the frame allows up to 30mm.
The Cervélo S5 has a very aggressive frame geometry, placing the rider much lower on the bike and reducing their frontal area. A size 54 Cervélo S5 has a 13mm lower stack and 6mm longer reach than a size 54 S-Series (discontinued in 2022). The Cervélo S5 has an extended seat tube cutout; a close-fitting curve in the seat tube fully shields the rear wheel’s leading edge.
The Cervélo S5 is available in a complete bike setup or frameset only.
| Model | Frame material | Groupset | Wheelset | Retail price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cervelo S5 | Carbon | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (R9200) | Reserve 52/63 | $13,000 |
| Cervelo S5 | Carbon | SRAM Red eTap AXS | Reserve 52/63 | $13,000 |
| Cervelo S5 | Carbon | Shimano Ultegra Di2 (R8100) | Reserve 52/63 | $9,000 |
| Cervelo S5 | Carbon | SRAM Force eTap AXS | Reserve 52/63 | $9,000 |
Giant vs Cervelo carbon fiber
Giant Advanced Composite Carbon
Giant’s Advanced Composite Carbon is a proprietary carbon fiber technology used in constructing bicycle frames. It’s a high-quality composite material with carbon fibers embedded in a resin matrix.
Using Advanced Composite Carbon, Giant can design frames with specific performance characteristics tailored to different riding disciplines. The material offers excellent vibration-damping properties, enhancing comfort and reducing fatigue on long rides. It also provides efficient power transfer, enabling riders to maximize their pedaling efficiency and accelerate easily.
The Giant Advanced Composite Carbon is available in standard and SL (Super Light) versions.
- Advanced SL represents the pinnacle of Giant’s carbon fiber engineering and construction. Advanced SL frames undergo additional optimization, utilizing a higher grade of carbon fiber and meticulous layup techniques. It’s found in Giant’s top-of-the-line bikes.
- Advanced is a step down from the top-tier Advanced SL carbon fiber, but it still offers an impressive balance of performance and value for money.
Cervelo Carbon
Cervelo doesn’t publicly release information about the types of carbon fiber used on their road bikes.
From my observation of the current Cervelo bikes lineups, there are at least two carbon fiber grades used.
- Highest grade. Cervelo R5 and S5 could be using the highest carbon fiber grade of all the models. These are pure race bikes used by the pros and would likely have the best carbon fiber available at Cervelo.
- Mid-grade. Cervelo Caledonia and Soloist could be using a mid-level carbon and heavier fiber grade of all the models. These are endurance bikes that prioritize comfort over stiffness. So it’s not a surprise to see a lower-grade carbon fiber being used here.
Frameset technologies and innovations
Giant Propel Advanced and Cervelo S5 framesets incorporate advanced technologies to enhance their bikes’ performance and ride characteristics.
Here’s an overview of the technologies used in each bike model.
Giant Propel Advanced
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Advanced Composite Technology | Utilizes Giant’s High Performance Grade raw carbon material and Modified Monocoque Construction technique to create a custom frame material. This carbon composite offers a high stiffness-to-weight ratio, balancing lightweight performance and strength. |
| OverDrive Aero | Incorporates a D-shaped fork steerer tube and internal cable routing for an extremely aerodynamic system. The design reduces air drag and provides an efficient, sleek profile. The internal cable routing enhances the bike’s overall aesthetics and ease of maintenance. |
| Vector Integrated Seatpost | Features an integrated seatpost design that saves weight compared to standard composite posts. This aerodynamic seatpost adds compliance, improving rider comfort and reducing road vibrations for a smoother ride. |
| PowerCore | Incorporates a massively oversized bottom bracket/chainstay area with a fully integrated 86mm wide bottom bracket design (92mm wide for off-road bikes). The asymmetrical chainstays provide additional stiffness on the drive side and stability on the non-drive side, ensuring efficient power transfer and precise handling. |
| AeroSystem Shaping Technology | Utilizes Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and wind-tunnel data to optimize each tube shape for superior aerodynamic performance. The precise shaping reduces air drag and increases the bike’s efficiency, allowing riders to achieve higher speeds with less effort. |
Cervélo S5
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| V-stem | The V-stem was launched in 2018 with the previous generation S5. It was controversial at that time as there was nothing like that on the market before. Cervélo wanted to route the shifting cables and brake hoses internally, but the bend between the handlebar and stem could have a negative effect on mechanical shifting performance. Hence, the Cervélo engineers designed a V-shaped stem to minimize the bend. Today, the Cervélo S5 is available only in electronic shifting builds, but the V-stem design remains. It’s now part of the S5’s identity. |
| HB14 carbon handlebar | The HB14 carbon handlebars are designed specifically for the S5’s V-stem. It’s available in 380, 400, 420 and 440mm. |
| 34mm tire clearance | The tire clearance for the S5 is a massive 34mm, which is very wide for an aero bike. |
Where to buy
Giant retailers
- Giant retailers. Use this tool to find your nearest Giant retailers.
Cervelo retailers
- Cervelo retailers. Use this tool to find your nearest Cervelo retailers.
Bernard Lu has 7+ years of experience working in a bicycle shop, overseeing the retail and workshop operations. He’s a qualified bicycle mechanic who understands a cyclist’s needs and speaks the same cycling lingo.
If you meet him at the cafe, he will happily talk to you for hours about all the intricacies of bikes and cycling tech. Just buy him a coffee next time you see him.