Giant has done a fine job of harnessing the power of the discs, and there was no shudder when braking

A big part of the charm of the bike (I’m reluctant to say) was the astounding performance of the disc brakes. On a Saturday morning ride in the dry, I can’t say I noticed much difference in the performance of the brakes over a well-maintained set of callipers on decent carbon rims. But in the wet or on rough muddy tracks or gravel, the discs really did change the game. Giant has clearly done a fine job of harnessing the power of the discs, and there was no shudder or harshness when braking, as I’ve seen on other bikes. The level of control and modulation meant I could roll down 20% muddy inclines without fear of losing control or locking a wheel.

Taking a back seat

The disc brakes do come with some disadvantages, though. At times, despite generally feeling smooth, the brakes can be too powerful, and there is a risk of skidding when panic braking in situations – such as a car pulling out. I also felt that when feathering the brakes in sharp turns, the power of the rear disc brake seemed to pull the wheel out from under me. Then there’s the weight