OK, most of you are probably sick of hearing about my bike commuting and my efforts to conquer the “mountain stage” of my evening ride. But, there are probably one or two of you who are anxious to hear that I did, indeed, purchase the Giant FCR-3 and that I’m loving it. Plus, there have been a couple visitors driven to this site after searching for “giant fcr-3 reviews,” so for their sake, too, here’s my tale.
I was completely amazed at the difference in riding up the hill. During my test ride, it was virtually effortless. Shedding that 12 pounds from the bike’s weight really makes a difference. At the end of a long day, however, the ride home is still not completely without some huffing and puffing, but it’s not leaving me near death anymore.
The compact frame is taking some getting used to — my foot hits the front wheel if I turn while the pedal is in the wrong position — and I opted for some toe clips on the pedals, which, likewise, are causing me some grief (though once my feet are firmly planted, the clips improve the experience immensely). I also haven’t gotten completely used to the gear-shifting, but I’m getting the hang of it.
The seat is narrower and more supportive than on my other bike. It also has a nice little groove down the middle, which I affectionately call the “Prostate Protector.” The seat material is slightly tacky (meaning “sticky,” not “unfashionable”), which helps keep my butt from sliding off (a problem on my old seat).
The other night, I even rode to the store after Ray’s bedtime — something I’d never done because of the hills between here and there. On my new ride, they were nothing! I am now all motivated to bike everywhere!
