Picked up the TCR2 Composite on Saturday and because of rain didn't ride it till yesterday. Just did 15 miles of flats, one .8 mile hill - figured I wanted to take time with the "introduction." Anyway, did 24 hilly miles tonight. When I was coming down one of the hills, I was passed by a UPS delivery truck. I was doing, I'm guessing 35mph. MAN! that bike developed some serious wobbles. Yes, I know, before you write it I should do a search on wobbly bikes. If I didn't know how thorough my bike mechanic is I'd swear the bike was set up incorrectly. Now I haven't ridden a true road bike for many a year and have never ridden a composite but I must say that I'm not sure I'll ever get comfortable with the degree to which that bike seems to be affected by crosswinds or swirling turbulent wind. Called my mechanic and he said that indeed, sometimes it seems like composites are almost too light. Well, let me tell you I appreciated that frame on the way up the hills so I guess I'll learn to cope going down the hills.

.... regarding wobble. Wobble shouldn't be attributed to lightness nor is it limited to composite bikes. I think there are many people who have moved to "race worthy" bikes with a steep head tube angle, lightweight fork, short chainstays (relatively speaking). With a quick handling bike you need to be on top of the situation at all times.

Enjoy the TCR.

Yes, I agree that it's not limited to composite bikes. I've had aluminum bikes wobble with a fair amount of intensity. It's just that it seems to be happening at surprisingly low speed. When I said I was going 35mph that was a guess. Could've been 30 but not slower than that. And it felt like it was coming not so much through the handlebars but through the center of the bike. I'll have to re-create the scenario, but as I recall I felt it at least as much through the seat post as through the handlebars.

As far as being on top of the bike, you're correct there as well. That's something I've come to realize even riding flat land. If I let that bike get ahead of me, especially in a wobble, I'm going to be in trouble.

Thanks for your input.

What size is your TCR?

I'm running a 2003 TCR2 that's carbon fork/post/stem/seatframe but
everything else is aluminum - I've had it verging on 50 mph and it's
solid but mine is a small.

The front fork on the 2003s were inch wide blades so crosswinds
sometimes will "catch" me and I'll have to lean to compensate.

But mostly it does what I tell it. I've wanted to try a tcr carbon.
Otherwise how do you like it?

Medium. I envy you.

The forks on this bike are wide (11/2") and the spokes are elliptically shaped so they can add to the problem as well.

I only have 40 miles on the bike but so far I have no major gripes. Sure I mentioned this wobble thing but there's always some amount of getting used to new equipment.

Medium. I envy you.

The forks on this bike are wide (11/2") and the spokes are elliptically shaped so they can add to the problem as well.

I only have 40 miles on the bike but so far I have no major gripes. Sure I mentioned this wobble thing but there's always some amount of getting used to new equipment.

I've been riding a size medium Giant TCR (either AL or carbon) since 2000, and I've never had speed wobble problems with those bikes. I don't know where people get this from actually. On the larger frames, I've actually seen it, but not on the mediums.

My TCR composite is 2 years old (got mine the 1st year they came out).

Only time I notice any type of instability is when I am passed by some sort of large vehicle (truck). I bet that is what you felt. It wasn't wobble from the descent it was the crosswind from the UPS truck.