Techs & Features

ALUXX Aluminium Technology

D-Fuse Technology

OverDrive

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The Contend AR 2 S Thundercloud is available at the following locations.
The item will be transferred to the location you choose during checkout.
If the item is not currently available to view at your desired location, please call your nearest store to arrange for it to be transferred.
Break out of the box and expand your road riding adventures. From smooth pavement to bumpy backroads, this ultra-capable road bike has built-in compliance and high-volume tires, so you can ride any road with confidence and control.
An ALUXX-grade aluminium frame with endurance road geometry, paired with an Advanced-grade composite fork and full-composite OverDrive steerer.
The relaxed, upright position keeps your back and neck happy deep into a sportive, yet the handling stays sharp and confident when the road starts to twist. It's a dependable all-rounder for everything from commutes to Sunday loops.
Shimano Tiagra 2x10 gearing with a 34/50T compact chainset and a 10-speed Shimano HG500 cassette that tops out at a 34T sprocket.
The small 34T chainring paired with the biggest 34T sprocket gives you an easy bailout gear for steep lanes and gravel climbs, so you can keep turning the pedals at the end of a long day.
Shimano Tiagra hydraulic disc brakes with 160 mm Giant MPH rotors front and rear.
Light lever pressure gives strong, consistent stopping in the wet and on long descents, which makes dark winter commutes and gritty back lanes far less of a worry.
Giant S-R2 Disc tubeless-ready alloy wheels with Sapim spokes, fitted with 32 mm Giant Gavia Fondo 2 tubeless tyres.
Wide tyres let you drop the pressure for a smoother, grippier ride on broken tarmac and towpaths, and setting them up tubeless cuts the risk of a puncture stranding you on a winter commute.
Frame and fork clearance for tyres up to 38 mm wide, plus mudguard mounts.
Fit mudguards and it becomes a dependable winter and commuting bike, or swap to tyres up to 38 mm wide when your rides take in more gravel tracks and rough lanes.
A Giant D-Fuse composite seatpost under a Giant Approach saddle, plus Velo cork bar tape with gel; pedals are not included.
The D-shaped post flexes a little over broken tarmac and the cushioned cork tape takes the buzz out of your hands, so long sportives and rough back lanes leave you feeling fresher.
How this bike compares with the other 2026 Giant Contend AR models we sell, from entry level up. Only what differs is shown, and Upgrades says what each bike adds over the one before it.
| Model | Contend AR 3 | This bikeContend AR 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Upgrades | A higher-grade gear and brake set and tubeless-ready wheels. | |
| Drivetrain | Shimano CUES 10-speed (2x, 34/50T chainrings, 11-36T cassette) | Shimano Tiagra (2x10, 34/50T chainset, 10-34T cassette) |
| Brakes | Tektro MD-C550, Giant MPH rotors [F]160mm, [R]160mm | Shimano Tiagra hydraulic discs, Giant MPH rotors [F]160mm, [R]160mm |
| Tyres | CST Sprint, 33 mm | Giant Gavia Fondo 2, 32 mm |
Frame and wheels are the same on all of them.




Please note: Manufacturers can sometimes change the specification of the products from time to time.

| Measurement | S | M | ML | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Seat Tube Length (mm) | 465 | 500 | 535 | 555 | 585 |
| B Seat Tube Angle | 74.0° | 73.5° | 73.0° | 73.0° | 73.0° |
| C Top Tube Length (mm) | 535 | 550 | 565 | 580 | 595 |
| D Head Tube Length (mm) | 135 | 150 | 170 | 190 | 215 |
| E Head Tube Angle | 71.8° | 72.0° | 72.5° | 72.5° | 72.5° |
| F Fork Rake (mm) | 53 | 53 | 53 | 53 | 53 |
| G Trail (mm) | 61.3 | 59.6 | 56.4 | 56.4 | 56.4 |
| H Wheelbase (mm) | 1003 | 1011 | 1015 | 1031 | 1046 |
| I Chain Stay Length (mm) | 422 | 422 | 422 | 422 | 422 |
| J Bottom Bracket Drop (mm) | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 |
| K Stack (mm) | 559 | 574 | 595 | 614 | 638 |
| L Reach (mm) | 375 | 380 | 383 | 392 | 400 |
| M Stand Over Height (mm) | 759 | 783 | 810 | 829 | 856 |
| N Handlebar Width (mm) | 400 | 420 | 420 | 440 | 440 |
| O Stem Length (mm) | 90 | 100 | 100 | 110 | 110 |
| P Crank Length (mm) | 165 | 170 | 170 | 172.5 | 172.5 |
Sportives and long weekend rides are exactly what it's built for. It's an endurance road bike rather than a race bike, so you sit in a more upright, relaxed position that's easy to hold for hours. A seatpost designed to flex takes the sting out of rough roads, 32 mm tyres add cushioning and the handling stays balanced and confident through bends.
It'll make them far easier, thanks to a low bailout gear. A 1:1 bottom gear turns the back wheel once for every turn of the pedals, so you can stay seated and keep spinning up steep lanes instead of grinding. At the other end, a tall top gear gives you plenty to push on descents and fast, flat roads.
If you ride often or through the winter, the AR 2 is worth the step up. Both bikes share the same aluminium frame and wheels, so the position and handling feel the same. The AR 2 moves up to Shimano Tiagra gears and Tiagra hydraulic disc brakes, which stop strongly with a light pull of the lever, and its gearing adds a taller top gear for fast descents.
Go by your height: S 165, 175 cm (5 ft 5 in, 5 ft 9 in), M 171, 181 cm (5 ft 7 in, 5 ft 11 in), ML 177, 187 cm (5 ft 10 in, 6 ft 2 in), L 183, 193 cm (6 ft 0 in, 6 ft 4 in) and XL 189, 199 cm (6 ft 2 in, 6 ft 6 in). If you're between two, we'll fit a different stem you buy with it for free.
There's room for tyres up to 38 mm, so you can go well beyond the 32 mm tyres it comes on. Going wider lets you run lower pressures, which smooths out broken lanes and adds grip on wet winter roads and loose paths, letting you set the bike up for the riding you do most.
Mixed rides that link towpaths, bridleways and forest tracks are well within its reach. The roomy tyres, low gearing and disc brakes keep it sure-footed when the surface turns loose. It's a road bike at heart, though, so if you're planning whole days on rough, technical trails, a dedicated gravel bike will suit you better.
For the cycle to work or winter miles, it's ready to go. Mudguard mounts are built in, so you can fit guards that keep road spray off you, the bike and anyone riding behind. Hydraulic disc brakes keep stopping strong and consistent in the rain, and the wide tyres give extra grip on greasy roads.
It is, and making the switch is well worth it. The wheels and tyres are both tubeless ready, so you can ride without inner tubes, using sealant instead. That allows lower pressures for a smoother ride, and the sealant plugs most small thorn and flint holes as you ride, a real help on hedge-trimmed lanes. Top the sealant up every few months, as it slowly dries out.
Bought new and built by an authorised Giant dealer, the frame is covered for life for you as the original owner and the composite fork for 10 years. Giant's own parts, saddle and seatpost get 2 years and paint 1 year, while Shimano covers its own parts. Register within 90 days and a second owner gets 2 years on the frame. Wear and tear and crash damage aren't covered.
If you're commuting on it daily, bring it to your nearest Bicycle Chain store for its free first check within 3 weeks; otherwise within 6 weeks at the latest, and sooner if anything feels wrong. After that, we recommend a service every 6 months if you ride regularly or every 12 months for occasional use, which keeps the gears and hydraulic brakes running smoothly and helps its resale value.
We price match all products on a like for like basis.
To qualify the item must be available in stock with a UK supplier and any additional costs taken into consideration.
i.e delivery charges, buyers premium, assembly charges.
Call us on 01823 252499 before you make your purchase to enquire about price matching a product.
With all bike sales you will receive an informational bike pack that contains a 15% Off accessories voucher inside.
This voucher is redeemable at your nearest Bicycle Chain Store.
We currently have stores in Yeovil, Taunton, Bridgwater, Weston-Super-Mare and Hereford.
This is part of our 'Support Local Business' initiative, where we want to see local riders supported by their local bike shops.
We hope to see you in store soon.
When you buy a bike from us in the store or come to collect your Click & Collect order we will adjust your new bike to fit you.
This includes adjusting saddle height, saddle position and where possible adjusting the brake levers / gear shifters.
We will also adjust any accessories you have purchased with your bike where applicable.
When you buy a bike from us you will get a free service at your nearest Bicycle Chain store within 6 weeks of taking delivery of your bike.
The free service is put in place to make sure the bike you have purchased is running correctly and to adjust out any cable stretch that happens to any new bike.
The type of bike you have bought and the type of riding you have planned will affect how soon you need to book your free service.
However if you experience any issues at any time you should stop riding your bike and book your bike in for its free service immediately.
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with a £ 0.00 deposit.
The total charge for credit is £ 0.00.
Please note the above quotation is an indicative cost and actual monthly payments may vary by +/- 2p per month.
Credit subject to status and affordability. Terms & Conditions Apply. The Bicycle Chain is a credit broker and is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Credit is provided by Novuna Personal Finance, a trading style of Mitsubishi HC Capital UK PLC, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Financial Services Register no. 704348. The register can be accessed through http://www.fca.org.uk.
24 Month Representative Example:
Purchase Price (incl. VAT) £750
Deposit £75
Loan Amount £675
Interest/Total Charge for Credit £109.32
Total Amount Repayable £859.32
Balance Payable £784.32
By 24 Monthly Repayments of £32.68
15.9% APR Representative
Bank rate of interest 8.1% PA fixed
Please note the above quotation is an indicative cost and actual monthly payments may vary.
For Buy Now Pay Later and Deferred Interest Bearing Credit: Interest is charged from day 1 of your agreement, but not charged on any repayments made during the deferral period. On expiry of the deferral period, interest accrued during the deferral period will be applied to your repayments.
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