Giant Contend AR 1 (2027)

The 2027 Giant Contend AR 1 is an aluminium all-road bike built for long rides on mixed roads: smooth tarmac, broken country lanes, and the odd stretch of gravel.

It pairs a lightweight ALUXX SL alloy frame with a carbon fork, runs a simple 1x Shimano CUES drivetrain with hydraulic disc brakes, and rolls on 32mm tubeless tyres with room for up to 43mm.

One chainring, and why that matters

Most road bikes have two chainrings at the front. The Contend AR 1 has one: a 42T ring paired with a wide 11-50T cassette at the back. This 1x setup changes how the bike rides.

What you gain:

• One shifter to think about. Right hand for every gear change, and no working out which chainring you're on.
• Nothing to adjust at the front. With no front derailleur, there's no chain dropping off the inside ring on a bumpy road.
• A very easy climbing gear. The 42 x 50 bottom gear is lower than the 34 x 34 on most road bikes with a compact chainset, so steep hills are more manageable seated.

What you give up:

• Top speed when pedalling. The 42 x 11 top gear runs out at around the high-30s km/h at a normal cadence. On fast descents or in a quick group bunch, you'll be freewheeling where a two-ring road bike would still be pedalling.
• Smaller steps between gears. Covering 11 to 50 teeth with 11 cogs means bigger jumps between gears, so it's harder to find exactly the right cadence on flat roads.

For commuting, fitness riding, hilly routes and riders newer to drop-bar bikes, that's a trade worth making. If you ride in fast bunches or race, a two-chainring road bike will suit you better.

What changed from the 2026 Contend AR 1

The name carried over, but the build didn't.

The 2026 Contend AR 1's Shimano 105 build has moved up to the 2027 Contend AR 0, and the 2027 AR 1 is a new build around a better frame and a simpler drivetrain.

What's better on the 2027:

ALUXX SL is Giant's higher grade of aluminium, using thinner, more refined tubing than standard ALUXX for a lighter frame.

The 2027 frame also adds the UDH hanger and 5mm more tyre clearance, so it's more capable on rough roads and gravel.

What's different:

The drivetrain moves from 105 2x12 to CUES 1x11. That means a lower climbing gear and a simpler setup, but a lower top gear and bigger steps between gears.

If you're after the 2026 AR 1's 105 two-chainring setup, look at the 2027 Contend AR 0, which now carries it on the new ALUXX SL frame.

Room for wider tyres

The 2027 Contend AR has tyre clearance for up to 43mm.

It comes tubeless prepared, on Giant P-AR 2 alloy wheels with 32mm Giant Gavia Fondo 2 tubeless tyres, which already run at lower pressures than skinny road tyres for more grip and comfort on rough surfaces. They have a Race Shield puncture-protection layer under the tread.

The extra clearance lets you fit wider, knobbier tyres for gravel roads and rail trails, turning the Contend AR into a light gravel bike without changing anything else.

Comfort built in

Three parts do most of the work of smoothing out rough roads:

• D-Fuse carbon seatpost: its D-shaped profile is designed to flex slightly under the saddle, taking the edge off bumps from the rear wheel.
• Advanced-grade carbon fork: carbon damps high-frequency road buzz better than an alloy fork, so your hands and wrists stay fresher on long rides.
• Wider tyres: the single biggest comfort factor on any road bike, and the reason the clearance matters.

The Giant Contact handlebar has a 7.2 degree flare in the drops. The drops sit wider than the hoods, for more control when descending and cornering.

UDH and hydraulic disc brakes

New for 2027, the frame uses a UDH derailleur hanger. It's a universal standard, so a replacement is easy to find if you bend one, and it keeps future drivetrain upgrades open.

Braking is Shimano CUES hydraulic disc with 160mm rotors front and rear, and the bottom bracket is threaded, which stays quieter and is simpler to service than press-fit designs.

Hydraulic discs need less hand effort than cable brakes and stay consistent in the wet, which matters on long descents and Melbourne winter commutes.

Sizing and collection

The Contend AR 1 comes in six sizes: XS, S, M, ML, L and XL.

Handlebar width, stem length and crank length are matched to each size, with 165mm cranks on XS and S, 170mm on M and ML, and 172.5mm on L and XL.

Giant bikes are Click & Collect or in-store purchase only and can't be shipped.

Click & Collect is free, and every new bike includes a free first service within 6 months.

Giant Contend AR 1 FAQs

Is the Giant Contend AR 1 a 1x bike?

Yes. It uses a single 42T chainring with an 11-50T, 11-speed Shimano CUES cassette. There's no front derailleur.

Is a 1x road bike good for hills?

Yes. The Contend AR 1's lowest gear (42 x 50) is easier than the 34 x 34 found on most compact road bikes. The trade-off is a lower top gear on fast descents.

What is the tyre clearance on the 2027 Giant Contend AR?

Up to 43mm. It comes with 32mm Giant Gavia Fondo 2 tubeless tyres.

Is the Contend AR 1 tubeless ready?

Yes. It comes tubeless prepared, with Giant P-AR 2 wheels and tubeless Gavia Fondo 2 tyres.

What's new on the 2027 Contend AR?

Tyre clearance up to 43mm, a UDH derailleur hanger and updated styling.

What is the difference between the Giant Contend and Contend AR?

The AR (all-road) version has more tyre clearance and wider tyres for rough roads and light gravel, with a more relaxed, comfort-focused setup.

Can the Contend AR 1 be delivered?

No. Giant bikes are Click & Collect or in-store purchase only. Click & Collect is free.