Fifty Plus (50+) - Trek's New Madone Announced

The middle "Performance" (as opposed to "Pro") model has a larger frame for longer-legged riders, which is nice as the previous model topped off at 62c.

Link: http://trekroad.typepad.com/trekroad/2007/06/watch_the_unvei.html

The angles look pretty good to me--like a Lemond.

:)

OK, I watched the video and all I have to say is "Bah, Hum Bug!" Here we go again, just as I get a bike with cutting edge technology, someone puts the bar up a few notches. Oh, well....

has a larger frame for longer-legged riders . . .

I was at a bike store in Charlotte, NC the other day. I guy brought in a bicycle for service. It was owned by one of the players on the Charlotte Bobcat Basketball team. The top tube was at my shoulder level. (I'm 5' 11".) :eek:

The Trek Madone is a nice looking bike.

http://www.velonews.com/tech/report/articles/12366.0.html

As someone who has a technical background and appreciates the application of technical stuff, I like what I hear and read. I can't afford it but one of these days........

One of my LBS's had at least 6 or 7 of them on the floor when I visited this past Monday. They sold one while I was there (but not to me!)

Just an observation from a very satisfied Madone biker.
The bike is really good but the roads I am biking on are getting worse and worse.
The road infrastructure of this country is a disgrace.

As someone who has a technical background and appreciates the application of technical stuff, I like what I hear and read. I can't afford it but one of these days........

I've started saving for mine....maybe by the time the 2009 are here:(

Unfortunately they only offer two in the WSD models. A 5.1 and a 6.5. I've heard the 5.1 will go for around $3000 and the 6.5 will be about double that:eek:

Looks like a good bike. When did Steve Jobs start working at Trek?
Enjoy the kool-ade.

They sold one while I was there (but not to me!)

We could have guessed that. :)

I just looked at both the 5.2 and 5.5, while Trek was on my short list it was down the list. After seeing these bikes they have moved up. I was quoted $3,400 for the 5.5 with Dura Ace and $2,900 for the 5.2 with Ultegra. I may end up going home with one these this weekend.

the new style in my mind is pretty hot.
I owned a Madone 5.5 but just could never get comfortable do to the geometry and sold the frame
Not for everyone but a proven frame

Just an observation from a very satisfied Madone biker.
The bike is really good but the roads I am biking on are getting worse and worse.
The road infrastructure of this country is a disgrace.

A steel frame bike will offset the poor road quality.

A properly designed carbon fiber bike should pass less road induced vibration to the rider than a steel frame.

Trek is quite adamant about this, saying that they have confirmed this over and over again in their testing. So have several other manufacturers.

Tests of the materials themselves show that CF is much better at vibration damping than is steel.

The true test is on the road. But lets not be among the tiny-brained people who get locked into the "what is best" trap as if anything not deemed "best" is worthless crap. Good steel tubing in a well designed and well built frame is very good at damping road vibrations and providing a lively feel. Carbon fiber, when properly designed and executed is also very good at that. What numbers some laboratory test produces is of little value on the road. $3000 steel bikes and $3000 CF bikes tend to be very good. There are many examples of each that I would be happy to own.

I just looked at both the 5.2 and 5.5, while Trek was on my short list it was down the list. After seeing these bikes they have moved up. I was quoted $3,400 for the 5.5 with Dura Ace and $2,900 for the 5.2 with Ultegra. I may end up going home with one these this weekend.

I stopped at my LBS this afternoon to pick up a couple tubes for the mountain bike and to see if they had any of the new Madones. They didn't have any but the owner said he had ordered a 5.5 for himself and would be sure to call me when it came in. He asked how soon I wanted to order mine:)

The true test is on the road. But lets not be among the tiny-brained people who get locked into the "what is best" trap as if anything not deemed "best" is worthless crap.

I don't think anyone was saying anything like that.


Good steel tubing in a well designed and well built frame is very good at damping road vibrations and providing a lively feel. Carbon fiber, when properly designed and executed is also very good at that. What numbers some laboratory test produces is of little value on the road. $3000 steel bikes and $3000 CF bikes tend to be very good. There are many examples of each that I would be happy to own.

No arguments with that.

What I was saying was that of all of the popular materials being used to build bike frames, the material with the best vibration damping qualities is carbon fiber.

But that certainly doesn't mean that all carbon fiber bikes will be better than all steel or titanium bikes. One could build a CF bike that is overly stiff, or a steel bike that is overly jiggly, or even an aluminum bike that is relatively smooth.

I'll add that if the two best frame designers in the world were equally proficient, one with CF and the other with steel, that the one using CF would have the advantage. Particularly given that they could shape any aspect of the frame to the optimal shape & still have the lightness & vibration damping qualities of the CF.

This is close to the position that Calfee Design takes.

What I was saying was that of all of the popular materials being used to build bike frames, the material with the best vibration damping qualities is carbon fiber.

But that certainly doesn't mean that all carbon fiber bikes will be better than all steel or titanium bikes. One could build a CF bike that is overly stiff, or a steel bike that is overly jiggly, or even an aluminum bike that is relatively smooth.


My experience matches the data you support. Carbon does a great job of dealing with vibration. Now if only road fatigue was just due to vibration. I find that there are bumps and jolts that wear me out just as quickly if not more quickly than road vibration, and my own experience with a very stiff carbon frame is that it seems to magnify the bumps and jolts in the same way my very stiff alum. bikes did. Steel, on the other hand, seems to have some spring in it that reduces the impact of bumps and jolts. Just my experience, and the reason I'm excited about completing my carbon steel build.:D

We could have guessed that. :)

It would be downright silly for me to buy a high-end Madone.

I might be able to increase my speed up to 13 mph.

I wonder how they feel on a gravel rail trail?

And if I put platform pedals on one, would I arise each morning to find that the Madone had shed them off.

However I would enjoy overhearing the comment, "Get a load of that Fred on the Madone!"

Now if only road fatigue was just due to vibration. I find that there are bumps and jolts that wear me out just as quickly if not more quickly than road vibration...

Gee, I wonder what in the world could be done about that (http://www.alexmoulton.co.uk/)?

TCS

Lance said it felt ... heavy, e.g., like a motorcycle, which could be, e.g., it's not twitchy: it's stiff with a road damping solidity to it--like having lead in the rocker panels (ride-with-no-hands?)--and yet, of course, it also is very light. Which seems to say, e.g., it's not whippy -- it has a secure and sturdy feel and a feeling of power on demand. :)

This comment has nothing to do with the bike, which I am sure is wonderful.
Did anyone else expect to see Ron Popiel come out and start spraying paint on some guy's bald spot during that infomercial?

I don't think anyone was saying anything like that.

Agreed. But we were on the early miles of the road that goes there.

Perhaps a Brooks saddle, with springs, is called for!!!

I see that the lowest-end OCLV carbon fiber is referred to as "white" quality. That seems appropriate.

4 patents, mind you ... count'm, 4!

The video is way too long. Other than Lance, it was like Steve Jobs trying to sell me an iBike.

I would have preferred the sound from a remote mic strapped to the top tube of a Madone as it crushed the road, with the a CF "THONK' sound over some nasty bumps.

:)

I see that the lowest-end OCLV carbon fiber is referred to as "white" quality. That seems appropriate.
:crash:

Did you notice on one chart they were all getting wet about the vertical compliance I think it was. The Specialized Tarmac had almost the identical value.

Road Fatigue? Mostly mine comes from making my legs go round too many times in one day. :D

I see that the lowest-end OCLV carbon fiber is referred to as "white" quality. That seems appropriate.

Maybe instead of 120 if they'd originally named it something like . . . OCLV Honey Butter :)

I watched about 10 minutes of the video. Then my mind made a free association leap:

It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.

William Shakespeare, Macbeth

In addition they offer a Pro model which is standard double 53/39 or the non pro which is either compact double 50/34 or a triple. Trek did a bunch of tech work on the integrated botton bracket which helps make this bike one of the lightest yet stiffest out there. The LBS I visited only had the non pro model and while initially I was not too interested in the compact crank after running the numbers it really only creates a 1mph deficit at the same rpm and adding an additional 5rpm brings you to the same speed. So I think I am changing my mind on compacts since there is a weight savings and spinning an additional 5rpm is not going to be a problem.

I am very close to pulling the trigger on a new 5.2. I head out in a couple of hours to hit a couple of more LBSs but if I don't see something that tickles my fancy (full Dura Ace same price) I will probably come home with this bike. Another good link if you have not seen it is: http://www2.trekbikes.com/madone/

The new headbadge is kinda cool.