Johnny Rad

Thank you! I found your website invaluable in my recent road bike acquisition. Loads of information.

I just acquired a lonely, leftover '05 Trek Madone 5.2 9spd in team colors (liberal use of the term "team," I'm quite sure) and am very excited!

Too many road miles on my Trek mountain bike this past summer convinced me that it was high time that I finally bought my first road bike. Local "experts" pointed me in the direction of a top notch LBS and a Trek 5200, which was more expensive ($2.4K) that I expected or wanted to pay. After eye-balling and drooling on a couple of drop dead gorgeous <$2K Orbeas (no clue on the models) and a Trek 2300, the LBS employee recalled they had a special leftover Trek. Enter the Madone 5.2 in my size! Honestly, I checked it out and left the store to "investigate" it because I never considered it in my original evlauations. I mean, who would given my budget?!

They updated it to a triple at no cost to me, as I live in mountainous Utah and fully intend to ride many a canyon. The best part about going up is the going down. However, I'm second guessing the triple over a compact crank and a different cassette, but who knows.

I added a FlightDeck and Speedplay zeros. It's next to impossible to walk in road cleats in comparison to my SPD Shimano mountain shoes and cleat - is it just the Speedplay cleat or all road shoes?

Next up is outfitting a small wedge with a flat repair kit, maybe a spare tube and CO2 pump.

I'd love your suggestions for my under-seat flat kit and anything else that I should be checking out.


P.S. I can't wait for dry weather! We just got slammed with a snow storm.

AtlAllez

WOW! How much did you end up paying for it?

Johnny Rad

They gave me ~$600off, if their list price was accurate (and I think it was based on web prices that I saw). $2K even with the triple upgrade.

55/Rad

Good deal on the bike and welcome to the forum.

Love your name too....well, at least the second part.

55/Rad

Johnny Rad

Yeah, I've seen you around too! I thought much the same. Are you a Radiologist?

ka12na

About the road shoe thing, most people say road shoes are a pain in the you know where to walk in because it doesn't have much to walk on except the cleat. MTB shoes are preferred by commuters, and even some roadies I know because they have more tread, which make it more comfortable to walk in. I myself use some cheap MTB shoes just so I can walk and ride in them while commuting.

Even with those 30 gears, you might wind up walking some time

55/Rad

Nope. The moniker comes from the 2 bikes I owned when I joined - a Trek 5500 and a Lemond Poprad. The Rad is pronounced Rod but I've been to known to answer to all sorts of names.

Are you a Radiologist?

55/Rad

kahn

I use the original Shimano SPD pedal and cleat system. It is a mountain bike system but it allows NORMAL walking which I prefer. I had early Look system and did a few skids on the "ball" and in this hilly neck of the woods (Seattle) I did not like starting/stopping on grades and not knowing if I might skid through the intersection.

I just got a Madone about 6 weeks ago. The 5.2SL but mine came with a triple and had the shop replace with a Shimano 27t rear cassette and I have already lowered the front from 30t to 26t aftermarket.

Hope you get some dry weather and ENJOY the new bike.

Johnny Rad

Not a MD, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn.

Yes, my MTB shoes are a pleasure to walk in! My new Sidi road shoes are going to take some getting used to.

Any recommendations on "contents" for my under-seat / wedge pack? I'm thinking a patch kit and CO2 is enough. Am I being short sighted on not packing a spare tube wiht me?

kahn

I am not that fixated on "appropriate" road and so stick with the mt - on two road, one commuter and two mountain bikes. Makes all my shoes compatible, too. KISS - keep it simple ...

Unfortunately, I've taken my backpacking/hiker traits to even road biking - 10 essentials. Although, the Madone does not allow me to use a rack!!! But, yup, I take spare tubes, pump and patch kit. And some minor tool kit. Flats occur too often to not be prepared. And multiple flats are not unusual - or the karma of giving a spare to another rider is good, too. Spare change, keys, cellphone, wallet all have to be accommodated. I don't want any of that stuff spilling out of pockets in my jersey. And since I just saw a thread on LOCKS, yes, one of those very small, cable/combination lock ones which I will use only in secure locations where I'm going to the coffee shop or similar - won't stop a determined thief but in public view it is enough to keep the bike THERE.

blandin

Nice buy on the Madone. I'm a fan of standard spd and run 200 gram Forte Titanium spindle pedals with Lake 115 touring shoes - not quite mountain - not quite road shoe. Works for me and I can walk anywhere.

Grasschopper

Speedplay are some of the hardest cleats to walk in IMO. The SPD-SL are pretty easy...well as easy as road shoes get I suppose.

Nice bike. The Compact double would have worked out for you but the triple works too. How many miles do you have on it? Maybe they will swap it back for a small fee (if any)? I started with the triple and then pretty quickly went to the compact double. With a 12-27 on there you loose like half a gear over the triple with a 30t up front and a 12-25 in the back. Plus then when you get stronger just buy a different cassette when it is time to change it out, I just moved to a 12-25 as I no longer need that 34-27 gear.

gapowermike

Where's the 'This Thread is Useless without Pics' emoticon?

Namenda

Don't forget a small chain tool, and a couple of pins if your chain is Shimano. Some allen keys are a good idea, as well. It can be a PITA trying to ride home with a loose stem...

Matt Gaunt

+1 for the Allen keys. Not sure about the chain tool, never bothered myself with one on a ride. You might consider a small tube of grease though, just in case you get an annoying squeaky pedal or something. I do that.

Anywho, congrats on your bike. The 05 team colours are nice - post a pic or two to show us just how nice they are!

SteveE

If I was going to ride in remote areas (I imagine that Utah has plenty of that) and had to choose between annoying squeaks and an unrideable bike because the chain broke, I'd keep the chain tool and ditch the grease. I have had chains break during rides and without it you're hosed. There's a lot of things that can break and the bike can still be rideable. Unless it's all downhill back a chain is absolutely necessary.

Congrats on the bike. Sounds like you got a good deal.

Grasschopper

I carry a Topeak Hexus Multi Tool which is small but has all of the stuff most people have suggested. Also carry an extra tube, patch kit, 2 CO2 cartridges and an Innovations Second Wind IH CO2/Mini pump. This all fits in a 50 cu in saddle bag.

aerodave

I just got the Topeak Compact Survival Wedge. It comes with a multi-tool, patch kit, chain tool, tire levers, and some wrenches (metric and spoke). I don't have any bolts for the wrenches, but it's a nice thought.

All the pieces rest in cut-out foam, so they don't jingle-jangle. And they kit only takes up the small top compartment. The bottom half has a decent amount of storage for a tube, cell phone, and energy bar, and is slightly expandable. I clip my Topeak Redlite to the back of it, too.

I really couldn't think of anything better, since this bag was designed with a tool kit in mind.

sofc

I had that topeak too and I loved it but it doesn't fit on my saddle. I swapped out the Bontrager Race on my Lemond Big Sky SL for a Fizik Pave. The thinner rails don't allow the survival wedge to fit.

bvfrompc

Congrats!

Awesome bike and deal, it was too much for my consideration set back in July but would have loved it.

I've found that I can get up everything around here in my 39/25, we have long grades at altitude but they aren't HC steep. The canyons are really nice grades that you will be abel to spin right up.

Yes and -7 today up here in Park City, we should be able to ride a lot in just four-five months : (

I always carry 2 CO2, One Tube, One Patch Kit. A month ago I was cruisng down Royal St and they had decided to cut across the street to put down some utilities and I hit this rock and gravel at about 30mph, scared the bejesus out fo me, blew both tires, I was thankfull for the 2 CO2s and and the patch kit, got home safe and sound.

I have never messed with my chain, knock on wood, never had a problem with a chain, 10 years of mountain biking and the chain may get too dirty or too dry but I have never had a prblem, but then again, I have never taken it off to clean, change cassettes, etc.

Johnny Rad

Great info! Thank you for sharing.

As for pics, I can shoot one - but, can't post. I'll email the pic to someone?! PM me.