Legal_Dealer

I did search the forums a little bit and didn't run into this directly-

I hate to open this way but, I'm looking for a new bike and I'm 6'8 225lbs

I went into a bike shop to check out a new 64cm Madone- they only stock the 5.5 in that size but I was originally more interested in the 5.1 (which they can get in a 64 as well). After talking to me for a few minutes the guy at the shop explained that I would definitely want the 5.5 because it is made with the " black " carbon which is stiffer- which he explained is better suited to my size and the power. I appreciated the ego-stroking, but was a little skeptical that he was just trying to sell me the model in stock and not something they would have to order.

Were talking about a $1k+ difference in price from what I was hoping to pay but it would include DA instead of Ultegra, Race lite wheeles instead of race wheels, and the "Black" carbon instead of the "White" carbon.

Im not too worried about the difference in the components, mostly the frame- Does anybody have experience riding both of these frames that can weigh in on real riding impressions?

-Thanks

crydee

Black paint adds 5% more power to your legs than white paint.

crydee

Seriously I would find a new shop and write a letter to the owner as to why you are shopping elsewhere..

fosmith

similar stiffness. black is lighter. that's the difference.

Frunkin

That's ridiculous.

crydee

For a sales person to tell a person that the black carbonvs the white carbon is "stiffer" and better suited to a rider's power is ridiculous - I bet you couldn't tell the difference. Telling him "black carbon" is better than "white carbon" is just a ploy to get him to buy the bike in stock now.. He probably can't get the 5.1 because the 09 bikes are going to start coming in.

Maybe overreacting but I'd ask for a different salesman who is going to help you with what you want.

tekhna

No it's not. The salesman lied to him flat out.

Boudicca

What is white carbon? Carbon fiber is black.

Cdy291

White Carbon- OCLV 120
Black Carbon- OCLV 110
Red Carbon- OCLV 55

Terex

Very cool. I've always wondered what LeBron would ride.

AEO

I thought the white carbon is just a carbon fiber bike with an extra layer of glass fiber.

hxzero

LeBron's 6'9" 260

R900

+1 Bikes ride and feel almost the same, difference is weight.

Slackerprince

Really?

TheJackMove

I think a lot of people here are missing something important here...

Trek now calls their 3 different levels of CF layup schedules white, black and red, which, as Cdy pointed out, used to be called 55, 110, and 120. Check the website if you are interested in the difference, but basically the higher end stuff uses more HM CF. The end difference (supposedly, I have only ridden the "red" CF frame, which, by the way, was painted white just to confuse things) is that the red is lighter than black which is lighter than white and the white is cheaper than black which is cheaper than red.

It has nothing to do with the color.

SwordMonkey

This might help:

https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/company/technology/oclv/

Cdy291

The Frames used to be called OCLV 120, 110, or 55. Beging in 2008 Trek decided that that system was to much for pea brained people to handle so they renamed them colors . The Number refers to the carbon fabrics weight in grams per square meter.

steaktaco

Haha schooled.

Richard_Rides

Think Good, Better, Best.

Cdy291

Lance won the 1999 tour on a 120 frame. Then the next year in 2000 they gave him a 110 frame. And finally in 2004 he got a 55 frame.

Bikelyst

It's ridiculous when people try to explain a bikes pros and cons without having first hand experience.

I always tell my customers that I can tell them everything about a bike, but without riding it they won't form their own opinions on it. Which is what a salesman is there to do, guide the customer in buying the right bike, but ultimately it's the customers' choice.

In the end, a bike shop is a business. And the shop always wants to suggest products they have on the floor, which helps the customer in that they can take a test ride. There is no reason a person should change bike shops b/c of an experience like this. That's ridiculous.

crydee

The guy wanted a 5.1 they only had a 5.5 and told him the "black carbon is better for his power and weight" is a farce and only wanted him to be convinced he needed the 5.5. I was in Trek LBS the other day looking at stuff or my GF and they couldn't get what we had in mind because of the incoming 09s.

Legal_Dealer

Thanks everybody-
I should have explained what I knew about the "black" & "white" thing better-
I did ride the 5.5 and really liked it, but I'm going to try to stick to the original plan and see if they can get my size in the 5.1

Cdy291

Wait wait. The reason he didn't want to order the 5.1 is because there is no more 5.1. Trek discontinued the 5.1 and came out with the 4.7. The two bikes have all the same components, but the frames are different. The 5.1 had made in USA OCLV and the 4.7 is the Taiwan TCT carbon.

roadwarrior

^^^^
Finally, someone that knows what they are talking about.

Trek pulled that frame a while back. They had some, but stopped further production.

To the OP, consider the 4 series. It's a real nice bike and closer to your price range. Obvious differences are that it's a lower carbon grade (how it's all put together...less expensvie process for example), external bb bearing setup (versus the BB30 style setup on the nicer bikes) and it's a regular seat post setup versus the extended mast setup on the nicer bikes.

Why do people feel the need to respond to threads where they have zero information?