shea1

Looking to get back into cycling . Background 10 years ago was a cat 3/4 and rode 150 to 200 miles a week. I do not plan on racing any more looking to ride solo and weekend group rides . The Domane and Giant rode the same to me the best i can tell in the parking lot . I have not had a chance to ride the Madone . All three have ultegra .The Giant is a 2012 for 2199.00 and the Domane is a 2013 and is 2499.00. The Madone is a 2012 for 2999.00. My question is if the Madone rides like the others would if be worth the 500.00 for what i would be using it for .

gundom66

I just bought the Madone over the newer Domane (4.5). To me, the Madone is a more compliant ride and a way better handling. Damn Domane was twitchy on a 54 and still wobbly on a 56. Neither issues were present on the Madone on both sizes. If you compare the 2012 Madone 4.7 to the Domane 4.5, the Domane is a softer ride, but nowhere close to what I felt in the 2012 5.2. So for a better Carbon layout with internal routing and a Full Ultegra (except for the cassette), along with my ride experience, the $500 more was worth it.

oldbobcat

Ride 'em and see. I love my Madone 5, but there's a place in my heart for Giant TCRs, too. I'd probably prefer the slightly more relaxed handling of the Giant on bad roads.

One of my co-workers tried a Domane 5 and raved about it, but so far I'm preferring something more assertive.

gundom66

I test rode the Domane 5.2 and I really don't know why it's a whole lot more stable than the 4.5 on a 56. Although the Domane 5.2 is very comfortable, it isn't by a wide margin compared to the 2012 Madone 5.2, but the front end is still somewhat wobbly. I guess my body is more accustomed to the Madone. I would've settled for the Domane 5.2 due to the comfort level, but overall performance and price, can't skip the deal that I got on my Madone. However, I didn't realize, or just totally overlooked it when I purchased the bike, but I saw a couple of knicks on the lower part of the left seat stay. It's not on the carbon though, just the paint job. No biggy. My friend had entered in the system about the find, in case that area becomes a problem in the future...

mprelaw

Just as an FYI, the 4.5 Domane is not full Ultegra. Shifters and RD/FD, yes, but crank, cassette and brakes, no.