Originally Posted by
garysol1
I totally agree with you with the BB90. Given the option I would rather have a threaded BB just because it is such a tried and trued system. I also agree with you that the one bolt seatpost clamp can be a pain. I have found though that if torqued to spec they really do not move but getting the correct tilt is more work than it should be.
I feel like the Domane is brilliant in eating up the miles quickly. Absolutely no pedal bob at all. I have my slider set down one line softer from the middle setting. We do have some older riders on the SLR with the slider set all the way down and I can see a LOT of movement when they pedal but I have never heard them complain about it. It climbs well and I certainly cant detect any flex anywhere on the bike when hammering on it. It is not what I would call a fun spirited bike for me though. It is a bit to muted but then again that is what it was designed to do I guess. If I had the finances to own 2 high dollar bikes the Domane would be a keeper. As it is I have a 2018 Emonda SLR frameset on the way to me and I will be swapping everything over to it from the Domane on Monday. The Emonda is ALMOST as compliant as the Domane but the handling makes me smile everytime I ride one. I truly enjoy that bike and the fact that the frame is sub 650grams is just a bonus. I dont have near enough time on the Madone to have any real opinion that matters. Its a bike we SHOULD sell more of but we don't. Really no excuse for that. Here in SW Michigan the aero of the Madone should trump the light weight of the Emonda.
As a side note.... I did have a Roubaix SL4 for years before I had the Domane. I would have a real hard time if I had to pick one over the other.
What great comments Gary and we are totally on the same page. I hope when you get the Emonda built and weather cooperates in MI, you do a full review on BF with the excellent clarity you just wrote with...a man who understands cycling and bicycle tech. Emonda would be my short list to replace my Roubaix SL3 Pro with Campy...but no reason to change it...just keeps on ticking and not the bike that slows me down, that's for sure. Seems like the perfect bicycle for me. Roubaix SL4 you owned has a tad stiffer rear end than the SL3 and in theory a more responsive bike but not without a slight ride harshness penalty. All said, the Roubaix SL3 won the Paris Roubaix Classic race so who could fault its energy transfer with slightly more forgiving ride quality and less stiff rear triangle compared to the SL4 some have even complained about on an endurance bike like the Roubaix.. and I sure can't twist the frame with my meager watts like a pro can and never felt the Roubaix SL3 was lethargic...more me lethargic than the bike.
Cancellara as you know raced the Domane in the TdF back in 2015:
https://www.bikeradar.com/gear/artic...-domane-44681/
..a bit unusual but tall praise given an entire array of models available by Trek when both the Emonda and Madone were raced...hard to fault the Domane which is a great bike. But all said, I prefer the Emonda SLR too...for its weight, decent ride quality as you describe, close to the Domane but maybe a bit more road feedback myself and others would prefer, great handling and goldie locks H2 geometry for an aging cyclist like me...smack between pure slammed race bike and endurance geo.
My reason to choose the Roubaix SL4 you owned with Tarmac like stiffness over a Domane...which you call a jump ball in performance and I again agree...is both BB30 over BB90...BB90 carbon bores seems absurd to me because carbon has such poor wear resistance compared to alloy bore BB30... and Trek's way to cheap out at the expense of their customers and advertise lower weight which it is...but also the abysmal single bolt saddle clamp that takes such high torque when a std. 2 bolt is so easier to manage both in torque and adjustment not to mention assured saddle staying at the same tilt. Dam Trek with all their great engineering not delivering a bit more reliability to its customers in this regard...they make sure wonderful bikes...but others as you know will not complain.
Thanks again for all your spot on comments and congrats on your incoming Emonda...to me, one of the most desirable and balanced bikes on the market.