Originally Posted by
gpooba
Hi all,
New to the forums here. I need some advice from you seasoned riders. I am a 60 yo female who took up road cycling 3 years ago when I bought my first "real" bike, an entry level Trek Domane AL3. You can imagine my joy in riding it after having nothing but Wal-mart bikes prior. I did my first Fondo later in that year (only the 37 mile one but I was pretty proud of myself). Well, I am ready for an upgrade. I do want to stay with Trek as I do love their bikes and we have an amazing trek store and service dept. I was originally was going to go with a Domane SL 6 or SLR 6 since if is a good comfortable endurance bike but after talking to some riders I met on Strava, they said I should consider the Madone. They said I really wouldn't be sacrificing comfort because of the isospeed decoupler but would have a faster bike on straight and downhill areas. Okay, my problem?. I don't know if this is true with other brands but there are NO new Trek road cycles to buy ANYWHERE. The soonest one can be delivered from ordering is May 2023. I mean everything from a SL5 to a SLR 9 are not available.
So I started looking at used bikes and i found a few. There are 3 I am considering:
2021 Madone SL 6. 54 cm. Stock except saddle (Prolongo Kappa Evo) and tires (Conti Grand). $4200
2019 Madone SLR 6 Project One 52 cm. $4900
2021 Domane SL 6 52 cm. Stock $3700
All are higher than blue book but I figure that will be the norm where there is no stock available anywhere plus with today's inflation, I suspect bikes will be going up in price once they are available. As you might have noticed 2 bikes are 52 cm and 1 is 54. That is also a little dilemma for me as well. My domane is a 50 cm and it is too small (I bought it off the showroom floor). I did have some issues with neck and hand numbness riding long rides. I am 5,5" with an inseam of 30.25". By measurements, it looks like the 52 is ideal but could easily do the 54. what are your thoughts on that? As far as the bikes, is it worth going with the lighter weight of the SLR? or will it negligible for my riding? I. mostly ride on the trail of the coeur d alenes (80 miles mostly flat pavement) and the centennial trail which connects northern idaho to washington (flat and gentle hills). I will also be looking for roads with a bit more hilly area to train in.
Any advice is welcome. ...
Thank you!
My comments - to 1st address your discomforts... If you ride with straight arms, locked elbows, not matter which bike you chose or ride - the issues will continue.
It's a 'posture' thing. Keeping the elbows close to your torso, and bending them slightly, and dropping the shoulders will go a long way to reducing/eliminating neck and shoulder pain.
If hands are on the bar tops/bends or hoods, best to place them with the bar at the outside meaty part of the pslm, not down the center channel. When the elbows are rolled down and inward, you'll find a comfortable grip at the hoods, with hoods hooked between thumb and forefinger, means the the meat at the bottom of the thumb then supports the grip also... Try to not allow your wrists to drop below your palms, with hands on bar. As straight a wrist thru hand keeps the weight better distributed, less aching hands...
This also means you'll engage the 'core' muscles more to help support your torso, as you lean just a bit more to get a slight elbow bend.
roadie position, good posture
Bike...
As much as I love a nice 'race' bike geometry, I know it's not for everyone...
Madone - a nice road race design, but often forces riders to 'stiff arm' when they want a more upright posture for non-race conditions.
Domane - more 'upright' geometry DOESN'T mean you can't get more aero for high performance riding - you just get into the drops, and bend the elbows as much as necessary to get 'lower'.
I recommend: you try to use the more supple 'posture' I note above, on your current Domane. Ride on the tops, hoods and drops with nicely bent and tucked elbows, strong wrists... see how you like that posture/position.
Then realize that the Madone will force that posture more often and lower.
The 52 Domane may be the right bike, at this time...
IF you can, and the trek shop has a Madone they're willing to let you ride around the block. Bring your Domane along and ride and compare...
Posture will make a big difference in your riding and speed, after the 1st 90 min. of saddle time. Way more than whether it's SLR or SL...
I'm an old guy, but I still like, as much as anything, a good hard ride or hammerfest with the young guyz... LOL!
Ride on
Yuri