Thanks Chuck and jppe: This is this forum at its best. Here am I not wanting to make a mistake at possibly the last fast bike I want to buy.
FWIW, the fastest biker on that tour had an Orbea. I must say that he was adjusting it quite a bit.
Another fast guy had Colagno. He had no trouble. Ditto a guy with a Trek TT type bike.
The Madone is attractive to me because of local LBS support. I am a bit helpless without an LBS. Funny because I am an Engineer but do my best to rely on others. (not like you, jippe.)
Actually I feel better about the Madone after reading your posts.
Will