Madone 4.7, any thoughts?
 

I found a 2008 Madone 4.7 for $1999, original list was $2799. I'm 6'3 at 295#, was 365# 6 months ago when I bought my current comfort/hybrid. I plan to be 235ish by this time next year.

Any thoughts on this bike for my size? Anything I'm going to have to swap out at or soon after purchase?

I'll be getting SPD pedals and shoes.

Is this a good price?

If the fit is good for you and you are comfortable then I say its a fine choice. I would assume you are looking at a 60 or 62 cm. You should plan on spending some money to change the wheels out to a deep V rim with 36 spokes. You can do it now and sell the Bonti wheels or wait until you break spokes then make the swap. I ride a Trek 5200 with SPD pedals and love it. I had to replace wheels after a few thousand miles due to spokes breaking and rim cracking. I went with Mavic CXP 33 x 36 spokes and all is fine. The saddle is something you will have to decide on after ridding for a while.

The price sounds good to me but I am not up current prices. Good luck.

One of our friends has a Madone, I like the huge bottom bracket area. Looks real stiff and solid. Yeah, that too, the wheels!:D

Any Madone doesn't suck.

Thoughts on a Madone 4.7:

Hubba-Hubba!

Umm yes, just one thought... Can ya get one for me too?

If you like the bike go for it. As for the wheels give the stock ones a shot you might be surprised plus bontranger does cover them for 5 years.

I have been seriously considering a 4.7. The last bike I was aching for was a closeout Lemond, but as sweet as it was it wasn't quite right for me. With all the ice and snow lately I have been riding the mountain bike, but come spring I will probably be on a 2009 4.7 Madone.

I'm test riding one next week to see if it fits. I'm planning to try the 58cm first, then the 60cm. My current bike is a 21" frame and the 58cm is equivalent to 22" I believe. With so many in the forum going to custom wheels, I was concerned that the bontrager wheels may not be up to the task.

After buying the bike, pedals, and shoes, I don't really have the cash to buy new wheels. So if the bike fits, I think I'm going to try it out for a while and then upgrade them if I have to.

Thanks for the comments.

Very nice bike, I love the color scheme. Go buy it before someone elses scoops it up.

That is a beautiful bike. I would get it before someone else does. That seems like a great price.

I don't ride drop bars and I'm in love with this thing! :love: Go for it!

She's a sexy Chihuahua, no doubt! Looking at the components, I don't think I'd pay list for it but it's not bad at the sale price. The wheels would obviously be the weak link for you at 295. I would not trust them for long. (Same wheels came on my LeMond [I weigh about 230] and they are in storage and going on sale some time soon.)

It's definitely a nice ride! Also I think $1999 is not a bad deal, but you might be able to get a better one during their close out deals.
I paid $1999 for my 5.2 in 2007.
http://images.geekazoids.net/trekwinter.jpg

+! on the wheels. I've been amazed that my wheels have not been giving me any problems on my LeMond (same basic wheels as yours). During the past year I've put on about 1100 miles and that is on the not so smooth Buffalo (rust belt) roads. By 1000 miles I needed to get a replacement wheel for my Gary Fisher (Bontrager Camino 32 spoke) rear wheel as it kept blowing spokes. (Knock on wood) The replacement wheels has gone nearly 2500 without problems... I think the LBS must have checked the tension on the replacment wheel before putting it on my bike. The Gary Fisher gets used year round so it take quite a bit punishment, but the tires are 32mm in Summer and 35mm in Winter. The LeMond road bike has 25mm tires.

As a reference point, I weigh in at about 215lbs, but always carry two water bottles and a handlebar bag with maps, some snacks, etc. Therefore the bike is getting loaded to about 225lbs.

Happy riding,
André

A few months ago I was investigating putting carbon forks on a Trek 6700 frame I have sitting on a shelf in the garage and building it up as a commuter.

I was told that carbon forks were not a good idea for somebody who weighed more than 90kg (~200 pounds).

So how does a Clyde get away with riding a full carbon bike like a Madone- or was the advice given to me wrong?

Beautiful bike BTW.

I've ridden my carbon fork, with a frame with carbon stays almost everyday for a year in rough Puertorican chip seal with absolutely no problems. I've hit my share of potholes too. Weight range of 200 to 247lbs

Edit: + a 15lbs bag when commuting.

Well, I took the plunge and bought the bike this weekend. It's an awesome bike. I did my first pro fitting yesterday and go back on Monday when they are going to raise the head and bars a bit so I'm not bent over so far. The rest of the bike fit great with a minor seat adjustment. Went with the 58 cm frame. I'll take some pictures this week.

I've gone a few small rides yesterday and today. The carbon frame is really comfortable and smooth. Looking forward to the next adjustments and start doing to some longer rides.

AWESOME!!! congratulations that is one nice bike.

Congrats...

Looking at the geometry, it's semi-compact (top tube virtual is less than 58, and the actual tube is sloping)...so you should be relatively more upright than you would otherwise.

Curious, why the 58 and not the 60? I'm 6'3.5 and find I'm right on the line depending on the bike. I atcually have a 59 coming in soon (totally different beast, though).

On the wheels -- I have a buddy who's 6'4 and about 230 and rides an earlier model of the same bike. He's had zero wheel issues, though every time I look at them I worry for him.

I tried a 60 and the stretch for my upper body was too long. In order for me to reach the bars, I had to get even lower. If I was lean and more flexible, I imagine the 60 might have been a better fit. But the LBS that was fitting me said that he would have to bring the bars up even higher to make the reach more comfortable for me. He also mentioned that I was hunching my back in order to get into position on the 60.

As this is my first road bike, and I'm moving from an upright comfort bike to this, I didn't want to get too low and be uncomfortable.

A year or two from now, I may kick myself for not getting the 60 as I thin out and get used to the position. But I figure I have to get there first.

It is a great bike. I wouldn't sweat the wheels, Trek has a great warranty program.

Great bike indeed and Trek does stand behind their product. I am just saying be prepared to have Trek replace spokes and possibly rims after about a 1,000 miles or so.

Don't get me wrong, I am not knocking the bike or Trek, I am just sharing my experience and that I was stuck out in the middle of knowwhere with a broken spoke that made my bike unrideable. I had the broken spokes replaced as they occured and then the rim cracked. Changed wheels and everything has been great. Enjoy the bike!

Folks need to understand that there are NO Weight constraints on Trek Frames. I asked during Trek World this year. On the Wheels, to the ORIGINAL Purchaser ANY Bontrager Wheel is warrented for 5 years. Keep your receipts and you should be fine.