Seattle Forrest

A used $500 steel bike with a used carbon fiber fork?

Jarrett2

I'm not sure what to say if you read that into my comments.

I understand I'm pointing out the emperor's clothes or lack of here, but its nothing to take personally.

redfooj

you have to give them kudos for coming up with gimmicky solutions to simple problems, masking it with a trademark, and marketing it as an innovation

you want more comfort at the ass contact point, without changing static pressure on the ass (i.e. softer paddle)? put compliance in the saddle rails, or seat posts.

its like having a noisy exhaust and rather than changing muffler design, you bake sound deadening into the whole car with a thicker body shell and windows

im all for true innovation like brifters, wireless shifting, thru-axles.... but the gimmicky **** like this and trek's brake "fairing" makes me laugh

Jarrett2

Gotcha.

Jarrett2

I found this funny as well. Gotta admit, they are trying hard to solve the problem.

WalksOn2Wheels

THAT is what I'm talking about. I don't take it personally because I really don't care if you don't like the bike. What I take offense to is your insatiable need to take a dig at every single opportunity given to you. You're dismissing an idea out of hand because it does not work for YOU. Your mind is immediately closed to the idea that it might be useful for someone else. You are not capable of having an actual conversation about it because your mind is already made up.

I think I've said this more than once, but: I'm happy you like your steel bikes. I love my carbon bike, and I have enjoyed steel bikes as well. What works for one individual does not work for everyone else. We all get it that you don't need this bike, but to come here and make a big fuss saying that no one anywhere should ever buy this bike because it's stupid? You can expect that some of us are going to get tired of your act after a while.

Jarrett2

I'd love to hear more about this range you speak of and how it factors into the comfort of the Emonda vs. the necessity to continue to make the Domane more and more comfortable.

Trsnrtr

End of thread. Put a lock on it.

WalksOn2Wheels

Taking my own advice and walking away now...

Jarrett2

Hmm, if that is how you are really perceiving this, maybe its time to take your own advice and walk away from silliness?

Jarrett2

Sounds good. No offense intended.

Just to be clear here, I'm talking about Trek and their marketing and engineering decisions.

PepeM

'The problem,' lets be clear here, being racing on cobblestones. Sure, most Domanes end up being bought by sixty year olds with disposable income (maybe) but the engineering is geared towards making a Classics winning machine, which I don't think many $500 steel bikes will be ideal for.

Silvercivic27

I fail to see how wireless shifting is true innovation.

HTupolev

It's about feeling good hammering up the side of a mountain versus feeling good cruising over deep cobbles.

Jarrett2

That's actually a good point. I guess they do say they make the bike to race on cobbles, which it might be very well better than a steel bike at that purpose. But reality is (as you said) the majority of these bike sales go to non racing folks looking for a comfortable road bike. And it is a lot to spend to be comfortable when there are less expensive ways to achieve that.

link0

I personally LOVE steel bikes, and don't really like carbon bikes aesthetically. But it's undeniable that modern endurance carbon frames (which are designed for maximum compliance) are MORE comfortable than any steel frame. The new Domane will be even more comfortable. No steel frame can compare to it, sorry.

Jarrett2

I'm glad this is not true... or rather that we don't agree on this

redfooj

reduced cabling for performance, and aesthetics.
reduced effort for initiating shifts. inline shifting... or, theoretically, unlimited shifting... from tops, tt ends, wherever you please

more significant improvement than "hey, we increased system from 10 speeds to 11 speeds!"

PepeM

I think its worth thinking where certain properties come from. A comfortable steel bike will be comfortable because of the compliance of the frame. Most race bikes are built to be stiff. Now compliance is the inverse of stiffness, so you can only get one or the other. But what if you want a stiff and comfortable bike? You can do what most builders do (or try to do) which is build stiffness in places where stiffness is needed most (bottom bracket, for example) and compliance where compliance is needed most. Decoupling two of the contact points is, in my opinion, an elegant way of dealing with the challenge of having both stiffness and comfort. Your bicycle can still be as stiff as it needs to be, but the rider will have some of the road feedback dampened out, leading to a 'smoother' ride. Whether Trek's solution works or not I have no clue as I have never ridden a Domane (nor do I think I will have a chance to do so any time soon) but, at least in principle, I find the idea of decoupling seatpost and handlebar* to be clever, maybe even 'innovative.'

Decoupling btw is what, for example, those saddles with small springs on them do. Incidentally, it is also what we do when rising our butt from the saddle when riding over particularly rough terrain and similarly why a light grip is far less taxing on the body than a very tight grip on the bars.

gsa103

Interesting solution to the main compliant about the Domane. Many reviewers commented that the back end felt great, but the front end was too harsh in comparison.

And to the OP, please provide an example of a $500-1000 complete bike that would be as comfortable. The reality is that economics have moved on, and a quality steel frame now costs about the same as a carbon frame.

Seattle Forrest

Some people like a stiff bike. Others prefer a flexible one.

Remind me never to take advice from you.

Seattle Forrest

Mine is for sure more comfortable than any steel bike I've had. Back in the day when I rode metal bikes.

American Euchre

I've ridden the alu bike with isocoupler. I suppose it was a bit more comfortable than a standard alu framed bike.

I just just the 'squeak squeak' from the suspension to be very cheesy and low rent. Couldn't they simply add a few drops of lube at the factory? I suppose the owner could do that as well, assuming it solves the problem, but I only had to laugh at the oversight.

Dunbar

I rode a Domane 6 series at a Trek demo event for about 45 minutes. Definitely the smoothest road bike I've ever ridden. Not really for me though, feels a bit too muted. I think that I'd probably choose the Emonda over it. I'm all for a consumers having a range of choices from harsh to magic carpet ride. I think this Domane SLR with 28c GP4000S II tires would be an amazingly smooth ride for those who ride on really crappy roads and don't want to settle for a cross bike or gravel grinder.

Campag4life

Yeah, its you who should walk away with your luddite irrelevance staining this thread with ridiculous retro tech steel musings. There is a reason why top bike companies don't make their better bikes out of steel. Carbon and even Al is better. The industry has voted and you lose.