Failed Experiment
10-04-18, 08:47 PM
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Failed Experiment
When I bought my Madone, I wasn’t able to get the cockpit setup I wanted; no 44cm bar and 13cm stem was available. So I went with the 44/12 bar. When I bought a Domane I had a 13cm Thomson stem put on. What a difference in comfort. I felt my breathing was better and I was more comfortable in the drops. A few years ago, Trek started making a kit for riders who wanted a different cockpit than the 1 piece bars. I made the switch and I am initially happy. We will see if I still feel that way in a month. 
10-05-18, 01:14 AM
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Well it looks nice and all, but seems to be Enve equipment not Thompson or Bontrager. But what part of this is a “failed experiment”, sounds like it’s working for you?
10-05-18, 03:56 AM
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I am wrestling with a similar issue, trying to get my Synapse set up similarly to my ‘92 Merckx Century. I know the Synapse is supposed to be more on the endurance side, but that should not preclude me from getting the reach / drop to where I want it. I have tried two stems but still feel cramped up on the drops, particularly if I want to get more aero. One nice thing about the new stems is being able to swap them out so easily.
10-05-18, 07:26 AM
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Integrated bar/stems are some of the worst bike tech going around these days. I really hope they go out of style and don't trickle down into the affordable bike market.
10-05-18, 12:27 PM
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I went with mine purely because the bike was custom built for me so reach/drop was factored in, and I really wanted the full Speedvagen paint of bars and stem (Integrated) vs just the painted to match stem. Had it not been for that I never would go with an integrated combo.
10-05-18, 03:55 PM
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Your post makes no sense really. Sorry. Are you really comparing a Domane to a Madone in geometry?...by changing stem size? A Domane has a higher stack and shorter top tube unless you changed frame sizes which makes your stem length point irrelevant.
I would never buy a bike with integrated handlebar/stem. Big cash cow for manufacturers and consumers get screwed and for what? 2 watts at 30mph?
You can always put a regular cockpit with conventional stem on a Madone as well.
I would never buy a bike with integrated handlebar/stem. Big cash cow for manufacturers and consumers get screwed and for what? 2 watts at 30mph?
You can always put a regular cockpit with conventional stem on a Madone as well.
10-05-18, 07:39 PM
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I have a Project one Domane which gives you the choice of H1 frame. So both my Madone and Domane are H1. The pictures are of my Madone with Enve bars.
10-06-18, 12:01 AM
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I guess I didn’t explain the failed part very well. When Trek built its Madone 9, they originally used a one piece stem and bar that was proprietary and then had very limited selection of bar/stem combination. The new Madone has a separate stem and bar so it is easier to get the best setup for the individual. Proprietary one piece was the failure. It would have been better if Trek had just used a component already on the market like the Pro bar/stem and rebranded like they did with the TRP brakes.
10-06-18, 03:54 AM
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I guess I didn’t explain the failed part very well. When Trek built its Madone 9, they originally used a one piece stem and bar that was proprietary and then had very limited selection of bar/stem combination. The new Madone has a separate stem and bar so it is easier to get the best setup for the individual. Proprietary one piece was the failure. It would have been better if Trek had just used a component already on the market like the Pro bar/stem and rebranded like they did with the TRP brakes.
The whole integrated bar/stem is a manufacturing hustle. Trek was likely losing sales on the Madone for this inflexible design and why they changed it a more conventional cockpit.
They also offer a couple of options. The bike more reasonably priced at just over $4K, they install a conventional stem thankfully. Cables are routed adjacent to but not through the stem. All cables still route through the frame including the steerer. There is virtually less than a handful of watts lost with this cable routing approach and its nice and tidy compared to conventional bikes even with internal cable routing where the cables are exposed between handlebar and frame.
The Madone is one of my favorite aero bikes even though routing cables through the frame are a PITA but certainly doable for the decent home mechanic with patience. Only way to order the bike is with Di2 or Etap IMO. Di2 would get the nod in my case...my preference. Easier to route electrical cable through the frame than conventional groupset cables.
Trek did a great job on the Madone...beautiful, slippery and compliant with H2geometry available that won't break a rider's back or neck or for those long of inseam compared to torso length.
Also, wonderfully, they smelled coffee on their aero seat mast and finally incorporated a 2 bolt saddle clamp. When hemmed into a corner of only being able to use a proprietary seat mast, great to have the 2 bolt design which is so much better. They should do this for all their road bikes.
Last edited by Campag4life; 10-06-18 at 04:02 AM.
