Delurking with a question: bikes to compare with Madone 5.n WSD?

I'm looking for a bike for long day rides. I never thought I'd buy a carbon bike or a performance oriented bike, but recently rode a Madone 6.2 WSD and am reconsidering. Before I plunk down the [big] money, though, I'm wondering what other bikes I should ride to compare it to.

What I liked: It fit my body and was comfortable (except for the saddle, which I can change). I got on it and immediately did the third longest ride in my life (75 miles), and the only part of my body that hurt the next day was my butt. My knees didn't hurt, my neck didn't hurt, my hands and elbows didn't hurt. The bars were not too low. I could ride in the drops. The handlebars felt narrow at first -- and then they didn't feel narrow at all. The brakes felt secure in spite of my small, weak hands. It felt lively. I didn't have a computer on a rental bike, but I'm told I was going faster than I usually do. Even moderately rough pavement felt comfortable. It felt like I was wearing clothes and flying, not like I was lugging a bike with me, a perfect symbiosis of bike and woman.

So now I want to upgrade, and I'm wondering what other bike models I should look at that might give me that same feeling -- or should I just buy the Madone 5.2? Let's say the Madone 6.2 is the absolute upper limit on price. I rode a 5.2 a few miles, and it felt just as good. Is there a steel or titanium bike that might give me some of the same feel? I'm not going to spend this kind of money on a bike without doing a substantial test-ride, so it has to be a model I am likely to find in a store. I am willing to travel to test-ride.

I'm buying this bike to do 50-100 mile day rides at a sedate pace in hilly country (13-17 mph or so on the flats depending on how far I'm going, much slower on the hills) with no racing, and probably not much club riding. I'm 50+, fat, and short, with long legs, short torso, short arms, and very short hands. My current bike is a 50 cm Surly Long Haul Trucker that is a little too big, even with a grotesquely short stem.

Thanks for any advice.

Welcome to TE!
Surlys (Surlies?) tend to have unusually long top tubes. (I could ride a Pacer in a size smaller than I "should" be based on my inseam, but a Cross-check is out.)

It's awesome that you found a shop that will let you rent nice bikes. If it makes your heart sing, get the Madone. ;)

If, however, you really want some other points of comparison, consider: Specialized Ruby (carbon; more expensive for same componentry, unfortunately). Jamis Quest Femme (steel; perhaps upgrade components?), Cannondale Synapse (carbon), or even the SuperSix if you feel so inclined. (I've been looking at all these bikes (except the Synapse), as well as the Madone, as my next bike, for similar purposes as you.) You might try Giant's Avail Advance (carbon) line, but I've found them to be not-so-friendly to my short torso. Your mileage may vary, of course.

(Is 17mph a sedate pace? Geez. I must be doing "sedate" wrong! ;) )

Interesting about the madone, totally different bike than the LHT. Have you thought about going over to Walnut Creek and visiting with Rivendell? I ride a Bleriot that you would have to pry my fingers off of to get me to give her up. They have models you can ride and some expert assistance in bike fitting.

Also consider the Specialized Ruby. I am short (5'1") with a short-torso and my 44 cm Ruby fits me better than the 47 cm Madone I tried.

I have test-ridden at Rivendell, though only the Atlantis and the Hunqapillar. The Atlantis wasn't $3000 nicer than the LHT. They tried to put me on very upright bikes (maybe because I'm old and fat), and I want a road bike. The Soma/Riv collaboration came out since I tried their bikes. Maybe I should go back. I'll look up the bikes others have mentioned in this thread (the Specialized Ruby, and the Canondales, if I can find them to test ride in the Bay Area)

Any recommendations for particularly good stores to try?

If I rode for 75 miles and nothing hurt except the saddle, I would think the bike fits pretty darn well.

That's scary. . .

Quote:

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Originally Posted by teacherlady

That's scary. . .

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I have no idea how it cracked. I was cleaning it and noticed a crack on the top tube. Trek said they think it was caused by an impact rather than a defect, but I don't recall any impact. I didn't crash or anything.

There's a thread around here somewhere with more detail, I will go find it.

......

Here it is:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=45286

I am still waiting for Calfee to finish the repair. I'm hoping it will be done in a week or so.

FWIW, I have not heard of many people with mass-produced carbon frames having frame cracks without obvious causes, like crashes.

I have a Madone 5.5. It didn't feel as perfect at first as your experience, but all I needed to get it right was to shorten the stem to a 90mm. I was looking for a bike I could race, so also looked at a Specialized Tarmac, and a Felt that I can't remember.

Madone Madone Madone! :D

If you're interested in carbon and comfort, I need to plug a local company: www.volagi.com. I did a 117 mile ride on this bike after not doing any really long rides for months and felt fresh at the end. I am sold on the technology.

Bicycle Odyssey in Sausalito had some for demo - you might see if they still do.

If the Madone 6.2 rode like a dream, the Specialized Ruby would be too upright... Maybe the Specialized Tarmac, as HillSlugger suggests, the Specialized Amira or a Cannondale SuperSix. However, if you can afford the Madonne and you love it, go for it. You will ride it more.