Trek Madone---which one!?!?!?

[tdf6592]

I've been riding the Trek 5200 red, white, and blue carbon fiber postal bike for about 8 years now and have decided to get a new bike. I went to the bike shops that handle Trek, and geezzz, how things have changed! Now you have to choose from the *pro* fit or the *performance* fit (providing you don't want a WSD). I love the colors in the pro fit bikes, and have been on a men's 52cm frame for 8 years, so I don't feel that I have to have a WSD bike. I'm 5'7", and that size in a men's has been a pretty comfortable ride. Problem is, while I love the colors of the pro fit bikes, the peformance fit might be a better choice long-term since they have a longer head tube and are a more upright ride (I'm not the most flexible 47 year old on the planet). Has anyone ridden one or both of these bikes??? It's getting so confusing! Trek tells me that the *pro* fit is most similiar fit to what I'm riding now, but the local bike shop is encouraging me to go for the performance fit for a more comfortable ride... Also, there's the question of the 5.2, 5.5, 6.5..... All of a sudden, what should be an enjoyable experience, is turning into a nightmare! Any help/ideas would be appreciated! Thanks!

[VeloVT]

One other thing to consider regarding Pro fit vs Performance fit -- the Pro bikes come with standard cranks while the Performance models come with compact cranks. Your shop may be willing to swap out cranks -- our local Trek dealer is very resistant to swapping components on new bikes, and doesn't really give you any credit for what the bike comes with. I don't know if this is just *that shop* or if there's something about Trek's pricing schedule that would incline other Trek dealers to act similarly.

As to the headtube thing -- I wouldn't overthink it too much. If you can, I think the best thing to do would be to take both out for a good long test ride - maybe more than one good long test ride -- and see which one feels better. Maybe have them fit you on both bikes if they're willing to take that kind of time, and see which one is easier to fit. The difference in a size 52cm looks like 3cm -- a little over an inch. You could at least split the difference with spacers/stem rise.

As far as which one to get -- well that depends entirely on your budget . You won't go wrong with the 5.2 -- it's full Ultegra SL. The 5.5 bumps up to Dura Ace. The 6 series models are made of Trek's Red OCLV carbon (5 series are made of Black OCLV carbon). The only way to know what difference this makes is to ride them. I haven't ridden any of the Treks since they split the OCLV into three grades, so I can't offer any advice. I can say that in 2007, I rode both the 5200 (TCT) and the Madone (OCLV 110) and the difference in the feel of the carbon was significant -- the OCLV was much livelier and smoother. As I said though, I have no idea how the new grades of OCLV (white, black, red) compare. You'll be able to tell whether it's worth the extra $$$ for the Red OCLV when you ride it though. It's early (I couldn't sleep) and my brain isn't quite awake yet, but the only difference I could see between the 6.5 and the 6.9 is that the 6.9 comes with sexy carbon wheels and lighter handlebars -- everything else seems the same. Unless you'll be racing or have a mega weight obsession, I'm not sure I'd drop an extra $3k on those upgrades. Both 6.5 and 6.9 are full Dura Ace.

Not sure if that helps...

If it were me??? I'd probably get the 5.2 Pro. But that's the frugal New Englander in me speaking. The other bikes are beautiful and there's no question that you ARE getting nicer goods for the $$$ -- it's just a question of whether the difference in enjoyment for say, Dura Ace over Ultegra SL or Race XXX lite wheels over Race X lite wheels is proportional to the difference in cost. For me, right now, I would say it isn't. But if money were no object at all I'd say go for the 6.9 . You'll probably want a set of training wheels though -- I can't imagine riding those deep-rim carbon wheels all the time.

[7rider]

Wow. What a fun nightmare!
I rode the 5.2 Performance with the compact Ultegra SL cranks. It was an awesome bike, and if I weren't such a titanium snob (said with tongue planted firmly in cheek), I might actually own one now. I don't have a link to the thread now, but if you search the Bike forum here back to October, '07 you can find my review of it.
The Ultegra SL group is oh-so-close to DuraAce in performance, so the price savings is really attractive there.
I've heard, but cannot say for myself, that the difference b/t the red and black carbon is night and day. If the 5.2 has a wonderful ride - responsive, tight, fast, yet very comfortable - I can only imagine what the 6 series is like!
I agree with Liza....go out and ride them and make your decision that way.
What are you looking for: Speed? Comfort?

[tulip]

Which one is more comfortable to ride?

[tdf6592]

Thanks a bunch for the advice/ideas! I'd actually love to ride them both, but I can't seem to locate both in my size. Such a bummer! Apparently many of Trek's carbon fiber bikes are backordered, so I'm not sure that the lbs will ever get one in a 52cm unless it's ordered by someone. I've even checked in some bikes shops in the towns where I go with work. I have an acqaintance who owns a bike shop (that sells Trek), and he'll give me an incredible deal on a bike, but he doesn't have anything that fits me in stock either. It's a little scary buying a bike that costs several thousand dollars w/o ever getting to ride it. And...that's another concern I have...the compact cranks vs. no compact crank. I noticed that the pro series doesn't come with it, and I even talked to Trek customer service on the phone, and they indicated that the local bike shop would have to change the gearing...i.e., would have to work that out with them. They don't ship anything differently than what's listed.....

[VeloVT]

Here's what I would do, and there's absolutely no guarantee that I'd get what I asked for but you never know if you don't try... I would ask your lbs owner-friend if he would be willing to order a 52 pro and a 52 performance *for you to try*, in the 5.2. Say you'll make a commitment to purchase *a bike* from him but not necessarily the one he orders. This doesn't necessarily settle the components and frame question, but the fit question is probably the more important one. He won't have trouble selling the 52's if he can get them in -- it's a pretty common size, for both men and women, and he won't have trouble selling a nice $3k carbon bike (the $8k version would definitely be more likely to sit there). The thing is, if you really want to try the Red OCLV, you'll be able to tell the difference in ride feel even on a bike that's the wrong size, whereas you won't be able to get a sense of the difference ht height makes on overall fit on a frame that's the wrong size. He may not be willing to do it, and he may not be able to physically get them in -- but it's worth asking .

ps are you set on getting a Trek? I guess it's important to know that before making demanding requests ...

hee hee... bike shopping is so much fun...

[Mr. SR500]

Trek tunes the frames to ride about the same regardless of the carbon used. The red/black/white carbon bikes should ride about about the same the higher end will mostly be lighter. This may or may not be a good thing, as they could tune each bike to ride however they wanted, but because they are Trek, they try and get a good balance on all the bikes.

As for Pro/Performance, the Pro is very close to the old geometry, so if you could find a pre-'08 that might help with fit. I'm not sure how close the 5200 and older Madones are, but you could look at the geometry and get an idea. If you run a big stack and an upright stem, the performance fit might be better, but if you have no spacers and a level stem, they Pro is the way to go.

As for 5.2, 5.5, 6.5, depends on budget. The 5.5 gets you Sram, and the 6.5 gets you Dura-Ace, better wheels and carbon, and a few other improvements.

If color is a big issue, Trek just reopened the Project Ones, so you could order the exact bike you wanted. That said P1 only come in Red carbon (Pro, Per, WSD).

http://projectone.trekbikes.com/

Good luck, fun problems to have.