I went to the LBS today, fully expecting to tell Mike, the owner, that I flipped my quarter, and the ID8 won. With BikerZ and my own DH getting new Seven's, my desire to go custom has jumped up about 15 spots on the "gotta have" scale. Not sure if I wanted an Axiom or ID8, I figured it'd come down to a coin toss. So I tossed 3 - best 2 out of 3 wins. Tails: ID8 won.

So I go to the shop. I have Pepper look at my commuter, which is shifting funny. Bike is fine. Shift-er (me) doesn't know how to push the button hard/far enough. Sigh. User error.

So, Mike comes over. "I got a bike for you to ride. You're gonna love it," he said. "You got an ID8 in my size???" I ask hopefully. "No. That." He points over at a slick black and white Trek leaning up against the row of bikes. "A Trek???" I ask dubiously.

He goes over the details: The brand new, just unveiled, 2008 Trek Madone 5.2. Full Ultegra compact (50-34; 11-25 - which increases the high end over the 12-25) in the new black finish. He explains the integrated seat mast - offset to increase compliance. He explains the 1 1/8" to 1 1/2" headset, doing away with the "90-degree" bend, shaving weight and increasing ride quality. He shows me the massive bottom bracket. He explains the bearings (no tools required) in the BB and headset (no pressfits, which was the demise of DH's Klein frame).

Then, the coolest part...he took measurements off my Felt, and set up the Trek to fit me...and let me take it home! Shhh...it's downstairs in my basement right now...looking rather un-sleek with my Terry Butterfly saddle and SPDs stolen off the Felt.

It was the fastest commute ever! Now...let me tell you. I am no fan of carbon bikes. I've ridden a few. A Look. A Colnago (I think that was carbon). Didn't really care for any of 'em. A carbon fork. Carbon stays. Carbon bars. Those I can handle. Not the whole danged frame. I found they just knock the fillings out of your teeth.

But this Trek moved along nicely. You can definitely feel the road ("texture" was what PezCycling News said), but it was not harsh or rough. It climbed great. Tracked like an arrow - I was able to ride no-hands down a newly chipped-sealed street, even over a bumpy man-hole cover with no problems at all. It had a very lively feel. I can't wait to take this think out for a 30-40 mile ride. I've got p.m. con calls tomorrow - but hopefully, I can scoot out early to really put this thing through its paces.

Oh...and back at the house...I pulled out my Seven and did back-to-back loops (~2.5 miles each) through the neighborhood (which rolls like a rollercoaster). The difference was remarkable. The Seven is like silk - utterly smooth, unfazed by the road. It is so subtle. You just float along, but when you put the pedals down, it hops to it, and flies. It was like slipping into my most favorite pair of p.j.'s. The Trek was definitely more "rider involved" - it let you know the road was there, but not uncomfortably so.

The question is....do I like the Trek enough to get one over a new ID8? I don't know. They are totally different animals. I just need to figure out what new beastie gets a new home in our stable o' bikes.
Oh...but I had been thinking already about necessary upgrades: Wheels, handlebars were at the top of the list!