Madone 6.5 WSD

[equus123]

MY MADONE CAME IN YESTERDAY AND MY BIKE SHOP BUILT IT FOR ME IN ONE DAY!!!!! I say that because they're a very busy shop and it sometimes takes them a few WEEKS to build a bike, let alone the day it comes in from Trek.

Right now it's sitting at home looking pretty. I'm not exactly sure if I'm going to ride it any time soon because I'm not fit to it at all. The way it's currently set up, the handlebars/stem are about the same height as my saddle. On my R5000, my bars are like 4 inches lower. I tried moving the stem lower last night but 1) the steerer tube sticks up a good 2 inches above the stem that way (ugly) and 2) with the way the spacers worked, there would have to have been a spacer on top of another spacer that sticks above the steerer tube and would therefore be attached to nothing. So I put it all back together the way it came and I'll have to see what to do at a later point in time.

But DAMN is that thing perdy. I uploaded pictures to my photobucket account this morning before work so I could post them on here today but I just realized the settings were for uploading to avatar sized images (~100x200 pixels) so they're teeny tiny right now! I'll do it again when I get home later. But have a look at my itsy bitsy pictures. lol



My First Impression Review:

Again, I haven't even put pedals on the darn thing yet because I've only had it for a few hours but here are my first impressions....

1. Pretty. This bike is a work of art to look at and I keep forgetting it's born racing machine more than anything.

2. Light. I can easily tell the difference in weight between my Cannondale R5000 and this Madone 6.5 WSD.

3. Handlebars. They came with the X Lite Blade bars and these are actually REALLY comfortable. The variable degree bend in the drops is really comfy and there aren't any "corners" or weird spots. It's just a nice gradual bend all the way around. The tops of the bars are also really well designed because as the bars bend back (away from the shifters) and straighten out towards the stem, they flare out in width and height of the bars. This is really really comfortable to grab onto because it's more forgiving for your wrists because it's almost the same concept as ergonomically shaped computer keyboards. Your hands now have a slight rotation outward (supination).

4. Adjustable Reach Shifters [Shimano ST-R700]. I'm quite surprised by these. I initially didn't want them on my bike because I'm used to full Dura Ace but I can definitely get used to them. The big difference is in the distance between the smaller black shift levers and the front-most curve of the handlebars. It's almost half the distance on this bike versus my Cannondale with Dura Ace shifters. The moment I put my hands into the drops and went to reach all the way out to grab the levers, I was amazed at how close they were and how comfortable it was. I was so used to having to reach really far as well as bend my wrists at a very uncomfortable angle (due to kind of bars AND shifters) that I was actually amazed at how uncomfortable my other bike was in that sense. This will be a very nice change. I normally don't ride in the drops if I need to shift a lot because it bothered my wrists but I don't have to worry about that anymore.

5. White Spokes. I never knew these wheels came with white spokes and red nipples. It is soooo banging looking.

6. Compact Crank. I'm actually really excited to have a compact crank now (not that I had the option in ordering this bike anyway). I'm 5'5" and 122 lbs. My optimal cadence is 96 rpms. When I ride, I'm generally in the 53x23 which is only one gear from the top of the cassette. Now that I'll have a compact crank to work with I will definitely put less stress on the drivetrain because I'll be more in the center of the cassette and riding over variable terrain will be that much more comfortable in allowing me to spin higher as I prefer without immediately running out of gears. I'm excited to see how it goes.

7. Internal Cable Routing. I don't know about anybody else but I lift/carry/transport my bike more than a cyclocross racer. I live in a second floor apartment. There's an outside door and then our apartment's door. Neither door stays open by itself. The stairs are very narrow. And there's a stupid U-shaped path I need to go right inside of my apartment door because they decided 3 feet into our place would be a perfect place for a short wall to stick out into the room. Needless to say....I'm constantly bringing it up and down the stairs to ride or in and out to my car or whatever else. Not having the cables running beneath the top tube is a wonderful thing for me.

[csr1210]

Ooooo - looks/sounds fantastic! Let us know how fitting goes

[RoadRaven]

Woohoo Equus!

You must have a special friend there at the LBS to get it all sorted in a day


Looking forward to hearing the next installment

[Mr. SR500]

KILLER!

We are still waiting on Kim's 5.1, since about August - don't ask.

Love the bike!

[equus123]

Thanks everybody.

Let's try this again....

[northstar]

Yow! Hot! Congratulations!

[7rider]

Sa-weeet!
Nice ride.
I'm curious to read how the Bonti crankset is, and how it behaves with the DA derailleurs - how flexy (or non flexy) it would be and how precise the shifting is. Looking forward to reading your review!
I rode the Madone 5.2 (non-WSD) and I thought it had a wonderful ride...lots of snap, but not harsh at all. I'm curious how the red carbon is vs. the black. The red has a different layup and it's lighter, right? How is it for stiffness? What's the overall weight of the bike?
Happy riding. Tailwinds and victorious sprint finishes for you!

[makbike]

Very nice! Enjoy your new ride!

[sbctwin]

Wow, that is one pretty bike.... You will have many happy miles riding her....

[KnottedYet]

Very sleek! Congratulations!

[equus123]

Sa-weeet!
Nice ride.
I'm curious to read how the Bonti crankset is, and how it behaves with the DA derailleurs - how flexy (or non flexy) it would be and how precise the shifting is. Looking forward to reading your review!
I rode the Madone 5.2 (non-WSD) and I thought it had a wonderful ride...lots of snap, but not harsh at all. I'm curious how the red carbon is vs. the black. The red has a different layup and it's lighter, right? How is it for stiffness? What's the overall weight of the bike?
Happy riding. Tailwinds and victorious sprint finishes for you!

Thank you everybody for all of your love. I'm so excited to actually get out and ride this puppy.

I finally had some time yesterday when I got home from work to put my Keo Carbon Ti pedals on the Madone and then throw my old Keo Sprints on my Cannondale. I tried moving the stem lower but the combination I need didn't work out so I'll have to stay with the bars this high for now. By the time I was ready to hop on and take it around the block a few times it was 6pm and pitch black and freeeeeezing outside. I threw a coat on, tucked my sweatpants into the tall softball socks I was wearing, and threw on my road shoes, gloves, and a beanie.

In picking up the bike to carry it down the stairs (re: stairs - see above post) and out the door. This was really the first time noticing the weight and balance difference between this Madone and my Cannondale R5000. I got on and then stopped real quick to drop the seat a little more. Then off I went.

First Riding Impression:

HOLY $(*#$&@# CRAP. This is illegal. I'm not kidding. For one, the freewheel makes almost no noise. It's a quiet, lower, and softer clicking as you coast. This is very different than the Mavic Open Pro wheel I use because of my Powertap hub. So right off the bat, the first thing I notice is how quiet the bike is. Literally AND figuratively. It's like a person with quiet confidence or quiet intensity. That's the best way I can describe the feeling when you first get on.

I make a turn onto another sidewalk and get out of the saddle to take some pedal strokes. This is probably the most earth shattering moment. When you get out of the saddle on this thing, it honestly feels like the bike is pushing itself forward. It takes no effort. The bike just goes. The best way I can describe this feeling is as if you're riding a magnetic trainer. If you've ever ridden one than you know what I'm talking about. There's a weird resistance to it and once you get a magnetic trainer up to speed, it almost keeps it's own momentum. That's exactly how this bike feels when you're out of the saddle and/or accelerating. It's unreal.

As I was doing this up and down and around my apartment complex, the sidewalk I was on has a lot of lines and cracks and bumps and holes. I could honestly say that they were WAY less noticable than riding my aluminum Cannondale. The Cannondale feels like it exaggerates bumps/holes/crack. The Madone feels like it eliminates them. This bike was so damn quiet as I coasted down the bumpy sidewalk that it really surprised me. Nothing rattled or squeeked or made any noise at all. Just the quiet hum of the freewheel. It's similar to when you get in the zone during a hard effort. All other noises go away and stop. It's just you and your breathing. Riding this bike creates that atmosphere.

The first time I got out of the saddle in the drops and accelerated fast, I swear I was swerving so much I thought I was moving more laterally than I was forward. lol. It was hysterical. The bike is so responsive and light and jumps with you that I feel like I need to learn how to ride a bike all over again. But not necessarily in a bad way.

I test rode the Madone 5.2 WSD as well and the 6.5 WSD with red carbon feels as different from the 5.2 as the 5.2 feels from my R5000.

Holy moly batman. This is going to be fun.

[Andrea]

That's a sweet ride! I love the white spokes, too. If you've got the extra time to keep it clean, you should switch out to some white bar tape... or red if you don't want to worry about dirt (I'm worse about matching bartape/bike color than some women are about matching shoes/purses).

It looks like a really fun bike- hope you get a chance to put it through the wringer soon!

[equus123]

Thanks Andea. I've been trying to decide on the "bar to saddle" color scheme, myself. lol I have a really tough time finding a saddle that fits. Since I've never been on this one I'm not too sure if it will be okay for me. If for some reason it is then I'd like to change the bar tape to white. If not then I'll go with my old faithful black saddle and keep the tape black.

I'm totally the same way. I don't care HOW I dress or if I even match. But don't get in the way with my bike's colors...... lol

[Trekn Teresa]

equus123,

Congratulations on your new bike!
It is sweet! Oh, and I sure enjoyed your
very descriptive review of this bike. Thanks for sharing

I am interested and have been looking
at the Madone 4.5. You mentioned that you are 5'5 inches-
so, may I ask what size frame you got?

Anyway, Enjoy your ride, I know you will share
many, many, many miles and adventures with your new bike.
Again Congratulations.
~ Trekn Teresa ~

[equus123]

equus123,

Congratulations on your new bike!
It is sweet! Oh, and I sure enjoyed your
very descriptive review of this bike. Thanks for sharing

I am interested and have been looking
at the Madone 4.5. You mentioned that you are 5'5 inches-
so, may I ask what size frame you got?

Anyway, Enjoy your ride, I know you will share
many, many, many miles and adventures with your new bike.
Again Congratulations.
~ Trekn Teresa ~

Weird. I could have sworn I replied to this though it didn't show up?

Anyway, thank you Teresa. I ordered a 52 cm frame. I chose that size because I did a one-to-one comparison with my Cannondale R5000's dimensions. The 52 cm Trek matched very closely. I also did that because I was unsure if I should go with the Trek 50 or 52 cm frame.