colnago62

I liked my Madone a lot better when I got rid of the handlebar stem combo.

DaveLeeNC

Dean, on thinking more abouot your response...

What 'Madone complexity' are you referring to? Is it the di2 shifting (in which case it really isn't a Madone vs Emonda thing). It isn't obvious to me how a frame/fork/handlebars bring complexity, but that is probably just lack of understanding on my part.

Thanks.

dave

DaveLeeNC

Am I correct in assuming that you are referring to that integrated bar/stem thing that (apparently) the lower end Madone's do not have. Is that right? What is it that was a problem for you.

Thanks.

dave

Abe_Froman

I think the big complaint with systems like that is that adding/removing spacers requires removing all the cabling from the area as well, and then reinstalling.

DaveLeeNC

Abe - thanks. That makes sense.

dave

Abe_Froman

Yea, I mean it is sort of an unavoidable problem if you're going to be hiding everything away nice and cleanly like that. SOME bikes have cool little spacers with breaks and hinges on them that are a workaround for that issue though I believe. I'm not sure if you can just buy a few for use on any bike though.

MyTi

I mean does hiding cables really offer an aero performance advantage...pretty sure that’s all aesthetics lol

Carbonfiberboy 

I've been there all my adult life. We've never had "an income." I currently own 2 used bikes, one '99 Trek that I bought new but on sale in CA and had shipped up, and one rain bike which I built for $800. All the bikes I've ever owned before the Trek were used. Neither my wife nor I have every owned a new car. Our last car went almost 300k miles. We're all about utility, except for event jerseys, which we just can't resist. Almost all our jerseys are from events. OTOH, most of our vehicles, motor and human powered, over the decades have been higher end than we could have ever afforded new. Hence my rec for buying used. That's what I'd do.

Abe_Froman

It's both.

I mean obviously it's not going to make you go from cat 5 pack fodder to tearing up P/1/2 races just by hiding your cables lol. But yea, my understanding is that anything with a circular cross section is Bad, with a capital 'B.' I seem to remember from somewhere that hiding cables saves a small but significant number of watts at normal speeds. Like ~5 maybe? Which is definitely not nothing. For many people, that could well equal the gains made through a brutal, 6 week structured training plan.

noodle soup

Aero trumps weight, but proper fit trumps both. I'd love to own one of the more recent Madones, but the TT is far too long for my body(very long legs/short torso and arms).

MyTi

Well that’s understandable save 5 Watts here and 5 watts there it adds up I guess. But still think only if you are racing and how many people here are racing? 😂

Abe_Froman

Same question can be asked of just about any piece of cycling equipment. Dunno about you, but I see an awful lot of non-racers showing up for group rides with blingy carbon wheels, $3000-$5000 bikes.

Dean V

It is the integrated/hidden cabling that looks so clean and cool but makes access and wrenching on them that much more of a chore. That is why I went di2, so at least I wouldn't have to deal with shift cables. But even to just fit a rear brake cable is certainly not a 5 min job. Mine has also been prone to rattling on course chip seal and that has not been easy to track down and fix either. The bar/stem does have a clever split spacer design so you can change bar height as easily as a normal bike.

mgopack42 

the solution is to get these Bullet 50, no issues with brake pads or with changing wheels. I love mine!

DaveLeeNC

Just ordered a 2020 Trek Emonda SL 6 (rim brakes). So starting probably early next week when the bike arrives, N+1 will be 3 where it has been 2 since I returned to actually riding a bike (as opposed to several years of spin bike riding in a spare bedroom) in 2014. And until 2014 I guess that N+1 was maybe 1.5 as the bike was in the attic, ignored, and unrideable (after around 16 years of sitting in various attics and garages).

dave

SundayNiagara

Excellent choice. Site says 16 lbs.

bruce19

The short answer is..Yes. You are going to buy another bike. When I got back into cycling, about 15 yrs. ago, I had a LeMond (aka: Trek) with a triple crank. Saw an awesome Masi. My GF bought it for me. All Dura Ace. She bought it as a surprise birthday present. The surprise was that although I love it, it's a 58 and I ride 54-56. I made it work and, still, I loved riding it. I sold the LeMond to a friend. Then a friend sold me a Guru Sidero (steel) because it didn't fit her but was my exact size. The Masi got put away. Then I was turning 70 and my friends were riding rail/trails so I bought myself a birthday present.......Colnago World Cup CX. Several months ago there was a killer deal on a CAAD 12. I bought it. Now I have 3 road bikes and a CX bike. So, yes, you are going to buy another bike. That's just one of the rules.

Seattle Forrest

You bought a fantastic, light, climbers bike for a big climb. Excellent choice. A light bike is fun to ride in general and you'll get a lot of miles and enjoyment from it. But you also made the right choice.

🙂