MrMojoJoJo

So I was thinking about waiting for the new 2012 3 series madone to come out (I wanted a sram apex) OR the LBS has Specialized Roubaix Apex.

I have ridden both around the smaller road near the shop, but does anyone who owns one of those to bikes have any constructive feedback on them from longer rides?

Adrianinkc

If you want sram apex wait for it or get the roubaix. I got a madone 4.5 and I love it on long rides.

DC_United_Fan

I have the Madone 5.1 and I LOVE it!!! It made me a believer in SRAM, and from now on I won't use anything else. I have done a short test ride on the Roubaix, and found it to be a nice rig for the money, but I'm very happy with my Madone and would buy it again.

I use my Madone primarily for racing and so far the longest ride I've done on it is 67 miles, but it was very comfortable, and soaks up road bumps far better than my aluminum Trek 2.1. I have no reservations about riding the 104 miles of the Philly Gran Fondo this summer on my Madone.

bonz50

if you currently have a bike, wait it out... if not, get the roubaix and don't look back, imho, the Apex carbon bikes from all brands are some of the best bargains in cycling... another question, do you know for fact that there will be a Madone3 Apex bike next year?? cuz there isn't this year... imho, the roubaix is a FINE machine, doubt you'd be disappointed in it vs a madone 3. get one and ride

bostongarden

wait and keep riding what you're currently riding.

kayakdiver

If you wait.... You could get that 2012 or... With some luck you may end up with a 2011 on clearance. Sounds like a win win if you can be patient.

Cateye

If you wait you will see a different paint color and SRAM but the 2011 look nice. The 2011 3.1 is a mix of Apex and Shimano. I have a 2011 Trek Madone 6.7 and it's da bomb.

volosong

I have a Madone 4.5 and have noticed that they change the components every model year to meet a specific price point. That's an understandable marketing philosophy, but it means that every new model year, the components, (or at least some of them), are from a "lower" group. For example, in previous years, my 4.5 was all 105, but the year I purchased it, it had Tiagra brakes and a no-name Shimano crank.

Don't have a clue about SRAM, but meeting a price point and the things a manufacture has to do to accomplish that is something worth considering in your decision of when to purchase.

By the way ... I'm very happy and satisfied with the Madone. Very, very comfortable. Then again, it's almost totally converted to Ultegra. Just the shifters and rear-derailleur to go, (and the derailleur should arrive in a big brown truck sometime early next week).