6/30/15 11:47 AM

http://www.cyclingnews.com/reviews/trek-madone-9-series-first-ride-review/

7/1/15 9:47 AM

I'll tip my hat to any good-perfoming brake, but while this bike is likely an aero beauty I have to say that the aesthetics of how the rear brake is integrated into the frame structure doesn't cut it, especially when it is an expensive product.
I don't like the recent Trek frames with the hidden rear brakes for the same reason.
Trek needs to hire Campagnolo's former aesthetic designer!

7/1/15 11:41 AM

I had somewhat the same response, but not just to the brake mounting; the flattened DT and ST just don't look quite right to me; this feels like the extension of brutalism into cycling.

Yeah, I'm a retrogrouch.

7/1/15 11:46 AM

When I was in Mallorca there were a million CF bikes with those 4x4 downtubes. Don't do it for me. My buddy had a grey on black Madone I told him was about the Fugliest bike I've seen. Aesthetics are personal of course.

7/1/15 3:27 PM

For a bike that lists at $15,000 U.S., I'd be royally pissed to find "braking power leaves a little bit to be desired" with squeal to boot. And no way to change to a different brake.

You have to be kidding.

7/1/15 3:42 PM

Kind of glad I started heading in the opposite direction. ;)

What is up with the paint at the rear mounting point

Although I like that green...

7/1/15 4:26 PM

I prefer frames that use no proprietery parts, so this one is a yawner for me. It seems that the bike industry has dropped me and left me in the dust.

7/1/15 6:32 PM

despite the bulk of my fleet being old stuff, i like this bike...proprietary stuff and all. in fact, it's the first new trek design since about 1987 that i've really liked at all!

there are better pics and write-up @ peloton: http://pelotonmagazine.com/goods/2016-trek-madone-review-images/#.VZQo3f8KyjI.facebook


note judicious use of proper image bbcode ;-)

edit: smaller image introduced.

Last edited by walter on 7/1/15 7:43 PM; edited 1 time in total

7/1/15 7:11 PM

"note judicious use of proper image bbcode ;-)"


And HUGE image.. ;)

7/2/15 5:20 AM

...being a non-racer, it's nothing that I would actually buy. I would lean more toward the 2016 Cannondale SuperSix Evo, which is designed as an all-rounder. The new version is lighter, stiffer, moderately more aero and more comfortable. It's easily serviceable and uses few proprietary parts, so when framesets become available at a discount, I'd be able swap most of my parts over to it instead of buying a bike with a spec that I don't like.

One disturbing trend I've noticed in road bikes this year is that fewer are available with anything other than Shimano builds. SRAM use is waning and as usual, few companies offer Campy options. That's a real shame. Perhaps when SRAMs wireless road groups are in production, they'll regain some market share. Contrast this with the off-road/gravel market where SRAM is kicking butt.

7/2/15 11:58 AM

it just looks like a fast bike!

another bike i find striking is the giant propel aero-road bike. the seat cluster area is so dang skinny when viewed from behind, looks like the rider is on a knife blade!

7/2/15 1:35 PM

but having "SHIMANO" painted on the frame just puts me in mind of those things you get a *Mart. The bike is built around the components, I guess, and I can understand that, but it just seems wrong to me.

7/2/15 1:53 PM

"looks like the rider is on a knife blade!


And looks like he cut his right calf on it too! ;)

7/2/15 3:21 PM

Tip o' the hat for using the BBCode, and oversize photos are great, IMO.