Madone Commute

Kieran_Burns

Good God. :shock:

Really - the difference between commuting on a Tricross (which is excellently suited) and a Madone... fark. :shock:

Plusses:
Speed. Okay, theTricross is quick enough, but I cruise at about 16-18mph, upping to 20 ish on the quick bits. The Madone. 20+ the whole damn way in. North of 30 without trying on the downhill stretches. Sections that I need to dig a bit and push on with the Tricross... cruise along on the Madone.
Acceleration: I run 32c Conti City rides, which are damn near puncture proof but don't half take some effort to spin up. Ultra light wheels and 23c Bontrager tyres on the Madone - SPIN! You just launch whenever setting off.
Hills. Yeah right. I was powering up 1 or 2 gears higher on the Madone and accelerating when I would normally be sitting down and spinning on the Tricross.

Minuses:
Cleats: Clipped in all the time. I'm not comfortable with cleats in traffic and constantly worry about having an off 'cos I can't get my feet out in time
Expense: I'm sat here worrying about the bike, but it's locked up and near in sight of where I'm sat but I couldn't do this every day
No pannier - so my shirt is creased to hell and I don't like using a rucksack anymore when cycling.. too uncomfortable.

Others:
Gawd the Madone is twitchy! You don't realise how quick it is to change direction until you pull on the bars and find yourself aimed 45 degrees to where you're meant to be :roll:

I was leading a mate in to work today - he's done 21 miles from Derby and didn't know the last half, so I met him and led him in. I near buried myself keeping in front, completely forgetting how much easier it is to follow. Every time I looked I saw him tight to my back wheel and occasionally heard him rolling along thanks to a clicky bearing set. He did have the good grace to admit there were some sections where he struggled to keep up, but I think he was trying to make me feel better. Next time, he can lead out and I'll cruise 8)

I'm going out for spin after work, I've got a bottle with me, so I may as well take advantage and stretch my legs.

spasypaddy

sorry, let me get this straight. you've locked your madone outside!? IN THE STREET?

how tall are you? wheres your office?

Kieran_Burns

No - Gawd no. Off-site cycle lockup round the back of our building - CCTV and I'm about 200' from it.

Plus we're based in a Commercial Park out in the countryside.

spasypaddy

phew. but still. should be in the office not outside.

my bike is about 3ft from me at most.

SimonLyons

Would it be possible to swap your wheels on your Madone onto the tricross for a commute and report back?

Kieran_Burns

SimonLyons wrote:

Would it be possible to swap your wheels on your Madone onto the tricross for a commute and report back?

No - there are sections of the commute that I had to avoid this morning, and take a longer route. The normal way cuts through a park with rough paths. The Tricross is no trouble on them, but the lighter wheels and much thinner tyres would be wrecked the first time I tried.

I could actually run a longer (12 miles compared to 10.5) all road route which.... Ooooo I just had a thought..... I can run a road route and chuck in a 50mph downhill bit :twisted: This would bring me in to work from the South and avoid the park.

Oh, damn. I want to do this now.

spasypaddy

i think what you are learning here today in front of all of our eyes is that:

Road bikes >>>>>>>>>>> CX bikes

SimonLyons

I was just wondering how much of that is in the faster wheels.

Kieran_Burns

spasypaddy wrote:

i think what you are learning here today in front of all of our eyes is that:

Road bikes >>>>>>>>>>> CX bikes

Road bikes are faster, but CX bikes are more flexible and better suited to my commute :P

Plus I have this funky cape. I felt naked this morning :?

will3

KB, I find the same: the Vapour is about 1-2mph slower than the Fort, but the vapour still holds my commute record

However there are a few byways and bridleways and bits through the woods which are great fun on the Vapour where I'd never take a "road" bike.

On the shirt front: you need to pack a few days worth into your pannier and leave a stash at work for the non-cx days - assuming you have more than one shirt that is.

stuaff

You could always get a Carradice saddlebag for the Madone. Mounted to the saddle (even the supports they do) so no danger of damaging your seatmast, no sweaty back. Alternatively, lighter wheels/tyres for the Tricross.

Kieran_Burns

The thing is:

the harder work on the Tricross means I am getting fitter, faster. So when I do go for a ride on the Madone I bleeding fly.

Plus I like the strength of the Tricross wheels - I'm not afraid to cycle anywhere if required.

oscarbudgie

Whats the weight difference between the two - I once picked up a Tricross and did think it was touch on the hefty side?

itsbruce

Kieran_Burns wrote:

Good God. :shock:

Really - the difference between commuting on a Tricross (which is excellently suited) and a Madone... fark. :shock:

Heh Your post reminds me of the difference between commuting on my old Trek Navigator 300 and my shiny new flat-bar road bike.

Minuses:
Cleats: Clipped in all the time. I'm not comfortable with cleats in traffic and constantly worry about having an off 'cos I can't get my feet out in time

I have the Shimano M324 dual-use pedals with multi-directional release cleats and a relatively loose setting; the result is that I have no worries about either unclipping or getting moving again when the lights change. Never yet had the cleats come out while standing on the pedals to climb a hill (don't have it set that loose). I'll probably be tightening the clips a little over time.

Kieran_Burns

I can't find the weight of the Madone :oops: but the basic Tricross comes in at 24lbs, and I have mudguards and a rack on there as well.

I can pick the Madone up with one finger.


I have dual sided pedals on the Tricross (SPD) but went for a colour co-ordinated pair of SPD-SLs for the Madone. I pose with the best of them (even got matching bottles).

The Madone is really a weekend bike, not for commuting but I keep getting asked to bring it in so people can see it... so I finally succumbed

Rich158

My Madone 5.2 was 17lbs, mind you that was with lightweight Mavic wheels. I second everything that has been said about the Madone, they're fantastic bikes and a great ride

ex-pat scot

I have a Tricross recently built up for commuting. NB it has road rubber 700 * 23s at the moment, and really flies.

I also have a Trek (OK a 5900, not a Madone, but it's only a generation or 2 behind) and it flies too.

There's not much difference on my commute. they are both a fair bit faster than my Langster fixed wheel, which is partly due to gearing, hills and mudguards.

As you note, tyres are the greatest change between Tricross and Madone.

symo

It is made by Trek though. Does it come with a list of acceptable excuses for the use of EPO on a stem mounted fact sheet?

Kieran_Burns

symo wrote:

It is made by Trek though. Does it come with a list of acceptable excuses for the use of EPO on a stem mounted fact sheet?

but I don't need AntiVirus on my bike......

symo

LOL

AndyManc

K-B , I'll be in the same position as you soon (when I say soon, it could be anytime in the next 20yrs, I've been threatening to get a 'proper' road bike for ages). :roll:

The Madone 4.5 is on my trial list.

All bikes are a compromise , CX bikes are about the best compromise you will get (or maybe a hardtail with slicks, depending how important off road is to the individual).

I'll be using toe clips with my road bike,(if it was good enough for Eddy Merckx ), I hate fixing my foot to one position.

I'll also be using it as a summer commute/training/leisure bike, the only problem, to maintain the light weight, it wont be reasonable to carry heavy locks (in fact no locks), I might have the smallest saddle tool bag (stuff a phone and keys in).

Basically, everyone needs at least 5 bikes if you want the perfect steed for every situation .

I can see Wiggle rubbing their hands now :roll:


:P


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