My first carbon road bike :-))

Gizmodo

And loving it (huge grin)

daveb99

Very nice indeed....congrats. I've gone carbon recently and it's soooo much smoother than ally.

Is that the new 'stealth grey' Ultegra? I like!

Only one mudguard though?

rolf_f

daveb99 wrote:

Only one mudguard though?

Indeed - and if I was only going to put one mudguard on, it would be the front one.

roypsb

Great looking bike (except for the mudguard).

Practical though they are - mudguards look hideous.

rolf_f

roypsb wrote:

Great looking bike (except for the mudguard).

Practical though they are - mudguards look hideous.

That's what Crud Racers are for - I reckon my carbon Ribble looks better with them on than without!

Gizmodo

Thanks guys, front mudguard fitted today. Trek Madone 3.x have threads front and rear for guards - the front have eyelets that screw into the forks. The LBS didn't have the eyelets in stock so fitted the rear form me and ordered them in along with a carbon seat post. They arrived yesterday and I popped down there today for them to fit them for me.

I'll post updated photos tomorrow.

Thanks to Bridgetown Cycles, Cannock for all their help.

Gizmodo

As promised, an updated photo with both guards. Went out for my first proper ride on it this morning and was quicker everywhere - except at 11 miles when we had to stop to fix a rear puncture! Still, it felt great (not the puncture).

I know guards spoil the look of any bike, but I don't believe in Winter bikes - why would I want to ride anything other than my best? Can't wait to take them off in the spring.

rolf_f

Gizmodo wrote:

I know guards spoil the look of any bike, but I don't believe in Winter bikes - why would I want to ride anything other than my best? Can't wait to take them off in the spring.

This is the thing about Crudracers - they don't spoil the look of the bike. And taking the mudguards off in spring doesn't stop the bike getting cacked up by rain which does still fall all year round. Get yourself some Cruds asap

Gizmodo

Rolf F wrote:

This is the thing about Crudracers - they don't spoil the look of the bike. And taking the mudguards off in spring doesn't stop the bike getting cacked up by rain which does still fall all year round. Get yourself some Cruds asap

Sorry but I'll have to disagree - all guards, including Crud Racers, spoil the look of a bike. But it's nice having a dry bum!

rolf_f

Gizmodo wrote:

Rolf F wrote:

This is the thing about Crudracers - they don't spoil the look of the bike. And taking the mudguards off in spring doesn't stop the bike getting cacked up by rain which does still fall all year round. Get yourself some Cruds asap

Sorry but I'll have to disagree - all guards, including Crud Racers, spoil the look of a bike. But it's nice having a dry bum!

Naaah, my Gran Fondo looks rather better with the Cruds - but you do need to use the short tail on the rear. The long tail does spoil the look and the only difference is you soak the bloke behind but that doesn't matter!

PhilPub

Thanks to this thread I bought myself some Cruds - so thanks for the mudguard chat! I agree that they do look pretty smart - in a "fit for purpose" kind of way. And come Spring 2012, when they come off again the bike will look, and therefore BE, faster. Sorted.

Gizmodo

PhilPub wrote:

Thanks to this thread I bought myself some Cruds - so thanks for the mudguard chat! I agree that they do look pretty smart - in a "fit for purpose" kind of way. And come Spring 2012, when they come off again the bike will look, and therefore BE, faster. Sorted.

lol - From "My first carbon road bike" to "Thanks to this thread I bought myself some Cruds" - brilliant, glad to be of service

I definitely agree with your last sentence - "come Spring 2012, when they come off again the bike will look, and therefore BE, faster. Sorted."

To go back to the original subject, the Trek Madone 3.5 - BR have just done a review - http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/product/review-trek-madone-35-12-45692

Gizmodo

Summer rubber and no guards! It feels like freedom

MaxwellBygraves

Looks proper smart, nice one.

andyxm

Thinking of getting a Trek, can you answer a quick q, are the mudguards specific trek ones, or will any do and what width tyres do you think you can run with the mudguards on?

Gizmodo

andyxm wrote:

Thinking of getting a Trek, can you answer a quick q, are the mudguards specific trek ones, or will any do and what width tyres do you think you can run with the mudguards on?

Strange story there - they tried to fit the Bontrager guards in the store, the rear was no problem but the front wouldn't go between the forks. So they tried to fit Giant guards, but the rear didn't have the right bolt holes.

So I ended up with Bontrager rear, Giant front. I am sure that Trek have got them sorted now, I bought the first 2012 model from the store so they were very new.

Tire width, I've only ever used 23mm, never tried anything else.

Gabbo

Very nice but do yourself a favour and keep that mudguard off the bike. It's a beautiful bike, but a mudguard won't adorn it!

djfleming22

I have to agree until its right pissing down keep them off.....very nice bike congrats........

p9uma

How the flippity blumen blasty 'eck do fit those sodding mudguards?

jay197

p9uma wrote:

How the flippity blumen blasty 'eck do fit those sodding mudguards?

I got my LBS to do it as it looked a wee bit tight fitting........and the LBS agreed but did a great job for me.

samsbike

Lovely bike, is that more of an audax ride, as the stem seems high (which I prefer?)

Gizmodo

It is a high front end for comfort, I believe "sportive bike" is the trendy term.

Check out the Cycling plus review http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/bikes/road/product/review-trek-madone-35-12-45692

p9uma

jay197 wrote:

p9uma wrote:

How the flippity blumen blasty 'eck do fit those sodding mudguards?

I got my LBS to do it as it looked a wee bit tight fitting........and the LBS agreed but did a great job for me.

Is your the same bike? Which mudguards did you have?

Well, I have taken mine to another LBS, I got a message today to say my bike is ready, so I'll pick it up tomorrow, hopefully it will be done.

Fitting the specific Bontrager mudguards to this bike has been a pain in the bottom.

p9uma

Just got back from collecting the bike, all tickety boo. It needed extra long bolts to go in the threaded brake holder holes and a couple of spacers as well. Why the flippin eck don't that tell you that and supply what you need when you buy the bloody mudguards!

99thmonkey

Those mudguards are just Ranktastic, practical but grotesque all in one curve