First roader - second hand Madone 5.2? Help

ct8282

Hi peeps. I've just joined the forum. I'm Chris, looking forward to learning from you all and contributing to the site.

So some quick background info. 31 years old, fitness obsessed, mainly weight training and running, used to be into MTB but just wasn't riding enough so sold all my MTB gear, but recently decided I wanted to organise an east to west UK bike ride for next year, and also wanted something I could get about my local town and also get out on the roads with mates at the weekend, hence looking for a road bike.

I'm currently trying to get my company to sign up to the ride 2 work program and was looking at something like the Plant X pro carbon SRAM Rival bikes for £999, but for some reason they're not currently willing to sign up. Annoying!, in my travels I got talking to my next door neighbour about wanting a bike and it turns out he has a Trek Madone 5.2 2011 which he bought new, did a few rides, maybe 150 miles worth, and then it has been sitting at his folks house ever since. He brought it round earlier and its currently sitting in my hallway. The tyres are flat of course, but on closer examination it almost looks like new apart from slightly grubby grips, and a bit of grease here and there which will wipe away. I need to have the size verified but I think its a 54cm frame, I'm 5ft 8 and have been told this is the right size frame for me?? It all looks pretty tidy, and damn this bike is so flipping light. It has full Ultegra parts throughout, and Bontrager race light wheels.
He has said I can have it for £1000.

Now, thing is I know MTB stuff so know what's good and what's not. I know nothing about road bikes. I understand the Madone 5,2, current model is about £3000 so I'm smart enough to know this isn't the usual beginner bike. However I was planning to spend up to £1000 so should I give this bike serious consideration or would I be better off buying a brand new bike for £1000 that will obviously come with warranty, probably first service free etc. Although a £3k bike new, is this 2011 model still worth £1000 and do you guys think I would need to have it properly serviced if I were to buy it?

And what about whether or not the bike is actually right for me? When I stand over the frame it is almost pressing up against my groin. Is this right for sizing or is it not as simple as that to work out?

Sorry for all the questions but I'm completely in the dark with this one and would really welcome your experienced views.

Thanks in advance.

sloppyschleckonds

I like a good two inches clearance on my groin.

Have you considered getting new neighbours?

nochekmate

A google search shows other 2011 Madone 5.2 requesting a sale price well in excess of £1K and Madones always fetch good secondhand prices despite the LA link being tainted somewhat.

As for fit, it depends. 54cm for 5ft 8 is again roughly correct, although it may be argued that you are at the lower end of the 54cm recommendations but models vary. Take it for a ride.

ct8282

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

I like a good two inches clearance on my groin.

Have you considered getting new neighbours?

Thanks. Not sure about the new neighbours comment however. What did I miss?

ct8282

nochekmate wrote:

A google search shows other 2011 Madone 5.2 requesting a sale price well in excess of £1K and Madones always fetch good secondhand prices despite the LA link being tainted somewhat.

As for fit, it depends. 54cm for 5ft 8 is again roughly correct, although it may be argued that you are at the lower end of the 54cm recommendations but models vary. Take it for a ride.

Thanks. What's the deal with the 'LA link'?

I must admit the bike does look big. The saddle isn't very high at present, maybe 6 inches of seat post, but when I sit on it my legs are extended too much when I pedal. The saddle will need to drop a touch I think.

nochekmate

Armstrong & Trek

sloppyschleckonds

I'd agree with NCM, but value wise around £800 sounds more better

nochekmate

£800 would be a bargain for model and spec. Just sold a 2011 Madone 3.1 with Rival for 850 and was offered more than 900 on eBay.

ct8282

nochekmate wrote:

£800 would be a bargain for model and spec. Just sold a 2011 Madone 3.1 with Rival for 850 and was offered more than 900 on eBay.

On that basis then £1000 is a decent price for this bike. I reckon with a clean up it'll look brand new. I think the gears need adjusting which I'm guessing is just because its been sitting stationary for so long. Apart from that I can't find anything wrong with it.

nochekmate

There will be plenty wrong with it if the size is not right

ct8282

Thanks again. My best mates colleague is a very experienced rider so I'll try and get him to give it a once over and assess it for size.

smidsy

ct8282 wrote:

Not sure about the new neighbours comment however. What did I miss?

I think the implication is that if you lived next to someone else they may have had a different bike to sell you, or maybe none at all, thus saving you money.