Trek Madone 3.5c 2013 v Specialized Tarmac SL4 sport 2014

Jauncarlos67

Looking at getting a new bike, I have narrowed it down to these two,

Madone 3.5c 2013 model £1,500 and the Specialized Tarmac SL4 sport 2014 model £1,600
One of my current bikes is a Tarmac comp 2010, with Ultegra group set and Mavic Kysrium wheels, and I rate it very highly.
I cant test ride the new Tarmac until the weekend, so until then I was seeing what other forum members think.

ps I am limited to using Evans cycles.

Grill

If you like your old Tarmac, then there's nothing wrong with getting a new one. The SL4 is a nicer ride than the SL3 which helps.

EPO Delivery Man

Both lovely bikes, go with your gut instinct. Good luck.

augiedonkers

Cant comment on the Tarmac. But i bought the 3.5 2013 a few weeks ago for 1375 euro (of course a lot cheaper in Holland). I went for the Giant tcr2.0 for 1250 euros. But decided to follow the advice of the lad who measured me up. Better frame and wheel(hubs) for corners he said. I must say that the bike is great, ive put some green rubinos on them to complete the look. The groupset is of course great 70/30 ultegra/105. Afterwards im glad i bought the trek because the carbon frame is great in absorbing shocks. The roads here in holland/belgium arent allways perfect tarmac. Great climber, very very smooth downhill. Really comfortable h2 geometry, easy on my 45 year old back and knees.

But as someone else here said. You wont go wrong with either bike. Its all marketing bullshit. Bikeradar gave the 2012 madone a 5, yet the 4.5 2013 madone (according to them surpasses the 3.5 on all accounts??????) 4,5 stars. Carbon is carbon if youre no competitive racer. Just buy as cheap as possible with the best groupset present without upgrading in the back of youre mind.

Specialized is more expensive here in Holland and fewer shops sell them. Trek is of course a huge company and delivers high quality carbon made in Taiwan.
Trek had to lower their prices on carbon bikes due to the big competition from German brands. But i think this is more of an issue on the mainland. And im sure if you could buy a Trek madone 3.5 for 1150 GBP!!!! You would not have asked which to buy:)))).

If i had to buy a new bike in 10 years time it would probably be a trek carbon again...So go for the Tarmac...buy what you know and trust...its all psychology anyway;-)

Drive safely and friendly greetings,
Augie