Featured User Review: Trek Madone 4.5 Road Bike by Guadalupe River Bum
Price: $2100.00 at Bike World Overall Rating: 5 of 5 Value Rating: 5 of 5
Favorite Ride: Anywhere in the Texas Hill Country
Bike Setup: Frame – Trek TCT Carbon Fork – Bontrager Race Lite Carbon w/E2 aluminum steerer Rims/Wheels ROL RACE SL wheelset (1520 gm) Tires Bontrager R1, 700 x 23c Crankset Shimano R-600 Chainwheel 50/34 Front Derailleur Shimano 105 Rear Derailleur Shimano 105 Rear Cogs Shimano 105, 10-speed: 11-28 Shifters Shimano 105 STI Handlebars Bontrager Race VR-C Tape/Grips Bontrager Gel Stem Bontrager Race Lite Brake Levers Shimano 105 Brakes Tektro R540 dual-pivot Saddle Specialized Phenom Seat Post Bontrager copy
Summary: I am a long-time mountain biker who has gained a few pounds over the years and jumped into agency cycling this summer to intend backwards into shape. I springy in the construction country of central Texas and the Madone 4.5 (with Shimano 105) is enthusiastic for rise and descending, modify on rough roads. I see same the try I place into cranking or spinning is greatly rewarded. On flats, it feels rattling susceptible when I push on the gas to running and it nearly wants to jump discover from low me. (Love that feeling!) I ofttimes find myself smiling unintentionally same a kid – especially on the downhills. The downhills see seure and solidified at 35+ mph. I don’t provide a second thought to inclination into the corners. I’ve heard that the brushwood are not as enthusiastic as the rest of the components, but they kibosh securely and work well sufficiency for me. I feature somewhere that you crapper change the brushwood pads with Shimano Dura-Ace pads pretty inexpensively but I hit not change the need to do this yet.
Like others, I apace upgraded the seat to a Specialized Phenom and it is today nearly as easy as a selection chair. Can mate every period without issues.
The DuoTrap (ANT+) sensor embedded in the inclose is pleasant and slick and modify though it’s not the small expensive option, I highly propose it. I matched it with a Node 1 computer and hit been pleased.
The Bontrager SSR wheels were enthusiastic to intend started with, change solidified and handled well and were evenhandedly susceptible to sprinting and climbimg. But an upgrade to a set of ROL Race SL’s (1520 grams) made this enthusiastic cycle modify better. Sprinting and rise reinforced to a full newborn level. I also hit to mention that the customer service at ROL is awesome by some measure.
I would highly propose the Madone 4.5 to anyone hunting for a racy, ease budget-conscious, entry take copy bike. Use the money you save to upgrade to a set of ROL wheels and you won’t be disappointed.
Strengths: Great inclose for a prototypal agency bike. Very susceptible ease absorbs the bumps in the agency rattling well. Feels “racy” without existence uncomfortable.
Not that I particularly care what it looks like, but the black matte finish is pretty shucks modify and is a pleasant change of measure from every of the high gloss finishes discover there.
Weaknesses: Seat is narrowing and would probable only be easy for people with evenhandedly narrowing set bones. If your set clappers are wider apart, go with a wider command and you won’t be disappointed. Wheelset is OK, but upgrading to a lighter, more aero and stiffer wheelset takes this cycle to a full newborn level.
The designers were apparently rattling “sticker happy” when they fashioned it. I don’t think they could squeeze added “Trek” sticker on it if they tried. But whatever – I mate it and fuck it meet the way it is.
Similar Products Used: 2011 Cannondale Synapse (aluminum with copy fork) – more comfy and less spirited than the Madone, but ease a really enthusiastic cycle in its possess correct and a fun cycle that you crapper savor every day.
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