Bought my first road bike! Trek madone 3.1

[pinkwillow]

I'm very giddy about it but also a beginner so a bit intimidated. I've decided on speed play clipless once I get the hang of riding it around the block a few times. Any recommendations for shoes? I do plan to do tris someday. Anything else I'll need besides helmet (2nd thing I bought after bike)? DH is actually buying the same bike in his size tomorrow.

[stingsharkruns]

[Susie]

Do you have cycling shorts? I would classify those as a "need." Also, a bag with tools to change a flat (and know how to use them!). Levers, a spare tube, CO2 cartridges.

There is an endless string of "wants," but you'll get there in time. Some matter more than others: jerseys, socks, gloves, sunglasses, a 2nd bottle cage, a Road ID...

Enjoy!

[sadlebred]

Enjoy your new bike!

Needs:
-Cycling shorts (good ones start at about $50. Some advice in my bio)
-Seat pack/saddle bag with: CO2 cartridges or a minipump, tire levers, spare tube (buy several). Then learn how to use all of it to change a flat. Most LBSes will offer occasionally mini-clinics on how to do that.
-Helmet
-Front and rear blinkie lights for visibility

Wants:
-Cycling jersey
-Shoes
-Clipless pedals
-So many other things

For shoes, go to your bike shop or even two and try them on. Sort of like running shoes, what works for me might not work for you. Fit is different for everyone. Having said that, I have 7-8 pairs of Sidis.

[Deleted]

This is very itneresting to me as I have been embroiled in a one month saga over the Madone 3.1 WSD (and dragging the rest of H&F through it with me!). Did you get the WSD? What made you decide on this one?

[pinkwillow]

Thanks Susie and Sadelbred! I think the next things are going to be gloves and a bag with the spare parts and whatnot. Luckily we have a lot of friends who are huge into cycling and tris so I have people to teach me how to do that.

May 29, 2012 14:13:27 GMT -5 elle said:

This is very itneresting to me as I have been embroiled in a one month saga over the Madone 3.1 WSD (and dragging the rest of H&F through it with me!). Did you get the WSD? What made you decide on this one?

I didn't get the WSD. At 5'8" 145 lbs I was assured that I wouldn't need it. ;D DH and I had gone to an actual TREK store to look at a middle-of-the-road level road bike. Nothing beginner but not $5million. New the Madone was out of my price range so I drooled over it but left the store empty handed.

The next day we went to our LBS at the suggestion of one of our tri friends and looked at Felts. I casually mentioned that I had been eyeballing the Madone but that new it was out of my price range. (we were looking to spend $1500 max) The guy then told me the other location 20min away had a 2011 Madone 3.1 in my size for $1200. This LBS doesn't typically take in many used bikes but the guy who had it bought it from them and was a good friend of the owner and they knew he was meticulous. He traded it in to upgrade. So we went to the other location, I took it for a lap around the block, DH called his tri friend for confirmation that this was a good deal and that it would be a good fit. Bought it for $1100.

DH used to mountain bike a lot (several years ago) but even he was so impressed with the Madone that when he found the same bike in his size for basically the same price he jumped on it. He is currently selling his Specialized mountain bike to offset the cost of 2 road bikes.

I may be a bit biased now but I say go for the Madone!

[Deleted]

Very interesting. I'm having angst over the 2012 Madone 3.1 because it has the Apex gears. I am leaving work early today (I hope) to go see how they work for me.