Bicylists - my saga continues

[Deleted]

The Madone 2011 3.1 I have been flirting with was GONE when I got to the LBS yesterday. But they were great (again, shout out to Helen's Cycles) and have offered to substantially discount the 2012 Madone if I want it. But I'm a little iffy on the shifters (the 2012 has SRAM Apex instead of the Shimano 105). So now I'm considering the 4.5 WSD and the Lexa SLX. Thoughts on the Apex v. the 105? What about on the compact crank v. the triple crank?


www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/sport/madone_4_series/madone_4_5_wsd/#

www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/sport/madone_3_series/madone_3_1_wsd_apex_compact/#

www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/sport/lexa/lexa_slx/#

[Susie]

May 29, 2012 14:11:54 GMT -5 elle said:

The Madone 2011 3.1 I have been flirting with was GONE when I got to the LBS yesterday. But they were great (again, shout out to Helen's Cycles) and have offered to substantially discount the 2012 Madone if I want it. But I'm a little iffy on the shifters (the 2012 has SRAM Apex instead of the Shimano 105). So now I'm considering the 4.5 WSD and the Lexa SLX. Thoughts on the Apex v. the 105? What about on the compact crank v. the triple crank?


www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/sport/madone_4_series/madone_4_5_wsd/#

www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/sport/madone_3_series/madone_3_1_wsd_apex_compact/#

www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/sport/lexa/lexa_slx/#

I really prefer 105 to SRAM Apex. SRAM's double tap shifting just isn't for me. I have small hands, don't have long fingers, and moving all the way out to the 2nd position to shift is uncomfortable for me. I think it'd be especially hard to shift that way when riding in the drops. I'm sure I'd have gotten used to it if that's what the bike I had came with, but you're picking it out. Try both and see which you prefer. Remember that you're shifting constantly, so go with the one you prefer, not the one that's ever so slightly cheaper.

As for crank, I prefer the compact. Triple has too many redundant gears. I live in a hilly area, and I thought maybe I should get the triple -- the sales guys talked me out of it. I'm glad; the compact has been great for me.

As for the Lexa SLX vs. the Madone... at the beginning of this whole saga, did you ride both aluminum and carbon frames and form an opinion? I would imagine you would have before deciding to spend carbon frame $? If you did, trust that opinion. If you haven't test ridden aluminum and carbon road bikes side by side, go do that. I bet you'll have an opinion when you finish. Take your time with it, and try to separately evaluate the 105s and the ride of the Al frame on the Lexa SLX, and the Apex and ride of the carbon frame on the Madone.

Bottom line, try them out for a good long ride each, form your opinions, and trust them. THEN GO BUY A DARN ROAD BIKE!

[sadlebred]

Like Susie, I'm a Shimano fan myself. I have Apex on one of my cyclocross bikes, and I find it much harder to shift than Shimano on the other bikes. It's really about personal preference.

Triples tend to have more troubles shifting than compact cranks. This comes from experience with my old road bike. The triple front derailleur has to travel further to shift, and it gets out of alignment easier than a double. Having said that, a yearly tune up with the bike shop should be enough to prevent any of those problems. I'd go with a compact crankset given the choice. I run "standard" gearing, not compact on my road bike.

Keep in mind that one is a $1400, and the other is a $2000. With the $2000 you are paying for the carbon frame. The Apex and 105 components are roughly the same level within the SRAM and Shimano lines.

Yeppers...go buy yourself a road bike after testing them like Susie said!

[gumi]

just buy my bike. its awesome, its comfortable, its fast, its light, its affordable.

www.cannondale.com/2012/bikes/womens/elite-road/supersix-womens/2012-supersix-womens-5-105-21519

[gumi]

and i think i will buy myself one!
www.cannondale.com/2012/bikes/womens/triathlon-time-trial/slice-womens/2012-slice-womens-2-21500

[Deleted]

I actually didn't consider the Lexa at first because the 2011 Madone 3.1 was so discounted the Lexa wasn't worth getting (they were within a few hundred dollars of each other). Now, obviously, that's changed because my bike crush (that tragically fell out of love with me when I was unable to commit) is gone. I'm a klutz so maybe alluminum is safer. But gosh the carbon fiber feels nice and light.

I have small hands so I definitely have some concerns about the Apex. I'm reconciled to spending what I have to to get the right back . . . DH has been on a bit of a bike spending spree lately so I am justified. :-)

[pinkwillow]

May 29, 2012 15:39:59 GMT -5 elle said:

I actually didn't consider the Lexa at first because the 2011 Madone 3.1 was so discounted the Lexa wasn't worth getting (they were within a few hundred dollars of each other). Now, obviously, that's changed because my bike crush (that tragically fell out of love with me when I was unable to commit) is gone. I'm a klutz so maybe alluminum is safer. But gosh the carbon fiber feels nice and light.

I have small hands so I definitely have some concerns about the Apex. I'm reconciled to spending what I have to to get the right back . . . DH has been on a bit of a bike spending spree lately so I am justified. :-)

I am definitely no expert but the Lexa was the other bike we were looking at. If I had to buy new the Lexa is likely what I would have ended up with because of my budget.

[Susie]

Don't overthink this, elle.

Also, carbon's not that delicate -- I crashed during a race and wound up in the hospital last year, and my carbon frame was a-ok. I had it in to my LBS to check it out afterwards. Buy what feels right

[katinthehat]

I've got 105s on my bike and love them. I'm a bike noob and have had little to no problems (and all the problems have been user error, not mechanical.)

So take that for what it's worth

[Deleted]

So, everyone says you never regret getting the better bike:

[sadlebred]

May 29, 2012 21:35:42 GMT -5 elle said:

So, everyone says you never regret getting the better bike:

This.Exactly!

[Susie]

So you took the plunge?

:Y: :Y: :Y:

[Deleted]

I did. I still couldn't figure out exactly what I wanted - I have no natural abilities here, I was torn between the Lexa SL and the Madone 4.5 - they both felt good to me, the Lexa SLX for some reason did not and I did not like the SRAM shifters on the Madone 3.1- but decided I would not regret getting the Madone whereas I might regret the Lexa. And I l LOVE it. She is so fast and responsive and pretty.

[sadlebred]

So, elle, you got the Madone?

[allez]

Have fun on your new bike!

[Deleted]

May 30, 2012 9:51:08 GMT -5 sadlebred said:

So, elle, you got the Madone?

Yes, the 4.5 though, not the 3.1. Because I didn't like the shifters one bit on the 3.1. They hurt my fingers. And the 4.5 is soooooo pretty.

And yes, SB, you were the first to laugh at me when I said I was thinking I'd maybe spend around $500. Well predicted.

[kams]

Congrats! She's pretty!

[Deleted]

Oh, and I got the one with compact gears, not triple. Thanks for the advice on that ladies!

[sadlebred]

You will LOVE your pretty new Madone! Post a photo of you on her!

[katinthehat]

yay!!