Bike Setup: Full Dura-ace 9-speed with FSA compact double crank(50/34), Mavic Ksyrium SSC wheels, Selle Italia Flite saddle, Bontrager stem and 3T oversized handlebars, Cateye "Astrale 8" computer w/cadence.
Summary: I love this bike! It is comfortable, light and responsive. Climbs well and easily outperforms me as rider. This may be the last road bike I ever own!
Strengths: Quality of construction and perfect paint job ('96 Ice Red). Lightweight, sexy and stiff.
Weaknesses: None
Similar Products Used: None that compare...
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Summary: I bought this frame from a racer friend who had an extra, and built it up with some DA components. It is simply a blast to ride. The frame is stiff, but doesn't kill me on New Orleans streets. I've never felt uncomftorable even on the steepest descents. (I haven't allways lived in NOLA) I would recomend it it over any of the more expensive Ti frames out there.
Strengths: geometry / ride quality
Weaknesses: A little pricey.
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Bike Setup: 5500 frame with Dura Ace components. 3T stem and bars, Chris King headset, speedplay pedals, and Mavic Open Pros on DA hubs.
Summary: I bought this bike used form a guy who had everything customized per his preferences, fortunately it fits me. Bottom line, I replaced an old Giant 7spd with this Trek, and the first ride I was 5.3 mph faster on my regular 14 mi training loop. The differance was mostly on the hills due to the very stiff frame. With this bike, the bike is no longer the limiting factor.
Strengths: It is the frame that won the Tour de France two years in a row..... comes complete without excuses! Seriously stiff and comfortable.
Weaknesses: None that I have found yet.
Similar Products Used: Cannondale, Lemond alum and steel, Bianchi
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Favorite Ride: Any Coast highway ride with good weather
Bike Setup: Rolf pro wheels, Look 296 pedals, Profile/Jammer aero bars used just for racing.
Summary: Sweet, smooth, ride, that screams downhill and handles super under pressure while hill climbing. A stellar racing bike that also tours comfortably. This bike makes the Torrey Pines hill climb seem like a walk in the park (well, OK, almost-a-walk in the park) while the descent is so fast it's scary!
Trek's attention to detail is apparent throughout: finish, geometry, and the Dura Ace gruppo all work and wear beautifully. The gruppo looks as pretty as it performs, sleek sculpted chrome enhanced with STI functionality. STI let's you shift comfortably on climbs and maximize gears on descents and the rollers.
A word on the Rolf pros: I added my Rolf pro's and have not been disappointed. As an example, on the neighborhood hill that I regularly descend at 40 mph with my Dura ace wheels, I now easily hit 42 mph without any extra effort. Durability: 750 miles on some less than perfect roads, no problems with wheels staying true or flats. The Rolf's coast/freewheel well, little resistance in the freewheel, descents are scary fast, and on a technical course with lots of turns these wheels are squirrelly quick. Bottomline: great wheels, I use them for weekend training and racing, while I commute with the Dura ace wheels set. One last note on Rolf wheels set, they really get the job done in the wind. I was a skeptic, but after training, and racing, through the hills, flats, rollers and more, the one place these wheels really excel is in the wind, nothing slows them down.
All in all, a great value from a top notch company.
Strengths: Comfort, responsiveness, climbing and handling. Price, value, quality product and company. I own the 1998 nude/black bike frame with added Rolf pro wheel set: makes for a distinctive looking bicycle. With the preponderance of Trek USPS bikes this black frame with the orange/gold offset wheels has classic good looks.
Weaknesses: Exterior routed cables can mar frame. This is a 1998 frame. No biggie.
Similar Products Used: Trey 2300, Cannodale SR600
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Bike Setup: '99 Trek 5500 frame, campy record 10 speed, zipp or mavic helium wheels for races, some dura ace 28/32 hole wheels for training,
Summary: This is a great bike. I have been on a trek oclv now for about 4 years and I won't go back to another material. It is so very comfortable, and stiff, sprints well, climbs well, handles superb. This is a great bike.
For my 58 with my zipp wheels it only weighs 17-17.5lbs.
Also Trek was great in replacing two frames that were broke in a race. This was great considering that I was lucky enough to only have to pay for the wheels when I got the bike.
Even at full price this is the bike that I would choose.
Strengths: Comfort, Weight, Quality of build, manufacturers stance behind their warranty
Weaknesses: everyone is getting one
Similar Products Used: Nothing Similiar
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