Trek 2001 5900 USPS Team Superlight

Price Paid:  $3000.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
Any freshly paved road

Bike Setup:
Frame: 2001 Trek USPS 5900 SuperLight 54cm
Fork: Easton EC90 Superlight Straight Blade
Headset: Chris King (Silver) 1 1/8"
Stem: Bontrager XXX OS Carbon 100mm
Handlebars: Bontrager Race Lite 42cm
Seat Post: Easton EC90 Carbon Zero Set Back
Seat: Selle San Marco Aspide
Crank: Dura Ace 7800 170mm
Bottom Bracket: Dura Ace 7800
Brakes: Dura Ace 7800
Shifters: Dura Ace 7800 10 Speed
Cassette: Dura Ace 7800 10 Speed 12-27
Derailuers F/R: Dura Ace 7800
Pdeals: Dura Ace 7800
Computer: Flight Deck 10 Speed
Bottle Cages: Arundel Carbon
Bottles: Tacx
Wheelset: Mavic Ksryium ES on order (SWEET!!!)
Tires: Specialized Mondo S

Summary:
HISTORY:
When this bike first came out, I really wanted to get it. Everything about the bike was exactly what I wanted, including the USPS color scheme. But alas, the price of admission was beyond what I really could afford. Recently however, I had the opportunity to buy my "dream bike" at a price that was within my budget price. I immediately upgraded some componets: Easton EC90 carbon seat post, San Marco Aspide saddle, Bontrager xxx Carbon OS stem, FSA Crank and bottom bracket, and Dura Ace 7800 Pedals (bike came with no pedals). After everything was said and done, the final price was probably around the 3000.00 mark. Still expensive, but the bike is exactly the way I want it, which is of course the main objective.


IMPRESSIONS:
The bike accelerates very quickly and goes up hills with very little effort. Decents are very fast, percise, and controllable. Steering is very percise and really gives the rider alot of confidence when at high speed. I know there is alot of talk about how carbon fiber bikes have a dead road feel as compared to steel or aluminum, well I have been riding steel all my life and after ridding this bike, I WILL NEVER GO BACK TO STEEL. The comfort and smoothness on the bike, just cannot be overstated, IMHO this is much better than steel bikes (my steel bike is Columbus SLX..back when SLX was steel). I have also heard some problems with the Crane Creek Headsets, so far I have not had any problems with the steering binding or any other issue with the headset.


FINAL THOUGHTS:
All I can say is, I really love this bike. The fact that it has USPS colors just makes me like it that much more. I have been ridding (cycling)bikes since 1986. I have ridden a Schwinn Letour, Schwinn Circuit (very nice bike), a custom made Italy bike which has been my ride since 1996(lived in Italy for a year and half), and finally this Trek 5900. The Trek beats all of them hands down. If anyone out there is thinking about getting a Trek Carbon Fiber bike...You definitely should and more importantly, you will not be disappointed.


Take care all


Tony

Strengths:
Very Light, Impressive Acceleration, Very comfortable ride.

Weaknesses:
Proprietary Headset is very unacceptable for this level bike. I had to send the frame (through a trek dealership) to Trek and have them replace the stock headset. Bike uses a proprietary fork and bottom cup (which is epoxied to the frame). Currently have a Chris King headset on it. Total process was time consuming and really unnecessary.

Similar Products Used:
Custon Made Italian Frame. Lived in Vicenza Italy for about 2 years. Bianuucci (not Bianchi) is the local bike maker that made the frame. Columbus SLX steel frame, Columbus fork, Campagnolo Athena group complete, Campagnolo Vento Wheelset.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
Blue Ridge Parkway

Bike Setup:
2004 Rolf/Prima Vigor wheels and Deda Newton Stem.

Summary:
A beautiful bike to ride in a straight line. However, mine does not currently handle too well due to a binding headset. This is a common problem with the 5900 and is due to a poor headset or poor fork race/headtube facing, resulting in a less than parallel alignment of the upper and lower headset cups.

Strengths:
Light and smooth as silk.

Weaknesses:
Bad headset/headtube/fork prep results in binding of headset during climbs and sprints. Still trying to resolve this issue with Trek and LBS.

Similar Products Used:
Trek 5200

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Westlake Cyclery

Bike Setup:
Looks cool in "Deep South"(flaming red...you can see the carbon throught the TREK letters

Summary:
This is my dream bike. I got the 5900 62 cm. with all Campy Record. Ti rear cassette, Easton Carbon Bars,speedplay X2 pedals. The ride is great. Those that complain it's too stiff must be small guys . I'm 6'3" 191 lbs. I find it soaks up road shock & big bumps very well, especially coupled with the Bontrager X-lite wheels. It climbs incredibly well. I have a 25 tooth ring in back, and that's all I need.

Strengths:
Light weight. 62 cm with pedals, cage, computer --only 17 lbs!!!
Great braking/shifting with the campy set up.
Climbs like a mountain Goat.

Weaknesses:
The Selle Italia Seat killed my butt. Swapped it out for the Selle Gel , only a little wider, but way more comfy.

Similar Products Used:
looked at the colnago C40. At my height the Trek is a better fit..can run a shorter stem at 62 cm than the colnago

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Sun Bike Shop, Milpi

Favorite Ride:
Any Ride

Bike Setup:
DuraAce, Ksyrium Wheels, EC90 Handlebar, Speedplay x/2 pedals

Summary:
I expected the bike to climb hills by itself from what I had been told, and it practically does. Cycling out of the seat up a steep hill is effortless. What I did not expect was the excellent handling of the bike. This bike eats up the turns on a steep downhill curvy road like nothing I have ridden before. The frame dampens vibration as expected, but that is not why I bought the bike.

Strengths:
Superlight, stiff frame. Handling is superb, and climbs by itself.

Weaknesses:
The headset is epoxied to the frame so it is not possible to switch to another headset manufacturer.

Similar Products Used:
GT ZR1.0, Lightspeed Sienna, Fuji Team

Price Paid:  $2500.00 at roadbikereview.com

Favorite Ride:
Anywhere inTexas Hill country

Bike Setup:
Full D/A, Dura Ace 7700 wheels, axial pros, Speedplay pedals

Summary:
Light, strong, and a comfrotable ride. The claims of "dead road feel" seem exagerated to me. The ride is comparable to the steel LeMond Zurich I rode previously, with a little more filtering of high freq road vibration (and a lot lighter). With low rim mass wheels, you can expect a noticeable improvement in climbing performance.

Strengths:
Light weight, stiff platform, sufficiently compliant

Weaknesses:
Long-term durability of frame is not yet establised(could be an important factor for used bike buyer). Not particularly good looking or aero.

Similar Products Used:
C-Dale CAAD4, LeMond Zurich