Lighter, faster, better. That was Trek's goal in creating their best-of-the-best Madone 6.9. Brutally efficient and ultra light, it features ingenious new technology for a superior ride, such as a 90mm-wide bottom bracket for maximum efficiency, sealed headset and bottom bracket bearings that simply press into the frame saving weight and reducing maintenance, and a seat mast that saves even more weight, while also boosting compliance for supreme comfort. And, it's built of Trek's team-spec OCLV Red carbon, while the fork is equally impressive. It's Bontrager's Race XXX Lite Carbon with E2 steerer, which is oversize at the base for excellent efficiency and control. A frame of this level deserves only the best and you get it with top-of-the-line Bontrager Race XXX Lite carbon wheels and Shimano's Tour-winning Dura-Ace components for the ultimate in shifting and braking, while the Bontrager stem, bars and seat add the finishing touches of class.
Strengths: Gorgeous to look at and beautiful to ride. Light and stiff yet still quite comfortable. Project One customization is awesome.
Weaknesses: Price - but you get what you pay for!
Bottom Line:
I started road racing in 1982 on an old Motobecane and bought my first Trek (a 170?) in 1984. I owned Treks for the next 10 years. I stopped riding altogether for 5 years until purchasing a LeMond Zurich (technically still a Trek - I think) in 1999. I loved that bike (although it didn't get ridden nearly enough when I moved to Chicago in 2003) until it flew off my roof (along with the entire rack) while driving through Nebraska to our new home in Oregon. Sad for the LeMond but good for me - as I was able to upgrade to a 2012 Project One Madone 6.9 SSL with the SRAM Red group.
The difference was astounding - I was actually afraid of the bike for a week because it felt so twitchy underneath me and I was scared I'd do something stupid and wreck the gorgeous paint job! I contemplated mounting it on the wall as a work of art and buying something I wouldn't be so emotionally invested in!
After a few weeks I became less of a spaz and the bike felt more and more stable. It is so quick to respond it's almost telepathic. It's ability to transfer energy into speed is really amazing. I would love to say that it climbs like a rocket but I'll have to lose another 40 lbs before I make that claim. I can say it WANTS to climb like a rocket but it has a 225 lb anchor.
It's not as stable on the descents as the LeMond was - I frequently hit the high 50's riding the hills around Eugene, OR on the LeMond and it was rock solid. The Madone is a bit more squirrely in the 50mph range although some of that may be the deep wheels catching air.
I'm going to put some RXL wheels on it and see if that makes any difference.
My only complaint is with the SRAM front derailleur - total piece of crap! The first one cracked, the second one flexed so much it came of the chain ring on both sides on numerous times. SRAM sent me a different version (steel/aluminum instead of titanium) and it appears to be fixed.
All in all it's a great bike that I would highly recommend (just go with a Force front derailleur) if you're getting the SRAM group.
Strengths: Light, Fast, Climbs Very Good, Comfortable, Good value.
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
I have had my P1 6.9 for almost a year now. Setup with Sram Red components and Bontrager carbon aero wheels. The bike has been great. I swapped out the Sram FD with a DA FD, but other than that the bike has been flawless. It is very light, fast and comfortable. I could not be happier with the bike.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Stewart Bethune
a
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2012
Strengths: Extraordinary hill climber. My Madone 6.9 has climbed many of the rugged passes in B.C. and it's rented cousin took me to the 10,000 ft. peak of Maui's Haleakala fron sea level at Paia. Bike is great downhill as well and sucks up the bumps and rough pavement at any speed. It is frankly an extraordinary bike. Kudos to the U.S. engineered and built bike.
Weaknesses: Ultegra components need more attention than I used to have with my prior Shimano powered bikes.
Bottom Line:
Fantastic bike. I am lucky enough to have started road riding as a hobby in the mid 80's on a Birtoni Italian steel bike then graduated to a Cannondale P8 with an aluminum frame and carbon forks. The leap to a Madone 6.9 Project bike was enormous but it certainly made me a convert.
The ride experience makes me count the days between my ski season at Whistler and my rides on the Sea to Sky highway.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
ed thomas
a Triathlete
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2012
Strengths: Handling , weight, Position, Climbing. Comfy ride. Wheels a surprise. Scandium ..Lite and durable. .25 mm Vitoria Rubino pro slicks helped the ride .
Weaknesses: This thing eats bb bearings to the tune of a set every 2k miles or less.. Change chains , change bearings..Got some new ones from Hawk-Racing. Hope they help
..Last week the fork cracked on both sides in nearly the same place..Not safe to ride now.. My old 5500 at least rides every day.. Learned long ago to keep one bike for go when it counts. Not the Madone.. Each year the price goes up.. What really matters most is the motor.
Bottom Line:
Fun ride at first..Liked the ride and power transfer. This bike was a retirement gift..I ride several hours most days.. Impressed with the Race Lite wheels. Durable so far..I get 6-8000 miles yearly.. The more i ride this the more it needs work. I find myself letting it hang many days and ride another..
Strengths: - unbelievable stability and strength
- multiple geometry options for each size (H1, H2, H3 with more/less aggressive positions)
- Ability to customize paint and components direct from factory (Project 1) - Example, I was able to pick a 12-26 cassette with standard cranks. 44cm bars versus 42cm, and the inform rvl saddle versus the new affinity one.
- Lightweight (carbon, duh)
-cost (yes, as a strength). it is a handbuilt, US frame with HIGH end carbon technology, and through project one, and the right component choices, you could built up the same frame for around $4000. value is there, even if not cheap.
- Node 2 integrated computer system (all wireless, built into chainstay, including cadence, HRM, altitude and more)
Weaknesses: - cost (yes, a con too). Even though reasonable compared to other high end carbon frames, it is still a lot, and still out of the range of the normal cyclist.
- stock color pallete (I know, picky, but the stock colors were UGLY, part of why I got a project 1 so I could pick my own colors)
- some 'suspect' part choices if you get a stock one (high end Bontrager wheels and componets are great. some lower end stuff not as much, especially mis tensioned machine built base wheels. also Bontrager R4 tires wear very fast - and this is compared to Vittoria Open CX clinchers!)
in other words, it is hard to find a CON
Bottom Line:
WOW, simply WOW
So I have waited till I rode about 3000 miles on the bike, including a 600 mile, 7 day ride to write a review.
A little about my riding. I dont get out of the saddle often. I sit, spin, and hammer. Try to keep a 90-95 cadence in any gear, and always push hard. When on big climbs (think crawford notch, NH), I wont get out of the saddle till the steep parts, and if I get under 10 mph. I am relatively smooth, but do push the pedals hard.
My 6 series (project one, with a blue and white argyle paint job!) came in a bittersweet way. My 5 series project one Madone was stolen. I loved the 5 series, it was a good fit, light, responsive, and all LiveStrong colors!
With that being said, the 6 series blows away the 5 series in every single way.
Stability :(and this is in someway effected by component choice, I know). But the 6 series, downhill fast, in pacelines, feels SO much more solid and stable. 50+ mph descents with aero wheels, even with cross winds I did not feel twitchy. With the 5 series, over 40 mph, sometimes it felt twitchy, loose, and even scary. I would check the bike for a loose headset, or loose wheel bearings, because it did not feel stable (but it was just the bike)
The 6-series improves on this in every way. Rock solid through everything I threw at it.
Comfort : Yes, it is carbon. but it does not seem to beat you up. i am not a small rider (5'11", 190-200 pounds), and the ride is comfortable. The 5 series almost seemed to stiff, where the 6 series is just SMOOTHER. With almost identical build kits, comparing long rides, I was less fatigued on the new one (the big ride I do is a 600 mile, 7 day Tour around New England, with huge climbs, through mountain passes, and along flats).
strength : (and I say this versus stability). it never feels wavey when hammering or climbing. Like I said, I am not that small. Where at times the 5 series felt broken (i would check for cranks in the bottom bracket, stays, etc, since it seemed to be wishy washy - technical term! haha), the 6-series is ALWAYS solid.
It somehow manages to be stiff, strong, light, and comfortable.
Overall, it is just a GREAT bike. I got the H2 geometry on this one (my last one was H1), so it is a 'little' more upright (countered by a negative rise stem with no spacers). I dont race anymore, and in my opinion, only racers should get the H1. it is aggressive. Dont be a hero, be comfortable!
it just feels like I never have to worry about anything on the bike. It is strong, all around great, and I am not worried about damaging it, hurting it, or changing my riding style at all.
The last thing, the integration of computer functions with the node computer is GREAT. The wireless sensor is built into the chainstay, and put a magnet on your crank. All normal cyclometer functions, plus the head unit uses the ANT+ standard, and covers cadence, reads the HRM strap, shows altitude, and more.
