Trek 5500

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
DC group rides

Bike Setup:
new saddle, new stem

Summary:
I sold this bike and while it's a good bike, maybe even great, there are other bikes you should look at. Let's be clear, this is NOT the bike the posties are riding.

So, why did I sell this bike? First, silly measurements. Trek measures center to top, this is stark contrast to the industry norm - center to center. Hence my 62cm was really more like a 58cm and never fit me. OK, so if you're smaller and ride a 56 then you need a 58 trek - no biggie. Which leads me into my second point - silly add ons. A Dura Ace bike should never come with a throw away saddle, crappy bars, lousy stem and a sub-par headset. The 5500 has that and then some. OK, so you say, get the higher end bike. Wrong, there is a siginificant middle ground and Trek is missing it. Lastly, this bike is flexy. Sure it rides nice, but it's too springy and while Lance doesn't race this bike per se, it's made for someone his size. If you weigh under 150 - go for it. If you're heavier, look elsewhere.

You are probably thinking I am just ragging on this bike. Wrong. Have I mentioned any names and said they are better? No. I just think this bike has bad measurements, silly components, and is too soft. Sure Trek made there millions sponsoring posties, but trust me, if you want to ride faster then do yourself a favor and check out tons of bikes, cause this bike is too popular for what it really is.

Strengths:
Ride quality.

Weaknesses:
You pay for it with a flexy frame.

Similar Products Used:
Landshark, IF, Cannondale

Price Paid:  $1800.00 at Mr Bikes

Favorite Ride:
Fast

Bike Setup:
Dura-Ace, Ultegra, Fizik, Mavic

Summary:
This is an update of a previous review. Having now about 3,000 miles on my Project One 5500 I have to say it is a beauty. No flaws, the bike handles really nice in any condition, hills, descends, flats. No wooden feel I have noticed and take into consideration that my last bike was a Giant OCR3 which has an aluminum compact frame with a really harsh ride. The frame feels alive but still dampens road bumps pretty well. I have to agree with some that the frame does not feels as responsive as an aluminum frame but this might be just a perception. I have calculated that my speed average is faster by 0.5 mi/hr in a 30 miles riding this bike Vs riding the OCR3 (same training level). About that sensation of feeling fresher after a ride with this bike I don't know, that can be a personal sensation or would be related with the length of the rides you make, I don't make rides longer than 80 miles. What I like to stress is how it turns and descends, it is a BIG BIG difference with the OCR3, and don't get me wrong Giant bikes are (I think) one of the most advanced bikes at a very reasonable price. The bikes is very confident on descends and you will find yourself getting corners faster.
I did not have any bad expirience with bad finish since I ordered a Project One frame in Metal Yellow Flake and it's awesome, forget about too many stickers, bad paint jobs, great paint.
If I have to say an incovienent is just that feeling that I've already mentioned about not getting enough response, but being a CF frame I guess this is very common in any other brand.

Strengths:
Light weight, great finish, good warranty, way it handles, etc.

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
None

Price Paid:  $1500.00 at e-bay

Favorite Ride:
windy wyoming roads

Bike Setup:
ultegra with 105 hubs, mavic rims, ritchey bar and easton stem

Summary:
I bought the bike with 150 miles. It was brand new excpet for some of the ultegra stuff, but in really great shape. It is a very light bike and rides very very smoothly. The roads here have lots of cracks and rocks in spring but the bike rides like it's on air. I am 6'3" and the 62 fits very well. I rode a compact geometry bike and it just didn't feel as good. The bike feels fast and climbs well.

Strengths:
very light, very fast, great bike

Weaknesses:
it's not really responsive because it's so smooth

Similar Products Used:
older trek 5500, klein q carbon team

Price Paid:  $2600.00 at lbs

Bike Setup:
Full stock, except for the Arione saddle.

Summary:
After having the bike for half a year, I've enjoyed every minute in the saddle. I also own an '02 Trek 2300 and compared to the aluminum, the carbon frame is a much smoother ride on the road. The carbon felt noticeably lighter and faster the first time I rode it. It climbs flawlessly. I haven't heard any creaking noises from the bike at all either. The DA is exceptional, but isn't significantly different from Ultegra on the 2300. I generally reserve the use of the bike for races, so the miles are relatively low. The only complaint I have is that the Era Lux saddle it came with is definitely not for me. There was too much padding resulting in saddle sores, so I bought a Fizik Arione. Problem solved.

Strengths:
Smooth ride
Climbing is a cinch
DA

Weaknesses:
Saddle was not comfortable for me

Similar Products Used:
This is my first carbon frame. I also own a 2300.

Price Paid:  $1800.00 at Mr. B's Bycicles

Favorite Ride:
Fasts

Bike Setup:
Mavic Ksyrium SSC SL, Dura-Ace/Ultegra, Fizik Aliante, ITM bar, Ritchey stem.

Summary:
I just got my 5500 Project One frame on Monday (12/08/03) and haven't even ride it, I choose the yellow metalflake to be seen in the early rides I do. I just had one dream test at the LBS parking lot on a 5200 bike and that hooked me to this frame (5500 are basically the same). To be honest with you my first impression with it was a kind of strange, since I could not really enjoy the smooth ride of the frame because of the hard Era San Marco saddle, but despite that, I was shocked by the way it handles. In this exact moment my previous Giant OCR3 is being untrimmed to dress my 5500 and am planning to use it tomorrow, so I will definatelly post a review after my firts ride.

Strengths:
Beautifull paint job if you go Project One. Lightness, warranty, custom option, etc.

Weaknesses:
Just one Price.

Similar Products Used:
Giant.