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Featured Review: Trek Madone 6.9
by drjsilver

Price Paid: $MSRP at Joe's Mt. Washinton
Review Date: March 27, 2010
Overall Rating:
5 of 5
Value Rating:
5 of 5

Bike Setup:
Madone 6.9 Project 1. DA 7900, Aeolus 5.0 Wheels. Bontrager RXL seat, Bontrager Carbon Bar and Stem, all stock. Dura-Ace pedals. Garmin 705 computer. Bontrager blue RaceXLite tires, now changed to Michelin Pro3 Race tires. K-Edge chain catcher used to protect premium paint job from chain-drop. Cork brake pads for carbon rims. Blue cable housing, bar tape and wheel decals.

Summary:
I'm a hard-core, 5+ rides a week, recreational rider, who does occasional time trials. I purchased a 2010 Madone 6.9 Project 1 in a magnificent Pearl White with Carrera Blue flame paint job. I could not be more impressed. Paint quality is flawless! This bike climbs as though it is pulling you up the hill. It is comfortable on long rides (my preference) and yet puts the power to the pavement when you get out of the saddle. Yes, I can feel some flex in front end when out of the saddle. My 220 lb bulk will exacerbate this so I do not have issues. My considerable torque fractured 2 Lemond Zurich frames at the dropout right rear dropout 6 years apart. Trek replaced the first one, and since Lemond is gone they credited me $1000 toward the Madone. This on a bike purchased 13 years earlier for $1375. This premium type of customer service on a bike that was 13 years old is most generous and should answer any questions one may have about the quality of Trek's customer service. Most excellent! I cannot say enough good about this bike.


The in-frame cable routing sets a new standard in cycling. The frame is stiff in the sprint and yet comfortable for all-day. A truly masterful all-around performer. Mine is a 60cm pro-fit fame. Despite this large ride it weighed 15.5 lbs, no cages, pedals or computer. Freaky light! The Aeolus 5.0 wheels look great and you can just feel the aero advantage as speed increases. This bike just loves speed. Buy this bike if you just have to have the high-end AMG Mercedes Benz SLR of bicycles. Comfortable, reliable and wicked fast. A true road rocket. I don't know how they could improve this bike.

Strengths:
Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, leaps tall mountains in a single bound. Look, up on the podium, is a Look, is it a Scott, no it's Super Madone, the Q-ship of the peloton! Near total customization, spectacular paint job, sets new standards in carbon frame design and manufacturing. Unmatched dealer network. My Baltimore MD dealer is a true gem. Joe's Bike shop (2 locations) is the best for fitting, service and customer care. I cannot say enough good things about my buying experience.

Weaknesses:
The excellence of the paint job makes me very paranoid about scratches and paint chips. I have to keep it in the house to feel the bike is safe. The garage is not good enough. Rear brake cable has much more friction than the front brake. This is probably part of the cable routing. I will see what my dealer can do about this. Aero wheels require 80 mm stem tubes. You must supply these since SAG support at organized rides is unlikely to stock these. I am also paranoid putting this bike in my work stand, due to possible paint scratching. I therefore clamp the seat-mast cap.

Similar Products Used:
I rode a Lemond Zurich for 13 years. It went through multiple modifications, but was a flexi-flyer. This Madone is more than stiffer. It is more compliant vertically yet stiffer laterally to resist pedaling stresses.