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Another carbon bike question - Trek Domane?
Last Post 05/30/2014 12:01 AM by Steve Gabbard. 31 Replies.
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gabbard
Posts:27
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| 03/10/2014 11:15 AM |
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I rode one of these a few days ago, and it rode quite well. Ultegra level, nothing fancy, but after maybe 15 minutes on the bike, it felt comfortable and no weird issues. The flexing seatpost seems a bit suspect, but seems to work, and I couldn't find any negatives to it - no funny bouncing, no noise, etc.. Not sure about long-term durability, but haven't read anything about large scale failures, and they have been out for 3 years.
I know - Treks are everywhere, boring, but I am looking for something I can afford and can test ride - don't have the money to buy something that doesn't fit, doesn't ride well, and then sell it.
Anybody riding one of these or have any experience with them?
Steve
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zootracer
Posts:833
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| 03/10/2014 01:29 PM |
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| No experience with the Domane. If you like it and it fits, go for it. My main ride is a 2007 Trek 5.9SL. I took one for a test ride and like you, could not find anything wrong with it. Back then the 5.9 was a 5K bike and I got it on sale for $3800. One of our Local LBS's is a Trek dealer, but I don't spot that many Treks on the road here (Auburn Ca). I see a lot of everything. I don't know if and when I'mm get another new bike in the near future. I would consider a Trek again. |
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zootracer
Posts:833
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| 03/10/2014 04:13 PM |
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| Not to beat a dead horse..if this means anything, Cancellea rode a Domane 6 in the 2013 P R |
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smokey52
Posts:493
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| 03/10/2014 07:44 PM |
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I got a Domane last spring. I got it through the Project One program, a semi-customizing service. The LBS included a custom fit since I bought it through them. It's a much better bike than I am a rider. My summer was totally messed up by Lyme disease, so I did not challenge the bike as much as I wanted to. For me, there were two big changes: Compact crank (from triple) and a different geometry (a bit more relaxed). One of the residual issues of the Lyme is a cranky shoulder joint, but it never bothered me on the Domane, which I took as a good sign. I can't hardly wait for the salt to wash off the roads so I can take it out again.
smokey |
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Pin0Q0
Posts:229
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| 03/10/2014 10:35 PM |
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You looking to buy new? There are plenty of people who bought nice bikes and decided cycling isn't for them. Just shop around on e-bay a little and beware of replicas.
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gabbard
Posts:27
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| 03/11/2014 08:18 AM |
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Posted By Kameron Kameron on 03/10/2014 10:35 PM
You looking to buy new? There are plenty of people who bought nice bikes and decided cycling isn't for them. Just shop around on e-bay a little and beware of replicas.
New or gently used. I see lots of Domane from last year that are in nice shape, and possibly could go for this year's model, but the only change is 11 speed Ultregra, which I don't specifically need to have.
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zootracer
Posts:833
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| 03/11/2014 11:38 AM |
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| If you can hold off for a couple of months, Trek usually has a big sale at the beginning of summer. My Trek was a brand new demo model, no one rode it, it was a 60CM. |
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gabbard
Posts:27
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| 03/11/2014 02:00 PM |
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Posted By ed custer on 03/11/2014 11:38 AM
If you can hold off for a couple of months, Trek usually has a big sale at the beginning of summer. My Trek was a brand new demo model, no one rode it, it was a 60CM.
Thanks for the information, Zoot, I am in no hurry. Currently snowing here in CO, back and forth between winter and spring, so have a month or two. Still need to settle on a size and model
Steve
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ChinookPass
Posts:809
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| 03/11/2014 04:22 PM |
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If you have extra dough (or a BMW to trade), consider getting one of these:
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zootracer
Posts:833
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| 03/12/2014 11:22 AM |
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| The Urgestalt frameset goes for 7K.... |
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 03/12/2014 11:36 AM |
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I like the name. "I saw the price and my urge stalled."
Ben |
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Hoshie
Posts:134
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| 03/19/2014 06:00 PM |
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If the Domane fits your riding style, it appears to be a very nice bike. I have ridden with a few folks that bought them and the feedback was very positive. Smooth seemed to be the common adjective to describe it.
They had a special classics geometry that was based on Fabian's preferences that was a bit spendy but seems like a lot of well priced options with more typical geometry are around.
As always, I recommend geo and fitness for intended use as your qualifiers for selecting a frame you will enjoy. Aesthetics that speak to you also count.
J |
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roadbuzz
Posts:24
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| 03/19/2014 10:42 PM |
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| Have you tried a Spec Roubaix? The Domane handling was too neutral for my taste. YMMV |
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gabbard
Posts:27
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| 03/20/2014 10:07 AM |
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I am riding all of the "endurance bikes" that are around - Specialized Roubaix, Cannondale Synapse, Trek Domane, maybe Cervelo R3, maybe Giant Defy. Need to narrow it down to a particular size and parts spec and ride the comparable models.
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 03/20/2014 10:13 AM |
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| I've always wondered what makes a bike endurance...really all you need is a comfy saddle and a good geometry setup. The rest is fluf and sales pitch IMHO, just like all that aero gain voodoo. |
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gabbard
Posts:27
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| 03/21/2014 10:07 AM |
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Posted By Orange Crush on 03/20/2014 10:13 AM
I've always wondered what makes a bike endurance...really all you need is a comfy saddle and a good geometry setup. The rest is fluf and sales pitch IMHO, just like all that aero gain voodoo.
Orange Crush,
I agree with you about the marketing fluff term "endurance" (the phrases "comfort", "upright", and "old guy bikes" were probably discarded at the advertising meeting), but these bikes ARE different - look at the geometry and compare to bikes from 5-10 years ago. I hesitated to use the word "endurance", but I did that to describe a bike geometry that many of us associate with that word - longer head tube, lower bottom bracket, shorter top tube, more tire clearance. There are lots of riders who will benefit from these bikes - newer riders, fit non-racers, etc. I have been riding for 40+ years, but due to body proportions combined with aging, injuries, I want a more upright position. I still don't want to give up performance, and these bikes are just as "fast" as a Madone or Tarmac. You still have to pedal them, they are no Ducati, but will go if you have the horsepower.
10 years ago, it would have been more difficult to get this fit of bike in a stock frame that felt like a race bike. Certainly a custom builder would have done this for you, but harder to find in a normal shop. So, for many people, a comfy saddle is easy to find, but this type of geometry would have been harder to find to meet your "good geometry setup" part of the equation.
Interestingly, Grant Petersen at Rivendell has been saying this for 15-20 years - lower BB, more tire clearance, higher bars - but he did it in steel and lugs at a high price point. I owned a Rivendell, and it was probably the most beautiful piece of mechanical art/equipment I have ever or will ever own. Unfortunately, the seat tube was just too slack and I couldn't get to feel good on it.
In my opinion, if you can like the higher bars and feel, there is no negative to a bike that fits like this. Many complaints about the Roubaix/Domane/Synapse bikes are that the owner can't get the bars low enough, but they have an alternative - a Tarmac/Madone/Super Six.
Steve
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 03/21/2014 11:16 AM |
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Posted By Steve Gabbard on 03/20/2014 10:07 AM
I am riding all of the "endurance bikes" that are around - Specialized Roubaix, Cannondale Synapse, Trek Domane, maybe Cervelo R3, maybe Giant Defy. Need to narrow it down to a particular size and parts spec and ride the comparable models.
Quick note - The R3 is not Cervelo's "endurance" bike. The R3 is a pure race bike, with geometry to match.
their endurance / comfort / gran fondo / disease ride bike is the RS. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 03/21/2014 11:21 AM |
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Posted By Orange Crush on 03/20/2014 10:13 AM
I've always wondered what makes a bike endurance...really all you need is a comfy saddle and a good geometry setup. The rest is fluf and sales pitch IMHO, just like all that aero gain voodoo.
Aero technology is not "voodoo". It is real world stuff based in actual science. With data and everything!!  If people are looking for pure performance, I don't know why they wouldn't consider an aero road bike. Seems silly not too.....
As for the endurance / comfort / gran fondo / disease ride bikes, there are real differences in the geometry.....longer wheelbases, a bit more relaxed geometry, longer HT, etc. Not all of that can replicated by position and a comfortable saddle. SOME of it absolutely can.....
I kinda see it the same way as aero road bikes....if your goal is "all day" comfort, why wouldn't you consider a gran fondo style bike? Maximize every aspect towards the type of riding that you prefer. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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gabbard
Posts:27
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| 03/21/2014 12:06 PM |
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Posted By Cosmic Kid on 03/21/2014 11:16 AM
Posted By Steve Gabbard on 03/20/2014 10:07 AM
I am riding all of the "endurance bikes" that are around - Specialized Roubaix, Cannondale Synapse, Trek Domane, maybe Cervelo R3, maybe Giant Defy. Need to narrow it down to a particular size and parts spec and ride the comparable models.
Quick note - The R3 is not Cervelo's "endurance" bike. The R3 is a pure race bike, with geometry to match.
their endurance / comfort / gran fondo / disease ride bike is the RS.
From the current Cervelo website, the RS doesn't exist. Their R Series bikes consist of R3/R5/Rca. That is why I said "maybe" about the R3 - the geometry is the same as the R5 and Rca.
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pabiker
Posts:80
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| 03/21/2014 12:13 PM |
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I'd like to agree with gabbard, my dura-ace equipped CAAD 10 is my endurance bike. Mostly because it fits me, I have a great saddle, and I have that fizik shock absorbing junk under my bar tape.
If by you endurance you mean several 100+ mile rides a month.
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 03/21/2014 01:35 PM |
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Posted By Steve Gabbard on 03/21/2014 12:06 PM
Posted By Cosmic Kid on 03/21/2014 11:16 AM
Posted By Steve Gabbard on 03/20/2014 10:07 AM
I am riding all of the "endurance bikes" that are around - Specialized Roubaix, Cannondale Synapse, Trek Domane, maybe Cervelo R3, maybe Giant Defy. Need to narrow it down to a particular size and parts spec and ride the comparable models.
Quick note - The R3 is not Cervelo's "endurance" bike. The R3 is a pure race bike, with geometry to match.
their endurance / comfort / gran fondo / disease ride bike is the RS.
From the current Cervelo website, the RS doesn't exist. Their R Series bikes consist of R3/R5/Rca. That is why I said "maybe" about the R3 - the geometry is the same as the R5 and Rca.
Ah, gotcha. Didn't realize they had discontinued the RS.
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 03/21/2014 01:41 PM |
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Posted By pa biker on 03/21/2014 12:13 PM
I'd like to agree with gabbard, my dura-ace equipped CAAD 10 is my endurance bike. Mostly because it fits me, I have a great saddle, and I have that fizik shock absorbing junk under my bar tape.
If by you endurance you mean several 100+ mile rides a month.
Fair enough....no reason to change something that works for you.
BUT.....just because it "works" doesn't mean there isn't an option out there that works "better."
Now, it comes down to trade-offs......my guess is that for a rider such as yourself (or me) a "gran fondo" bike has little appeal. Even though it may be "more" comfortable, there are trade-offs I am not willing to make. I don't want a more upright position or longer wheelbase, etc. But my goals / wants for a bike are more performance based, not comfort.
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 03/21/2014 03:37 PM |
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I get the longer wheelbase for very long rides, but don't raise my bars much! Very long rides have the very real possibility of long stretches of headwind. Having to ride 60 miles or more with bent arms gets really old. Plus, for me, a bike without enough reach (forward and/or down) is a back killer. (When I "180'd" my commuter which was a touring frame with a long head tube, the bike went from overnight a bike that was a back killer and that I regularly went too deep into oxygen debt on hills to a bike that was comfortable on a hilly 75 mile ride and that I enjoyed the final miles on. (The bike was my fix gear. "180'd" refers to changing the stem from a standard 130 to a custom 180.)
Ben |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 03/21/2014 04:04 PM |
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But you gotta remember your background and references.....you come from a racing background and are used to a long & low position. I agree....for me, a higher, shorter position would be uncomfortable. We aren't the target audience for these bikes.
But look how may people are out riding around with massive amounts of washers and upturned, shorty stems. The vast majority of the riding public fits into that category. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 03/21/2014 07:53 PM |
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Aren't we talking endurance bikes? How many of the people "out riding around with massive amounts of washers and upturned, shorty stems" are riding hundred+ mile rides?
Ben |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 03/22/2014 12:07 AM |
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A lot....in terms of a goal of either a disease ride, selected century or gran fondo.
Are they knocking out those rides on a regular basis? Heck no. Which is all the more reason why a "endurance" bike is perfect for them.
Back in the day, I developed one of the first, if not the first, "disease ride" bike. We were under pressure to do a sloped TT bike cause that was the " trend". As the guy in charge if road bikes, I didn't want to because everyone was doing it. So we developed a "comfort road" bike, which gave us a sound reason for doing a sloped TT. Longer head tube (for comfort) meant you had to slope the TT to maintain the stand over height.
Those models quickly outsold our traditional road bikes. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 03/22/2014 02:04 AM |
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C.K., what is a "disease ride"? (I keep picturing a ride that requires either a vaccine or quarantine after.)
Ben |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 03/22/2014 08:32 AM |
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Disease ride, haha, that is funny; I know exactly what you mean.
But a Gran Fondo isn't enduro; that's how long rides are meant to be.
Now if I was travelling the globe I might want a comfort bike. |
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THE SKINNY
Posts:506
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| 03/22/2014 10:29 AM |
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| when i got fitted several months ago, the guy said i needed a shortish ett somewhere less than 60cm and a head tube of greater than 20cm. most of the endurance bikes mentioned fit the bill although i can't afford one right now. interestingly, a lot of touring bikes have a long ett and short head tube. 3" to 4" of spacers and an upturned short stem are the norm which makes them look ridiculous. even the old standby surly long haul trucker is more racy than touristy. |
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| How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 03/22/2014 09:41 PM |
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| Ben...."disease ride" = MS150 and other similar charity rides. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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THE SKINNY
Posts:506
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| 05/29/2014 10:15 AM |
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| so did you ever get the domane? i'm leaning that direction. the giant defy, though a good deal, i don't think will work for me. |
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| How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. |
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gabbard
Posts:27
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| 05/30/2014 12:01 AM |
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I bought a Domane 4.5 (2013). Basic differences between 4.5 and new 4.7 are full Ultegra 11 speed on the 4.7, but 10 speed Ultegra, with 105 cranks and brakes, on 4.5. The bike was a demo, basically brand new, for about 40% off. At that price, I figured I could sell it if I didn't like it. The bike feels very comfortable, but I am coming from an aluminum/carbon Orbea. Riding the Domane back to back with a Roubaix showed that the Domane felt more comfortable to me. I have not ridden a Giant Defy.
The main difference for me was the ability to get a higher bar. For example, my BB to saddle height is ~78 cm, and with the stock fork steerer tube length on a 60cm, I am currently running with the bar 2 cm above the saddle. Check the stack and reach on the bike, and you will see the stack is about the highest and reach the shortest of the "endurance" frames. You could still easily get a race position by using an -6 or -17 degree stem, but I wanted a higher bar.
There doesn't seem to be any negative to the flexible seatpost. Long-term durability will be something to see how it plays out. The only time I notice it is when I am in way too low of a gear, spinning at 120 rpm or so. It seems like there is a bit of springiness that makes me be not so smooth, but for normal cadences, it is not noticeable. The higher end 5 series frames will have different frame material, as well as a seat mast that supposedly adds a few more millimeters of compliance.
So, in general, I like it. No negatives that I can notice, fit is much more relaxed, perfect for an old guy. It will go as fast as you can pedal it, this is no slow cruiser or touring bike, but a carbon frame with a higher bar and more comfortable rear triangle.
Steve
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