All other things being equal, which frame would you guys rather have for training and occasional racing?

Matt

Why limit yourself to those 2?

No editorial comment on either bike, but there are so many good frames out there today, why buy something that everyone else is riding? (I was on an organized century a few months ago & 98% of the bikes were Trek, Specialized or Cannondale...with 85% being Trek or Specialized. Add in the fact that many of the Carbon frames are beginning to look exactly alike & well, no thanks. Me, I'd prefer something a little more unique.

Truth is that with a good fit, most production frames today above a certain price point are going to be pretty good functioning frames. So the differentiator for me is handling, ride, and aestitics. The attainment of the contact points has to be aesteticially pleasing (For me no riser stems or mounds of spacers...YMMV), so the HT has to be the correct length. I really don't want to ride something where I am going to be seeing 1,000's of them while I ride.

I'd suspect that there are very little real difference between those frames from a functionality standpoint. Check geometry for fit. The Trek is Made in the US, the Specialized in Taiwan if that matters to you. Both will probably come with different parts setups that may differentaiate them for you.

Obviously, YMMV

Len

but, assuming this is some bike shop closeout deal, i'd go TARMAC just because it looks cool--not like most bikes.
that said, go on ebay or such and get a paris carbon--one of the top production bikes i 've ever ridden, and now that the prince is out i bet you'll see them more.

good luck
jim

Yeah .. be different. Get an Orbea, Cervelo, or Look 585 ... just like all the others trying to be different.

I agree with Len and Jim. There are way too many really good frames out there to settle for a Tarmac or Madone. If I'm spending $5-6k on a bike, I'm not getting what everybody else has. I have 3 road bikes and each is more than an a equal to any Trek or Specialized. In a city of over a million people; I have yet to see another person on a bike from the same frame builder as any one of mine, which makes them singularly unique (in this town anyway). If I were t get a new road bike frame; I'm thinking Calfee or Cyfac.

Madone or tarmac...the price is right with both those. That's why I have those two.

Thanks. I think I'll try Trek just because I'd like to stimulate American production here in the states.

Matt

would you consider a CR1 "different"

(after the answer I know I'll get)- yeah I didn't think so

If you want some that rides unbelievably and is rare try a Wilier Cento or Le Roi:thumbsup:

You want an American bike? How about: Strong, Moots, Calfee, Parlee, Merlin, Litespeed, Sachs, Landshark, to name a few and there are plenty of others. But wait, I know, life wouldn't be complete without bringing another Trek into the world.

Tarmac all the way.

i always give my brother hell for having his madone 06"... but ive grown to love it.. and its not really that common.. thinking youd just assume that the entire western hemisphere owns a trek... everyone is trying to be different.. get what you like.. spend your money and be happy with it..

if it were up to those two bikes.. id say a pre 08 madone always is cool.. especially in discovery colors... would probably be a cool collectors bike down the road... look at prices of USPS frames in relation to non USPS colors.... id say the specialized is a little funky looking something about that toptube doesnt sit well with me.