Hi-
I'd like to have your opinion about these 2 bikes. I want to change my TREK 1500 and I'm interested with them.
I'd like to have the best bike in term of value, quality and performance

Both a quite equivalent in price.

Here's the specs:

CAAD9 Optimo 1

Frame CAAD9 Optimo
Fork Slice Premium
Rear Shock N/A
Rims Mavic Ksyrium Elite
Hubs Mavic Ksyrium Elite
Spokes Mavic Ksyrium Elite
Tires Maxxis Columbiere foldable, 700 x 23c
Pedals N/A
Crank FSA SL-K Carbon, 39/53, OPTIONAL FSA SL-K Carbon Compact, 34/50
Chain Shimano Dura-Ace
Rear Cogs Shimano Ultegra, 12-25
Bottom Bracket FSA MegaExo
Front Derailleur Shimano Dura-Ace
Rear Derailleur Shimano Dura-Ace
Shifters Shimano Dura-Ace
Handlebars Cannondale C3, 31.8 mm
Stem Cannondale C4
Headset FSA Alloy integated
Brakeset Shimano Ultegra
Brakelevers Shimano Dura-Ace
Saddle Fi'zi:k Pave Sport Mg
Seat Post Cannondale C2 Carbon-wrapped
Colors Raw Hi-Bright (gloss) (CLR), Patriot Blue (gloss) (BLU).


Madone 5.2


FRAMESET
SIZES 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62cm
FRAME OCLV 110 Carbon
FORK Bontrager Race X Lite, carbon
WHEELS
WHEELS Bontrager Race Lite
TIRES Bontrager Race X Lite, 700x23c, folding

DRIVETRAIN
SHIFTERS Shimano Ultegra STI, 10 speed
FRONT DERAILLEUR Shimano Ultegra
REAR DERAILLEUR Shimano Dura-Ace
CRANK Shimano Ultegra 53/39 or 52/39/30
CASSETTE Shimano Ultegra, 12-25, 10 speed

COMPONENTS
SADDLE Bontrager Race Lite
SEAT POST Bontrager Race X Lite Carbon
HANDLEBARS Bontrager Race Lite VR, 31.8mm
STEM Bontrager Race Lite, 7 degree, 31.8mm
HEADSET Cane Creek S-3 w/cartridge bearings, sealed
BRAKESET Shimano Ultegra w/Shimano Ultegra STI Levers

the fit and geometry to your body. this would determine the best one to buy.

buy the frame that fits you best, if in doubt take a long test ride. if you are happy with your current Trek 1500 fit and comfort then chances are Madone is the one to buy. If you ride with a tonne of spacers and/or a flipped up stem then chances are Madone wont fit you too well unless you bought your current Trek a size too small.

If you have relatively short legs and long torso then Madone may fit you well. It helps if you have above average flexibility too. It has short head and seat tubes in proportion to top tube. Works well for some and not for many others.

otherwise both are fine bikes when it comes to quality of ride and construction. I have 2005 Madone 5.9 myself. It is good enough bike to win a TDF on, if we replace the rider. I find Cannondale too stiff/uncomfortable for longer rides but that is just me, I am not a big fan of aluminium frames. I prefer carbon or titanium.

I'm sure the Madone fits as well as your 1500 (assuming you like the set up and all)

FWIW, I ride a Madone SSL 5.9 and I absolutely love the ride. The handling, the stiffness, the responsiveness and acceleration and everything about it.

Sure, it's a little lighter and stiffer then the frame you are considering, but hey, the Madones are great right from their first model and a regular at my LBS who rides it likes it a lot.

The Madone is fast, stable and great to ride. Sure when I ride over 'cobble-like surfaces', it bumps a heck of a lot but I kinda like it to be honest. Small bumps don't get through to you but larger ones well, you sure feel em.

Steering the bike is a joy(it helps if you get a Chris King headset, which SOOO does NOTTT make you faster, according to one poor bloke who believed it made him 3-4mph faster in a thread in the components/wrenching section :http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=78567 ) poor/dumb guy, ok maybe he's THAT new to riding... oh well..

Back to the Madone, yeah, steering- the bike just goes where you point it without any hassle. Accelerates from right under you.. I love it ever since I rode it and I'm sure you won't regret your purchase should you decide to go the way of the Madone.

Good luck and keep us updated..

I ride a '06 5.2. I have been very pleased with the performance. I left it stock initially, until the upgrade bug bit me and I really got into the sport. Now the only thing left stock is the frame. The base frame of any of the Madones make excellent platforms to configure to your heart and wallet's content. Good luck.

The base frame of any of the Madones make excellent platforms to configure to your heart and wallet's content.

?? :idea: I don't get you here.

My SSL 5.9 is stocked with the XXX Lite bars, stem and post and the Bontrager Race X Lite caron aeros.. Now I have alu bars coz my carbon bars/stem broke in an accident which I'm still awaiting claim for from the son of a b*** who turned into me...

Thanks, I find difficult to select the best bike since I can't test them as I use to do when I'm shopping for a car. The LBS around are not willing to borrow bike easily so that's why I ask for your feed back.

I was under the impression that the Cannondale is a better deal with his components.
But if we compare only the both frame, is the Madone worth the extra $$$?

Also, do you think I'll see a big difference in performance with one of these bike VS me actual TREK 1500?

What don't you get?
The base Madone frame is an excellent platform to set up=the frame is good. It has absolutely nothing to do with what componentry is on it...

BTW FWIW I'm not sure if the SSL is any stiffer; Disco used it on the mountain stages, but on the flat stages they were on normal 5.9SL's - the same frame as is on the Madone 5.2SL.

-estone2

I'm sure the Madone fits as well as your 1500 (assuming you like the set up and all)

FWIW, I ride a Madone SSL 5.9 and I absolutely love the ride. The handling, the stiffness, the responsiveness and acceleration and everything about it.

Sure, it's a little lighter and stiffer then the frame you are considering, but hey, the Madones are great right from their first model and a regular at my LBS who rides it likes it a lot.

The Madone is fast, stable and great to ride. Sure when I ride over 'cobble-like surfaces', it bumps a heck of a lot but I kinda like it to be honest. Small bumps don't get through to you but larger ones well, you sure feel em.

Steering the bike is a joy(it helps if you get a Chris King headset, which SOOO does NOTTT make you faster, according to one poor bloke who believed it made him 3-4mph faster in a thread in the components/wrenching section :http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=78567 ) poor/dumb guy, ok maybe he's THAT new to riding... oh well..

Back to the Madone, yeah, steering- the bike just goes where you point it without any hassle. Accelerates from right under you.. I love it ever since I rode it and I'm sure you won't regret your purchase should you decide to go the way of the Madone.

Good luck and keep us updated..
uzzie, everybody on that thread new i was joking except you. i have been riding for about 12 years, bought a Madone 5.9 and decided I wanted a King headset just because I had some extra income and wanted to treat my self. we had some fun with that thread and I was not surprised that somebody didn't get it. Just got the headset installed today and haven't had a chance to see how it steers but I am looking forward to it. everything you said about the Madone is true, fast, responsive, and a little stiff over larger bumps. coming from a bike with an aluminum fork the cf fork is a plush.

Had both brands, similar models to what you are looking at: Had a Caad 7 cannondale and two 5.9s and one 5.2. The Treks were very good rides. The Cannondale was not to my liking. It fit well and climbed a little tiny bit better than the Treks, but it was really 'tinny', clicked and clacked a lot, vibrated on chip-N-seal rough surface and had that weird 'propritary' (sp?) bottombracket and crankset.. A no brainer, in my opinion. The cannondale bicycle is like their now discontinued motocross bike..All fancy and stuff, but doesn't work that well..While the Treks are good all around bikes, especially as has been said in this thread, if you equip them with your own choice of components..
Don Hanson

uzzie, everybody on that thread new i was joking except you. i have been riding for about 12 years, bought a Madone 5.9 and decided I wanted a King headset just because I had some extra income and wanted to treat my self. we had some fun with that thread and I was not surprised that somebody didn't get it. Just got the headset installed today and haven't had a chance to see how it steers but I am looking forward to it. everything you said about the Madone is true, fast, responsive, and a little stiff over larger bumps. coming from a bike with an aluminum fork the cf fork is a plush.


you got it?? I thought you didnt!!! and the guys were pulling yer leg and you actualyl believed it!!! Phew!!!

Glad you don't think that king headsets make you faster!!!!!!!! So how's your new ride anyway?

Yep I sure as heck love my Madone.. But it's having a ticking sound lately.. My LBS said it was sand or so in the crank/BB area but I doubt i sinc eI just washed the bike and it still sounds.. I think I'll just speed up my change to a DA crank :)


What don't you get?
The base Madone frame is an excellent platform to set up=the frame is good. It has absolutely nothing to do with what componentry is on it...

BTW FWIW I'm not sure if the SSL is any stiffer; Disco used it on the mountain stages, but on the flat stages they were on normal 5.9SL's - the same frame as is on the Madone 5.2SL.

-estone2

the SSL is a little stiffer then the SL and well, FWIW, Lance used it for the whole tour and this year, all of em used the SSL or the SSL 6.9 save for some of em I guess..

That said, the SL frame is very good I'm sure. My frame is just a tad lighter and stiffer. But, well, since I already ride it, I wouldn't go a 'step down' in a sense. (get what I mean? I dont mean the SL frame is lousy but as in, I think you get my drift :) )

Really like the Madone. It's a standing joke at the LBS when somebody buys a new part How much faser will it make you? the other standing joke is of course we're riding easy tomorrow. I got such a great deal on the 5.9 but if I had it to do over again I might just spring for the SL.

you got it?? I thought you didnt!!! and the guys were pulling yer leg and you actualyl believed it!!! Phew!!!

Glad you don't think that king headsets make you faster!!!!!!!! So how's your new ride anyway?

Yep I sure as heck love my Madone.. But it's having a ticking sound lately.. My LBS said it was sand or so in the crank/BB area but I doubt i sinc eI just washed the bike and it still sounds.. I think I'll just speed up my change to a DA crank :)




the SSL is a little stiffer then the SL and well, FWIW, Lance used it for the whole tour and this year, all of em used the SSL or the SSL 6.9 save for some of em I guess..

That said, the SL frame is very good I'm sure. My frame is just a tad lighter and stiffer. But, well, since I already ride it, I wouldn't go a 'step down' in a sense. (get what I mean? I dont mean the SL frame is lousy but as in, I think you get my drift :) )
I see your riding a 5.9SSL what crank did it come with?

I ordered a P1 bike w the Lance 7 time paint scheme. I opted for full DA but I got the Bontrager Race X Lite Ltd edition cranks with the yellow decals. But, I'm gonna switch out to DA cranks in a few weeks time -it'll be the time I change a few stiff like say cranks, ZG brakes MAYBE and wheels or whatever.

Why? Coz I don't really like the creaking in my cranks (click sound) it makes.. Sorted it out before but the sound came back so yeah... DA has better sealings and such...

You might then wonder why I got the Bontrager cranks in the first place, well, I thought the color matched my bike so yeah that's why. Oh well..

edited: yeah poor camera quality coz i set my cellphone camera to VGA instead of the 3.2MP it can use.. Why? so it'll fit in terms of KB size.. otherwise, I can't upload it. And I don't know how to edit photos and make em fit using my digi cam or so.. So just bear with the poor quality :mad2:

Woah. That is a BIG cadence magnet!
What's your cyclocomp?

Cateye double wireless :)

Never seen one? :idea:

[QUOTE=uzziefly

sweet pics of your madone...i personally believe if you look good you'll bike even better.
anyway, you obviously are a trek/madone advocate as well as the cevelo soloist team (from another thread)
Considering my lack of experience/knowledge---i have finally narrowed my new purchase down to a couple bikes: a madone 5.2 sl and the soloist team (price same) 40 mile tops rides. occasional spint tri.
i'd appreciate your thoughts on this comparison...
thanks.

Hmm... Welllll.... The soloist team is a very good bike. But dude, a 5.2 SL is carbon and the soloist team is Aluminium... FWIW, at the same or similar price, I'd sure as heck get carbon, especially since the carbon on the Trek Madone SL 5.2 ain't a lower grade (TCT) carbn but in fact, the OCLV 110 Carbon..

Well, I'm an advocate for the soloist team because it's reasonably priced, but then again, err, not exactly. It's full aluminium so yeah.. But, I support it since I know it's good and Bobby Julich from CSC really rates it very highly so yeah. I mean, it has to be good if he prefers it to even the soloist carbon. But, that's another story. Sort of.

As for the Madone SL frame, well, it's light, stiff, responsive, handles nicely and accelerates easily from under you. It's very highly rated amongst its users. Check out the review section but of course, don't take it heads on but with a slight pinch of salt maybe.

More importantly, how did you feel? Which fit better? Which rode better in your opinion?

But, the soloist team is an aero bike in that it would suit you if you sprint/do tris/ride solo often since it is an aero shaped frame. Personally, I prefer the Madone but lots of people have a Madone so if you want bling, then well, it won't be. That's up to you though of course.

As for looking good making you faster, well, nope. It's the legs man.. That said, if you like a bike, really like it, then hey, who cares, get it if you can afford it. I mean, you ultimately want to be happy riding a bike now of course.

Post updates on how both bikes felt.

Good luck!

i'm making a mess of this forum business....apologies.
Thank you again.
I'll be sure to post my very un-professional review after purchase.

So what have you decided on? :D

Need more info...what kind of riding do you plan to do...If you plan on shorter rides, or crits, get the CAAD9....if you plan on longer century style rides, get the Madone...I know that's a generalization, but that's how I would think of it. Personally, I don't like Trek, so I would buy the Cannondale, but that's my own personal preference.:thumbsup: But, seriously, you have to tell us what kind of riding you do for anyone to answer that question. Oh, and don't fall for all the carbon hype....the CAAD9 happens to be about the smoothest aluminum frame I've ever ridden, and no I don't own one, but have ridden a friends.:idea: Also, I agree with the above post about getting the one that fits the best....