Having worked with James, I can attest that he is one of the most cynical, nit-picky, suspicious, hard-to-please, and competent writer/mechanics you'll ever meet.

For him to walk away so impressed by a bike is truly a testament to the quality of the new Madone.

Are you now building the Madone 5.5 size 64 from OCLV black instead of OCLV white? If you are, that's great news! The big guys deserve to get what they pay for!

Thanks,

Steve

Sold my trustworthy Trek 2300 with full Ultegra today and purchased a new Madone 5.2 Performance fit. Picking it up on Thursday, can't wait! Closed the door on one era, opened up the door to the next!

Hi Scott,

Just checking in to see if Project One is still on track for 1/1/08 debut. Yes/No?

Any chance the end user or dealers will see something prior to 1/1?

Thanks,

Brian

Brian - our P-One re-launch dates are in flux at this time. We will not meet our 1 Jan date but we shouldn't be more than a month late. Sorry, we aren't releasing any P-One schemes until the site goes live. -Scott Daubert, Trek Road Bike Brand Manager

i went into the trek store in ohio and out the back door with a 5.2 for a test ride. i was lost for 45 minutes with this great bike. three days later i put my order in for the 5.2 pro...no sales pitch needed...i'll ride in feb. 2008.

Can you give me some fitting advice for a Madone 5.5? I am 6'-3" and have a 81.5cm seat height. I normally have my bars about 1.5" below my saddle, but I would like to allow to have them up level (when I get old and stiff) and to have then 3" below my saddle when I put on aero bars. What frame size do you recommend?

George - I suggest you test ride a 62cm Performance fit Madone. I think the headtube height will work for both your road bars and TT bars yet still accommodate for when you want to run your bars level with the saddle later on in life. -Scott Daubert, Trek Road Bikes Brand Manager

Just wondering when you guys are going to release the Campy Record bottom bracket Kit for the new madones???

Pete - Campy kits are in production. Place an order with your Trek dealer so you are in the system when they are released. -Scott Daubert, Trek Road Bikes Brand Manager

In the article, I see that the author's name is printed on the frame's top tube. I assume the bike was given to him?

Frank - We gave magazine editors their names for the bikes they review. You can have your name, too www.victorycirclegraphix.com - Scott Daubert, Trek Road Bike Brand Manager

Hi you guys!
I'm from Sweden and have put an order for a 5.2 performance
I expect to get the bike in Feburay and it's killing me to hear your stories about riding the bike allready...
I belong to Swedens oldest cykling club CK UNI, in Uppsala, (since 1908) Have a nice ride /Peter

2 rides under my belt on my new 5.2 before the snows came. Its unreal - smooth, fast, stiff, light, responsive. Ultegra SL snap shifts off. Make sure you torque the seatpost bolts to recommended levels - most important thing in preventing slippage. Also, make sure the little plug on the front derailleur cable is seated properly in the frame - keeps out water but more importantly prevents the cable from rubbing the carbon directly. The bike is awesome!! Order now because according to the Trek rep, they are going to be hard to come by in the spring.

Just thought I might mention that the weblink for victory circle graphix is not working. I found them through

http://www.vcgraphix.com/

Great ideas and just a personal touch.
Always nice to know which of the Madones is yours!

Mike - Thanks for the info on the link to VCG. -Scott Daubert, Trek Road Bikes Brand Manager

There seems to be some confusion regarding the silver seat clamp vs. the black seat clamp. Is it just an aesthetic difference or is the clamp actually a new design? Can you please clarify? If it is in fact a new design, why was it done and will Trek swap my silver clamp for an updated black clamp?

Andrew's question about the seat clamp caught my eye. The change in color is aesthetic. Trek dealers will not trade a polished silver clamp for the now black anodized clamp. But if you want a mast with a black clamp, you can buy a complete mast at your local Trek dealer.

I am just getting into biking, more for competing in triathlons. I know that I am not a world class athlete, and thus spending $2500 on a bike to gain a little time is difficult to justify considering I can go to the pool one more day a week and shave that time off. What bike would you recommend for a beginner, and why?

Good to hear about the black seat clamp. Will you offer black brackets for the seat (the brackets that attach to the seat rails)? Thanks for your time!

Adam - No plans to make the seat rail pinch black at this time. -Scott Daubert, Trek Road Bikes Brand Manager

Scott, why wouldn't Trek be able to sell just the black seat clamp? Why would you need to buy the mast assembly when you only need the clamp?Doesn't sound very customer satisfaction orientated to me.
PS.I love My 2007 Madone!
Mike

I was wrong about the new seat caps having only cosmetic changes. At one point there were only cosmetic changes made but since then another improvemnt has been implemented. The black clamp caps no longer have the vertical, key-hole shaped relief cuts. Additionally, the clamp contacts the back of the frame's mast rather than pinching the cap between the clamp and the mast. There have been no changes to the dimensions of the mast so the new caps will fit any 2008 Madone. Dealers are not trading early caps for more recent designs but the newer versions will be avaialble for sale. Sorry for any confusion this may have caused.

Hi, I want to buy a Madode, and my dimensions are: height 178 cm, inseam length 82 cm, arm length 60,5 cm. Do you think a 56 cm frame will fit me?? I rather like the Performance fit. I use 72 cm of saddle height, will I have to change it with the Madone?

I was set on purchasing the 5.1 because it came in 64cm frame. Now I understand the only frame at that size is on the more expensive 5.5. Please make other models in the larger size.

Will Trek be offering ceramic bearings for the new Madones BB and HS?

Adam - Ceramic bearing for the bottom bracket will be available from your local Trek dealer. There are no plans to offer ceramic bearings for the headset. -Scott Daubert, Trek Road Bike Brand Manager

Am looking at the Madone 5.2 currently ride a 53cm Lemond Zurich and an old 54cm 2500 Pro. Just rode a 52cm 5.2 Pro and Performance. I'm 5'71/2" and am getting old and stiff. The 52cm feels right. Any advice?

Paul - you should consider the 52cm Madone in the Performance fit option. - Scott Daubert, Trek Road Bike Brand Manager

Scott -
Can you please explain WHAT and WHY changes were made on the clamp and new seat cap? I have the original silver clamp - nothing wrong with it at all - and want to know what advantage if any, the new clamp and cap will give me. Please answer this post as I know its a very common question with the people I talk to.

yo,
what's up with the gap from the top headset bearing to the tapered cap? there are spacers in there, are they meant to be taken out. also, should i be concerned that the r. der. hanger is not replaceable? just asking, the 5.5 pro is the freaking bomb. i'm taking the small ring off, it's of no use!

Just wanted to let you know that after a
1 1/2 fitting session by Matt at Pasadena Cyclery in California, I decided on a 54cm 5.2 Madone. Picked up the bike today and Matt spent another hour fitting me. Only got in ten miles today but what a bike! Looking forward to really wringing it out. Thanks

I saw this comment above.

...make sure the little plug on the front derailleur cable is seated properly in the frame - keeps out water but more importantly prevents the cable from rubbing the carbon directly...
My plug is not seated. I took it to my dealer and he said it was supposed to be loose and float. Which is it fixed or float? Thanks!

Has there been a rear light clamp designed to fit the new Madone seat mast?

Any updates on the little plug for the front derailleur cable? Just picked up my new 5.2 yesterday and have the same problem? Floating plug doesn't seem to make sense? Can someone explain the logic? Also, the handlebars feel a bit too narrow with not much room to grip top of bar. What's the best way to determine proper width? Other than that, the bike is truly sweet.

Scott,

I purchased a Madone 5.2 in early February which came with the shorter Seat mast cap. I have been waiting since that time on a 160mm x 20mm set back cap since then. I am being told by dealer that they are on back order. What's up? 2 months to manufature a standard part of the bike. When can I expect to get a seat cap and actually ride my $3500 bike. Thanks Tim Holder

I've been riding my Madone 5.2 for almost a year now. It is such an amazing bike. It lives up to the hype, laterally stiff yet vertically compliant. I loved my 5500 but the new Madones are perfect.

I recently purchased a 2006 Trek Madone 5.2 and I am concerned that is it a little undersized. I am 6' 2" with a 35" inseam. My frame size is a 58. I have my seat post and the handle bar height fairly maxed out. The seat is aft position is as far back as it will go. The Handle bars are about 2.5" below the seat. While it feels a little small, I am not unconfortable riding it. I just wonder if a 60 CM frame would have been a better fit and if I'm losing any performance because of the tight fitting.

Why does the Madone have a rear brake cable entry point on the *right* side of the top tube? Seems like left side would give a better cable line. Will it be the same in the 2009 models?

Plus, I'm a fan of derailleur cable housing stops at the head tube to avoid wear at the frame from housing rub. Any plans to add cable stops at the head tube?