What to choose between Trek and Pinarello?

[FM On Wheels]

I have cycled about 10000m in last 30 months on a Specialised Tricross Sport- averaging speed say 14mph. Looking to get road bike and keen on either 2011 model of Pinarello Quattro or Trek Madone 5.2. Longest cycle is around 100m and may use re Jogle or some french alp riding in a couple of years. Has anyone experience of either bike and how did you get along?

 

[StuAff]

What's your budget? There are plenty of other options at that kind of price point, and some of those might suit you better depending on what you're looking for. The FP Quattro was recently tested in C+, and they liked the frame but said the finishing kit & wheels were a bit heavy. Neither that bike nor the latest Madone 5s are as smooth riding as some alternatives. To quote C+ on the Madone, "While the top-of-the-range Madone is still built in the USA with Trek’s OCLV technology, production of the 5 series has moved to Asia and uses TCT – Trek Carbon Technology – a process that, according to Trek, has made the Madone 5.9 15 percent stiffer than 2010 frames. Unfortunately, that extra stiffness has turned what was a sublimely cushioned ride into something more neutral. It feels much more of a racer’s tool – it’s great whipping it up to a sprint, but when climbing or riding along on the flat the overriding feeling is of rigidity". You might regret picking one of those for a LeJOG if it turns out to be harder-riding than you'd like...

 

[FM On Wheels]

Thanks very helpful. Budget is around £2800 and local BS will give say 10% off- poss other bikes maybe a specialised Roubaix?

What's your budget? There are plenty of other options at that kind of price point, and some of those might suit you better depending on what you're looking for. The FP Quattro was recently tested in C+, and they liked the frame but said the finishing kit & wheels were a bit heavy. Neither that bike nor the latest Madone 5s are as smooth riding as some alternatives. To quote C+ on the Madone, "While the top-of-the-range Madone is still built in the USA with Trek’s OCLV technology, production of the 5 series has moved to Asia and uses TCT – Trek Carbon Technology – a process that, according to Trek, has made the Madone 5.9 15 percent stiffer than 2010 frames. Unfortunately, that extra stiffness has turned what was a sublimely cushioned ride into something more neutral. It feels much more of a racer’s tool – it’s great whipping it up to a sprint, but when climbing or riding along on the flat the overriding feeling is of rigidity". You might regret picking one of those for a LeJOG if it turns out to be harder-riding than you'd like...

 

[StuAff]

Thanks very helpful. Budget is around £2800 and local BS will give say 10% off- poss other bikes maybe a specialised Roubaix?

With that kind of budget, you have many, many choices....such as, to name but a few...
Roubaix (that budget will get you the Expert)

Bianchi Infinito
Scott CR1
Giant Defy Advanced 1
BH Prisma
Viner Gladium (the current version of my own Magnifica)
not-out-yet Pinarello Rokh (cheaper version of their Dogma-level Roubaix-type bike, the Kobh)
Ridley Orion
Felt Z series....
Don't rule out titanium...Van Nicholas & Planet X among others well within budget...
You could probably save yourself £500-1000 quite easily by going for a lesser-known make, and leave yourself plenty of dosh to upgrade wheels etc if need be. For example, you could get a Viner with Campag Athena group for £2.3k, and the BH (winner of a Cycling Plus grouptest against the Giant, Roubaix, Felt, Scott and others last month..), with Ultegra, is under £1600 at Wiggle if you have a platinum discount...
You'll have fun shopping for sure.

Stop press: Wiggle have their own-brand Verenti Rhigos.01 (full SRAM Red & Mavic Ksyrium SL wheelset) for £2059. It got great reviews, Wiggle do a 30-day trial too...