The bike is also a very hard ride. The slightest bumps are transmitted through to the rider and at times the bike feels very nervous over bumpy surfaces such as a cattle grid of which we met quite a few.
At high speed the bike is fairly stable but could not help wondering if there was gong to be a catastrophic failure of the frame!!
I have the compact groupset so no girly triple for me. The compact handled all the hills I encountered although I did need to go up some hills a little faster than I would have preferred.
The frame is now probably scrap because of the seatpost issue. I will be taking the bike back to the shop of course under warrantly. Would I buy another Trek?????
No!!!!!!!
Are you kidding? If you need the seat post that far out of the frame then you've bought a bike that's far too small for you. It's no wonder you've broken the seat post. Just below the sticker on thd seat post is there is a line printed on the post which denotes the maximum height allowed. You've broken a perfectly good seat post due to ignorance. It's also no wonder you're getting a bad ride from the frame. I have the same bike and it's great. I don't know why anyone would pay $3500 for a bike and not have it fitted properly... sigh.
ReplyDeleteSo, Professor Nonowt, the frame is the max size that Trek make and the seatpost was actually inside the max limit. Trek replaced the frame FOC and said there had been some issues on high mileage bikes ridden on rough roads. They supplied the new frame with an aluminium seatpost rather than the carbon original. Yes, it is spelt ALUMINIUM and not ALUMINUM!
ReplyDeleteYou are obviously vertically challenged whereas I do need an extended seatpost. The fit of the bike could not have been a million miles away to do 1000 miles in 10 days and still be able to do the Polka every night!!
Why would I pay $3,500 for this bike? I paid nearly $1,000 less than that after negotiating.
Yes, it's the max size Trek make for that particular bike. Which clearly suggests it's not suitable for your size and weight. I enjoyed your assumptions about me though; my height (I'm over 6ft), weight (80kg) and nationality (I'm British, living in Australia, I was quoting Australia bucks, that was my mistake in using that currency on this site). So get off your high horse (or badly fitting bike) and put away your American/Canadian prejudices because I too use aluminium. Now your jibe about "Professor Nonowt" is perhaps a little misplaced, although I'll forgive your for not investigating the facts before making the accusation because I did post as anon. Not that it matters, but I do hold a PhD in Materials Science, funnily enough studying "aluminum" in Canada... and a research master's degree in composite materials. In my opinion, that bike does not fit you correctly; you are tall and heavy (as seen in your other pics) suggesting you may need a custom built bike and not an off the shelf composite frame. Having the seat post so far out is asking for trouble mechanically speaking. I'm not surprised they gave you an aluminium seat post, you should have been riding with one in the first place... what with that big saddle and a rather large gear bag under the seat. The bike (and seat post) is more of a road/race bike rather than a tourer. Anyway, I enjoyed your rant, happy "negotiating" for a new bike.
ReplyDeleteBig saddle? I will have you know that it is a Brooks saddle and one of the finest saddles you will ever plonk your arse on. Yes, it looks like shit when you stand there looking at it but by golly, it is comfortable for century rides.
ReplyDeleteAs for the 'big saddle bag', well, I was riding 100 miles each day so please forgive me for carrying 2 tubes, multi-tool, tyre levers and a rain coat. I did not realise that the Fashion Police had moved on from people wearing socks with sandals and were now focusing on 'big' saddle bags!
My weight is 210lbs and since you are a scientist I will let you do the math to kilos. Yes, it is not exactly svelt but I can still climb no bad for ma size. At 6ft I consider you to be in the foothills of shortarse territory, sorry, but I do have a prejudice against shorties.
So, back to the failed seatpost.... What actually failed and why? I don't have a Masters thingy but I was educated first as a metallurgist which nowadays tends to be called material science and I tend to deal more with the practical applications of science and engineering in an everyday world rather than the airy fairy rarified world of research. If reserchers did not do science and instead chose an Arts course they would like choose philosophy which is as equally unproductive but more argumentative. Oops, off track again... What failed and why?
The frame is carbon composite as is the seatpost. The seatpost needs to be adjustable for fat arses like me and shorties like you. The easiest solution for adjustment is a compression fitting, however, carbon composite material does not do compression too good and is extremely stiff. The solution is to build the frame with an inserted sleeve for the seatpost to be clamped to. Due to weight restrictions on a race bike the sleeve insert appears to be aluminium and the clamp is quite narrow. The repeated movement of the seatpost against a relatively small area of the sleeve did eventually lead to the splines of the insert breaking off due to simple fatique. Did my weight and height contribute to that? Of course it did. The higher the seatpost then obviously more work hardening of the sleeve. Trek do not have a weight nor height limit for their bikes. I think it is a self regulating thing in that fat arses are fat arses for a very simple reason, they don't cycle long distances . So, once the splines fell off there was nothing for the compression collar to compress against. The collar sropped the seatpost sliding down into the frame but not from twirling around.
At time of failure I had 8,000 miles on that frame.
BTW, I was not the fattest person on this ride!!!
I have been following this blog since April or so and I would like to add my comments to this thread. I too am quite large for cycling but I try my best. I cannot afford made to measure frames so need to make do with the mass produced options. I have taken tremendous inspiration from David's ride since he is a similar build and size to myself. My ambition has always been to do a Lejog ride but always considered it was the preserve of the 'normal' sized cyclist to accomplish it in 10 days or less. David's ride was particularly satisfying for me to follow since he was riding with a couple of other riders who looked liked cyclists and he not only kept up with them but also put them to shame on the hills. He also looks to be a lot older than the other 2 which was a double satisfaction for me being in my 50's.
ReplyDeleteTo the 'wanna be Aussie' that posted the above comments I say you should be applauding their achievements and not knocking them.
I have now set myself a goal of doing the ride next year and look forward to getting to the Crask Inn, it looks fantastic scenery around there!
Cheeky beggar! First I am criticised for being too big and now I am judged to be in my fifties! Sheesh!
ReplyDeleteMrAnonymous No2. I like your style and the fact you think myself and my brother look like cyclists!
ReplyDeleteBest of luck next year with your ride. We have our route on GPSies under 2 different users- Just search for publejog. If you want to stay off the a roads it's a great route. There's only one bit we'd change round one of the lochs which was a bit too off road!
A wee update on the Brooks saddle..... I have thrown it to one side in the garage. I bought another Brooks saddle but it too has been sidelined. They were at the end of the day just not comfortable. I think my arse was in denial. Anyway, now I have a Bontrager saddle and after 2000 miles I think I can say I am happy with it. OK, I made a wee mistake and bought a 'WSD' saddle but nobody told me it was a woman's saddle! I must have big hips or sommat. The colour matches the bike and that is all that matters, right?
ReplyDeleteTT’ing now. Sub 20 and sub 50 for 10 &25. Realise now that the Trek was a good bike. I was just not good enough for it back then.
ReplyDelete