Trek Madone 4.5 v Lapierre Sensium 100

melthompson

Looking to upgrade to a full frame carbon bike and have these 2 in mind:-

http://www.lapierre-bikes.co.uk/lapierre/road-bike/2010/sensium-100-l-2010

http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/road/race_performance/madone_4_series/madone_4_5#

The Lapierre is slightly cheaper and has better components than the Trek/Bontrager, but the Trek frame seems better.

Anyone any experience/views on the 2 bikes ???

CianRyan

I was looking at the Sensium and was told it's more of sportive bike than a racer so it depends what you're after.
Don't know much about the Trek though.

melthompson

Currently cycling about 120 miles a week in the Wicklow mts on a Trek mountain bike, so looking to get comfort and quality from a new road bike. (hence the Carbon frame).

The spec would favour the Lapierre, but the Trek looks an awesome bike ?

coastwatch

I have the madone and i cant fault it as an entry level carbon frame, very comfortable even on all day spins.

No experience with Lapierre, but to me, it looks a bit too comfy (slow), I'd be worried about faling asleep on it

CianRyan

Well the Sensium is built for comfort so if you're not to bothered with speed then that could be the one for you.
Best thing would be to try both of them.
Cycle Super Store on Tallaght has the Sensium and I'm sure some one else will know where to try the Trek.

Have you considered Planet X or Boardman?

melthompson

Had a quick look online at the Boardman and was put off by the negative feedback. Although most of that seemed to be towards Halfords and the bike brand as opposed to the bike.

Read a little about planet x, but are they not internet only (I'm buying through cycle to work) ?

Event though the Lapierre is better equipped, the madone had the wow factor when I tried it out.

aquanaut

CianRyan wrote: »

and I'm sure some one else will know where to try the Trek.

Altitude in Waterford are Trek dealers. Haven't tried any carbon Treks but have a 1.5 and it is a great bike.

Neverlandland

You can buy the Planet X through the cycle to work scheme, there's a shop in athlone.

blorg

The spec on those two bikes is near identical, I don't know what you think is better spec-wise on the Lapierre. Indeed going strictly by the photos (as the spec listing doesn't say) the Trek has the new 5700 105 while the Lapierre has the older 5600. This is a big improvement if it is the difference. The 105 brakes on the Lapierre are better than the Tektro on the Trek but this is a relatively small matter.

I would go for the Trek personally, they are very nice bikes and very comfortable. I had a Trek 5000, full carbon. I would get the compact crankset.

Of course a Planet X is much better value than either, and you will get a genuinely lighter bike and higher spec... but it will be a more racy geometry and if you are going for the small you only get room for one bottle cage on the Pro SL.

melthompson

The lapierre has shimano wheels, brakes and new new crank over the Trek.

Only marginal differences I guess?

melthompson

Have found a few rider views on the madone, but nothing for the lapierre sensium. Anyone have experience of this bike?

vertigo1976

As a biased Planet X SL pro owner, €1,999RRP for a 105 equipped Trek seems like a lot of loot. For my money, I'd have a mainly Ultegra equipped Planet X for c.1550 with 450 to spare on wheel upgrades etc. or a Canyon Ultimate CF 8.0 with full Ultegra if you can live with the delivery time.

munsterleinster

Have a Sensium 100 and love it but no expereince with the Trek to compare.
The one you posted is last years model. The same as I have. There is a newer version available.
The only small issue I ahve with the 2010 Sensium is the routing of the brake cable through the top tube. It gives a nice tap inside the tube when I hit some big bumps.
..And the saddle is sh1te.

Some bargains out there on the 2010 depending on your size. What size are you looking at (the one you posted was the ladies version)?

melthompson wrote: »

Have found a few rider views on the madone, but nothing for the lapierre sensium. Anyone have experience of this bike?

melthompson

I posted the wrong link sorry, it is the Sensium 2011 model I'm looking at through the cycle to work scheme. Interesting you say that about the internal cabling, as I had that down as an advantage over the trek.

G2ECE

I have the 4.5, bought it earlier this year, can't really fault it except that the chain is giving me a little bit of grief, with only about 600k done. Its only a minor detail but annoying. As Vertigo says above, I would consider the Planet X with Ultegra, seems like a very good deal.

melthompson

I assume the chain problem is specific to your bike as opposed to a model issue ?
Would like the bike in the next few weeks, which looking at other threads here would be an issue with the planet x.

Lemag

G2ECE wrote: »

I have the 4.5, bought it earlier this year, can't really fault it except that the chain is giving me a little bit of grief, with only about 600k done. Its only a minor detail but annoying. As Vertigo says above, I would consider the Planet X with Ultegra, seems like a very good deal.

Probably from your usage (cross chaining?) or maybe the set up wasn't good to begin with. Either way, this can be rectified and is unlikely to be a problem with all other 4.5 models.

G2ECE

Lemag wrote: »

Probably from your usage (cross chaining?) or maybe the set up wasn't good to begin with. Either way, this can be rectified and is unlikely to be a problem with all other 4.5 models.

I know this is going off topic, sorry!!

Hi Lemag, any tips on how to avoid it, would you recommend a new chain?? Brand?? probably need to get someone to look at the indexing too.

Sorry for all the questions,
G.

Lemag

G2ECE wrote: »

I know this is going off topic, sorry!!

Hi Lemag, any tips on how to avoid it, would you recommend a new chain?? Brand?? probably need to get someone to look at the indexing too.

Sorry for all the questions,
G.

One would have to see it. Cross chaining is when one has their chain in the big ring on the front at the same time as having it in the larger rings at the back or small front with small back. This causes sideways stress ont the chain and with prolonged usage in this fashion can wear down the cassette and chainset before their time. Can't say wether parts need replacing without being able to see them.

Regarding the set up, again one would have to see your bike as there can be a multitude of diffrent things. A good bike mechanic/knowledgeable cyclist should be able to sort you out. Fingers crossed nothing will need replacing. The 'indexing' you refered to is already done for you in the shifters. You should look up videos on Youtube (blocked here in my work place) for how to set up the RD with the limiting screws.

If it really is giving you trouble then the longer you cycle on it the more damage you will likely be doing.

melthompson

Is cross chaining a bigger issue with triple crank over a compact/double ? I have asked several shops for reasons to go for compact over triple (other than the "granny gear" response)

Lemag

melthompson wrote: »

Is cross chaining a bigger issue with triple crank over a compact/double ? I have asked several shops for reasons to go for compact over triple (other than the "granny gear" response)

Since there is a bigger gap between the largest ring and the smallest ring on a triple chainset then it should be possible to wear down the chain quicker if one wanted to.. In reality the wearing down of the chain depends on an individuals usage tendancies. Chains are really only designed to bend only in one dimension hence it is good practice to shift away from the bike on both the front and the back or towards the bike ie. little sprockets on the back -> big ring on the front; large sprockets on the back -> small ring on the front.

melthompson

Ok, so I think I've decided on the Trek madone, if on nothing else but the better frame over the Lapierre. Appreciate there is better value to be had, but I need the bike in the next few weeks(so rules out the planet x). Now all I need to decide is compact or the granny triple ??

Lemag

melthompson wrote: »

Ok, so I think I've decided on the Trek madone, if on nothing else but the better frame over the Lapierre. Appreciate there is better value to be had, but I need the bike in the next few weeks(so rules out the planet x). Now all I need to decide is compact or the granny triple ??

There's also 'standard' (39/52 or 39/53) to consider. I have a compact. Cassettes and chains are cheaper than cranksets so I'd suggest going with a compact and swapping out the cassette and chain at a later date if you feel that you're lacking the gears which you need.