The Madone

74 Main Street Middlebury Vermont (802) 388-6666

The Madone and the Equinox TTX

The Trek Madone and the Trek Equinox TTX -- still made in the U.S., cutting-edge technology, and now customizable for little or no extra cost.

Very few "stock model" purchasers get a bike that's perfect, right out of the box. Here are some examples:

	Fits a 56cm Madone, pro geometry, but prefers 175mm cranks -- a stock 56 pro comes with 172.5mm cranks.
	Fits a 58cm Madone, performance geometry, but needs an 11cm stem -- a stock 58 performance comes with a 10cm stem.
	Wants a standard 53/39 crank Equinox TTX with an 11-26 cassette -- a stock TTX comes with an 11-23.
	You love the bike, but you just don't like this year's color.

Trek Project One fixes all of these problems, without a substantial additional cost. Trek Project One has evolved into a custom program we believe every Madone or Equinox TTX customer should consider. To see why, go to the Trek website and:

	Click on start building button after this link, and watch your 6 Series Madone take shape.
	Click on start building button after this link, and watch your 5 Series Madone take shape.
	Click on Customize this bike with Project One button after this link, and watch your Equinox TTX SSL take shape.
	Click on Customize this bike with Project One button after this link, and watch your Equinox TTX take shape.

Buying a Project One

The Trek web site still lists "stock" models of the Madone and the Equinox. Since you can have your Madone or your Equinox built to your specs, however, it's better to think of your purchase in terms of the frame and a component group that is specific to one rider: you.

Your two choices for the Madone are 6 series and 5 series. Your two choices for Equinox are TTX SSL and TTX. What are the differences?

	Madone 6 series	Madone 5 series	Equinox TTX SSL	Equinox TTX


Primary Carbon used	OCLV Red high modulus	OCLV Black intermediate modulus	OCLV Red high modulus	OCLV Black intermediate modulus


Fork	Carbon steerer 1.125" to 1.5"	Alloy steerer1.125" to 1.5"	Carbon steerer 1.125" to 1.5", bladed	Alloy steerer1.125" to 1.5", bladed


Weight	Under 15 pounds w/SRAM Red and XXX-Lite wheels	Under 16 pounds w/SRAM Red and XXX-Lite wheels	Under 16 pounds w/SRAM Red and Aeolus wheels	Under 17 pounds w/SRAM Red and Aeolus wheels

Every pedal stroke on your Equinox or your Madone translates into power, not wasted energy. Yet both frames offer a surprisingly silky ride for a frame that's this stiff. It climbs like a rocket and descends with confidence.

See the design concepts and technology that make this incredible ride possible. These include:

	A super stiff 90mm bottom bracket that works with all the major crank brands
	A fork with a steerer that is 1 1/8" on top and 1 1/2" on the bottom -- wider enhances stability, especially on descents

Three different geometries make for an ideal fit for your Madone

See slowtwitch.com review of the Equinox TTX 9.5

See cyclingnews.com review of the 6 series Madone

Racing on the Madone

Since the first version of the Trek Madone was released in 2003, the Madone has been ridden to victory in the '03, '04, '05, '07, and '09 editions of the Tour de France. But what happens when the competitors aren't sponsored, when they have to buy their own equipment?

We watched the summit finish of the Mad River stage of the Green Mountain Stage Race, one of New England's premier multiple-day events, which drew 800 competitors in 2009. We saw more Madones than any other carbon frame, especially in the masters' fields.

That's a nice endorsement from your fellow riders who compete.

Just Plain Riding on the Madone

Especially in the hilly northeast, all the features that make for a great stage-racing frame also make the Madone a super choice for the all-day sport/fitness rider. The Madone's exceptional comfort, light weight, and very stable handling make it a natural for one of our challenging Gap rides:

	Trek's Performance and WSD geometries recognize that very few riders are built like the pros.
	Trek's use of compact and triple cranks for its performance models recognizes that the majority of us aren't equipped to turn the same gears as the pros do.

Where Do I Learn More?

	The types of carbon used for the Madone
	PEZ CYCLING'S in-depth review of the Madone 6.9