I’ve been looking very seriously at the 5200 (2004 edition) as my next bike. I’ve decided on traditional road geometry due to other circumstances other than tri’s.
I am hoping to use this bike for training and racing as well as some commuting. I do sprint tri’s at the moment and am looking to move up to half and full ironmans in the next 2 year.
Does anyone use a 5200 for tris or have opinions about them as a tri bike. I would appreciate anyone’s thoughts on the full carbon frame as well as how it might work with a forward seat tube and areobars.
Any information is greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot.
I’ve got an OCLV 110 but I don’t use it for triathlons. The 5200 is OCLV 120 which the exact same geometry as OCLV 110 but just a slightly heavier carbon fiber.
I know that Cam Widoff rides Trek and has used the OCLV 110 for some races (probably the hilly ones like Wildflower, etc.) but I’ve also seen photos of him on the Trek time trial frame. There are photos at www.widoff.com showing how he sets up the different bikes he races.
I am fortunate enough to have several bikes. One of them is a 120 OCLV Trek. I do not race it in tris (except for one very hilling race that I do in which I am chicken shit about a couple of downhills with turns at bottom) but I know several people that do and they do very well. If I were buying one bike I would not hesitate to get the trek. I am riding mine in October on a weeklong trip.
I don’t ride one, but have considered the same thing. Since I’m smaller, I would ride a 50 or a 52cm bike, which come with a 75* seat-angle(which is about the Multi-Sport seat angle), so it would not be too hard to get to 77-78*, all I would need to do is use a zero set back seat post and slide the seat forward a tad. Depending on your size and how flexible you are, you may have a hard time getting low enough on the aero bars. The two ideas I had are use the Hed aerobars or go with a set of Vision Tech clip-ons because the pads basically sit right on the handlebars.
The other question to ask yourself is do you need to be at 78-80*? While the majority of Pro’s probably ride ‘steep’ there are many fast bikers and runners that ride a bit more shallow. Remember comfort first, then it becomes a trade off with power and aero.
I’m currently riding a Trek 5200, and I’ve done everything from sprints to IM distance on it. For those that can only afford one bike, or want a more laid-back geometry I would definitely recommend it. I’ve experimented with trying to get a steeper position on this bike with mixed results. I tried the Profile Fast Forward seatpost, and I wouldn’t recommend it. The steepest I would recommend you go on this bike is about 76 deg. Anything more than that and the handling starts to get really funky. I’m currently riding it at about 76 deg, with the saddle all the way forward on the stock bontrager zero offset seatpost, and a pair of size medium Syntace C2’s, and it’s very comfortable. However, from a FIST standpoint, it’s not an optimal setup (too upright and a little too stretched out). For several reasons I’ve finally decided to get a tri bike this winter, so the Trek will become the training bike. All in all, two thumbs up as an all-around bike, and pretty darn good as a tri bike in a semi-steep position.
I use a 5200 (2000 year model) for sprints to Ironman and some fast group rides with bike racers. I love it. Have a thompson seatpost turned forward. I love the looks of the aero tri bikes, but then I get on my Trek ride and it’s just perfect for me. I’d never give up the carbon frame.