I’ve almost always done my riding on a road bike – usually Trek – with aero bars and a forward seat post. I know some would frown on this set-up but it’s worked for me for almost 20 years.
Here’s my question – I like using the Thomson “Set-Back” post turned around to get as far forward as possible. With the new Trek Madone bikes, however, the seat posts don’t look like the traditional 27.2 sizing that I’m used to. Will the Thomson posts still fit in the new Trek road bikes, or do I need to start exploring other options?
I guess as a secondary question, how heavy are the Specialized Transition bikes (Transition Comp) and how do they climb.
FWIW, first, I like Trek; second I want to be loyal to a local bike shop, and they deal primarily with these two brands; third, I live in an extremely hilly area of west-central PA.
Just took a transition out at the cyclocross championship at mercer park only for 40k as I had to go to work. Specialized had a tent set up with one sweet transition there. 20 mph to 30 mph cross winds that day and hardly felt them. I would guess it weighed in at 16-17 pnds with zipp 404’s on it. Rep did not know when I asked him the weight. It climbed well and tracked well also. I was a not to happy with the way it felt when I got on the cranks from a slow speed. Seemed not as peppy or reactive as my little souped up kilo. Absorbed all the road bumps very very well I was also impressed with that. First ride on a full carbon bike.
Unless Bontrager makes a fast forward seatpost (which I am almost positive they do not) you are out of luck. The madone seatpost is not round thus not making it easy to fit aftermarket posts. Someone might make an adapter in the future but I doubt it.
You can get a transition much further forward. If you use the zero setback post on the forward hole you can get STEEP. It will ride better steep than a Madone.
Weight is probably 300 grams more for frame. 150 or so more for fork. But you can build bikes up so light these days that you could still make a 16 lb. Transition.
Hey Toj,
I recently bought my first Madone (2008 5.2 Pro) and I love it!!! I had been riding a Cannondale Ironman and I must say that, even though it isn’t an “aero” bike, I am much more comfortable on the Trek, even riding with aero bars. If you still want to get forward on the new Madones (which is an idea I am tinkering with for next season), they sell an after market “seat cap” that is set at +10mm whereas the standard “seat cap” is set at -20mm. This may not get you as far forward as the Thomson post, but if you have a saddle with long rails, you can get close to your preferred position. Here is a link to the site where they sell that seat cap: