Trek Emonda Carbon Road Bike - 5 Things to consider before buying this

[@jimjohnstone8665]

Good luck with the new bike, glad you like it and thanks for the 5 pointers to potential problems. I think I will stick with my rim brake ALR as I know my way around it and do all my own servicing The ALR is a great bike for not a lot of cash and cheap to maintain. Hope you get your bike sold ok and will keep watching your video's to see how the bike is doing. Thanks again

[@JamesSocialCycling]

No problem Jim glad you found the video useful. 😊👍

[@micks61]

Congratulations! It is a cracking bike for the money, and looks fantastic - as I said, Trek do some superb paint jobs and that is certainly one of them!

[@JamesSocialCycling]

Thanks Mick😊👍

[@davidburgess741]

Overly wide bars can lead to shoulder pain. On a long tour I experienced this. The trick is to put the hand with the better shoulder closer to the stem and carry more weight on that side. A 44cm bar sounds excessively wide. Recently I went from 42cm after forever, down to 40cm. 42 cm gull wing bars for the track bike because it's a bit of a small frame and every bit of stack height helps and leverage for climbing hills is needed. Cinelli coat of arms saddles adorn each of my bikes. They eventually all end up cracking at the plastic sides, but they work that well for me and are surprisingly light. Powermeters: well, I don't want to know! Probably I would weep if I knew my numbers from 40 years ago!

[@JamesSocialCycling]

I wonder whether I need a 40cm, though happy at 42😊 I’m the same, though used to have Specialized Toupe expert saddles, though Specialized decided to top making them… and mine both broke, my large self killed them. Funny a lot of people liked that saddle, always wonder why you can’t keep making something… I now ride Bontrager, that’ll teach Specialized 😅👍 Thanks David, appreciate your comment as always buddy😊👍

[@thomasweiss9723]

Nice Video James 👍, do you have any problem with the seat post or or saddle attachment ? Thank's

[@JamesSocialCycling]

Hi Thomas, no issues what so ever. It doesn’t move if that’s what you think. Hope this helps cheers😊👍

[@thomasweiss9723]

@@JamesSocialCycling Right, that's what i think. Thank's for your answers. 👍👍

[@drigobarreto]

I own my SL5 since nov/2020. The only ‘feature’ I’ve not bother is handlebar width. However, is a fabulous bike, and being stock heavy helped me get stronger. 😅

[@JamesSocialCycling]

It’s not the lightest for sure😁 Glad you’re enjoying the Emonda thanks😊👍

[@marcoavieirarocha4033]

Hi James Thanks for your review! Question ...I like your front light ... what are you using ? Regards

[@JamesSocialCycling]

Thanks for the view Marco. I am using the Bikehut 500 front light right there, but… sorry to say this light in this configuration is not available anymore. Halfords don’t offer the connector from light to mount and I lost the bolt. The newer version of the light has changed material and mount option, this is not as robust and the mount if a plastic so I just didn’t bother with it. I am currently running the Garmin UT800 which at £150.00 is very disappointing. The light is brilliant(not connected to Garmin). Expensive for just a light. I have just purchased, only last night a new front and rear Lezyne light which do offer a GoPro mounting option, with a not too harsh price tag, but I’m hesitant to say it works just yet, without testing it myself. So if you’re happy to wait I’ll be doing an unboxing and first look as soon as it arrives. Sorry long reply but hopefully we’ll have a solution to suit everyone soon enough😊👍

[@StephenOakey]

Completely agree, bars are too wide on my 54, AND the toe overlap issue can be a bit iffy and is gonna lead to a fall and scratched frame I reckon. Also, I have 22 gears, but can never seem to find the right one. And the freewheel is SO noisy !!! OTHERWISE I love it.

[@JamesSocialCycling]

Agree as well. Front wheel overlap I’m very used to the short wheel base as of riding the alr5 since 2020, but I’ve had a few moments. Do you run the 11/30 stock cassette? I run the 11/32 and seems to offer more. I have only run the stock wheels once so can’t comment on the noise, though the Cosmics are bloody noisy, do prefer quiet but, seems noisy is what they want😉 Thanks for the comment appreciate you dropping by😊👍

[@StephenOakey]

@JamesSocialCycling My bike is stock cassette, stock bars, stock seat. I've came from a bike with only 14 gears ( lowest ratio was 42-24) but now I've got 22 I can't seem to find the right one, I always seem to be cross chaining from the small chain ring, to the small end of the cassette, or big chain ring to the big end of the cassette. I cant work out why! Maybe it's just that I'm not putting the same power out as I could on a bike that I had rode for years. Cheers for the videos.

[@JamesSocialCycling]

@@StephenOakey you can change the cassette to 11/32 or even 11/34 might offer you a wider range, though keep in mind if you go larger on the cassette you’ll have to go larger on the rear mech. Thanks Stephen appreciate the feedback😊👍

[@StephenOakey]

@JamesSocialCycling I'll save up for suggested mods, and a bike fit. Thanks James.

[@sebastiankowalski7630]

Hi James. Nice talking and riding with you today. Sebastian

[@JamesSocialCycling]

Likewise, always like a cyclists who stops for a chat. Good to meet you and hopefully bump in to you again sometime soon😊👍

[@MrTedJourney]

Little bit concerned about Neil’s saddle height.Seems a tad to low, or maybe it’s the GoPro? Nice to see your superb gentle presentation skills James!

[@JamesSocialCycling]

Hi Ted, appreciate the feedback buddy😁👍 It was filmed with the 360 One R, so I suspect the image was way out of context🧐🤞 Thanks for dropping by👌

[@gravelzgred9966]

Did I see right ? Back triangle seems to have lots of space for thicker tires ? Probably easily fits 32 mm ? Well dont see much point for those in climbing bike but still goood to know if someone cherishes comfort.

[@JamesSocialCycling]

Hey G, it’s been said that you can fit a set of 32’s on the new Emonda, bit like my alr5, 28’s are a tight fit at the front fork. This looks to be the same with 32’s, tight but would work. Can’t fault comfort at my age mate😂👌 Who needs a climbing bike when you can’t climb for shite…. ME🙈👍

[@John-PaulConway]

Really appreciate these videos, James, thanks. I'm between the alr 5 and the sl 5 right now so hugely helpful. Can I get your thoughts on which frame size might be best for me? I'm 6'0. I've had some people tell me it's gotta be a 56 and others that it's gotta be a 58. This is gonna be my first road bike so I haven't a clue!

[@JamesSocialCycling]

Thanks and appreciate the feedback. Frame size is such a bugga. I went with the Trek sizing on their website to begin with and think the 58 is from 180-185 so 5,11 to 6,1. Size 56 is 5,9 to 5,11 so I’d be more inclined to go 58 on the SL5 and ALR. I always find the 56 to feel too small. I don’t like to say what size as it’s very personal and won’t be good if I’m wrong so I’d try to get to a shop and try one out first if you can, as leg and back length can change how you sit and feel. But sizes I quoted are from Treks website😉 I’m 6,1 if that makes any difference to you😁 Good luck both bikes are great and the new ALR5 comes in a nice colour. Any other questions just ask, happy to help.

[@John-PaulConway]

@@JamesSocialCycling Thanks a million, I've got some shop visits to make!! And yeah, the new ALR5 looks top notch in those colours. Cheers, mate.

[@jays9781]

go with alr5 ur paying 1200 just for carbon better use that money and upgrade ur bike carbon is so overrated

[@teamtimmins1]

Hi James, I’ve watched all your review videos about the Trek Emonda SL 5 disc and they have been extremely helpful. What are your thoughts on the strange seatpost set up? Is there still plenty of room for adjustment to get the correct saddle height? Can you feel a noticeable difference from a normal seatpost when riding? It seems I may fall between a 52 and a 54 frame on the sizing charts. How accurate are they? Do Trek’s tend to come in smaller or larger when compared to other brands? Cheers. Ride on!🚴

[@JamesSocialCycling]

So many questions. I don’t feel any issues with this saddle as I have been riding a carbon saddle and this is bolted to the carbon frame so a bit more comfy for me. Sizing, I’m 6.1 and was between 5.11/6.1 for 58 and 6.1+ for 60 so went for 58 but have been riding this size for a few years now. I have found the SL5 feels bigger than my older version. Hope this helps and good luck😊👍

[@StephenOakey]

@JamesSocialCycling I'm 5 feet 6 and a half. I'm kinda between 52 and 54, got a 54 and ended up riding with the seat quite high up to emulate my position on my old bike, only issue with the post is that each time you move it, it leaves a mark!!!! The standard bars do seem to require you to reach a bit, even though they're quite high. But, I did 70 miles on it second ride out, and could still walk the next day!

[@press1]

Agreeee

[@JamesSocialCycling]

Thanks😊👍

[@landscapeandmonuments1615]

Though you say entry level carbon bike, surely it fits into mid range road bikes on the whole. The emonda sl5 has a price tag of over 2,000 quid, thats mid range

[@JamesSocialCycling]

Entry level in the Trek range of Carbon bikes. They offer SL5, SL6 and SL7, even SLR with all different make up of Carbon frames. Hope that explains my comment. Thanks for the view appreciate the comment. 😊👍

[@landscapeandmonuments1615]

@@JamesSocialCycling sure, i know about that, the trek sl5 ironically is the entry level carbon trek road bike. But i am not sure you got my original point. The trek sl5 based on its price of over 2,000 makes it fall into the mid range road bike category overall. It isnt possible to have shimano 105 groupset, a very nice aero 500 oclv frame and be 'entry'. The geometry of the emonda sl5 is also race. The bike is more leaning to club riders and racers rather than novices. In fact the exact frame was used in the tour of britain this year (yes by a lesser known pro team) but was still used by them.

[@mrichards55]

No idea why bikes come with 44cm bars as standard when 40cm is about right for most people.

[@JamesSocialCycling]

I know it’s just a pain, no one rides 44 anymore. Cheers Michael😊👍

[@luiscolon921]

#6…the weight for your Emonda will be higher compared to comparable bikes built with similar components/ price point.

[@JamesSocialCycling]

If you watched the other videos you’d see I only needed 5, as weight is not an issue. But thank you for pointing this out again for me.

[@JibbaJabber]

Noice

[@JamesSocialCycling]

Thanks😊👍

[@carlitosodell]

Need a tissue?

[@JamesSocialCycling]

You can wipe your own arse thanks

[@carlitosodell]

@@JamesSocialCycling Does'nt everyone?