Trek Emonda / Gravel & Rail Trail

Hi folks...
I am looking at a Trek Emonda S4 and while I plan to be on the road most of the time, I wonder how it will put up with rail-trail and minor "off road" type surfaces. While Trek advertises the Domane for this type of Roubaix riding, how do you all think the Emonda would hold up?
Thanks...
B

On 2015-05-30 12:51 PM, Commuting253 wrote:
Hi folks... I am looking at a Trek Emonda S4 and while I plan to be
on the road most of the time, I wonder how it will put up with
rail-trail and minor "off road" type surfaces. While Trek advertises
the Domane for this type of Roubaix riding, how do you all think the
Emonda would hold up? Thanks... B


Looks like a road bike.

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...da/emonda_s_4/

If by rail trail you mean the kind that we have you won't have much fun:

http://s31.photobucket.com/user/otbp...05734.jpg.html

I take my old road bike offroad at times. Has super-thick tubes in
Gatorskins so no worries about flats. But it's hard on the lower back
and mine isn't all that great anymore. So I always use my MTB when there
are more than a few hundred feet of such trail.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

On Saturday, May 30, 2015 at 4:02:35 PM UTC-4, Joerg wrote:
On 2015-05-30 12:51 PM, Commuting253 wrote:
Hi folks... I am looking at a Trek Emonda S4 and while I plan to be
on the road most of the time, I wonder how it will put up with
rail-trail and minor "off road" type surfaces. While Trek advertises
the Domane for this type of Roubaix riding, how do you all think the
Emonda would hold up? Thanks... B


Looks like a road bike.

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...da/emonda_s_4/

If by rail trail you mean the kind that we have you won't have much fun:

http://s31.photobucket.com/user/otbp...05734.jpg.html

I take my old road bike offroad at times. Has super-thick tubes in
Gatorskins so no worries about flats. But it's hard on the lower back
and mine isn't all that great anymore. So I always use my MTB when there
are more than a few hundred feet of such trail.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

Hi Joerg,
Thanks! I don't think I mean trails like the one shown in your photo. Maybe I'm just wondering if a finely tweaked carbon road bike can handle lots of bumps.
B

On 2015-05-30 1:08 PM, wrote:
On Saturday, May 30, 2015 at 4:02:35 PM UTC-4, Joerg wrote:
On 2015-05-30 12:51 PM, Commuting253 wrote:
Hi folks... I am looking at a Trek Emonda S4 and while I plan to
be on the road most of the time, I wonder how it will put up
with rail-trail and minor "off road" type surfaces. While Trek
advertises the Domane for this type of Roubaix riding, how do you
all think the Emonda would hold up? Thanks... B


Looks like a road bike.

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...da/emonda_s_4/



If by rail trail you mean the kind that we have you won't have much fun:

http://s31.photobucket.com/user/otbp...05734.jpg.html



I take my old road bike offroad at times. Has super-thick tubes in
Gatorskins so no worries about flats. But it's hard on the lower
back and mine isn't all that great anymore. So I always use my MTB
when there are more than a few hundred feet of such trail.

-- Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

Hi Joerg, Thanks! I don't think I mean trails like the one shown in
your photo. Maybe I'm just wondering if a finely tweaked carbon road
bike can handle lots of bumps. B


Carbon frames are tough (unless you crash really bad) and even some of
the cyclo-cross folks who are taking their bikes through the rough stuff
are going towards carbon these days:

http://www.cxmagazine.com/specialize...ss-bike-review

If your offroad turf is fairly easy and you don't ride in soggy weather
it might be ok. Out here we have lots of creek and puddle crossings
offroad even when it hasn't rained in weeks. That's one reason why I
prefer a disc brake bike. For the road I restored my old Gazelle-frame
bike from the early 80's which I occasionally take offroad. If I'd ever
buy a new road bike I'd likely opt for a titanium cyclo-crosser with
disc brakes. Like this, but I might switch the front to hydraulic disc:

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...comp_ti_xv.htm

Make sure you new bike has good sturdy hubs and spokes. That's the kind
of stuff I've ruined a lot when younger, in the days when mountain bikes
were non-existent or unaffordable where I lived back then (Europe).

One very frequent route of mine requires a creek crossing and about
1/2mi offroad, there just isn't any other reasonable connection. On my
road bike I take that 1/2mi slowly and then carry the bike across the
creek. On my MTB I can just barrel through almost at full bore but the
MTB is slower on pavement and the tires wear too fast. If the rest of
the trip (30-50mi) is mostly paved I am vastly faster on the road bike.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

On Saturday, May 30, 2015 at 1:08:46 PM UTC-7, wrote:
On Saturday, May 30, 2015 at 4:02:35 PM UTC-4, Joerg wrote:
On 2015-05-30 12:51 PM, Commuting253 wrote:
Hi folks... I am looking at a Trek Emonda S4 and while I plan to be
on the road most of the time, I wonder how it will put up with
rail-trail and minor "off road" type surfaces. While Trek advertises
the Domane for this type of Roubaix riding, how do you all think the
Emonda would hold up? Thanks... B


Looks like a road bike.

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...da/emonda_s_4/

If by rail trail you mean the kind that we have you won't have much fun:

http://s31.photobucket.com/user/otbp...05734.jpg.html

I take my old road bike offroad at times. Has super-thick tubes in
Gatorskins so no worries about flats. But it's hard on the lower back
and mine isn't all that great anymore. So I always use my MTB when there
are more than a few hundred feet of such trail.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

Hi Joerg,
Thanks! I don't think I mean trails like the one shown in your photo. Maybe I'm just wondering if a finely tweaked carbon road bike can handle lots of bumps.
B

Check with the shop and see if it has clearance for 25mm or 28mm tires.

A carbon road race bike can handle mild trail just fine. I frequently ride up unpaved forest roads, single track and gravel roads on a CF racing bike.. I just came back from riding a section of nasty single track on CF racing bike (Cannondale SuperSix) with Shimano DuraAce C35 wheels and 23mm tires. I was fine, although it clearly is not the optimal bike for that sort of riding, and for gravel road riding, I switch to at least 25mm tires (and sometimes a CX bike that can accommodate 28mm or larger tires) because I don't like getting flats. As far as the frame goes, you don't have anything to worry about.

By the way, I rode this single track section with some friends riding: Specialized Venge, Specialized Tarmac, Time (don't know model, but it's light), Pinarello Paris -- and the one guy who had a remotely appropriate bike, a Foundry CX bike, but I don't know which model, and he was on road tires. All of them were carbon fiber bikes. We hit various trails and rutted, unpaved forest roads because all of these guys (and gal) are road, CX and/or MTB racers who can't go on any ride without hitting at least some dirt.

Tires and inflation pressure are more important than frame material.

-- Jay Beattie.

On Saturday, May 30, 2015 at 3:51:45 PM UTC-4, Commuting253 wrote:
Hi folks...
I am looking at a Trek Emonda S4 and while I plan to be on the road most of the time, I wonder how it will put up with rail-trail and minor "off road" type surfaces. While Trek advertises the Domane for this type of Roubaix riding, how do you all think the Emonda would hold up?
Thanks...
B

..............

lotta dinero....for ?

Dough Main has a more relaxed fork for dirt, the EEEEEEEEEEEEkmonda a quick turn in pavement fork with a sit down hill climb seat post or is that a stump jumper seat post ? You could zappp around the Superduper's light posts at blistering speeds..

Your freaking crazy and prob a Trek salesman.

If you wanna work yOur way into a croner get a EEEEEEEKMONDA AT 2500+ TAX then watch the tubes crack leaving you penniless.

Generally speaking off course.

disgusting

Ima gonna puke

weird.

frame looks designed to either force you into mpedaling standing up or using steroid shots to grow longer arms.

sell one to Curious George in San Clemente ?

On Saturday, May 30, 2015 at 6:50:34 PM UTC-4, wrote:
weird.

frame looks designed to either force you into mpedaling standing up or using steroid shots to grow longer arms.

sell one to Curious George in San Clemente ?

the 2 frames look fragile...Treks point advantage...as if the next goon at the Superduper could pick it up n snap it in two across the nearest lampost

On 5/30/2015 3:51 PM, Commuting253 wrote:
Hi folks...
I am looking at a Trek Emonda S4 and while I plan to be on the road most of the time, I wonder how it will put up with rail-trail and minor "off road" type surfaces. While Trek advertises the Domane for this type of Roubaix riding, how do you all think the Emonda would hold up?
Thanks...
B

I wouldn't be worried about it holding up mechanically, assuming you
mean a normal rail trail. (Everything Jeorg rides is epic and
bike-destroying, as he's made clear. I'm assuming your use will be more
sane.)

My main worry would be tight clearances. It comes with 23mm tires and
minimal tire clearance; and that's all fashion, with no significant
advantages but significant detriments.

On crushed limestone surfaces, it's not unusual to get limestone
"crumbs" or bigger pebbles swept into the fork crown or
chainstay-bottom-bracket area. I'd be worried about clotting up the
tire-to-frame space in those locations, and perhaps picking up a stone
that locks a wheel.

I'd want a bike on which I could put 28mm tires plus fenders. But I
wouldn't worry about your frame breaking.

--
- Frank Krygowski

On 2015-05-31 8:28 AM, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 5/30/2015 3:51 PM, Commuting253 wrote:
Hi folks...
I am looking at a Trek Emonda S4 and while I plan to be on the road
most of the time, I wonder how it will put up with rail-trail and
minor "off road" type surfaces. While Trek advertises the Domane for
this type of Roubaix riding, how do you all think the Emonda would
hold up?
Thanks...
B

I wouldn't be worried about it holding up mechanically, assuming you
mean a normal rail trail. (Everything Jeorg rides is epic and
bike-destroying, as he's made clear. I'm assuming your use will be more
sane.)


http://www.bustedcarbon.com/2010/05/...rides-old.html

http://www.bustedcarbon.com/2008_11_01_archive.html

Does anyone know whether a titanium road bike (cyclo-cross) frame has as
much chain ring sway as a steel frame when hammering up a hill? Carbon
frames don't have that problem at all but with my usual riding routes
I'd be a bit concerned about carbon.


My main worry would be tight clearances. It comes with 23mm tires and
minimal tire clearance; and that's all fashion, with no significant
advantages but significant detriments.

On crushed limestone surfaces, it's not unusual to get limestone
"crumbs" or bigger pebbles swept into the fork crown or
chainstay-bottom-bracket area. I'd be worried about clotting up the
tire-to-frame space in those locations, and perhaps picking up a stone
that locks a wheel.

I'd want a bike on which I could put 28mm tires plus fenders. But I
wouldn't worry about your frame breaking.


Agree, if there is a 23mm limit that's no good. At least it wouldn't be
for me. IIRC even a lot of Amgen participants were riding 25mm.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/