Trek Domane SL5 Gen3 - Seat Post Wiggle - Rant?

[philipgonzales3]

Well since I've last posted here is what has happened. They gave me a new seatpost under the 1st warranty claim. I picked the bike back up on Nov 22, 2024 and they told me they applied the "latest fix". I didn't bother to ask what the fix was. Got home and put it on the trainer and after a few rides it started creaking again, but seemed solid enough. Said screw it, I'm just going to keep riding it like this for now, at least I have my bike back. Well the bike went back to the Trek store on Jan 18, 2025. This time the seatpost had slipped past the window for the "set screw" or wedge or what not. It wasn't by much, but still.

Finally got a text today that my frame is being replaced through warranty at this point. Was told to pick between blue and silver below. So looks like it will be an upgrade from the Gen 3 to Gen 4. Backordered until April, but all good as I'm on a loaner anyway. Hope I have better luck with this frame!
https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/...e/domane-sl/domane-sl-gen-4-frameset/p/37302/

 

[Illaveago]

It looks like somebody in the design office got a bit too clever!

 

[cyberknight]

Well since I've last posted here is what has happened. They gave me a new seatpost under the 1st warranty claim. I picked the bike back up on Nov 22, 2024 and they told me they applied the "latest fix". I didn't bother to ask what the fix was. Got home and put it on the trainer and after a few rides it started creaking again, but seemed solid enough. Said screw it, I'm just going to keep riding it like this for now, at least I have my bike back. Well the bike went back to the Trek store on Jan 18, 2025. This time the seatpost had slipped past the window for the "set screw" or wedge or what not. It wasn't by much, but still.

Finally got a text today that my frame is being replaced through warranty at this point. Was told to pick between blue and silver below. So looks like it will be an upgrade from the Gen 3 to Gen 4. Backordered until April, but all good as I'm on a loaner anyway. Hope I have better luck with this frame!
https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/...e/domane-sl/domane-sl-gen-4-frameset/p/37302/

hopefully you have it sorted !
I was wondering how you were doing the other day , did you ever get your bike fit right ?

 

[philipgonzales3]

hopefully you have it sorted !
I was wondering how you were doing the other day , did you ever get your bike fit right ?

Sorry, I've totally been a stranger lately! Been super swamped with work. I've actually switched departments at work and we are in the middle of a hectic overhaul of a large order management system.

As far as the cycling... I ended up doing 2400 miles total (on the road + on the trainer) laster year, which I started cycling at the end of March. I shoot for 100 miles a week total, broken up in about 5 rides. I don't always maintain that, but it's what I shoot for. I'm still not great at climbing and my w/kg is usually around 1.5, with my FTP being closer to 2. Relatively weak still haha but still a ton better than before I found cycling. I ended up losing over 55 pounds and have kept off about 50 of those pounds. This was with the help of Ozempic, but been off it a few months already.

As far as the fit... well. It's a work in progress. I've had less tingling hands and wrist/hand pain, etc. But I think mostly due to the fact, I mostly ride on the trainer these days. So I can let go of the handle bars and sit up or ride with one hand, etc etc without worrying about toppling over (I'm a bit clumsy out on the road haha). I'm actually tweaking my fit on the loaner still using an online AI bikefit tool called MyVeloFit. I plan on getting an in person fit once I get my new frame, but all that to say, it's not perfect but also not too bad at least for being on the trainer lol.

My longest ride so far is only 40 miles, 20 miles is a pretty good typical ride for me. But all good, as they say... slow and steady wins the race.

 

[wafter]

Sounds like a positive result; however experiences such as this only serve to reinforce my resolution to avoid modern bike frame standards (or indeed lack thereof) and large corporations..

 

[philipgonzales3]

New Frame Day! Almost as nice as new bike day?

May or may not have gone overboard with goodies from various bike shops on the way home lol. No one tell the wife about how much the Garmin was please lol.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

New Frame Day! Almost as nice as new bike day?

May or may not have gone overboard with goodies from various bike shops on the way home lol. No one tell the wife about how much the Garmin was please lol.

Nice looking bike!

 

[philipgonzales3]

Welp, that was a short lived "win" if I've ever seen one. Picked up my new Gen4 frame 63 days ago. Heard a loud clunk noise, followed by the seat post going loose on me. Hopped off the bike and popped off the Iso Speed cover to be greated by a sheared IsoSpeed bolt or whatever this part is. Beyond dissapointed to say the least. I'm just glad I was at home on the trainer and not out on the road when this thing grenaded. I could have been seriously injured or best case walking home. I'm 6'2" 245 pounds for reference. I'm a big guy but by golly, I'm within the maximum frame limit.


View: https://youtu.be/Z2ALb1s4R_k?si=1GE6B8lelFHoCy2f

 

[PaulSB]

Welp, that was a short lived "win" if I've ever seen one. Picked up my new Gen4 frame 63 days ago. Heard a loud clunk noise, followed by the seat post going loose on me. Hopped off the bike and popped off the Iso Speed cover to be greated by a sheared IsoSpeed bolt or whatever this part is. Beyond dissapointed to say the least. I'm just glad I was at home on the trainer and not out on the road when this thing grenaded. I could have been seriously injured or best case walking home. I'm 6'2" 245 pounds for reference. I'm a big guy but by golly, I'm within the maximum frame limit.


View: https://youtu.be/Z2ALb1s4R_k?si=1GE6B8lelFHoCy2f


View attachment 781570

View attachment 781569

View attachment 781568

View attachment 781567

View attachment 781566

View attachment 781565

View attachment 781564

View attachment 781563

View attachment 781562

View attachment 781561

I ride with a guy who had a similar experience with another variation of these fancy seat post fixings. We were on the road at the time. Three of us have known for months something like this would happen. He's grossly overweight by 70 - 80 pounds, has too much seat post exposed, spins a very low gear which causes him to bounce with every pedal stroke. We can see the seat post flex with every stroke.

While I know in his instance it's rider "error", for want of a better word, I can't help but feel there isn't enough safety tolerance built in to the system.

 

[Illaveago]

I must get one of these bikes. It gives you hours of endless fun!

 

[philipgonzales3]

I ride with a guy who had a similar experience with another variation of these fancy seat post fixings. We were on the road at the time. Three of us have known for months something like this would happen. He's grossly overweight by 70 - 80 pounds, has too much seat post exposed, spins a very low gear which causes him to bounce with every pedal stroke. We can see the seat post flex with every stroke.

While I know in his instance it's rider "error", for want of a better word, I can't help but feel there isn't enough safety tolerance built in to the system.

Yeah I am certainly overweight. Whether it is gross or not is up for interpretation. 😆
But yeah, I have a new fear unlocked. I'm sure the bolt shearing while under load would through my clumsy a** off balance out on the road.

 

[philipgonzales3]

I must get one of these bikes. It gives you hours of endless fun!

Definetly a challenge! May force you to walk/jog/run from time to time! Lol

 

[philipgonzales3]

The Trek bike shop gave me a loaner bike (Domane AL Gen 4), but I also took the opportunity to scoop up a "cheap" aluminum road bike to dedicate to the trainer. I paid asking price of $400 for it. Maybe it's not worth quite as much and I could have haggled a big, but it checked all my boxes and I felt it was a good price. It's a Ghost Nivolet (2015?) With 2 x 11 Ultegra groupset. I like that it is also 11 cogs in the rear like my Domane.

 

[wafter]

Wow - shocked but not surprised tbh

I'd be wanting a very significant upgrade in replacement (if they can actually supply something that's not critically flawed / failure-prone) or a full refund to put towards something from another brand that's actually fit for purpose..

Another nice example of what can happen when safety-critical consumer goods are made in the environment of end-stage capitalism.. good luck sorting something that won't actively try to kill you!

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

I'm a big guy but by golly, I'm within the maximum frame limit.

Sorry you have had a bad experience, but as you say the one saving grace was this happening on the trainer and not on the road. I have to admit I am very sceptical about claimed weight related safety limits suggested by bike manufacturers. This is in no way meant as a criticism of heavier riders, more the marketing spiel put out by bike companies. My personal view is anything north of 90KG is getting into risky territory for lightweight frames/wheels/components etc. I know not in all cases, but heavier riders will often be putting out more power and generating more torque and twisting forces through frames and parts, which is potentially a bad combination for bike longevity with certain materials.