Trek Domane SL5 Gen3 - Seat Post Wiggle - Rant?

[wafter]

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.

The use on a trainer might be of relevance too since the bike is held rigid so has to react the cyclic shifting of weight from side to side during pedalling, rather than being allowed to move more freely beneath the rider. I don't think I'd be mentioning the trainer when battling the manufacturers...

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

The use on a trainer might be of relevance too, since the bike is held rigid so has to react the cyclic shifting of weight from side to side during pedalling, rather than being allowed to move more freely beneath the rider. I don't think I'd be mentioning the trainer when battling the manufacturers...

Good point. Yes, definitely keep that quiet. It shouldn't matter in terms of any potential warranty unless there is a specific mention in Trek's warranty about bikes on trainers, but they will use any excuse they can if they know about it!

 

[PaulSB]

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!

I very often find myself agreeing with you on the general point around capitalism and consumerism but on this occasion I can't.

Obviously I've never seen Philip ride and wouldn't dream of remarking on his style. However the guy I know is well over the weight limit and his riding style is a significant factor, +50% at least. We agonised for weeks over whether or not to say something. In the end we decided not to. We all knew the post would give way. Whether there's sufficient tolerance in the design is debatable but any critical component will reach a point where overload takes it beyond the design limit.

The repair was made under guarantee. I had expected the LBS to say the issue was caused through excessive loading.

I feel the issue is with the never ending drive to make bikes look sleeker faster etc. Whether or not this is rampant capitalism is open to debate.

Personally I prefer a good old fashioned seat post clamp. When I next buy a bike it's an area I'll look at and question.

 

[wafter]

I very often find myself agreeing with you on the general point around capitalism and consumerism but on this occasion I can't.

Obviously I've never seen Philip ride and wouldn't dream of remarking on his style. However the guy I know is well over the weight limit and his riding style is a significant factor, +50% at least. We agonised for weeks over whether or not to say something. In the end we decided not to. We all knew the post would give way. Whether there's sufficient tolerance in the design is debatable but any critical component will reach a point where overload takes it beyond the design limit.

The repair was made under guarantee. I had expected the LBS to say the issue was caused through excessive loading.

I feel the issue is with the never ending drive to make bikes look sleeker faster etc. Whether or not this is rampant capitalism is open to debate.

Personally I prefer a good old fashioned seat post clamp. When I next buy a bike it's an area I'll look at and question.

Yes; I recall the thread and would agree with your position on this.

However, in this case it appears that the Philip is within the stated weight limit, while I'm assuming that the seatpost is being operated within advised boundaries too... so for something to fail in this way is IMO inexcusible; especially so soon after purchase.

I'd join you in questioning whether "your" experience was the result of insufficient design margins / factors of safety, and while all well and good that the example in your case was repaired under warranty the fact that it happened at all hardly breeds confidence in the longevity of the product, does it?

I agree about these issues being driven by "the never ending drive to make bikes look sleeker faster" - however what purpose does this serve to the manufacturer other than driving sales?

Agree about the seatpost clamp too - not just for reasons of immediate function but also longevity and future spares availabilty..

 

[si_c]

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

Can't help but feel you've been really unlucky there - I've got the same system on my Trek Domane and I'm bigger and heavier than you, not an issue in the 5 years I've had it.

 

[philipgonzales3]

Can't help but feel you've been really unlucky there - I've got the same system on my Trek Domane and I'm bigger and heavier than you, not an issue in the 5 years I've had it.

All good. Just means I am due for some good luck! I'm just happy to be able to keep spinning the legs and that the shop and Trek are at least taking care of it. Hopefully will be good once I get it back, but if not, life goes on. Even if my bike "tries to kille me", it's unlikely to succeed and my life in general is likely better off in general that I found cycling. I was really unhealthy and my lack of diet an excersize was likely to kill me or at least diminish my quality of life. Albeit likely a lot slower than potentially flying off the bike the next time this bolt snaps. Lol

 

[wafter]

All good. Just means I am due for some good luck! I'm just happy to be able to keep spinning the legs and that the shop and Trek are at least taking care of it. Hopefully will be good once I get it back, but if not, life goes on. Even if my bike "tries to kille me", it's unlikely to succeed and my life in general is likely better off in general that I found cycling. I was really unhealthy and my lack of diet an excersize was likely to kill me or at least diminish my quality of life. Albeit likely a lot slower than potentially flying off the bike the next time this bolt snaps. Lol

They don't have to be mutually exclusive - it doesn't have to be a choice between slow death from metabolic syndrome or quick death by frame failure; there are other options

 

[philipgonzales3]

They don't have to be mutually exclusive - it doesn't have to be a choice between slow death from metabolic syndrome or quick death by frame failure; there are other options

I like it. Why not both right? Haha

 

[Illaveago]

I like it. Why not both right? Haha

You could have died from boredom but now you have a hobby as a test pilot for Trek.

 

[Kingfisher101]

If I were you, I'd just settle for that alloy bike you have bought and sell the Trak.
With the money I'd get a fast steel audax type bike. That will take your weight and the seatpost will have proper clamp as well. You will also be able to keep up on fast group rides with this if this is your thing?

 

[philipgonzales3]

If I were you, I'd just settle for that alloy bike you have bought and sell the Trak.
With the money I'd get a fast steel audax type bike. That will take your weight and the seatpost will have proper clamp as well. You will also be able to keep up on fast group rides with this if this is your thing?

I haven't done any group rides before. I'm a bit clumsy and I will certainly need to practice staying on someone's wheel.

I'm going to try my luck at keeping the Domane off of the trainer and see if that helps before considering more drastic options.

So far, so good, but obviously too early to tell. The Ghost and the Trek seem to be getting along just fine though. Had to introduce them to each other slowly, but after some investigative bottom bracket sniffing, they are now best buds.

Using the Ghost during the week on Zwift, and the Trek on weekends (and sometimes around the neighborhood during the week).

Being in south Texas, it is hot AF out though! I feel like with my fitness, I could hammer out a 50 mile ride, but not at 100F+ out! Today's almost 38 mile ride is my longest outdoors yet, even though I've done 50 before on Zwift. I'm also not as fast as on Zwift, but I'm also riding a $10,000 bike in game haha (I know that's not the only reason, but I'm sure it doesn't hurt). Also riding a greenway paved trail that is mixed use and a max speed limit of 15mph (of course I speed a bit, but do make sure to be courteous to pedestrians and other riders, etc).

I'm so used to Zwift that on last weekends ride, I rode with my tire pressure around 40PSI! For my tires, weight, etc I run low 60's for PSI approximately. I figured, since I had some GP 5000's fitted on the bike, that the tire pressure would be close enough from the recent setup by the bike shop. I didn't stop to think the bike had already been sitting a week by the time I picked it up and honestly was just being lazy. Definitely made a difference today with the proper PSI lol. Still not very fast, but again partly due to where I am riding. All good, I know I'm not the strongest/fastest anyhow, but still out having fun.