To sum up while the madone is a good road bike which is great for climbing and can be good for racing, the 695 feels like a true thoroughbred, a machine built to race and go fast all the time, showing its strengths on flat terrain and during descents. The seat post on the 695 is light years ahead of the madone in terms of adjustability and ride quality. Other- The cable routing is much better (less resistance) on the 695 and easier to set up. Still they shouldn't be there on a frame worth $7000 AUS. Ive also noticed a few inconsistencies in the paint on the 695 such as little specs, but you have to look really hard to notice. The only complaint i have with the 695 is that the clear coat is brittle and chips easily, so far due to my own clumsiness during setting up the bike rather than during riding. The carbon fibre weave looks beautiful and the clear coat is really nice. Again i haven't had much opportunity to do much descending.īuild quality - Both bikes have nice paint jobs but the finish on the 695 is a step above the madone. I was always very cautious when descending on the madone but the 695 is confidence inspiring during descents. Sprinting – I feel like its slightly easier to sprint and get more power out of the 695, although I haven’t done much sprinting yet to be honest.ĭescending - The 695 really shines during descents, probably due to the tighter front end and more precise steering than the madone. Whatever the case the madone is a great climber. The 695 is lacking a bit in that department, maybe due to the slightly longer chain stays, or it could just be my riding technique. Nothing that an expensive set of light weight wheels wouldn’t fix hahaĬlimbing –The geometry on the madone makes it feel like it was made for climbing, and I've felt that way from the first day I rode it. Weight – The madone definitely feels lighter, maybe 1kg or so, and it becomes obvious when climbing or accelerating. The madone also felt a bit uninspiring whereas the 695 feels exciting, but that’s totally subjective.
The 695 tends to let more higher frequency vibrations through and gives you a better road feel without making you feel uncomfortable.
Ride quality - While the madone is comfortable and absorbs road vibrations well I always felt a bit like I was riding a bike made of wood. I’m still in the habit of riding like I was on the madone (rocking from side to side) but the 695 prevents me from doing that and its helping me improve my riding technique. Stability - I found myself rocking from side to side on the madone but the 695 is a very stable bike as a whole and likes to go in a straight line. The front end of the 695 is also more stable. Steering - The steering is more sensitive and precise on the 695, and you need to be on your toes all the time to avoid suddenly go bush. Its probably just a result of adrenaline kicking in during my maiden rides Speed - I don't know if it’s the frame but I'm riding 1-2km faster on the 695 than on the madone. The lack of stiffness in the wheels is also a lot more obvious on the 695. Surprisingly there was a lot less vibration through the seat on the 695, almost non-existent thanks to the elastometer seat post. I can also feel the vibrations from the road more through the handlebars on the 695, (nothing that a little bit of gel under the bar tape didn’t fix). Its not a huge difference but its definitely there. Stiffness- the first thing i noticed was the stiffness of the Zed 2 crank on the 695. My previous bikes include a Bianchi Via Nirone 7 as well as the bikes in this review. I'm pretty new to cycling, I got into it 2 years ago when i lost my motorcycle licence and i needed a form of transport. The bikes were tested with different groupsets (madone-dura ace, 695-record) but otherwise the setup was the same. These views are totally subjective and not backed up by any scientific evidence. My impression are based on a year with the madone and a few rides, 5 or so, on the look 695. I thought i'd post a quick comparison of these two bikes.