Last month Trek launched its 2017 road bikes, and yes we know 2016 still has three months to go, but we thought maybe you’d need some time to choose which of their awesome machines you’re going to add to your Christmas list!
To help you decide which of their awesome road bikes you want to be riding next year, here’s a rundown of the 2017 Trek road bike range.
Domane – top-end endurance comfort
Earlier this year Trek relaunched their top-end carbon sportive bike, the Domane SLR and the major change was the addition of an adjustable IsoSpeed decoupler at the rear and a pivoting version of the IsoSpeed decoupler at the front of the bike. Don’t worry if you think the words “IsoSpeed decoupler†sound like something from a bad sci-fi movie, they’re simply a means of giving the bike a little bit more ‘give’ when you’re tackling rougher terrain. The adjustable element of the back decoupler allows you to control how much play there is in the frame. It’s all about increasing comfort ad is founded on the lessons Trek learned by developing bikes for the Classics.
Now while these improvements were originally confined to the top-end bikes in the Domane family, they are now available throughout the range – offering up a greater consistency of comfort from the base model, right up to the elite level SLR 9 eTap. You’ll also find that there’s a good representation of both disc and rim braking options in the SLR family.
The Domane can also be found in an S, SL and ALR version. The big difference between the S, the SL and the SLR (yes, we know those names are confusing) is that the cheaper SL version does not have the same adjustability on the rear decoupler, but does have a front decoupler, while the S only has the rear IsoSpeed decoupler. That means you’ll lose a little bit of comfort as you step down through the range – but make no mistake, these are still absolutely awesome bikes.
Again, the SL and S models come in a range of specs, with a choice of disc or rim braking options. We love the SL 6 Disc, which packs a phenomenal amount of punch!
If you’re happy to forego the luxurious lightness of carbon fibre you can also explore the ALR version of the Domane, which comes in at a very affordable £1,500 for a Shimano 105 disc-equipped frame.
Emonda – light and racy
The Emonda is Trek’s lightweight racing bike. The top-spec SLR version is the very same bike ridden by the pros of Trek-Segafredo, so if you want a climber’s bike that has been tested in the heat of the GC battle in the Tour de France, this is your guy! At 650g it’s staggeringly light, with a choice of four extremely attractive (but not cheap!) component packages.
A step down again is the SL, which offers something for the competitive road racer, at only 300g more heavy. The extremely punchy Emonda SL 6 Pro is equipped with deep section Vision wheels, offering an alternative to Trek’s own Bontrager brand, and an impressive mechanical Ultegra groupset. Not bad at all at £2,700.
Once again there are S (entry-level carbon) and ALR (aluminium) versions of the Emonda on offer, so there’s a bike in the family to suit every budget.
Madone – aero bro!
Last but not least is the Madone, which has had a few facelifts in its time since being introduced in the early 2000s. Latterly, the Madone has been an aero bike, with speed and performance in TT situations as its primary goal. We’re delighted to say that the latest crop of Madones doesn’t disappoint.
The Madone 9.2 H2 sits at the bottom of what is a very impressive pecking order, with Ultegra mechanical groupset, Bontrager tubeless-ready Aura wheels and an extremely light 600 Series OCLV Carbon frame. At £4,800, it’s not cheap, but once you’ve ridden a bike like this you’re going to tell the difference instantly, both in your results, and in the way you feel in the saddle.
