trek bicycle history

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The History and Evolution of Trek Bicycles: A Legacy of Innovation

In the world of biking, Trek is a name that stands out. With its innovative designs and advanced technologies, Trek has been revolutionizing cycling since 1976. It was founded by Richard Burke and Bevil Hogg, who combined their engineering expertise with a desire to create the best bicycles in the world. Since then, Trek Bicycles has steadily risen to become one of the most well-known and respected bike brands around.

Trek’s story began in Waterloo, Wisconsin in 1976. Richard Burke had been working as an engineer at a local bike shop when he was approached by Bevil Hogg with the idea of starting their own company. After prototyping and testing their first model, they began production in 1977. The bikes were an immediate success, with customers praising them for their light weight, performance, and comfort.

As Trek grew, it quickly became known for its pioneering spirit. In 1983, it released the first mountain bike ever made from aluminum alloy—the Trek 980. This was followed by other early innovations such as carbon fiber forks (1987), full suspension frames (1988), cantilever brakes (1989), and disc brakes (1994). With each new product release, Trek further cemented its reputation as an industry leader.

In the 1990s and 2000s, Trek continued to innovate and develop even more cutting-edge technologies to enhance performance and safety on the roads and trails. Electronic shifting systems such as Di2 (2004) allowed cyclists to shift gears instantly; active suspension systems like IsoSpeed (2012) provided a smoother ride; wireless connectivity systems like ANT+ (2003) allowed riders to track their progress in real time.

Today, Trek is still pushing boundaries with its latest lineup of bikes that feature groundbreaking designs and technologies. From full-suspension downhill rigs to ultra-lightweight road machines to comfortable commuting hybrids—there’s something for everyone at Trek. Whether you’re an avid competitive cyclist or a casual weekend rider looking for some fun on two wheels, there’s no doubt that you can find something perfect for you.

For over four decades now, Trek has been redefining what it means to be a top-of-the-line bicycle company. By continually striving to produce top-notch products and implementing cutting-edge technologies into all its models, Trek has become one of the most well-recognized names in cycling today—a true legacy of innovation.

To explore more on Trek Bicycles , visit official website today!

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Trek Bikes Review — History, Models, and FAQ

Trek Bicycle Corporation is a bicycle and cycling products manufacturer whose headquarters are located in Waterloo, Wisconsin.

Trek bicycles are marketed through 1,700 dealers across North America . They have distributors in more than 90 nations across the world with subsidiaries in Asia and Europe.

Only a small percentage of their bikes are manufactured in the USA while the remaining 99% are manufactured in other parts of the world including Germany, China, and the Netherlands.

Over the years, this manufacturer has distributed bikes under brand names like:

• Diamant Bikes
• Klein and LeMond Racing Cycles
• Trek, Villiger Bikes
• Gary Fisher
• Electra Bicycle Company

Trek Bikes History

Over the last 42 years, this company has continually worked to refine and improve its products and persuaded the world to join in and take the journey towards better health and fitness.

The Early Years

• Trek’s story began in December 1975 in a barn when Dick Burke invested a sum of $25,000 to manufacture steel touring frames to battle those produced in Japan and Italy.
• Initially, the idea was to make the world’s best bikes but it was not until 1982 that they managed to actually manufacture their first complete bike as a company after acquiring more space and building a factory. In 1983 , they made their first mountain bike.
• Later in 1984 , they launched aftermarket parts and accessories line, Trek Components Group (TCG) .
• The period between 1985 and 1991 could be described as the technology frontier for Trek. In 1985, they borrowed from aircraft and other bike companies’ technology and introduced their first bonded aluminum bike frame in 2000.
• Later in 1986 Trek followed up the success of 2000 with a 3-tube carbon composite model, The Trek 2500.

This was Trek’s entry into the world of carbon fiber. That same year, to keep up with rapidly growing sales, they added another 75,000 sq ft (7,000 m 2 ) of manufacturing space to its Waterloo headquarters.

• In 1988 , Trek bikes introduced “ Trek Wear ,” which strongly indicated the company’s entry into the cycling apparel business. A year later, Trek ventured into foreign markets, opening subsidiary offices in the UK  and in Germany.

That same year Trek introduced its Jazz brand of bicycles, a collection of entry-level and kids’ bikes designed by Trek but manufactured in Taiwan. Jazz bicycles were discontinued in 1993.

The famous Trek 2500

• In 1992 , They launched their first bikes built with a full-carbon frame, the 5500 and 5200 which featured Optimum Compaction Low Void ( OCLV ) frames. These went on to become the world’s lightest production bikes with a frame weighing around 1.11kg.

The company further expanded its space to accommodate the new OCLV manufacturing facility.

• In 1992 , Trek also introduced their first full-suspension mountain bike, the 900 series which featured the T3C suspension system. In 1993, Trek also acquired Gary Fisher Mountain Bikes, named after Gary Fisher , one of the inventors of the mountain bike and one of the most popular names in off-road cycling.

Fisher had founded Gary Fisher Mountain Bikes in 1983 and sold his company in 1991 to Taiwan’s Anlen company, remaining on as President.

The Later Years

• From there it has been all systems go for Trek bikes with a various event marking their success such as introducing a full suspension Y bike in 1995 and signing three-time Tour de France champion Greg LeMond to get LeMond Racing Cycles on its feet (1995), although the relationship with LeMond soured in 2008 as both sides alleged breach of contract.

In 2006 Trek launched the “ 1 World 2 Wheels ” campaign. The idea was to encourage Americans to swap their cars for bikes on trips of two miles or less.

Today their mission is to “Help the world use the bicycle as a simple solution to complex problems” such as easing traffic congestion, improving health, seeing the world, and combating climate change.

They’ve cut their coal emissions to nil and parking spaces at their headquarters are allocated for carpoolers only.

Trek Bikes Model Range

Today, Trek produces everything from high-end road, mountain, and triathlon bikes to hybrid, comfort, cruiser, and kids’ bikes. These products are available at a range of prices; the high-performance bikes will require you to dig deeper into your pocket while other bikes are more affordable.

They have also designed bikes and accessories to fit female riders since 2000 and they have a custom bike program called Project One, where customers can choose their own paint scheme and component mix.

Trek Mountain Bikes

Trek’s mountain bikes are made for off-road adventure, fun, and competition. Among their extensive range of 13 models, you can find something to take on any off-road conditions and fit every budget and rider preference.

They categorize the bikes into four groups: six cross-country models, four trail models, two downhill models, and one fat bike model. Additionally, there are electric mountain bikes which we discuss below.

Among the styles, you can find hardtails, full-suspension gravity bikes; 29″, 27.5″, mulleted wheels; aluminum, steel, and carbon frames; and a range of options from a beginner hardtail to a World Championship-winning beast.

The Trek Slash 9.9 XX1 enduro is the most expensive in the range, with an RRP of over $12,500; at the other end of their range, you have the sub-$500 steel-framed Trek 820 cross-country bike.

Interesting design technologies include Trek’s  advanced OCLV Mountain Carbon frame and progressive sizing geometry. Other innovative MTB technologies from the company include Active Braking Pivot, IsoStrut shock—structural suspension, IsoSpeed frame-integrated suspension, and Mono Link adjustable geometry.

Read Our Reviews

• Trek Marlin 4 Gen 2 Review
• Review of Trek Marlin 5 Gen 2
• Trek Marlin 6 Gen 2 Review
• Trek Marlin 7 Gen 2 Review
• Trek Marlin 8 Gen 2 Review
• Trek Supercaliber Review 

Trek Road Bikes

Trek is most widely recognized for its exceptional road bicycles, used by the World Tour team Trek Segafredo. Their road bikes are made for speed and efficiency on paved surfaces and gravel.

The company makes four distinct styles of road bikes in a range of builds:

• Aero (Madone) – Most popular racing bike for its aerodynamic tubing
• Lightweight all-rounder (Emonda) – The all-rounder lightweight climbing choice
• Endurance (Domane) – Built for comfort over long distances, with more relaxed, stable geometry and 38mm tire clearance
• Gravel – A fast off-roader with mounts for accessories and more tire clearance

You can find Trek road bikes with OCLV Carbon or Alpha Aluminum frames and SRAM or Shimano groupsets, depending on the price, which ranges from just over $1,000 for the cheapest Domane AL 2 to over $12,500 for the highest spec version of each.

Some exciting technologies used on Trek’s road bikes include invisible cabling design, IsoCore vibration dampening, and adjustable IsoSpeed micro-suspension.

Trek also mentions its aim to make each bike as effective as possible for both sexes, eliminating the need to find a women-specific model.

Trek Hybrid Bikes

Urban & Commuter / Fitness / Dual-sport / Recreation / Women’s / Kids’

Aluminum / Carbon

Trek hybrids are another hugely popular range of bikes among casual cyclists. These urban bikes are designed for versatility and benefit from the trickle-down of technology from the brand’s most innovative models. These hybrids include:

• FX 1-6 – This is a speedy fitness bike with a rigid fork
• Dual Sport 1-4 – A suspension fork hybrid built to tackle off-road terrain or function as a fully-equipped commuter
• Verve 1-3 – This is the ultimate comfortable hybrid bike with upright geometry and a low-step option available

These bikes come in various builds, including OCLV Carbon or Alpha Aluminum for the frames; step-over, step-thru, or low-step designs; IsoZone handlebar-integrated suspension, IsoSpeed Decoupler for endurance comfort, and mounts for a rack and fenders.

These bikes range from around $500 for the cheapest FX 1 to over $2,000 for the most expensive FX 6 Carbon and can be paired with various accessories to customize the bikes for your diverse urban or commuter needs.

Trek Electric Bikes

Each of Trek’s traditional bike ranges has a selection of e-bikes to complement it. This includes eHybrid, eMTB, and eRoad.

• Allant+ and Verve+ – Two fully equipped urban hybrid electric bikes, the Allant being the more sporty of the two
• E-Caliber, Rail, and Powerfly – Three full-suspension e-mountain bike options. The Rail is a long-travel MTB, and the E-caliber is a super lightweight XC bike
• Domane+ – Trek’s endurance road model goes electric with a lightweight and comfortable design that makes all-day riding a breeze

All of their bicycles use Bosch e-bike systems. Bosch produces some of the most innovative systems on the market with stylish integration, powerful mid-drive motors, and large-capacity batteries.

Trek uses the design technology found on their traditional bikes on many of their electric ranges, such as the IsoZone, IsoSpeed suspension, and premium frame engineering.

In addition, Trek’s subsidiary brand Electra has two comfort-focused “Recreation” electric models, the Townie Path Go and Attitude Go, and one hybrid, the Vale Go.

These e-bikes cover a wide price range, comparable to the standard bikes, beginning at around $1,600 for the entry-level Electra Townie up to $12,500 and $13,500 for the top-end road and MTB models.

Shop Trek E-Bikes

Where are Trek bikes made?

Trek bikes are made in China, Taiwan, the Netherlands, and Germany. Most of the manufacturing of Trek’s bikes and accessories takes place in China and Taiwan, as with most major bicycle brands. However, very select models are still produced at their Wisconsin factory.

Are Trek bikes good?

Yes, Trek bikes are good. They have worldwide recognition for high-quality, long-lasting bicycles across the whole price range. Trek also sponsors and manufactures bikes for the highest level of professional cycling, including Trek Segafredo road cycling and Trek Factory Racing mountain biking.

Where to buy Trek bikes?

You can buy Trek’s bikes at physical and online retailers worldwide, both online and in-store. Trek has its own physical stores and ambassador bike shops that mostly stock or only Trek bikes. You can find a list of all their online and physical retailers through the Trek.com website.

How much is a Trek bike?

A Trek bike can cost as little as $450 to $13,500. Each Trek model has various spec levels which change the price incrementally, meaning you can find a Trek bike in any price range. The company’s most popular models like the FX, Domane, and Powerfly have many pricing levels.

What size Trek bike do I need?

The size Trek bike you need depends on the model you buy, your body measurements, and preferences. Each of Trek’s products has a corresponding sizing chart on its web page to help you find the correct size. You can also use Trek’s network of Precision Fit technicians professional fit.

When did Trek stop making bikes in the USA?

Trek stopped making bikes in the USA in 2017. According to sources inside the company, they then moved the final 1% of US production to their overseas factories. However, 99% of the production was already in China, Taiwan, the Netherlands, and Germany.

How do I tell what year my Trek bike is?

You can tell what year your Trek bike is by finding the serial number on the underside of the bike’s frame, next to the bottom bracket. Then, contact your local Trek dealer or get in touch with the company’s customer service and provide them with this number to find out.

Who owns Trek bikes?

Trek Bikes is a privately owned company. Initially, the parent company was called Intrepid Corporation. However, Intrepid changed its name to Trek Bicycle Corporation in the 1990s and stopped its non-bicycle-related business due to the incredible success of the biking giant.

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About the Author

Sam Millers

4 thoughts on “ trek bikes review — history, models, and faq ”.

Got a 1989 Trek 1400 road bike, I love that thing, it was converted to STI brifters, and the bike itself even for today’s standards is so light!

I haven’t had the privilege to ride it, but the bike looks great! I’m sure it rides like the wind 🙂

Please doble check when you buy a Trek bike! For self experience, I bought one 10 month ago (all stock) and the chainring start touching the frame. I thought it was normal because I think they put correct components. But that was not the case they put a 36t and 26t xt crankset. My frame is completely damaged and I was worry because I do not want to get a accident. I went to the shop and they tell me was my fault they don’t give me any guaranty so that what I think this bike it’s worst do not buy repeat.

Oh man, sad to hear. What model was it?

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Ever wonder, when you look at your bike, what's hidden beneath the paint? Once upon a time, a simple tubing sticker would affirm the pedigree of the steel tubes a builder had used, Reynolds or Columbus perhaps, with the paint concealing the hours of craftsmanship put in. Today, Trek's carbon fiber bikes share that hidden handiwork with their steel forebears, not that you'd guess. The bikes are conceived with computer-generated designs, fluid-dynamically assessed and finite analyzed, and the resulting shapes appear seamlessly machine-made. The carbon bike production process at Trek's Waterloo headquarters has changed over the years, from gluing preformed carbon tubes into aluminum lugs in 1988, to a ground-up process that combines multiple molds with multiple carbon materials to create a masterfully engineered end product. Yet despite the aerospace technology, the bikes are actually built from a sheet of flat carbon fabric, completely by hand. There are no third party tube or lug manufacturers involved here and, somewhat paradoxically, what happens now at Trek is a more hand-built bicycle than it's ever been.

We're not simply talking about pressing carbon shapes into a jelly mold with some epoxy resin, though molds are where the process begins. Custom mold-making for Trek is done by a team of engineers run by Jay Thrane. The mold-making facility is run out of the original Trek red barn in Waterloo, the place where Dick Burke and Bevil Hogg started their company, and where thousands of steel bicycles were made in the 70s. Now in this old barn, molds are made that help make thousands of carbon frames. Each of these molds comes out of a solid lump of aluminum or steel, depending on the application, and is CNC machined on site to suit the desired component shape. Then the hard part starts. As frames are getting into more involved shapes, so the molds are getting more and more complicated. At the beginning, the mold cutting facility was turning out five molds a week. Now, despite more machines and a 24-hour running, they're managing just one or two, such is the complexity of the new designs. Every surface of the mold that will come into contact with carbon has to be sanded by hand and polished to a mirror finish. The molds are then plated (to aid longevity) and fitted with hinges, springs, and associated hardware. It takes experienced engineers like Bill Frix, previously a welder and a carbon lay-up operator at Trek, a good half day to prepare one mold. Each frame size needs up to six component molds to make a complete frameset. All the parts of these complicated molds have to fit together perfectly, and the preformed inserts (pieces that add structure on the inside) need to be able to slot in without compromising closure, because the molding process will find the faults, as Jay points out. With heat and pressure, the epoxy resin portion of the carbon liquefies, so if you've got the slightest crack you'll get something in it. Basically, when you turn up the heat, resin turns into coffee. So the molds have to be perfect from the start.

Once the molds are shipped the mile or so west to the carbon lab, the magic black stuff can be cut and picked. Engineering aside, the process involved when laying up a carbon frame has a lot in common with dressmaking. In fact, as processes go, it probably relates more to the art of the seamstress than the traditional way of building a steel frame from tube and lugs. Jim Colegrove, composites manufacturing engineer, explains: “We have some very advanced software. First, we use CAD and make the 3D shape that is the frame. I can split this part into specific regions and then flatten them out into a net shape, a perfect pattern that I can then put back into the mold, and I know will fit exactly into the shape. We call this pattern a flat preform, which is then cut out on our CNC cutting table.” Preforms are the key to building strength where it’s needed and saving weight where it’s not, as engineers select the right type of material for each shape and application. Carbon specialists Hexcel make all of Trek's Waterloo carbon material, and have done so for nearly 25 years. It's all USA-made carbon fiber from Salt Lake City, Utah, supplied in standard modulus, intermediate modulus, high modulus, or ultra-high modulus. It can be cloth or uni-directional, depending on intended usage. Former aerospace engineer Jim explains their respective properties. "We use cloth—that standard checkerboard carbon fabric—in specific high-stress or high-impact areas, because cloth has a unique property. Think of it a little like ripstop nylon: it can be more damage-tolerant. It is also much more conformal in very tight, surface contours. Uni-directional stuff is just as it says—fibers that run in one direction. It is flexible too, in the plane of the fibers, but it makes more complex shapes quite difficult. Each material has strengths and weaknesses, and it takes experience and engineering to get the structures built optimally. For example, Hex-MC is a unique material of shorter, chopped fibers. They are thrown down onto a sheet in a very randomized pattern that would simulate a lay-up. We can then mold that into really complex shapes very effectively, because we don’t have long continuous fibers. But it doesn’t have quite the strength or stiffness that uni-directional or cloth does. For contrast, look the bottom bracket. It sees a lot of torsion and bending, because of the head tube load and the load that the rider puts in, so it needs both high stiffness and high strength. So we add small strips of high or ultra-high modulus material in those specific areas to help us out.”

Looking at a carbon frame, it’s so easy to think it’s made like a plastic model airplane, but it’s a complicated business. A Madone road frame has around 180 preforms, or individual pieces of carbon sheet, which can be layered up to increase strength where needed. A Session downhill bike will have 238 preforms, with each being between two and 12 plies of carbon material (either uni-directional, cloth, or Hex-MC). That's a complex cutting list. Carbon is a wonderful material, but it takes good engineering to do right. Without the right expertise you end up with structures that are either heavy or not structurally sound. To add to this complexity, preforms generally grow in size as the frame size increases, and they may need additional material to allow for the loads that larger riders apply to the bikes. But even the most beefed-up parts of a frame are still only in the region of 1.5mm wall thickness. The true artisans of the Trek carbon prototyping facility are Kelly Stone and Sue Moe, who have 50 years experience between them in molding carbon fiber. The material is rather like a sheet of toffee, in that it's sticky to touch and bendable, and gets softer when warmed. As Kelly explains, she only has to get the sheets of carbon in her experienced hands to gauge whether it is fit for purpose. "You can definitely tell the difference between the types of material and what's not right, and whether there's enough resin or too much. The engineers always tell us the lay-ups to use, the ingredients for each test, but after evaluation, we can make extra pieces for here and there and then test them." Kelly and Sue know the process inside out: the cooling times, the ideal temperatures, how far you can push the material. Trek has always recognized that engineers need to get their hands dirty too. No matter what the computer says, the hands-on judgment is the true test, and Jim’s happy to get his gloves on and show us how it’s done. He might be slower than Kelly and Sue, but Mr. Plaid, as they affectionately call him, can turn his hand to most things. They can give experienced feedback to Jim and his engineers as to what will and won't work during the lay-up. A lot of this isn't just science—experience is everything at Trek. They have produced and tested so many frames that they have a huge head start in frame development, all that data.

Mr Plaid spreads mold release around a mold and places a preform into the cavity. He talks us through the next steps. Depending on the shape, bladders are added and the whole lot is closed up and placed into the presses. These literally squash the fibers and set the material into shape, at the same time removing excess resin. The new Session downhill mountain bike race frame has 40 individual preforms in one rocker arm alone. In the same way that a dressmaker might use the bias of a fabric to create just the right fit or texture, carbon is laid into the mold to create the strongest (and lightest) results. Just laying up a mold for a single piece like a swing arm takes around 10 minutes, so the idea that mold-produced carbon is faster and easier to produce than a CNC-machined aluminum part isn't even close. Once all the bits are cleaned up and placed to cool, the next stage of the process can begin. In the case of a Madone, assembling the molded components into a road frame is remarkably quick. Epoxy glue is used to bond the individual stays, bottom bracket, and front triangle pieces with a proprietary Step Joint design that creates joints of the same thickness as the contiguous tube, so there's no added weight or difference in ride quality caused by the joint. The whole lot is then loaded into a jig to be baked hard in an oven. Once set, the frame can be checked for tracking alignment and sent off to the next stage: adding the finish and the paint—and concealing all that handiwork and technology, in a market that demands more for less as Jim explains. “I often get asked: why does Trek continue to build frames here when the entire industry has moved offshore, including, to be honest, a good percentage of Trek frames? Why do we still have this factory? And my answer is always the same. You can’t build different products, better products, when you don’t completely understand the science. And the only way to understand the way frames and carbon structures really work is to build them yourself. Having our engineers cutting molds, laying in carbon, seeing their structures come to life is crucial to pushing designs forward. It is really expensive to build things here in this factory, but the products are better because of it. All of our products are better, because we know how things should be built, can be built. And that's because we do it ourselves. We can’t wait for someone else to move the meter and show us how to do it. We are going to lead. That’s been the Trek way since I started here in 1990, and it’s the reason I come to work.”

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Trek bikes range: which model is right for you?

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The humble beginning of Trek bicycles took place in the "red barn" - once a carpet warehouse - in Waterloo, USA. The first bikes were steel touring frames , but within three years the brand had expanded substantially.

Eventually outgrowing the barn, Trek moved into a much larger headquarters - still in Waterloo - in the year 1980. From there it began to manufacture road racing bikes, then in 1983 created its first mountain bike before moving into accessories come 1984.

Having started out in steel, Trek moved into developing aluminium bikes in 1985. The first Trek branded full carbon frame came in 1989 - the Trek 5000 had a frame weight of 1.5kg. It was built by an outside manufacturer and discontinued after a year. Trek made its own efforts at carbon, with an in-house production, in 1992 to much greater success.

>>> Trek mountain bikes: which model is right for you?

Now, Trek offers the Madone (aero bike), Domane (endurance bike), Emonda (lightweight race bike) and Checkpoint (gravel bike) as well as the Boone cyclocross and Speed Concept time trial machine.

Trek's OCLV Carbon

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

Trek's carbon bikes have always used their own patented 'OCLV carbon' - this stands for Optimum Compaction Low Void. It believes this carbon creates the best compromise between low weight and high strength and stiffness.

Optimum Compaction refers to the way sheets of carbon are layered into the mould, and optimised via heat and pressure - in Trek's opinion the two treatments are administered to the perfect ratio. Low Void refers to the minimisation of space between the layers of carbon, which might otherwise reduce strength and durability.

In 1995, Trek opened an independent facility inWhitewater, Wisconsin. The idea being that the Waterloo factory would work in frame development only. For those who want to customise their ride, the'Project One' custom paint programme arrived in 2001.

Trek's pro cycling support

Trek supported now disgraced American cyclist, Lance Armstrong, through his peak years. In 1997, it helped him sign with their sponsored team, US Postal Service Pro Cycling. He won his seven editions of the Tour de Frances on bikes bearing the brand name, but all of said wins were later taken from him following doping violations.

In 2014, the brand sponsored the Trek Factory Racing Team, now calledTrek–Segafredo. In that role, it provided bikes for high profile winners such as Fabian Cancellara and Alberto Contador,as well as Jens Voigt, and notably his Hour Record in September 2014.

In 2020, Trek continued to support the Trek-Segafredo men's and women's race outfits, two highly successful teams.

Trek's acquisitions

Over the years, Trek has made a number of high profile acquisitions. The most famous, perhaps, Gary Fisher bicycles - the mountain bike brand which it took over in 1993.

Later came Bontrager Cycles in 1995 and Electra Bicycle Company in 2014. Bontrager, now Trek's component and apparel brand, maintains the same name as does Electra, the creator of leisure bikes and accessories.

Useful links for road bike shoppers…

Trek's road bike models

Trek is able to offer a wide range of different bikes, each tuned to a slightly different purpose. Some model families are available in a selection of standards (SLR premium carbon, SL carbon, ALR premium aluminium and AL aluminium), and then these come with assorted levels of componentry to suit your price bracket.

To add even more depth to the range, Trek offers many models in two different 'fits'. The Madone and Émonda come as standard in an H2 (traditional) fit, but there are versions in what it calls 'H1' fit. This is more aggressive, shaving off about 30mm on the head tube to create a longer, lower ride. The Domane comes in an H2 'Endurance' fit, with a few models in 'Pro Endurance', again with a longer and lower stance on offer.

Here's a look at the key model families...

With each product is a ‘Buy Now’ or ‘Best Deal’ link. If you click on this then we may receive a small amount of money from the retailer when you purchase the item. This doesn’t affect the amount you pay.

Trek Domane

Our expert review:

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid.

The Trek Domane was introduced in 2012. It was created to offer a comfortable ride, the key feature being an IsoSpeed decoupler which separated the seat tube from the top tube, thus reducing vibrations and fatigue.

In 2016 it gained theFront IsoSpeed, which helps to reduce vibrations at the front end without impacting handling. This came alongside a new slider, which alters the level of dampening offered by the rear.

In its most recent update , the Domane took notes from the Madone with an aero fork profile, whilst becoming more versatile thanks to clearance for 38mm tyres (without mudguards, 35mm with). It also gained a downtube compartment for stashing tools (or snacks!).

Though comfort is important to the Trek Domane, it's still a racing frame, and its prowess has been demonstrated by UCI WorldTour riders at major one-day Classics, such as Strade Bianche and the Tour of Flanders. The top Domane bikes come with an H1.5 fit, which was developed with the Trek-Segafredo teams to offer the optimal balance between aerodynamics and endurance.

The Trek Domane - available as a men's build or with women's specific componentry - is a fast selling model, which comes in a range of frame materials.

The Domane SLR uses the lightest carbon Trek offers, the SL is one step down, whilst the AL uses aluminium and is the cheapest of the range.

Trek Madone

The Trek Madone is quite another beast, and the bikes come built for men and women; the latter's models with women's saddles and narrower handlebars . With an aggressive geometry and stiffness to boot, it's a road race hero, and aerodynamics have become part of its lifeblood. When we tested five aero bikes , head to head, the Trek Madone came out fastest.

Modern Trek Madone's feature a high level of integration, with the cables tucked away yet reachable via an access point at the top of the down tube.Wind tunnel testing has helped Trek to create theirKVF (Kammtail Virtual Foil) tube shapes, used on the frame and fork. These unconventional tube shapes are designed to further reduce drag, helping the rider/bike unit to slice through the air efficiently.

Because being bumped around doesn't make you faster, the Madone also features an IsoSpeed decoupler at the seat tube and more recently an adjustable one at the head tube, which offers greater compliance whilst still being integrated to prevent adding drag.

The newest model, according to Trek, can offer 17 per cent more compliance through to 21 per cent more stiffness, depending upon your chosen setting. A damper at the seatpost is also said to cut rebound by 13 per cent. All of these stats add up to a bike that can be comfortable and stiff at the same time - and one that earned a place in our 2018 Editor's Choice awards.

The majority of the bikes come in a more relaxed 'H2' geometry, save for the Madone SLR, which is in an 'H1.5' fit - this is designed to allow riders to achieve an H1 fit or an H2, depending upon their set up.

Trek Émonda

Adding more depth to the Trek family is the Trek Émonda, launched in 2014. Designed to be a climbing bike, newer adaptations are capable of negotiating mixed terrains - with disc brakes available and tyre clearance to 28mm.

>>> Trek Émonda range explained

Trek continues to work on developing the Émonda, dropping the weight of the top end Trek Émonda SLR to 640g in a size 56cm (665g with discs) and 1091g for the Trek Émonda SL (1149g with discs). The weight difference is largely achieved by the use of700 Series OCLV carbon on the SLR, as opposed to 500 series on the SL.

The aluminium model has seen some major work and the result earned it a place in the Editor's Choice 2019 awards. The key characteristic we loved was the way it simply didn't look, or ride, like aluminium. A lot of this is down to Trek's 'Invisible Weld Technology' which increases the surface area of the frame, adding to strength and reducing weight. The ALR model's frame weight comes in at a competitive 1112g, or 1131g with discs, and it uses the brand's 300 Series Alpha Aluminium.

The carbon models are available in 'SLR' build or 'SL', the former being the lightest and the latter more affordable. The majority of Trek Émonda bikes cone in an 'H2' fit, but they can be purchased in an 'H1' geometry, if you choose the top end 'Race Shop' version.

There are a few nods to neatness and integration around, such as the use of 'Blendr Integration' which seamlessly mounts Bontrager’s cycling computer, Ionbike lights or even Garmin computers directly to the handlebars. On SLR versions there's ‘Control Freak Cable Management’ which allows for shifter and brake cables to be housed through the frame.

Trek Checkpoint

With gravel and adventure bikes a fast growing category, the Checkpoint is Trek's offering to fill that sector. The crucial element here is that both the SL and ALR frame options come fitted out with 35c gravel tyres, and can accommodate rubber up to 45c. They've all got internal cable routing, to ensure much stays out, whilst the higher end models use 'Control Freak' routing which is neater.

>>> Best gravel bikes: the top models reviewed

If you opt for the carbon SL model, you get vibration dampening from an IsoSpeed decoupler at the rear, too.  To provide stability and confidence on light trails as well as comfort on all-day adventures, the geometry is not as aggressive as the road bikes elsewhere in the range. Such all-day rides warrant plenty of kit, so there's mounts for racks and mounts. Similar to elsewhere in the range, there's AL, ALR and SL models.

Trek Speed Concept

Trek's Speed Concept time trial bike has been raced by the pros yet is still seen on the amateur race scene as a popular option.

>>> Check out Fabian Cancellara's 2016 Speed Concept

The frames use 500 Series OCLV Carbon, boasting the KVF (Kammtail Virtual Foil) tube shapes described in the Madone, plus a carbon fork with integrated brake and stem - the key goal being cutting through the air quickly.There's space to fit Trek's SC Draft Box and SC Sped Box, largely used by triathletes carrying snacks.

Trek Boone 5

Trek's got plenty of experience in the muddy realm of off-road cycling - and they've got a selection of cyclocross bikes. The Trek Boone 7 model comes with hydraulic disc brakes, a one-by crank and 12-speed cassette and they've all got Bontrager's own 33c cyclocross tyres.

The frame material is Trek's 600 series OCLV carbon, and there's front and rear IsoSpeed decouplers to help riders negotiate the mud without excess transfer of vibration. Combining the mud ready tyres, disc brakes, 'cross focused cable routing and geo into an aluminium package is the Trek Crockett family.

They key differentiation is the frame material, which is300 Series Alpha Aluminium, and there's no decoupler. However, it's still a performance bike that's ready to race.

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Michelle Arthurs-Brennan the Editor of Cycling Weekly website. An NCTJ qualified traditional journalist by trade, Michelle began her career working for local newspapers. She's worked within the cycling industry since 2012, and joined the Cycling Weekly team in 2017, having previously been Editor at Total Women's Cycling. Prior to welcoming her daughter in 2022, Michelle raced on the road, track, and in time trials, and still rides as much as she can - albeit a fair proportion indoors, for now.

'I suspect that you can divide cyclists into personality types around coffee', muses columnist Dr Hutch

By Michael Hutchinson Published 21 April 24

State Bicycle Co. announced today a Bob Marley collaboration that features Marley-themed bikes, frame bags, top caps and apparel.

By Kristin Jenny Published 20 April 24

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Trek Bicycle history

Trek bicycle company history timeline.

Months later, spring of 1976, in a southern Wisconsin barn located halfway between their homes in Madison and Milwaukee, this pair of visionaries set out to make a business of building bikes of extraordinary artistry.

There were five employees on the payroll when the barn doors opened in 1976.

In early 1976, with a payroll of five, Trek started manufacturing steel touring frames in Waterloo, Wisconsin, taking aim at the mid to high-end market dominated by Japanese and Italian made models.

In 1977, Penn Cycle in Richfield, Minnesota became the first Trek retailer in the world.

"Trek: A Giant is Growing in the Midwest" by Gary Fisher, in Bicycling!, February 1978.

"Road Test - Trek 714" in Bicycling, November/December 1979 pp 59-60.

Within three years, Trek sales approached $2,000,000 in 1979.

By 1980, Trek had outgrown its original plant.

Recognizing the need for expansion, in 1980 Trek broke ground on a new 26,000 sq ft (2,400 m) corporate headquarters on the outskirts of Waterloo.

"Trek 728 - Hurray! True Classic Touring Bikes are Made in Wisconsin" in Bicycling, January/February 1982 pp 87-90.

"Workshop - All about Loaded Touring Bikes" in Bicycling, June 1983 (Includes a review of the Trek 720).

Fueled in large part by the surging popularity of mountain bikes, Trek sold more than 45,000 bikes in 1984.

In 1984, Trek ventured into the aftermarket parts and accessories business, launching its Trek Components Group (TCG) department.

"Technical Edge - Trek 520" in Bicycling, April 1985, pages 98 - 112.

After a conflict with cofounder Burke, Hogg left Trek in 1985 to start his own bicycle company in California.

By 1986 sales had soared to $16 million, and surging demand led to the addition of 75,000 square feet to the company’s Waterloo manufacturing facility.

In 1988, Trek introduced "Trek Wear," marking the company's entry into the cycling apparel business.

In 1989 the Jazz line of children’s bicycles were introduced, and the company opened subsidiaries in Great Britain and Germany.

1989 was a pivotal year for Trek, marking the year that the company unveiled its first molded carbon fiber frame, the Trek 5000.

In 1990, Trek developed a new category of bicycle that combined the comfort features of a mountain bike with the quick ride of a road bike: MultiTracks, Trek's first line of hybrid bikes, were born.

Fauber, John, "Riding a Profitable Cycle," Milwaukee Journal, September 15, 1991.

Trek's sales grew to about $175 million for fiscal 1991, and the company had about 700 employees by that time.

In 1991, Trek opened its first company-owned retail store in nearby Madison, Wisconsin.

Trek's first OCLV carbon road bike, Model 5500, was introduced in 1992, and its first OCLV carbon mountain bikes, Models 9800 and 9900, were unveiled a year later.

These breakthroughs led to the 1992 development of the Optimum Compaction Low Void (OCLV) carbon fiber lamination process.

Beginning in 1992, Trek assembled helmets out of parts purchased from other companies at a new plant in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.

In 1992, Trek unveiled its first home-grown, full-carbon framed bicycles, the 5500 and 5200, featuring OCLV Carbon frames.

Altogether, company sales reached $230 million for 1993, a $20 million increase from the previous year.

In 1993, Trek also acquired Gary Fisher Mountain Bikes, named after Gary Fisher, one of the inventors of the mountain bike and one of the most popular names in off-road cycling.

Trek passed the $250 million mark in sales in 1994.

In 1994, Trek entered the growing home fitness arena, introducing Trek Fitness Exercycles.

A number of major developments took place at Trek in 1995.

1995 was also the year Trek opened a state-of-the-art assembly facility in Whitewater, Wisconsin, leaving the Waterloo location free to focus solely on frame production.

As Burke explained in a 1996 Capital Times (Madison, Wisconsin) interview, "In all fairness, Bevill [Hogg, company cofounder] was more of a dreamer than a manager." Although sales remained solid, Trek began to experience difficulties in a number of areas.

In early 1996, the company announced plans to add another 45,000 square feet to its Oconomowoc distribution center.

In 1996, Trek discontinued the Exercycle line, spinning off its fitness division into an independently-owned company, renamed Vision Fitness.

As a sponsor of racing teams and athletes, Trek had the good fortune of signing Lance Armstrong in 1997.

Armstrong joined Trek and the United States Postal Team in 1997 shortly after he was diagnosed with cancer.

In 1998, Trek established its Advanced Concepts Group (ACG), a collection of engineers and technicians dedicated to technologies development.

Adams, Caralee J., "Trek's Leap into Lighter Bikes," Wall Street Journal, February 22, 1999.

Armstrong won his first Tour de France in 1999 aboard a Trek 5500, becoming the first American to win the Tour on an American team riding an American made bicycle.

An interesting presentation of the business history of Trek was made by Richard A. Burke, Chairman and CEO of Trek, in October of 2000.

Responding to the unique needs of female cyclists, in 2000 Trek introduced Women's Specific Design (WSD) bicycle and accessories.

In October 2001, Trek introduced a custom bike program named Project One, which gave customers the opportunity to customize their Trek bike by selecting the bike's paint scheme and component mix.

Trek has created a interesting and well-written history entitled "A Trek through Time – The History of Trek Bicycles". It appeared on the Trek Dealer website in February of 2002.

Hoping to expand into a new market segment, Trek introduced Trek Travel in December 2002, a provider of luxury cycling vacations in Europe and North America.

As part of this strategy, Trek added Swiss bicycle company Villiger to its arsenal in 2003 as well as Diamant, the oldest bike company in Germany.

In 2003, Trek acquired Villiger, a Swiss bicycle company, and Diamant, the oldest bicycle company in Germany.

Armstrong rode the new Madone SL in 2004 and the bike became available to biking enthusiasts shortly thereafter.

The Carlow facility stayed open until late 2004, at which time Trek transferred its European production to a manufacturing facility in Hartmannsdorf, Germany.

Barrett, Rick, "A Bicycle Built for You," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, August 28, 2005.

Hajewski, Doris, "Trek Starts Selling Bicycles in China," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, October 12, 2005.

Trek and Armstrong experienced marked success in the early years of the new millennium—by 2005 Armstrong had won seven consecutive Tour de France races.

In fact, when asked in 2005 what type of bike he rode, President Bush responded, "I'm not supposed to endorse products, but it's called a Trek."

Trek's global expansion continued in 2005, when Trek expanded into the Chinese market by opening two stores in Beijing and signing deals with 20 Chinese distributors.

Trek made a total of 805 frames that first year (according to a 2008 article in the New York Times). Two years later they started offering complete bicycles in addition to the bare frames.

Richard Burke died in 2008.

In 2008, after years of behind-the-scenes support for the League of American Bicyclists and the Bikes Belong Coalition (now PeopleForBikes), Trek announced its 1 World 2 Wheels bicycle advocacy campaign at its annual Trek World dealer convention in Madison, Wisconsin.

In 2009, Trek created the Trek Women Triathlon Series.

2011, Trek sponsored three women's triathlon series; the Trek Women Triathlon Series, the Danskin Series and the Iron Girl Series.

In 2012, all of Armstrong's Tour victories were rescinded after Armstrong was found to have violated anti-doping regulations.

On January 6, 2014, Trek announced the acquisition of the Electra Bicycle Company.

As from the 2014 season, Trek became the main sponsor of Pro Tour cycling team Trek Factory Racing, a continuation of its bike sponsorship of Team RadioShack and co-sponsorship of Team Leopard-Trek.

In 2017, Trek paid equal prize money to the male and female winners of the Cyclocross World Cup race hosted at their headquarters in Waterloo, Wisconsin, which was, "the first time in the history of the sport that women would be paid as much as men for racing the same course at the World Cup level."

In 2021, Trek announced the release of its professional level Madone.

Jacobson, Robert; Stansell, Christina "Trek Bicycle Corporation ." International Directory of Company Histories. . Retrieved June 21, 2022 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/books/politics-and-business-magazines/trek-bicycle-corporation

Rate Trek Bicycle's efforts to communicate its history to employees.

Trek Bicycle jobs

Trek bicycle competitors, trek bicycle history faqs, how old is trek bicycle, who is the founder of trek bicycle, when was trek bicycle founded.

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Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of Trek Bicycle, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about Trek Bicycle. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at Trek Bicycle. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by Trek Bicycle. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of Trek Bicycle and its employees or that of Zippia.

Trek Bicycle may also be known as or be related to Trek Bicycle, Trek Bicycle Corp. and Trek Bicycle Corporation.

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• History of Bicycles
• Tomas Stevens’ Penny Farthing
• Who Invented The Bicycle

The History of Bicycles

Scroll below for our Bicycle History Timeline …

Look at whatever takes your fancy … Great, GOLDEN NUGGETS of ‘Bicycle History’ information lies beneath!!

1493 – First Sketches?

Renaissance artist, scientist and inventor – Leonardo Da Vinci – made sketches (allegedly), of a bicycle prototype.

This was almost 400 years before the bicycle was actually invented.

However, it has been suggested that these sketches are actually fakes.

Perhaps a false start to the History of Bicycles ?

1790’s – Celerifere

The Celerifere or Velocifere was invented by Frenchman – Comte Mede de Sivrac. The celerifere had a wooden frame and wheels, and no steering apparatus.

It was manually propelled by the feet like a balance bike.

1810 – Tarmac Roads

Scottish engineer and road-builder John McAdam invented a road surfacing method – which eventually became known as tarmacadam.

The process of ‘macadamization’ involved building roads with a smooth hard surface that were more durable and less bumpy.

1817 – Draisienne

The Draisienne was invented by German – Baron Karl Drais von Sauerbronn. The Draisine was made entirely of wood. It was steerable but had no pedals.

To move forward, a rider would thrust his/her feet against the ground.

1818 – The Hobby Horse

The Hobby Horse was (re)invented by British coach-maker Denis Johnson.

He launched the Hobby Horse in England, describing it as a pedestrian curricle . Like the Draisienne, Johnson’s Hobby Horse had no pedals, but was propelled by the rider’s feet pushing along the ground. There were no brakes and to slow the machine the riders had to drag their feet along the ground.

1839 – Macmillan Velocipede

The Macmillan Velocipede was invented by Scotsman, Kirkpatrick Macmillan.

MacMillan’s velocipede was the first bicycle with pedals to drive the rear wheels. MacMillan has cemented his place in the history of bicycles with many crediting him with being the man who invented the modern bicycle .

1853 – Tricycle and Quadracycle

The Tricycle and Quadracycle were manufactured by Willard Sawyer.

Sawyer made a variety of models, from a 6-seater family machine to a lightweight racer. His Promenade and Visiting model ‘preserved evening costume’ and he also made Ladies’, Invalid’s and Children’s models. He built machines for the Emperor of Russia, the Prince Imperial of France, the Crown Prince of Hanover and numerous other members of the aristocracy.

1862 – Lallement’s Velocipede

Lallement’s Velocipede was invented by Frenchman, Pierre Lallement.

1863 – Boneshaker

The Michaux Velocipede or Boneshaker, was invented by two Frenchmen, Pierre and Ernest Michaux.

The Michaux Velocipede was powered by pedals and a crank that was connected to the larger front wheel axle.

1865 – Storage Battery

Frenchman, Gaston Plante, invented the storage battery. Until then an electric vehicle was not really considered a viable option.

1868 – Steam Velocipede

The frame of Michaux’s boneshaker was modified to allow room for the Perraux steam engine.

The bicycle seat was raised, and pulleys and drive belts were added to power the rear wheel.

1868 – Bicycle College

The first American bicycle college opened in New York.

1869 – Monocycle

The original monocycle was built by Rousseau of Marseilles.

1869 – Roper Steam Velocipede

The Roper Steam Velocipede was built by Sylvester H. Roper. The velocipede handlebars had controls attached to them in the shape of twist grips – similar to our modern motorcycle.

1869 – First Road Race

The Paris-Rouen was won by Englishman James Moore. Moore cycled the 113km distance between the two cities in 10 hours and 25 minutes. He dominated in the cycle-racing scene for several years and was one of the earliest cycling stars.

1869 – Circus Velocipede

Calvin Witty, an American entrepreneur, acquired Pierre Lallement’s velocipede patent. He went on to sell the velocipedes to circus performers for use in their acts.

1869 – High Bicycle

The High Bicycle was invented by Frenchman, Eugene Meyer. The High Bicycle preceded the Penny Farthing. It had a large wire-spoked tension wheel and a smaller back wheel

1869 – McCall’s Velocipede

Scottish Cartwright, Thomas McCall, built two versions of a two-wheeled velocipede with levers and rods tossing a crank on the rear wheel.

1870 – Penny Farthing

The Penny Farthing or Ordinary Bicycle was invented by Englishman James Starley. This bicycle, with its large front wheel and smaller rear wheel, gave increased speed and a more comfortable ride for the cyclist.

1870’s – Unicycle

The Unicycle is believed to have evolved as a spin-off of the Penny Farthing. The theory is, that when cyclists stopped abruptly, the rear wheel of the penny-farthing would rise up off the ground. Some riders began experimenting to see how far they could travel on one wheel and eventually decided the front wheel was superfluous to their needs, and so the unicycle was born.

1871 – American Bicycle

The American Bicycle was made by Pickering and Davis. This bicycle had hollow steel tubes for lighter weight and featured the first wheel brake.

1873 – Safety Bicycle

The rear-chain-driven Safety Bicycle was developed in Britain by H. J. Lawson. He obtained a patent for it in 1879. Lawson designed the rear-chain-driven Safety Bicycle in direct competition to the boneshaker. The two bicycles appear to be similar in construction. However, Lawson’s wooden bicycle wheels were only 23 inches in diameter, earning it the nickname the Sussex Dwarf.

1875 – Ordinary in Australia

The first Ordinary bicycle was imported into Australia.

1877 – Penny Farthing in America

Penny Farthings were imported to America by Albert Pope.

1878 – Columbia Bicycle

The Columbia Bicycle was designed and manufactured by American Albert Pope.

1878 – Portable Bicycle

The First Portable Bicycle was created by Englishman, William Grout. The portable bicycle became the precursor to the folding bike.

1880 – American Wheelmen

The League of American Wheelmen club was founded. The League grew substantially and by 1898, had more than 102,000 members, including famous names such as the Wright Brothers, John D Rockefeller and Diamond Jim Brady. The League of American Wheelmen was, (and still is today, under the name of the League of American Bicyclists), an advocate of cyclists rights and improving road conditions for cyclists.

1880’s – High Wheel Tricycle

The High-Wheel Tricycle was invented as a safer alternative to the precarious High-Wheel bicycle. Unfortunately, it was also more expensive too and didn’t take off.

1880’s – High Wheel ‘Safety’ Bicycle

The High-Wheel Safety Bicycle was developed. Its design swapped the small wheel from the front to the back of the bicycle, so that the bike was less likely to tip forward. Unfortunately, it tended to tip backwards when going up steep hills!

1881 – Sociable Monocycle

According to The History and Development of Cycles by C.F. Caunter, published in 1955 for the Science Museum by Her Majesty’s Stationery Office… The Sociable Monocycle was produced by Pearce in 1881.

1884 – Circumnavigation

Englishman, Thomas Stevens, was the first person to bicycle around the globe on a Penny-Farthing. More About Thomas Stevens

1884 – Rotary Tandem Tricycle

The Rudge Rotary Tandem Tricycle was invented by Englishman, Daniel Rudge. This unique tandem tricycle was driven by both cyclists and steered by the two small wheels, which were interlinked by rods. Propulsion came from the big wheel.

1885 – Rover Safety Bicycle

The Rover Safety Bicycle was invented by Englishman, John Kemp Starley. The bicycle he designed had two wheels of equal size, with a chain drive to the rear wheel and an adjustable saddle.

In 1888 John Kemp Starley created the Starley Rover which changed the history of bicycles completely. It was so popular, it became the common template for the shape of bicycle frames for the next 60 years.

1885 Onwards – The Golden Age of Bicycling

With social Revolution and the suffragette movement, the bicycle became increasingly popular. Competitive cycling also took off.

1885 – Daimler Motorized Bicycle

Gottlieb Daimler fitted an internal combustion engine to a wooden frame to create a motorized cycle.

1885 – Army Bicycles

The British army began using bicyclists as scouts during Easter Manoeuvres.

1887 – French Army

The French army formally added bicycles to military service.

1887 – Pneumatic Tyres

Dunlop Pneumatic Tyres were invented by Scotsman, John Boyd Dunlop.

1887 – Raleigh Cycles

Raleigh Cycles was started in England by Sir Frank Bowden.

1888 – Reconnaissance

The British army formally established the 26th Middlesex Cyclist Volunteer Corps. The bicycle was found to be invaluable for reconnaissance and communications work, being lighter, quieter, and logistically much easier to support than horses.

1888 – Springfield Roadster

The Springfield Roadster was a 50-inch Highwheel Safety.

1888 – Sunbeam Bicycles

The Sunbeam Bicycles Company was founded by John Marston. The company got its name when Mrs Marston noticed the sun reflected in the high gloss finish of the bicycle frame and thereafter the bicycle became known as The Sunbeam.

1889 – Back-pedal Brake

A bicycle with a back-pedal brake was patented by Daniel Stover and William Hance.

1890 – Humber Bicycle

The Humber Car Manufacturer designed and produced the Humber bicycle. It was a classic design for a bicycle and consequently, the majority of subsequent bicycles were based on this design. In 1932 Humber sold the brand to Raleigh, who continued using the Humber brand name into the 1970s.

1891 – Tandem Velocipede

The Tandem Velocipede was patented by Henry Barr and Frank Peck.

1891 – Detachable pneumatic bicycle tyre

Andre and Eduoard Michelin invented the first detachable pneumatic bicycle tyre.

1891 – USA Army Bicycles

The first military use of bicycles in the USA occurred with the formation of the Connecticut National Guard Signal Corps.

1891 – 6 Day Bicycle Race

The first International 6-Day Bicycle Race was held in the USA at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

1892 – Telegram delivery in Japan

In Japan, the ‘Ministry of Communications’ began using the bicycle in the delivery of telegrams.

1892 – Huffy Corporation

The Davis Sewing Machine Company owned by George P. Huffman began producing Huffy bicycles at their factory in Ohio. This was to become the Huffy Corporation. More Huffy Bicycle History

1893 – Folding Bike

The First Folding Bike patent was applied for by American, Michael B. Ryan.

1893 – First Recumbent

The Fautenil Velocipede was classified as a separate type of bicycle, although recumbent style bicycles had been existence earlier.

1893 – Wright Cycle Company

The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, opened their bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio. It was called the Wright Cycle Exchange and later became the Wright Cycle Company. The brothers started with the sales and repair of bicycles and then developed their own brand for manufacture.

1893 – World Sprint Championship

American, Arthur Augustus Zimmerman, won the first world championship in a sprint cycle race. Zimmerman was one of the world’s greatest cycling sprint riders and won over 1000 races across the USA and Europe.

1894 – Female Circumnavigation

Annie Cohen Kopchovsky was the first woman to cycle around the world, making bicycle history.

1895 – Schwinn Bicycles

Adolph Arnold and Ignaz Schwinn began manufacturing its famous Schwinn Bicycles. The company was known as Arnold, Schwinn and Company Incorporated.

1895 – Ideal Bicycle

The Shelby Cycle Company began producing the Ideal Bicycle, a pneumatic-tyred safety bike.

1895 – Battery Powered Bicycle

A US patent was granted to Ogden Bolton Jr, for his Battery-Powered Bicycle.

1895 – Street Printing Tricycle

The Street-Printing Tricycle made its debut in France. The tricycle was designed with a rear attachment that comprised two inking rollers and a tank for a gravity-fed ink supply. The wheels of the tricycle were solid rubber and contained the message lettering. As the bicycle was propelled forward its wheels were inked and thus rolled a message onto the pavement.

1895 – Michelin Tyres

In France, the Michelin Brothers improved on Dunlop’s tyre by giving it a beaded edge and making it more suitable for motor vehicles.

1896 – French Folding Bicycle

A Folding Bicycle for the French Infantry was created by Captain Gerard Morel.

1896 – First Women’s 6-day Bicycle Race

The first U.S. women’s six-day bicycle race was held at Madison Square Garden, in New York City.

1896 – First Olympic Bicycle Race

The first Olympic Bicycle Race  was held in Athens, Greece.

1896 – 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps

The 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps was formed at Fort Missoula, Montana. The troops rode special bicycles built by A. G. Spalding.

1896 – Faun Folding Cycle

The Faun Folding Cycle was invented by Englishman William Crowe. It was patented in 1899. The bike was unique because it featured folding handlebars that integrated a brake mechanism.

1897 – Theodore’s Motorized Bicycle

A Motorized Bicycle was invented by Felix Millet Theodore.

1897 – Challand Velocipede

The Challand velocipede design is identifiable as the prototype for our modern recumbent bicycles.

1898 – Police Bondage Tricycle

The Police Bondage Tricycle was designed and built by the Davis Sewing Machine Co. It was used to transport prisoners and was fitted with restraints.

1898 – Coaster Brake

The coaster brake was fitted onto bicycles.

1898 – Rex Bicycle The Rex Bicycle was the invention of Bohn C. Hicks of Chicago, Illinois, who assigned his rights to the Rex Cycle Company. Mr Hicks submitted the reason for his unusual design was so that the bicycle was ‘particularly adapted to absorb or minimize the shocks incident to riding over obstructions.’

1898 – Eight Man Tricycle

The Giant Eight-Man Tricycle was a trike, made by the Boston Woven Hose and Rubber Company as a business publicity stunt.

1898 – Steffens’ Electric Bicycle

The Rear Wheel Drive Electric Bicycle was patented by Matthew J Steffens.

1899 – Marshall W. Taylor

Marshall W.Taylor, (commonly known as Major Taylor), was one of the first black American elite athletes. Between the years 1895 and 1904, Taylor became celebrated as the fastest bicycle rider in the world. He extensively travelled the world to compete in cycling races. In 1900, (after years of racial discrimination), Major Taylor was finally permitted to enter into the national championship series. He won the series and became the American sprint champion.

1899 – Mile-a-Minute Murphy

American, Charles M. Murphy, also known as ‘Mile A Minute Murphy,’ set a world speed record when he covered a mile in 57.8 seconds on his bicycle. Murphy laid down about three miles of planking between some railway tracks and had a shield built to attach to the rear carriage of a locomotive. During the record attempt, he rode his bicycle flat out along the planking, in the slipstream of the locomotive shield, which provided him with a measure of wind resistance.

1899 – Boer War Cyclists

A Cycle Corps was utilized in the Boer War. The Cycle Corps were used as messengers, patrols, scouts and railway defence. By 1901, 13,000 cyclists had served.

1899 – Dayton Special Roadster

The Dayton Special Roadster Bicycle was manufactured by the Davis Sewing Machine Company.

1899 – Indian Bicycles

The Hendee Manufacturing Company began producing Indian bicycles. The Indian Motorcycle Company was then created to build the bicycles. However, it was not until 1902 that the company began manufacturing the more famous motorcycles.

1901 – Cape Colony Cycle Corps

The Cape Colony Cycle Corps, a unit of 500 troops, was formed in South Africa. The corps main work involved with despatch-riding, linking between cavalry and infantry, reconnaissance, carrying mail and stores in rucksacks, and even transporting carrier pigeons.

1901 – Machine Gun Tricycle

Vickers and Maxim built a two-man military tricycle. The tricycle had two machine guns and 1000 rounds ammunition attached.

1901 – Brown Recumbent Bicycle

The American designed Brown recumbent was a precursory to our contemporary recumbent – despite being ridiculed and lambasted on its release into the marketplace.

1902 – Gazelle Bicycle

The Gazelle Bicycle was sold to the public by the Dutch company, Arentsen and Kolling.

1903 – Tour de France

The Tour de France cycling race was held for the first time ever. It was won by Italian-born Frenchman, Maurice Garin.

1909 – 3 Speed Bicycle

Raleigh created a bicycle, equipped with a Sturmey Archer 3-Speed hub.

1914 – Mass Production

Mass production of the bicycle meant that it became a cheap and practical form of personal transport.

1914-18 – Military Cyclists

During the first world war, the British military utilised 14,000 cyclists in a variety of bicycle regiments and battalions.

1917 – Colson Bicycles

The Colson Bicycle Company formed when Fred Colson merged the Worthington, Fay, and Fairy businesses into one company. The business became well renowned for its extensive production of tricycles for adults, children and handicapped people. The company was eventually come to be called Evans-Colson and finally just Evans.

1919 – Fuji Bicycles

The Nichibei Fuji Cycle Company Ltd was formed by the merger of Nichibei Trading Company and a Japanese Mechanical Engineering company.

Nichibei Fuji Cycle Company began the production of bicycles for the Japanese domestic market.

1920’s – Lines Brothers

Lines Brothers acquired The Unique and Unity Cycle Company. They originally made bicycles for adults, children’s tricycles and bicycles and pedal cars.

1921 – Shimano Bikes

Shozaburo Shimano established the Shimano Iron Works and began production of the bicycle freewheel.

1924 – Velocar

The Velocar was invented by Frenchman Charles Mochet.

Mochet’s velocar had the comfortable seating position and the trunk of a car, with the pedal propulsion of the bicycle. The technical equipment included a differential, three gears and a light fairing made of the aeroplane windshield material Triplex.

1933 – Schwinn Cruiser Bicycle

The Cruiser Bicycle was developed by Schwinn.

1933 – Mochet’s Recumbent Bicycle

Charles Mochet developed the Recumbent bicycle, based on the same ergonomic principles as his earlier velocar.

1934 – Recumbent Bicycle Banned

The world’s fastest bicycles – recumbent bicycles – were banned from competing by the UCI after Francis Faure rode 45.055 km (27.9 miles) in one hour on a Paris velodrome smashing an almost 20-year-old standing record.

The recumbent was denounced as an illegal bicycle and banned forever from competing against upright bicycles in the sport.

1934 – Schwinn B-10E

Schwinn developed the B-10E Boys motorbike.

1935 – Elgin Bluebird

The sleek Elgin Bluebird was produced from 1935 to 1937.

1936 – Schwinn Streamline Aero-Cycle

Schwinn released the Streamline Aero-Cycle onto the market.

1937 – Folding Paratrooper Bicycle

The Birmingham Small Arms Company started manufacturing military bicycles including the folding paratrooper bicycle.

1937 – Dayton Super Streamline

The Dayton Super Streamline was fashioned by the Huffman Bicycle Company.

1938 – Derny Motorized Bicycle

The Derny Motorized Bicycle – built by Roger Derny et Fils.

1938 – Shelby’s Airflow Bicycle

Shelby released the stylish Airflow Bicycle.

1939-45 – American Military Bicycles

During World War II, American Military Bicycles were built by the Westfield and Huffman (Huffy) Companies.

1941 – Bicycle Taxis Forbidden

Throughout WWII, the German occupiers in Holland forbad the use of bicycle taxis.

1941 – Schwinn Auto Cycle Super Deluxe

The Schwinn Auto Cycle Super Deluxe was created.

1942 – Columbia Compax

Columbia created the Compax bicycle for military use by paratroopers. It was a disassembling bicycle.

1949 – Huffy Convertible Children’s Bicycle

The Huffy Convertible Children’s Bicycle revolutionized the kids’ bikes market. More Huffy Bicycle History

1949 – Shelby Donald Duck

The Shelby Donald Duck, in both boys and girls designs, hit the streets.

1949 – Sitzski Snowbike

The Sitzski Snowbike was patented by Engelbert Brenter, founder of the Brenter Snowbike Company.

The ‘Sitzski’ was the forerunner of the contemporary Snobike.

1950 – Rollfast Hopalong Cassidy

The H.P. Snyder Manufacturing Company produced the Rollfast model Hopalong Cassidy .

1952 – Novice Tandem Gold Medal

The Australian duo, Russell Mockridge and Lionel Cox , won Olympic Gold at Helsinki in the 2000 metres tandem event. Mockridge and Cox came together as a team only days before the event.

Mockridge was a champion cyclist and Cox was a cycling unknown who had never taken part in a tandem event in his life! A week later they rode their way to a gold medal.

1955 – Huffy Radio Bicycle

The Huffy Radio Bicycle had a built-in radio for music lovers. More Huffy Bicycle History

1956 – BMX Bikes

The first organized BMX Races were held in the Netherlands .

BMX riding was invented in Holland by kids who tried to emulate their motocross heroes using their bicycles. One of the first ever Bicycle Motocross riders was Ton van Heugten . Ton went on to become a world champion in sidehack racing. (BMX stands for Bicycle Motocross.)

1962 – Moulton Bicycle Company

The Moulton Bicycle Company was founded by Dr Alex Moulton , who created the revolutionary small wheel design.

1964 -Jacques Anquetil wins Tour de France – For The Fifth Time!

Frenchman and road racing cyclist Jacques Anquetil, became the first 5-time winner of the Tour de France.

His winning streak began in 1957 and continued from 1961 to 1964.

Jacques also realized a swag of other achievements including, in 1960, being the first French rider to win the Giro d’Italia.

In 1961, he became the first Frenchman to sport the yellow jersey of the Tour de France from the opening day to the final day, and in 1963 he became the first rider to win all three Tours, with victory in the Vuelta.

1964 – Schwinn Sting-Ray

The Schwinn Sting-Ray Muscle Bike or Lowrider was released by Schwinn and customised by the ‘Custom King’, Sean Johnson.

1964 – Chopper Bicycles

The original Chopper bicycle, (a children’s bicycle), was designed by Dr Tom Karen at Ogle Design.

1968 – Raleigh Chopper Bicycle

Raleigh launched its Chopper bicycle – a children’s bicycle – into the US market.

1970s – 10 Speed Bikes

The 1970s saw a boom in the Ten Speed Bicycle industry.

1970 – Moulton 3 Speed

The Moulton Bicycle Company produced the Moulton Mark III , 3 Speed Bicycle.

1970s – The Goodies ‘Trandem’ Bicycle

Between 1970 and 1982, the hit British series The Goodies , featured the cast Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden and Bill Oddie, travelling around on a three-seater bicycle called the ‘ Trandem’ .

1970 – Cannondale Bikes

The Cannondale Company was founded in the USA by Joe Montgomery . More Cannondale Bicycle History

1971 – Raleigh Folding Bike

Raleigh introduced the Twenty Stowaway Folding Bike .

1971 – Schwinn Apple Krate Sting-Ray

Schwinn released its immensely popular Apple Krate Sting Ray .

1971 – Giant Bikes

The Giant Bicycle Company was started in Taiwan, by engineer King Liu . More Giant Bikes History

1971 – BMX Bikes

The first major BMX race was started by Scot Breithaupt in the USA.

1974 – Modern Recumbent Movement

US-based engineers, Chester Kyle and David Gordon Wilson of MIT, are acknowledged as the fathers of the modern recumbent movement. More About Recumbent Bicycles

1974 – Specialized Bikes

Specialized Bicycle Components Inc was founded by Mike Sinyard .

1975 – Tandem Bicycles Circumnavigation

English couple, Veronica and Colin Scargill completed a tandem bicycle ride around the world. This was an amazing 18,020 miles or 29,000km.

1975 – Klein Bikes

Klein Aluminium Bicycle Frames were conceptualised and designed by MIT graduate, Gary Klein . More Klein Bicycle History

1975 – Trek Bicycles

The Trek Bicycle Corporation was established in America, by Richard Burke and Bevil Hogg .

1975 – GT Bicycles

GT Bicycles was founded by Richard Long and Gary Turner.

1975 – Series Hybrid Pedelec

The Series Hybrid Bicycle (SH) was created by Augustus Kinzel .

This type of bike is powered by the cyclist charging up a generator via the pedals. Pedal energy is transformed into electricity and can be fed straight into the motor.

Today, these are called Pedelecs , and they only supply power when the cyclist is pedalling, unlike an electric or e-bike, which can supply constant power from the battery.

1976 – John Hathaway

Canadian, John Hathaway , undertook a 50,600 mile or 81,433km bicycle tour of every continent in the world. It took him 23 months to complete and made the Guinness Book of Records.

1976 – Repack Downhill Race

The Repack Downhill Race was the first great mountain bike event. It was organized and promoted by Charlie Kelly and Gary Fisher .

1977 – Pacific Bikes

Pacific Cycle was founded by Chris Hornung .

The company is now owned by Dorel Industries and is a major distributor of many brands including: DYNO, GT, InSTEP, Mongoose, Murray, Pacific Outdoors, Powerlite, Roadmaster, and Schwinn.

1979 – Kelly-Fisher Mountain Bikes

The Kelly-Fisher   Mountain Bikes Company was started up by Gary Fisher and Charlie Kelly.  Kelly and Fisher are considered to be the fathers of the sport of Mountain Biking.

1979 – Bicycle Speed Record

Fast Freddie Markham set a bicycle speed record of 81.8 kph over 200m in a Human Powered Vehicle (HPV).

See More on Velomobiles or HPV

1979 – Avatar 2000

The Avatar 2000, a long-wheelbase (LWB) recumbent bicycle was designed by MIT’s David Gordon Wilson and is considered the first modern production recumbent. More About Recumbent Bicycles

1980 – International Unicycling Federation

The establishment of an international unicycling federation (IUF) was proposed by German-born unicyclist promoter Jack Halpern.

1980 – Mountain Unicycling

Off-Road Unicycling (Muni) is an extreme unicycle sport that was devised by pioneer, Kris Holm, one of the most skilled mountain unicyclists on the planet and the most famous in unicycling history.

1980s – Freestyle BMX Bikes

The 1980s saw the creation of the Freestyle or Trick bicycle style of BMX riding. It allegedly originated in San Diego with teenager BMX riders Bob Haro, Kyle Miller, John Swanguen and William Crazy Lacy Furmage. There were five separate disciplines created. They were street, park, vert, trails or dirt jumping, and flatland.

1981 – International BMX Federation

The International BMX Federation was founded.

1981 – Specialized Stumpjumper

Specialized Bicycle Components Inc produced an all-terrain mountain bike – the fat-tired and lightweight, 15-gear Stumpjumper.

1981 – Brompton Folding Bike

The Brompton Folding Bike was created by Andrew Ritchie. In April 1987 his folding bicycle design won the Best Product award at the International Cyclex Exhibition.

1982 – Dahon Folding Bike

The Dahon Folding Bicycle was created and produced by Californian-based physicist Dr David Hon .

1982 – Haro BMX Bikes

Bob Haro developed the BMX Haro Freestyler .

1982 – BMX Bike World Championships

First BMX World Championships were held in Dayton Ohio, USA.

1983 – Human Powered Vehicle Championships

The First European Human Power Championships were held.

1984 – World Unicycling Convention

The First World Unicycling Convention and Championships (UNICON) was held in Syracuse USA.

1985 – Avanti Bikes

Avanti Bikes started out in New Zealand in 1985, then in 1991 Avanti established another arm of the company in Australia. Since then, Avanti has built up its collection of diverse bicycles to over 80 different models that supply all sections of the cycling community.

Mid 1980s – Linear Recumbents

The Linear Recumbents Bicycles Company was founded in Iowa by Dirk Kann.

More About Recumbent Bicycles

1988 – Kona Bicycle

The Kona Bicycle Company was established by Jacob Heilbron, Dan Gerhard and Joe Murray.

More About Kona Bikes

1988 – Mountain Bike Hall of Fame

Joe Breeze was inducted (along with others) into the  Mountain Bike Hall of Fame,  for the central role he played in the design and development of mountain biking.

1988 – London Bicycle Tour

In London, 31,678 cyclists set a record when they undertook a collective bicycle tour.

1989 – Bicycle Helmets

Australia passed the world’s first Bike helmet legislation, compelling cyclists by law to wear helmets.

1990s – Felt Bikes

Felt Bicycles was founded by Californian, Jim Felt.

More About Felt Bikes

1991 – Conference Bicycle

Eric Staller created an 8-person bicycle called the Conference Bicycle.

1993 – Electra Bicycles

The Electra Bicycle Company was started by German-born Benno Baenziger and Jeano Erforth .

1993 – Sno Bikes

Swiss Skibob Association changed its name to Swiss Snow Bike Association .

1996 – Olympic Mountain Bikes

Olympian Paola Pezzo won a gold medal in mountain biking. She also won gold again at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

1999 – Street Unicycling

Street Unicycling was invented by Dan Heaton . Street Unicycling is a form of riding that combines freestyle and trials.

2003 – Electra Townie Bikes

The Electra Flat Foot Technology Townie Bike  was an innovation in bicycle design.

2003 – Cycling Nude in Spain

In Spain, a naked cyclist demonstration was organised by Coordinadora de Colectivos Ciclonudistas de Aragon who claimed the protest was …

“A defiance to the established power and a bet for civil disobedience. Stop the dependence on oil! Down with the pollution! Down with the textile industry! Naked in front of traffic against the oil and car dictatorship and its wars. Reclaim the streets for the people.”

It was the third such event in Spain.

2006 – Sinclair’s Folding A-Bike

The A-bike  Folding Bicycle was invented by Englishman Sir Clive Sinclair .

It weighed a mere 5.5 kilograms and fitted in a bag.

2008 – Beijing Olympics BMX

BMX bikes joined the Beijing Olympics.

2008 – Ride the Lobster

Ride the Lobster , the world’s first multi-stage unicycle race, was held in Nova Scotia.

2009 – Gazelle Electric Bicycles

Gazelle created history in 2009 when it won the prestigious Dutch Bike of the Year  award with its Chamonix Innergy  electric bicycle.

This was the first time that an electric bike had collected the esteemed award.

Well … Did it make your head SPIN?

Now you’ll be the life of the party, Able to challenge and boast to your neighbours for years to come.

People will be ASTOUNDED at your incredible intelligence. Be BLOWN AWAY by your depth of historical knowledge. You will be the ENVY of the town! You may also start WINNING at  Trivial Pursuit  …

Thirsty for MORE Bicycle History?

Check out our COMPREHENSIVE page on  ‘Who Invented The Bicycle’ .

Or read about  Thomas Stevens  – the first man to circumnavigate the globe – on his Penny Farthing!

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Trek 1200: Unveiling Its Unique Road Bike Traits

September 28, 2023

‍ Key Takeaways

• The Trek 1200 boasts advanced technology, an aerodynamic design, and the robust Alpha SL aluminum frame, elevating its road performance.
• Quality components, including Shimano Tiagra and Bontrager Select, ensure reliable shifting and lasting durability.
• Its aggressive geometry and unique blend of materials cater to both casual commuters and competitive racers, making it a versatile choice.

This article may contain affiliate links where we earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

‍ The Trek 1200 is an exceptional road bike and ranks as a top choice for cyclists. But what unique features make it so special?

The Trek 1200 stands out in the road bike industry with advanced technology, an aerodynamic shape to boost speed, and quality materials to promise durability. Plus, the lightweight Alpha SL Aluminum frame offers nimble handling. It’s all capped off with an aggressive geometry for intense riders.

As cycling enthusiasts, we appreciate the unique characteristics that make this bike stand out among its competitors. In this guide, we'll unveil some unique traits that make the Trek 1200 a top choice for riders looking for a versatile and budget-friendly option.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

‍ What Are The Unique Traits of Trek 1200?

The Trek 1200 is an iconic road bike from the renowned Trek Bicycle Corporation, a global leader in designing and manufacturing bicycles and cycling products.

Launched during the late 20th century, the Trek 1200 quickly gained popularity among amateur and professional cyclists for its lightweight construction, superior performance, and affordability.

Crafted with Trek's signature aluminum frame, the 1200 model aimed to balance daily commuting reliability and the agility needed for competitive racing.  So, let’s take a closer look at the unique traits of this very nice bike.

Advanced Technology

The Trek 1200 is a road bike incorporating advanced technology into its design. This allows for a smoother, more efficient ride, making it great for experienced riders and those new to the cycling world.

This technology elevates the biking experience, optimizing gear shifts, handling, and overall performance, making each journey effortless.

Aerodynamic Design

To provide a bike that cuts through the wind with ease, the Trek 1200 boasts an aerodynamic design. This reduces drag and increases speed, making it ideal for those seeking an efficient and enjoyable cycling experience.

Its aerodynamic design enhances speed and improves energy efficiency, allowing riders to efficiently cover more ground with less exertion and achieve their personal best times.

Quality Material and Components

The Trek 1200 has a lightweight aluminum frame and a carbon fiber fork, ensuring durability and a high-performance ride. It also includes Shimano Tiagra components for reliable and responsive shifting.

You will also notice that the Bontrager Select components provide added value and quality. Each part, from the brake pads to the gear sets, is sourced from top-tier manufacturers.

Alpha SL Aluminum Frame

One of the main reasons the Trek 1200 stands out is its Alpha SL aluminum frame. This frame is lightweight yet strong, allowing the bike to maintain a stiffness that increases power transfer and keeps the ride smooth and efficient.

The frame also offers an optimal strength-to-weight ratio. It ensures an agile handling experience without compromising stability, making it ideal for city commutes and long-distance tours.

Aggressive Geometry

The Trek 1200 features a steep headtube angle of 73°, resulting in aggressive geometry that enables riders to climb more efficiently on steeper uphill roads and descend more comfortably.

This type of geometry adds an element of excitement and helps riders unlock their full potential on varying terrains. With its unique combination of advanced technology, aerodynamic design, quality materials, and aggressive geometry, the Trek 1200 road bike is an exceptional choice for anyone looking to enhance their cycling experience.

Riding Experience With Trek 1200

The Trek 1200 is more than just a bike; it's a finely tuned machine designed for unparalleled riding experiences. Embarking on a journey with this bike promises exhilarating moments complemented by its superior design and mechanics.

We love how the Trek 1200 road bike boasts a lightweight aluminum frame that provides a comfortable yet lively ride. The frame's aggressive head tube angle and slim design, combined with a carbon fiber fork, create a smooth ride even on rough surfaces.

The saddle and handlebars are ergonomically designed to minimize discomfort during long rides. Every element, from the saddle to the handlebar positioning, is crafted with a rider's comfort in mind, making prolonged journeys less taxing and more enjoyable.

The Trek 1200 is a very nice bike if you're looking for a mix of speed and efficiency on the road. With its Shimano Tiagra components, shifting between gears is smooth and accurate, allowing you to maintain a steady pace.

The lightweight aluminum frame and stiff build mean you can easily pick up speed, even on steeper uphill roads. This bike is excellent for those who want a fast yet affordable option.

Its aerodynamic design and quality components work in harmony to deliver impressive speed. Whether racing or enjoying a casual ride, the Trek 1200 effortlessly glides on roads, making swift journeys a breeze.

The handling on the Trek 1200 road bike is noteworthy due to its very steep headtube angle and responsive brakes. The precise steering and stable front wheel enable riders to navigate tight turns and avoid obstacles easily.

The bike's reliable rim brakes make stopping efficient even on wet or slippery surfaces. With the Trek 1200, maneuvering through winding roads or bustling streets is a cinch.

Its lightweight Alpha SL Aluminum frame and precise steering mechanism ensure impeccable control and stability, making each ride safe and fluid.

What We Like Most About The Trek 1200

The Trek 1200 is a paragon of mid-range road bikes, combining functionality with style. Its lightweight aluminum frame, a trademark of Trek, offers both durability and a nimble riding experience.

Cyclists rave about its precise shifting, courtesy of the reliable componentry, ensuring a smooth transition between gears on varying terrains. Another commendable feature is its ergonomic design, emphasizing rider comfort during prolonged use – perfect for lengthy commutes or extended training sessions.

The bike's aesthetics don't fall short either; its sleek, modern design and classic Trek branding have a contemporary flair and timeless elegance. The Trek 1200 seamlessly marries performance with aesthetics, making it a favorite among many.

What We Don’t Like About The Trek 1200

While the Trek 1200 boasts many commendable features, it has shortcomings. Some riders have expressed concerns over its stock saddle, finding it somewhat uncomfortable during longer rides, necessitating an upgrade for optimal comfort.

Additionally, its aluminum frame is lightweight and agile, but it doesn't absorb shocks and road vibrations as efficiently as carbon frames, leading to a slightly harsher ride on uneven terrains.

Some critics have also pointed out the bike's limited versatility. It excels on roads, but it's not designed for off-road or gravel adventures. And since this is an older model, you must explore the used bike trade to find a model to purchase.

Maintenance Tips For Trek 1200

The Trek 1200 is an excellent bike with an aluminum frame and a carbon fiber fork. As bike enthusiasts, we know the importance of keeping our bikes in good shape.

Firstly, remember to clean your bike regularly. We recommend using a rag or, if it's particularly dirty, soap and water to remove any grime or debris. As part of this process, inspect the frame and components for any signs of wear, such as cracks or damage.

This will help prevent unwanted surprises on your rides. Tire care is essential for smooth and efficient rides. Check the tire pressure frequently and add air if needed.

This helps you ride comfortably, handle potholes better, and reduce the risk of punctures. Don't forget to inspect the tires for wear and replace them when necessary.

When it comes to the gears, the chain plays a crucial role in seamless shifting. It's important to clean and lube the chain regularly to increase its lifespan and ensure smooth gear changes. Lubrication can also protect the chain from rust and corrosion.

Adjust the brake levers and check the rim brakes for any damage. You should also inspect the brake cables for any fraying or rust, which could affect their performance. Replace them if you notice any problems or feel that your brakes aren't as responsive as they should be.

Finally, don't forget the bottom bracket and wheel hubs. These components are essential for a smooth ride, providing support and ensuring proper rotation. Check for any play or excessive movement in the bracket or hub, and address potential issues as soon as possible.

Trek 1200 In Comparison

When comparing the Trek 1200 to other Trek bikes, one of the standout features is its lightweight aluminum frame. This makes the bike more suitable for versatile riding such as tackling hills or commuting in the city.

The bike also has a very steep headtube angle which allows riders to climb steep uphill roads more comfortably and efficiently. The Trek 1200 comes with some good quality components, including:

• Bontrager Race Carbon fork
• Shimano Tiagra STI Dual Control brake levers
• Bontrager Ergo handlebar
• Aluminum stem

While some Trek road bikes have made the shift to disc brakes, the Trek 1200 still uses rim brakes. This might make the bike less appealing for riders who prioritize braking performance, but it also helps to keep the bike on a tight budget for those looking for an affordable option.

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About THE AUTHOR

Danny Lawson

Mountain biking is more than just a hobby for me - it's a way of life. I love the challenge and excitement that comes with it, and I'm always pushing myself to go faster and ride harder. Some people might think that mountain biking is dangerous, but I see it as the only way to live.

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About PedalChef

PedalChef is a blog on all things cycling. We are a group of people who love bikes, and we want to share the joy that comes with the experience. You can read more about us here .

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