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First-look review: 2016 Trek Madone

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In the build-up to this year’s Tour de France we see yet another bike launch from one of the big players of the industry. This time it’s Trek with the launch of the company’s 2016 edition, 9 Series Madone. CyclingTips’ Dave Everett was in The Netherlands for the launch and wrote this about his first impressions of the bike.

In an upmarket hotel theatre in Zeist, The Netherlands, Trek president John Burke took centre stage at a glitzy presentation as he showcased the 2016 Trek Madone. His first words made it clear what Trek feel they have created: “the ultimate race bike”.

The bike in question has had a few spy shots of it snapped over the past month after Bauke Mollema was spotted racing it at the Criterium du Dauphine.

In the flesh, the bike looks to be a big leap forward when compared to the older Madone model, thanks to deeper tubing and a whole raft of new features.

It’s a bike that’s been in development for more than one and a half years with input from Trek’s professional road team. Trek says that it’s been through more than 100 different versions to arrive at what will be hitting stores in August.

On hand to help with the presentation was Trek Factory Racing’s “Ambassador of Awesome”, Jens Voigt. He, along with early test pilot Bauke Molloma, had a hand in the development. In Voigt’s own words: “I feel like I’ve retired too early. I need to make a comeback — the bike is really sexy”.

Much like the recently released Specialized Venge ViAS , Trek claims the new Madone is the fastest bike on the market. But this isn’t the only thing Trek is using to market its new bike — component integration and the ride quality are other factors that guided the design and development of the bike.

The new Madone carries over Trek’s KVF tubing from the previous model, a kammtail tubing design that in essence sees the tail edge of a teardrop-shaped tube sliced off. This creates a much ‘boxier’ shape while facilitating the same aero advantages as the teardrop shape. The new Madone sees this design taken further than the previous model with deeper tubing in several places.

The deeper tubing is only one part that helps to reduce drag. Bottle cage placement, like on the new Cannonade Evo Hi-Mod, is something that Trek has addressed. According to Trek, over 140 iterations were carried out on bottle cage placement before they settled on the final position; a position that provides a claimed 5.5% reduction in the drag (of that section of the bike). This optimisation process was done with the use of a software package called HEEDS.

However, computer simulations and wind tunnel testing are only part of Trek’s testing protocol.

Back in January we visited Trek while they were testing three of their riders’ time trial positions for the upcoming Paris-Nice ITT. At that time they were using an analysis program called Alphamantis. Several days after our visit the team attended the Palma track again and tested a prototype version of the Madone using Alphamantis. On the track and using the software, Trek found that the bike provided a claimed 19-watt advantage over a standard road bike (the Emonda) at 40km/h.

Real-world testing of the new bike was also undertaken, but more on that in a moment.

For me, the most impressive thing about the new Madone is the way Trek has seemingly managed to produce a more compliant and comfortable ride while still maintaining the aero tubing shape.

With large, deep, boxy-shaped tubes comes the problem of a harsh and unforgiving ride. Trek claims that they have eliminated this problem through the use of their IsoSpeed system. We’ve seen this before on Trek’s Domane road bike and it’s also available on Trek’s top-end hardtail mountain bike, the Procaliber. The 2016 Madone takes the IsoSpeed design in a slightly different direction with an impressive tube-in-tube design.

Trek came to the conclusion that they needed to separate the aero properties of the bike from the comfort. To do this, the outer body tubing of the frame takes the load from the bottom bracket and takes care of the aero properties of the frame. Inside this tube sits a more rounded and more compliant tube that reportedly flexes to reduce what would otherwise be, as Trek admits, “a harsh ride”.

We here at CyclingTips can’t say if the IsoSpeed solution works as claimed as we haven’t yet had an opportunity to ride the bike. But we will have a long-term test coming up soon.

The Trek white paper on the new Madone states that: “The internal tube of the IsoSpeed system deflects and maintains the excellent vertical compliance Madone is known for. The result: an incredible 57.5% improvement in vertical compliance over the nearest competitor.”

According to Trek, this “nearest competitor” was the Giant Propel .

How does Trek measure this compliance?

“Trek have a bike with a mesh-like strain gauge system, power meter and accelerometers covering it,” Trek’s global road product manager Ben Coates told me. “This is used in a real-world environment by our professional test riders [to give us a detailed feed of information on how the frame is performing.”

Integration

Component integration is something we’ve seen with several new bikes recently and Trek adds to this growing trend with several features that make the bike look sleek even when it’s standing still. The one huge talking-point at the launch was that of the Vector Wings.

These fairings hide the upper part and the cables of the front brake. Hinged doors placed on either side of the base of the headtube swing open on springs when the forks are turned, forced opened by the upper part of the brake. It’s a neat design feature that catches the eye and solves the problem of having cables exposed to the wind.

When asked how they managed to get the design to meet the UCI’s stringent rules on fairings, Ben Coates said: “It’s not actually a fairing — it’s a covering; a rain protector”. Hats off to Trek’s marketing arm for managing this coup as many would class the Vector Wings as a fairing of sorts.

The Vector Wings are just a small part of an overall integrated system. One component that a few brands seem to dismiss when designing a new bike is the junction box for Shimano’s Di2 or Campagnolo’s EPS electronic groupset. Specialized have tackled this problem by placing the box under the bottom bracket while Trek have placed it in the downtube just behind the headtube in what they dub “the control centre”.

Here it is accessible and held in place via a removable cover that houses the junction box as well as the battery. Removing this cover via a small tab allows you to access the battery for charging. When the cover is closed you still have access to the usual buttons on the junction box.

When running a mechanical groupset the control centre has a barrel adjuster for the front derailleur.

I asked Ben Coates whether disc brakes had been an option for the new Madone at any stage of development. He told me: “Disc brakes as of now aren’t ideal for an aero bike. They have their place, but the trade-offs aren’t ideal for this bike.

“The performance is better with discs without a doubt, but the extra weight and reduced aero performance aren’t worth that trade off yet. That’s not to say that that won’t change in the future though”

The brakes on the new Madone are yet another talking point. Direct-mount centre-pull brakes have been designed in conjunction with the frame. The design allows all the usual adjustments you’d find with a calliper brake, via several screws. The brake arms use independent spring tension adjustment screws to centre the brake pads and adjust the lever pull force to the desired feel. Additionally, the two spacing screws allow precise pad adjustments.

The spacing screws’ range allows up to 6mm of difference when and if you swap between rims widths without having to adjusting the centre wedge.

The rear brake cable comes out from the rear of the seattube having run down the toptube from the bars. It’s a direct line that, due to different frame sizes, required a couple of different solutions. With the smaller frame sizes (52cm and below) the seatstay has a cut out to allow the brakes to sit in a position that allows the cable to have the same routing.

Trek claims that this bar and stem setup, with its internal cables, saves 34 grams of drag (0-20 degrees yaw average) when compared to the current Bontrager XXX Aero bar. The cables are tucked away inside the bars and a channel along the front edge of the fork allows access to the front brake cable.

Hiding the cables in this fashion has a claimed 40 grams of drag saving.

Mechanics may dread these hitting the stores as I’m guessing there’ll be a learning curve involved in trying to route the cables. One feature that eliminates the problem of having to reroute the cables if you need to adjust the stack hight of your stem is the inclusion of split cam-like spacers.

The spacers come in two halves and clip together. When extending or lowering the bar/stem you simply undo the stem and slip the two parts in or out of place. It’s a feature that I’m sure many will appreciate.

The 2016 Trek Madone is being offered in three different sizings: the race-orientated H1, the taller-headtubed H2, and a women’s-specific Madone. Five models will be available:

• The Race Shop Limited edition, a carbon copy of what the team uses and that retails at AUD $15,999
• The 9.9 and 9.9 women’s version (both $13,999), which are kitted out with Di2 shifters and mechs plus Aeolus 5 wheels
• The 9.5 ($7,999), which comes fully loaded with mechanical Dura-Ace and Bontrager’s Paradigm RXL wheels
• The base model 9.2 ($6,400), equipped with mechanical Ultegra and Bontrager’s Paradigm Elite tubeless wheels

Each of the H2 versions come with compact cranks. All will be available in seven frame sizes, from 50cm through to 62cm in 2cm increments. The women’s version is only available in four sizes, 50 through to 56.

Finishing kit level varies depending on each model, but all come from Trek’s in-house brand Bontrager.

The design and development of the new Madone is something that Trek clearly feels proud of. Indeed, John Burke announced that the launch was “the biggest day in Trek’s history”. We’re looking forward to test riding the new bike and seeing if it lives up to the promises Trek has made.

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all hype or here to stay study points to big progress for baking soda performance-boosters\"}}\u0027>\n are \u2018bicarb systems\u2019 all hype or here to stay study points to big progress for baking soda performance-boosters\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"cracking the giro d\u2019italia code: lessons from the training diary of a recent podium finisher","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-training\/lessons-from-the-training-diary-of-a-giro-ditalia-podium-finisher\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-training\/lessons-from-the-training-diary-of-a-giro-ditalia-podium-finisher\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"cracking the giro d\u2019italia code: lessons from the training diary of a recent podium finisher\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": 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Trek Madone 9 Series first ride review

Aero speed without the usual compromises.

You can trust Cyclingnews Our experts spend countless hours testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

This article originally appeared on BikeRadar 

2016 Trek Madone - What we know, what we expect

Gallery: Bauke Mollema's Critérium du Dauphiné Trek - a closer look

New Trek Madone 9 Series gets radically aero for 2016

Video: New Trek Madone 9 Series

Aero road bikes might slice through the air with relative ease but as a category, they're not exactly known to be comfortable or light. The new Trek Madone 9 Series should go a long way toward dispelling that reputation with a super sleek and comparatively feathery chassis that's not only fast but freakishly cushy on rough roads, too. We've only logged a few hundred miles on our long-termer so far but initial impressions are extremely favorable.

Click here for further detail on the Trek Madone 9 series

• Highs: Cuts faster through the wind but without beating you up along the way, fantastic handling, still impressively light
• Lows: At least interest rates on second mortgages are still low
• Buy if: You want to get there in less time but still want to be able to ride the next day, too

Fast and smooth

The first two rides on this bike were on the 'dairy roads' surrounding Trek's global headquarters in Waterloo, Wisconsin. It's a seemingly endless expanse of sinuous tarmac that's gloriously free of traffic but also relatively coarsely paved with plenty of frost heave and other imperfections that often seemed perfectly sized to swallow a road tire – not exactly an ideal proving ground for a bike that's anything less than smooth.

Such deep-profile tubes wouldn't normally suggest a smooth ride but the new Madone is remarkably comfy

But alas, the new Madone isn't just comfortable “for an aero road bike” but comfortable, period – no caveats required. Despite appearances to the contrary, the deep-section carbon frame ably damps road buzz but it also rounds off bigger and harsher bumps in a way usually only expected of more traditionally shaped bikes.

It doesn't take long before you how you're seeing all of those bumps but not really feeling them through the rear end – and in fact, I even found myself consciously aiming for stuff I would normally avoid if only just for the novelty. Credit goes entirely to Trek's awesome IsoSpeed 'decoupler' – a mechanical pivot at the seat tube-top tube intersection – and the Madone's clever dual, nested seat tube design that, in combination, allows for much more flex at the saddle than you'd otherwise get out of a more traditional frame.

Trek's excellent IsoSpeed 'decoupler' strikes again, and to great effect

Unlike on Trek's similarly IsoSpeed-equipped Domane endurance platform, which incorporates an even cushier rear end but can sometimes feel somewhat harsh up front, the new Madone delivers up a more balanced and cohesive feel front to rear. It might not be as comfortable out back as a Domane but then again, as a full-blown race bike, it should be firmer and more communicative.

That all said, riders interested in an aero road bike aren't going to be considering ride quality as their primary metric – we're talking about free speed, after all, and this new Madone seems to have that in spades, too. We haven't had a chance to verify Trek's drag claims – specifically ones comparing it to its major competition – but repeated runs on my regular fast-and-flat test loops surrounding BikeRadar's US offices in Boulder, Colorado have certainly returned consistently lower times relative to non-aero machines. As expected for this segment, the chassis is plenty stiff, too.

The front end is fantastically sleek

Helping matters further is the Madone's impeccable handling. A slight variation from Madones of yesteryear – and identical to the current Emonda – this new Madone 9 Series is nevertheless equally adept at carving up sinuous mountain descents or gobbling up long stretches of straight road, feeling utterly composed and competent throughout.

Reigning it in

Boulder isn't exactly known for being flat, however, and the countless canyon roads to the west also demand plenty of braking. Thankfully, the new Madone's proprietary center-pull rim brakes are not only cleanly integrated into the frame and fork for aero purposes but they also work well – a good thing since there are no other options.

The dedicated centerpull brakes work well with generous power and control, plus fantastic lever feel

Caliper flex is practically nonexistent thanks to short and compact aluminum arms and a fully boxed-in layout that bridges the ends of the direct-mount pivots. Meanwhile, the cable wedge moves on rollers while both pivots are fitted with cartridge bearings to return a silky smooth and light lever feel that's noticeably devoid of excess friction.

Total braking power leaves a little to be desired with the Bontrager carbon-specific cork pads included here and they're also prone to squealing but modulation is very good. We'll likely switch to a set of SwissStops as the long-term testing progresses.

A look at the inner workings

Clearance is great, too. Trek officially says the new Madone will swallow tires up to 28mm wide and rims up to 30mm wide (external measurement), depending on the exact combination.

Sweating the details

Another usual pitfall of proprietary componentry is lack of compatibility. In that sense, there's no grand departure here as the Madone's dedicated aero-profile one-piece carbon fiber bar and stem won't work with aftermarket computer or camera mounts, and the similarly aero-profile no-cut extended seatmast won't take anything other than the dedicated Bontrager head.

The aero cockpit is actually quite comfy to hold

But on the upside, Bontrager has at least given the cockpit an agreeable shape with versatile semi-anatomic drops and flattened tops that you can still comfortably wrap your hands around. And while Trek says it's faster to leave the tops untaped, the subtle 'Madone' graphics are sized such that you can still wrap them up as usual without looking funny.

Likewise, there may not be much in the way of seatpost options but at least the one included is easy to live with. Bontrager's updated head design now features truly independent tilt and fore-aft adjustments, and so far, it's held rock solid.

Custom mounts are included for lights, computers, and cameras

And as for accessories, Trek even includes custom mounts for computers, cameras, and lights for the cockpit and seatmast – meaning you can still attach your favorite gadgets but won't have to look at any unsightly clamps or rubber straps.

Such an obsessively hidden internal cable routing setup – it's all fully concealed save for a short section of wire for the rear derailleur – is certainly going to be more challenging to service when the time comes but Trek has at least made bar height adjustments less easy. As compared to other similar setups that require a full recabling, Trek has cleverly fitted the new Madone with custom split headset spacers.

Split headset spacers should make for relatively painful height adjustments

Unflappable build kit

Trek will initially offer the Madone 9 Series in several standard builds but BikeRadar got an early sneak preview at the upcoming Project One custom version – which, in this case, doesn't stray far off the beaten path in terms of components or wheels but definitely goes off-center visually with a very non-standard green-on-green paint scheme.

There's not much that needs to be repeated on the Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 group: it's functionally without fault with perfect shifts each and every time. It'd still be nice to have some more tactile feedback from the shift buttons but that's still a matter of personal preference.

As usual, the Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 transmission is superb

Bontrager's latest Aeolus 5 D3 TLR tubeless-compatible carbon clinchers are proving to be great all-rounders, too, with a newly widened tire bed that mates well with the 25mm-wide Bontrager R4 tires used here. As we've noted before, the blunt, 50mm-deep rim shape is fast yet manageable in strong crosswinds. Their weight is also quite good although as with all tubeless-compatible Bontrager hoops, the chunky molded plastic rim strips add nearly 100g per set.

All told, this 52cm H1 test sample came in at just 6.79kg (14.97lb) without pedals or bottle cages.

Raising the bar

Overall, Trek's new Madone 9 Series is off to a fantastic start to its long-term test: it's fast, remarkably comfortable, and easy to live with. Unfortunately, the prices have climbed in lockstep with the technology but at least Trek will offer several somewhat more reasonable options with identical shaping but lesser build kits.

Not all riders will feel any burning need to go aero but when that extra speed comes with so few compromises, the arguments against it certainly become less compelling. Ever-increasing retail costs? That gets a big 'boo' from this end but the idea that aero road bikes can also just be really good road bikes in general is a trend I can get behind.

Faster, comfier, easier to live with.

Complete bike specifications

Frame: 2016 Trek Madone 9 Series, H1 geometry, 700-Series OCLV carbon fiber Fork: 2016 Trek Madone KVF Headset: Integrated Cockpit: Trek Madone integrated Bar tape: Bontrager gel cork Front brake: Trek Madone integrated w/ Bontrager carbon-specific pads Rear brake: Trek Madone integrated w/ Bontrager carbon-specific pads Brake levers: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 STI Dual Control ST-9070 Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 FD-9070 Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 RD-9070 Shift levers: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 STI Dual Control ST-9070 Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace CS-9000, 11-28T Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace CN-9000 Crankset: Shimano Dura-Ace FC-9000, 50/34T Bottom bracket: Enduro Wheelset: Bontrager Aeolus 5 D3 TLR clincher Front tire: Bontrager R4 clincher, 700x25c Rear tire: Bontrager R4 clincher, 700x25c Saddle: Bontrager Montrose Pro Seatpost: Trek Madone 9 Series Weight: 6.79kg (14.97lb, without pedals or accessories)

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• Rider Notes

2016 Trek Madone 9 Series H1 Frameset

A carbon frame aero frameset with rim brakes.

For This Bike

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5'1" – 5'5"

5'3" – 5'7"

5'5" – 5'9"

5'7" – 6'0"

5'10" – 6'2"

6'0" – 6'4"

6'2" – 6'5"

🐐 Estimated

Do you have this bike? Help other riders make a decision about which size will work for them by sharing your own size and fit notes. Report your fit

Jul 2016 · Andre Cheuk

Canadian Cycling Magazine takes a look at the custom Trek Madone of Fabian Cancellara, at the 2016 Tour de France.

Read Review

May 2016 · VeloNews.com

The new Madone is cycling’s Bugatti Veyron — an exotic beast that looks like it’s moving fast even when it’s standing still. This bike begs for high-speed

Apr 2016 · Robin Schmitt

In a country where awesome is standard vocabulary, how could you describe an extraordinary bike? It’s time to look at the hard facts of the Trek Madone 9.9

Apr 2016 · William Tracy

The new Madone is cycling’s Bugatti Veyron — an exotic beast that looks like it’s moving fast even when it’s standing still.

Aug 2015 · Mat Brett

Stunningly good bike that offers a fabulous mix of speed and comfort, although, as usual, the top-end tech comes at a price

Jul 2015 · R BA

Updated Madone targets aerodynamics and comfort

Jun 2015 · Matt Phillips

Trek shoots for the moon with its new aero road bike

Jun 2015 · James Huang

Overall, Trek’s new Madone 9 Series is off to a fantastic start to its long-term test: it’s fast, remarkably comfortable, and easy to live with.

Last updated June 29 Not listed for 2,501 days

The 2016 Trek Madone 9-Series Project One Blew Us Away

First-ever aero road bike to recieve unanimous praise from our testers

The second thing you should know is that everyone at Bicycling who has ridden the bike loves it. It's rare for a test bike to receive unanimous praise; in fact, it's never happened before with an aero road bike .

    Related:

Our testers are also unanimous on what they like about this Madone. One evaluation summed up the praise I heard from all seven riders we put on the bike: "It's one of those bikes that just feels incredibly fun to ride—speedy and snappy, but also surprisingly stable and comfortable." The Madone incorporates Trek's IsoSpeed Decoupler (bendy seat tube). And besides feeling fast, this aero bike is more compliant and comfortable than many road-race bikes.

It is expensive. Models start at $6,000 and hit more than $13,000 in Trek's Project One program, through which we chose the parts for our tester and ordered up this flamingo- pink paint job . The integration forces riders to make sacrifices (don't like the aero handlebar? Tough). And the bike does amplify drivetrain and road noises. Still, this is one of the most remarkable bikes you can buy and one of the best Trek has ever produced.

     Related: Pro Cyclists Debut 2016 Trek Madone 9-Series

Price : $13,471 (as tested) Weight : 16.1lbs (54cm)

.css-1t6om3g:before{width:1.75rem;height:1.75rem;margin:0 0.625rem -0.125rem 0;content:'';display:inline-block;-webkit-background-size:1.25rem;background-size:1.25rem;background-color:#F8D811;color:#000;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-position:center;background-position:center;}.loaded .css-1t6om3g:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/bicycling/static/images/chevron-design-element.c42d609.svg);} Bike Reviews

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TriTech for the Masses

2016 Trek Madone – First Look

You can have an aero bike or you can have a comfortable bike – you can’t have both. This has long been one of the accepted realities of the aero road bike category. Sure they’re fast, but staying in the saddle for 5+ may not be the most comfortable experience. Trek has heard this one too many times and decided that this would be the challenge the new Madone was built to meet. Trek set out to build a bike with unparalleled aerodynamics and unmatched ride quality, and the 2016 Madone is the result of that effort.

The 2016 Trek Madone

The first thing you notice when you see the 2016 Madone is the cable-free front end of the bike. Starting at the top, you’ll find the integrated aero bar and stem. This is the result of Trek’s goal to leave “no stone unturned, no cable in the wind.” The integrated bar uses Kamm Virtual Foil (KVF) tube shaping, which was first introduced on the Speed Concept to improve the aerodynamics over a separate system. Keeping the housing fully internal through the head tube required the design of an integrated top cap cover and spacers. The headset spacers use a two-piece clamshell design for easy adjustability, allowing addition or removal without rerouting any housing or cables.

The fork uses aerodynamic KVF legs, cheating the wind at all yaw angles while maintaining stiffness. The fork crown is pocketed out for smooth integration with the front brake, and the fork uses a proprietary steerer tube shape to allow internal routing of the housing through the top headset bearing.

The brakes have been designed to seamlessly match the fork and seatstay surfaces, integrating with the recessed areas and allowing air to flow smoothly over the entire surface. The housing of the front center-pull brake is routed down the front of the steerer tube through the head tube and to the brake, all fully internal. The brake arms use independent spring tension adjustment screws to center the brake pads and adjust lever pull force to the desired feel. Additionally, two spacing screws allow for precise pad adjustments as brake pads wear. The spacing screws’ range allows swapping between rims with up to 6mm difference in width without adjusting the center wedge.

Madone’s Vector Wings protect the front brake from the elements to ensure consistent braking function. To accommodate the function of the center-pull brakes, the Vector Wings articulate during turning in order to allow free rotation.

On the downtube is the Madone’s “Control Center.” On mechanical set-ups, the Control Center houses the front derailleur trim dial. For electronic set-ups, the Control Center houses the Di2 battery port and junction box in one location, providing access to the trim button through the window in the top of the Control Center.

Below the control center are the water bottle bosses. The locations have been optimized so that the front bottle offsets drag for the rear bottle.

The Madone features an integrated chain keeper that has also been aero optimized (talk about “sparing no expense”).

All of the above features aid in the goal to achieve unparalleled aerodynamics. While the Madone doesn’t beat its competition at every yaw angle, it does come close.

But what about the goal of unmatched ride quality? That job falls to the Madone IsoSpeed Decoupler. First shown on the Trek Domane, the IsoSpeed Decoupler separates the seat mast from the toptube and allows the seat tube to rotate independently from the top-tube-to-seatstay junction, increasing vertical compliance without compromising pedaling efficiency.

Using the IsoSpeed system freed up the seatpost to use KVF technology, matching the seat tube profile. The seatpost head uses an independent pinch bolt and rail clamp system to allow for infinite tilt and setback adjustment.

Trek Madone Builds

At launch, the Madone will be available in three builds – 9.2, 9.5, and 9.9, plus a special Madone Race Shop Limited build. The 9.2, 9.5, and 9.9 all use Trek’s 600 Series OCLV carbon.

The 9.2 features a Shimano Ultegra mechanical groupset and Bontrager Paradigm Elite tubeless-ready wheels. It will be available for $6,299.

The 9.5 features a Shimano Dura-Ace mechanical groupset and Bontrager Aura tubeless-ready wheels. Upgrading to Dura-Ace sets you back $8,399.

The 9.9 is available in both a men’s and women’s design. Both feature Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 and Bontrager Aeolus 5D3 tubeless-ready wheels. The 9.9 will go for $12,599 at your local bike shop.

Finally, there is the Madone Race Shop Limited build. This is the same bike used by Trek Factory Racing and is built with 700 Series OCLV carbon. Like the 9.9, it features Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 and Bontrager Aeolus 5D3 tubeless-ready wheels. This top-of-the-line build will go for $16,999.

Our Thoughts

We are big fans of Trek as evidenced by the recent addition of a Speed Concept to our test fleet . So it should come as no surprise that we really want to spend some quality time with the new Madone. Our only reservation is that the integrated bars will most likely not be able to accommodate any type of aero bars. However, for most looking to purchase this bike, that probably won’t be a major issue. The price is also obviously a big consideration of ours, but we expect that price to come down next year (something we are routinely seeing with other new bikes). Really our biggest question is whether we work with Trek to do a review now or wait until they can do a Project One build to match our Speed Concept. These are the tough decisions we love to make!

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2016 Trek Madone aero road bike revealed

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Trek Madone 2.1 review

Alloy edition of a famous carbon name

Tom Ballard / Immediate Media

Tom Ballard

Thanks in part to its association with That Texan and a long pedigree of superbly performing bike models, the Madone name is one of the best-known in road cycling. It’s perhaps a bit of gamble then for Trek to slap the branding of its most famous carbon bike on an aluminium-framed machine – but has it paid off?

The sub-£1,000 price point is one of the most hotly contested. With an update to 11-speed Shimano 105 shifters and a price drop to £900 for 2015, the Madone 2.1 holds its own against online-only competition. It’s a solid bike for those who aspire to own the Madone label without handing over £5,900 for the carbon version.

Related: Best bikes under £1,000

• Highs: Decent gearing, handles well, do-it-all geometry, stiff frame
• Lows: Chatters over rough roads, cut-price brakes, a bit heavy

Ride and handling: buzzy but reliable

In Trek’s world, we’ve got the Domane for comfort, the Emonda for climbing and the Madone for racing fast – but the aluminium 2.1 isn’t really a flat-back, head-down racer. The H2 geometry means a taller head-tube (150mm for our 54cm size) for a more upright position than the carbon H1 models. It’s comfortable without stretching, you can tuck low easily and you don’t feel like you’re going backwards when sitting up.

It's officially a Madone, but not as we know it

This means a do-it-all setup that enables you to get on with riding and offers assured control in almost every scenario. Whether you're whipping around tight bends, holding stable in crosswinds or adjusting a line when flashing downhill, the 2.1 offers fuss-free handling that’s neutral and reliable.

This isn't to damn it with faint praise though. Lack of excitement when it comes to handling isn’t a bad thing – you can hold plenty of speed around corners, descend with confidence and relax to enjoy riding.

Unfortunately, the ride quality can endanger that fun at times though. We’ve got a feeling Trek had an image of the bike zipping along a perfectly smooth highway when the 2.1’s frame was designed.

Take the Madone for a spin on good roads it feels sensational, holding its speed well despite the resistance of fairly heavy wheels that make accelerations suffer. Whether or not the internal cabling and flat-backed KVF (Kammtail Virtual Foil) down tube shape aid aerodynamics, it certainly feels fast and satisfying when you’re pushing towards a PB.

Internal cabling is impressive at this price

On the other hand, rougher surfaces really dent the fun, the carbon blades of the tapered fork doing little to calm the chattering vibrations through the frame at the front end. Descending on imperfect lanes proved the biggest worry, with jolts forcing bum and saddle separation and the continued staccato vibrations then battering the backside as the bike skittered downwards – even with only 110psi in the tyres.

This isn't going to happen every time you take on a descent, but it’s a pity that the well-behaved and otherwise planted handling can sometimes come unstuck because of this lack of ride smoothness, creating a tense riding experience. To try and combat this we’d put some suppler 25mm tyres and a carbon seatpost on the upgrade list.

On the uphills though – terrain upon which the Madone performs well for a bike weighing 8.9kg – it's a refreshingly different story. Especially when riding hard, the 2.1’s stiffness gives a quick response and unhampered power transfer when stamping out authority on climbs. With the spot-on geometry and wide gear range, it’s just as adept at helping you spin to a summit too. The front end feels light – and even a bit twitchy with hands on the tops – and while you can feel the weight a bit at the back end, there’s no sense of frustration that the bike’s holding you back.

Frame: fancily formed aluminium

The Madone 2.1 uses Trek’s top-grade Alpha 200-series aluminium, which thanks to hydroforming techniques has allowed for the flattened top tube and KVF down tube shapes, the latter of which being essentially an aerofoil shape that’s had the back cut off, increasing stiffness and decreasing weight while aiding aerodynamics.

The KVF shaping on the aluminium Madone takes its cue from its carbon-frame brother

The flat shapes also give a smooth, clean look more akin to a carbon frame, though the overall look and shaping remains a far cry from the carbon Madone. The rest of the tubing is a more traditional cylindrical shape and is welded fairly inconspicuously. The oversized BB86.5 bottom bracket means no external bearing cups and allows the wider BB junction that aids stiffness to give the bike its punchy power transfer.

The gear cabling is internally routed, entering at the top of the down tube and exiting at the bottom bracket for the rear derailleur. The rear brake takes a more conventional course under the top tube. This isn’t really too much of a disappointment – as any internal routing at this price is a bonus – but it just reminds you far removed the alloy Madone is from its illustrious namesake.

The head tube is tapered for increased front-end stiffness, which was remarkably solid throughout testing. The accompanying fork features carbon blades, complete with KVF trailing edges, and an alloy steerer – standard at this price point. It also includes a built-in SpeedTrap module for transmitting speed and distance data to a head unit via a Trek computer sensor and spoke-mounted magnet. In addition the 2.1 comes complete with mudguard mounts on fork and frame.

Equipment: savvy selections for 11-speed value

For 2015, the Madone 2.1 makes the leap to 11-speed with Shimano 105 shifters, allowing a wide, largely gap-free gear range when accompanied by the matching 11-28 105 cassette. There’s no skimping on the derailleurs either, which are 105 too, though there’s an RS500 five-bolt 50/34 compact crankset rather than the gorgeous new four-bolt design that’s trickled down from Dura-Ace and Ultegra. Shifting performance was flawless throughout and until Shimano’s high-end groups go 12-speed, there’s little to recommend them over these workhorse components.

Our only criticism of the drivetrain is in the internal BB bearings, which became sticky after a few weeks, stopping the cranks from turning as freely as they should. The brakes are also a bit disappointing, the un-branded calipers lacking the power of Shimano’s versions.

11-speed 105 on a £900 bike shows Trek's buying power

The 2.1 is supplied with Bontrager’s TLR tubeless-ready wheels, which have low-profile, slightly rounded rims that are 19mm wide. Like the rest of the 2.1, they’re solid and free from flex, but aren’t particularly light and didn’t do us any favours in drag sprints from standing, taking a while to get up to speed. They’re a good set of training wheels, but the bike could really fly on the flats and hills with an upgrade to a lighter set.

The Bontrager R1 Hard-Case Lite tyres, meanwhile, are 23mm wide and seemed fairly puncture prone, causing us grief on a few occasions.

The remainder of the finishing kit also comes from Trek’s component brand. The simple alloy seatpost has a red anodised clamp that matches the seat collar, gear hanger, odd headset spacer and stem top cap, giving a classy look. The stem itself is white to match the frame, but comes with a blue anodised faceplate. The bars are standard 31.8mm with a comfy compact drop, wrapped in white gel cork tape, which quickly became grubby.

The Bontrager Paradigm 1 saddle features a central cutout and was surprisingly comfy despite its rather squidgy padding, though an upgrade to something slightly harder might benefit riders going long.

So is the 2.1 really a Madone? No. It’s a fine aluminium bike that shows off Trek’s usual quality, but it’s so distant from the carbon models that it’s not really comparable. Sadly, the fact it is branded as such – inviting unfair comparisons – doesn’t do the 2.1 any favours.

When it comes down to it, the occasionally harsh ride is the one characteristic that poses the biggest question for potential buyers – do you really need the benefit of internal cabling and a more aero down tube for the kind of riding you’re doing?

If you’re going to be racing and want every ounce of power you can get your legs on, it may well be the winning choice, though it’s up against stiff competition from the likes of Giant and Boardman at this price point. If you want all-day, long-ride comfort or value distance over speed go for Trek’s Domane instead.

Check out the gallery above for more pictures of the Trek Madone 2.1.

Looking for a new bike? Get more buying advice from fellow riders in our forum. Head here to join the discussion.

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Currently, all of the Madones are high-end, the most affordable (it’s all relative!) model being the £4,500 Madone 9.2 (above) with Bontrager Paradigm Elite tubeless ready wheels and a Shimano Ultegra groupset. 

The 9.5 is £6,000. The extra money gets you Shimano’s flagship Dura-Ace groupset and Bontrager’s Aura wheels.

Go to £9,000 and you can have the Madone 9.9 (above) with Bontrager’s very fast Aeolus 5 D3 wheels and the electronic Di2 version of Shimano’s Dura-Ace groupset. 

The super-high-end Madone Race Shop Limited (above) tops the range. It comes with the same components as the Madone 9.9 but the Race Shop Limited is built around a 700 Series frame rather than 600 Series – the same version used by the Trek Factory Racing professional riders.

If none of those builds or finishes is exactly what you want, you can use Trek’s Project One system and have a Madone in your dream build. Prices start at £5,450, depending on your spec. We had one made for review and it was a fabulous ride, but it costs! 

Trek boasts that the Emonda has been “the lightest production road line ever” since its introduction in mid-2014.

The Emonda range covers three different carbon-fibre frames – the S, the SL and the SLR – and an aluminium model (see below). Each of those frames comes in various different builds, and some come in women’s specific versions.

The most affordable carbon-fibre Emonda is the S 4 (£1,100, above), made from Trek’s 300 Series OCLV carbon. It gets a tapered head tube and an oversized bottom bracket for stiffness and is compatible with Trek’s DuoTrap computer sensor that integrates into one of the chainstays. It’s built up with a Shimano Tiagra groupset.

The S 5 (£1,300, above) looks a really attractive options. It’s built around the same frame and fork but its groupset is the next level up in Shimano’s hierarchy, 105 – and we’re big fans of Shimano 105 here at road.cc .

The £1,600 S 6 (above) gets a higher level again: Shimano Ultegra.

The Emonda SLs are made from a higher level of carbon fibre – Trek’s OCLV 500 Series – have wide BB90 bottom brackets and full-carbon forks. They also have seatmasts rather than standard seatposts to save weight and improve comfort.

The most accessible of the Emonda SLs is the 5, available in both men’s and women’s models (above), equipped with a Shimano 105 groupset and Bontrager Race tubeless ready wheels. 

We very much like the look of the £2,100 Emonda SL 6 which comes in a Shimano Ultegra build while the top-level SL 8 (£2,900) is available in either Dura-Ace or Red – each the top level offerings from Shimano and SRAM respectively.

The SLR Emondas are the lightest of the bunch. Trek claims that the 700 Series OCLV carbon-fibre frame weighs just 690g. That’s astonishingly light. 

The Shimano Ultegra-equipped SLR 6 (£4,300, above) is available in either an H1 or and H2 fit (see above), so you can pick the setup that works best for you.

The same is true of the SLR 8 (above, £5,800) which comes with Shimano Dura-Ace components.

If you want electronic shifting, the £8,000 SLR 9 (above) is a real stunner with Dura-Ace Di2 and Aeolus 3 D3 TLR wheels from Trek’s in-house Bontrager brand. 

Trek claims that the top level Emonda SLR 10 (above) weighs an incredible 10.25lb (4.6kg) in a 56cm frame and H1 fit. The boutique build includes superlight wheels and a carbon saddle from Tune and an integrated bar and stem from Bontrager. How much? Um, sadly it’s £11,000!

A year after the introduction of the carbon-fibre Emondas, Trek introduced an aluminium version. It’s not quite as lightweight as the carbon ones but it’s still pretty darn light and fast, and the ride quality is very good.

The alu Emonda features a tapered head tube for accurate cornering and it comes in Trek’s H2 fit – performance-orientated but not extreme. The welds are almost invisible to the point that you’d be hard pressed to see that this is an aluminium bike at first glance.

The Emonda ALR 4 (above, £900) is fitted with a Shimano Tiagra 10-speed groupset but we think that the £1,100 ALR 5 (below) is the pick of the bunch.

It has a full Shimano 105 groupset, a full carbon fork and a very good Bontrager Paradigm Race saddle. 

The ALR 6 (above), which we have reviewed here on road.cc , comes equipped with Shimano Ultegra and it’s another aggressively priced model at £1,400.

Like most bikes at this price point, all of the Emonda ALR models come with compact gearing (smaller than standard chainrings) to help you get up the hills. 

The Domane is Trek’s endurance race bike that sits alongside the Madone and the Emonda (above). This is the bike you’ll see most of Trek’s professional riders aboard on the cobbled classics like Paris-Roubaix because of the way it copes with lumps and bumps. 

The frame features an IsoSpeed decoupler (see above) that allows the seat tube to move independently of the top tube and the seatstays. It can pivot back and forth to soak up vibrations and cancel out bigger hits from the road surface. 

The Domanes also come with IsoSpeed forks that are designed to add more comfort to the ride, and they’re built to an endurance geometry, meaning that the position is a little more upright than normal to put less strain on your back.

The Domane range opens with the £900 2.0 (above) that centres on a 200 Series Alpha Aluminium frame and a carbon fork. The 10-speed Shimano Tiagra groupset includes a compact chainset and an 11-32-tooth cassette, giving you some small gears for climbing long, steep hills.

Pay £1,100 for the Domane 2.3 (above) and you can upgrade to a Shimano 105 groupset.

All the other Domanes are carbon-fibre. The 4 Series bikes get oversized BB90 bottom brackets and tapered head tubes for stiffness, along with almost invisible mudguard mounts. As well as standard rim brake models, this series includes disc brake bikes for more stopping control in all weather conditions.

The cheapest of these is the £1,400 Trek Domane 4.0 Disc (above) which is built with a 9-speed Shimano Sora groupset and TRP’s HY/RD cable-operated hydraulic disc brakes. 

The 4.3 (above) looks like a winner to us. With a reliable Shimano 105 groupset, it’s priced at £1,500. 

The 4.5 is available in both rim brake and disc brake versions (above). The bikes’ Shimano Ultegra components are the same whichever model you choose but the 4.5 Disc (£2,200) has Shimano RS685 hydraulic disc brakes that operate on 160mm rotors rather than the  Shimano 105 rim brakes of the standard Domane 4.5 (£1,800).

The 5 Series Domanes are made from a higher grade of carbon-fibre and feature seatmasts rather than seatposts, the idea being to add comfort and save a little weight. 

The £2,200 Domane 5.2 (above) is a Shimano Ultegra model that looks like good value for money while you can have the £3,000 5.9 in either top-level Shimano Dura-Ace or with electronic shifting courtesy of Shimano’s second tier Ultegra Di2. The choice is yours.

Go up to the Domane 6 Series and you shift from 500 Series OCLV carbon to 600 Series which is a little lighter and stiffer.

The 6.2 is available in rim brake and disc brake (above) versions – £2,900 and £3,200 respectively – the disc brakes in question being Shimano RS685 hydraulics. These are Ultegra-level, matching most of the rest of the spec.

The £3,900 Domane 6.5 (above) has a full Shimano Dura-Ace group along with a lightweight Bontrager Paradigm Elite TLR wheelset, while the 6.9 Disc (below, £6000) gets Shimano’s Dura-Ace Di2 electronic shifting, RS785 hydraulic brakes, and Bontrager Affinity Elite wheels.

The rim brake version of the 6.9 (below, £7,200) gets that same Di2 shifting, the higher price being down to Bontrager’s aero Aeolus 3 D3 wheels that we’re reviewed here on road.cc . They’re fast and they handle well whatever the conditions.

You can choose your own spec and finish for both the Domane 4 Series and 6 Series through Trek’s Project One scheme.

The 1 Series contains Trek’s entry-level road bikes. They’re made from Trek’s 100 Series aluminium (the Emonda ALRs are 300 Series) and they have eyelets for fitting mudguards and a rear rack. That’ll come in handy if you intend to commute by bike year-round.

Like the Emonda ALRs and many other Emonda and Madone models, the 1 Series bikes are built to Trek’s H2 geometry. This is a setup that’s designed for efficiency and speed, but it’s not quite as low and stretched as Trek’s H1 fit.

There are just two models in the range. The £575 1.1 (above) gets an 8-speed Shimano Claris groupset while the £650 1.2 (below) is built up with 9-speed Shimano Sora.

The Silque is a women’s carbon-fibre bike that, like the Domane and now the Madone, has an IsoSpeed decoupler to add comfort and control. 

Trek doesn’t just change the colour and a few components when putting a women’s bike together, the frame geometry is altered too.

There are six different Silque bikes in the lineup ranging from the £1,500 Shimano Tiagra-equipped Silque (above) right up to the £3,800 Silque SSL (below) with Shimano Ultegra Di2 electronic shifting.

We think that the Silque SL (£2,200, below) looks like a great bike that’ll prove popular. With a full Shimano Ultegra drivetrain, Bontrager Race tubeless ready wheelset, and women’s specific Bontrager Anja Comp WSD saddle, you’re getting a lot for your money here.

The Silque SL and SSL are available through Trek’s Project One service from £2,700 and £3,970 respectively. 

The Lexa is Trek’s aluminium road bike range that’s built to a WSD (women’s specific design) geometry.

Three of the four bikes in the range are based around frames made from 100 Series Alpha Aluminium, the same as the 1 Series bikes (above), while the fourth, the £1,000 Lexa SLX (above), uses slightly higher level 200 Series. All the bikes are mudguard and rack compatible.

The cheapest bike in the range is the straight Lexa (above) at £575 but the one that takes our eye is the £650 Lexa S (below). This one has a 9-speed Shimano Sora groupset and tubeless ready tyres from Bontrager.

For more info go to  www.trekbikes.com .

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Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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Isn't there a Domane 4.3 with disc brakes as well? Hope so, I was going to buy one.

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you can get a 2016 Giant Defy 1 disc for £999 with TRP Spyre mech discs and 105 groupset, aluminium alloy frame and carbon fibre leg/ alloy steerer fork. Not a bad deal...

So entry level for Trek with *Sora* & HyRd discs is £1,400 - TBH they could have gone for Spyres and added Tiagra under-bar shifting.

Disappointing that one of the world's largest can't bring a disc bike in closer to a grand - When Merida have the amazing Ride 5000 Disc 2016 with 105/Ultegra & full Hydro for only £550 more. Yes, I say 'only' as the RRP jumps for Sora-> 105/Ultegra & HyRd-RS785 must be close to a grand RRP.

KiwiMike wrote: So entry level for Trek with *Sora* & HyRd discs is £1,400 - TBH they could have gone for Spyres and added Tiagra under-bar shifting. Disappointing that one of the world's largest can't bring a disc bike in closer to a grand - When Merida have the amazing Ride 5000 Disc 2016 with 105/Ultegra & full Hydro for only £550 more. Yes, I say 'only' as the RRP jumps for Sora-> 105/Ultegra & HyRd-RS785 must be close to a grand RRP. 

Merida are a pretty monstrously large operation - their wholesale buying power from Shimano, etc. must be almost unparalleled. I'm not that surpried they can offer these specs at that price. Around where I live in NZ, there are an awful lot of people on high end Merida bikes with Di2 and so on who wouldn't have spent what an "equivalent" Specialized (made in the same factory) would have cost. Merida's largest failing in many ways appears to be their rather slack approach to marketing.

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