Trek Madone SLR
From £6,850 IsoSpeed’s gone and IsoFlow’s in, for impressive aero and weight benefits on this super-speedy road bike
The seventh-generation of this aero road bike is said to be lighter and faster than ever. How does it manage it? It boasts a striking new cut-out seat-tube and top-tube juncture and a new integrated handlebar for starters.
01 Lighter
The Madone SLR is 300g lighter for a complete bike than the previous version, weighing “just shy of 1,000g for the frame and just over 400g for the fork,” says Trek. That means a complete bike weighs from 7.1kg for a size 54cm bike frame with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9270 for example.
02 Faster
It’s also claimed to be around 60 seconds an hour faster, or 19 watts more aerodynamically efficient at 45km/h (or just fractionally less at slower speeds). This is down to more streamlined Kammtail Virtual Foil tube profiles, IsoFlow technology (see below) and the new handlebar.
03 IsoFlow
IsoFlow replaces the IsoSpeed ‘decoupler’ system that has been used since 2015. Trek claims IsoFlow allows the new bike to match the compliance of IsoSpeed on its stiffest setting while being lighter and more aero by around three watts. How does it work? Air accelerates through the hole in the frame’s v-shaped cutout as you ride, reducing the effect of the trailing low-pressure zone behind bike and rider, and thus the drag.
04 Handlebar
The fully integrated bar system and slimmer tube profiles produce half of the bike’s weight and watts savings. Narrowing the handlebar by 3cm at the hoods has also boosted aero efficiency. A 42cm bar is 39cm wide measured centre to centre at the hoods, and 42cm wide at the drops. This flared bar gives an aero position for cruising on the flat plus greater leverage and control on the drops for sprinting and descending.
05 Geometry
It uses Trek’s H1.5 geometry, which sits between the super-aggressive, ‘pro’ H1 fit and the more relaxed H2 fit. The reach has been shortened by 20mm (to 80mm), which is more in line with other brands. You can swap the bar out for a standard 1-1/8in stem to give you lots more options.