TrekWorld, September 16, 2006
For 2007, Trek broadens its range
With the momentum of seven years of Tour de France success behind
it, Trek, is facing a world without Lance Armstrong's influence. Tim
Maloney recently went to Trek's annual dealer and media product roll-out,
'Trek World', to see how the company is adapting to the change.
Nothing Sour:
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
|
|
Lime's front hub
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
|
|
Fitness Friend:
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
|
|
Ride More, Live Strong:
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
|
|
Lil' Deuce Cruiser:
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
|
|
Cross Purposes:
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
|
|
Mr. Miracle:
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
|
|
New Ventoux:
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
|
|
Sandal Style:
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
|
|
New styles
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
|
|
The Jewel In
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
|
|
Trek Madone
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
|
|
Trek's Pilot revisited
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
|
|
Trek's Woman Specific
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
|
|
Biker chicks
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
|
|
Bontrager's new XXX Lite
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
|
|
Sleek new
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
|
|
Fast Fixie:
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
|
|
Back To The Roots:
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
|
|
Trek's new
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
|
|
Trek's Madison, Wisconsin, HQ was the setting for TrekWorld, the worldwide
launch of Trek Bicycles 2007 range, which included products from its Trek,
Gary Fisher, Le Mond, Bontrager and Nike Cycling lines.
Rather than participate in the Interbike trade show, Trek chooses to
present its product range at the self-organized TrekWorld trade show at
the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center.
TrekWorld also included a tour of the famous Waterloo, Wisconsin Trek
factory (20 miles east of Madison) and a demo session where dealers could
try many of the new models around.
In his TrekWorld keynote address, company president John Burke proudly
pointed out Treks consistency of excellence in new product
innovation for 2007.
From the looks of the product on display at the show, Trek seems to be
covering all corners of the bicycle market with a wide variety of rides
on offer from the new and lightweight Madone 6.9 SSL road bike of Team
Discovery, to the Lime, a collaboration with Shimano called Coasting
based on a cool three speed auto-shift servo gear system and designer
looks.
Other post-Armstrong initiatives include a track bike, twocross
bikes, hot-rod style cruisers and X-Games legend Dave Mirras Mirraco
BMX and freestyle bikes now distributed through Trek.
Start at the top
Although Cyclingnews previewed Treks new top of the line
road bike, the
Madone 6.9 SSL at this years Tour De France, Trek World marked
the first official unveiling of a bike that Yaroslav Popovych rode to
a Tour stage win on on its maiden voyage.
The 6.9 SSL is a major upgrade from last years Boron reinforced
Madone 5.9 SSLx that Armstrong rode from start to finish in his 7th straight
Tour win, using Trek OCLV 55 HM or Defense Grade carbon fibre
that is claimed to be the most advanced composite material used in bicycle
frame construction.
The 6.9 SSL weighs in at 880 grams for a 56cm frame minus fork. Treks
road product manager, Tyler Pilger, told Cyclingnews, our
Madone series is now 100% round tubes in the 5.0 series and new top of
the line 6 series. And our Madone 6.9 SSL is the only traditional, non-sloping
sub 900 gram bike frame on the market.
Then make improvements all the way down
Pilger said, the Pilot is a crossover bike that we evolved from
a comfort bike by adding more performance with lighter components and
wheels, 23mm tires and more stylish and aggressive graphics on the OCLV
carbon frame."
To reshape things for 2007, the Pilot keeps a 2-inch higher hand position
due to sloping geometry, but now comes in some models with Treks
s.p.a. rear suspension; like Team Discoverys Paris-Roubaix bikes.
Pilger also pointed to Treks Equinox TTX bike: we are seeing
a growing triathlon market and will offer the new Equinox TTX, with its
low drag and adjustable seat tube angle, in seven different versions,
including a WSD (women's specific design) model for the tri and time trial
market.
WSD gathers momentum
Trek has a long history designing bikes for women, as WSD (women-specific
design) product manager Krista Rettig told Cyclingnews. We
have the widest variety of products for women cyclists in the industry.
And we are trying to be even more female friendly.
Rettig said, our unique WSD frame geometry and saddles reduce pressure
on the pubic bone, which allows the legs to release and increases power
output.
"WSD bikes are more comfortable for women thanks to a shorter top
tube that is more adapted to a woman's pelvic structure. And to enhance
endurance, WSD bikes have narrower handlebars and shorter reach levers
than a mans bicycle.
Rettig told Cyclingnews, another part of being friendly
to women cyclists are events like Trek's Woman's Demo Program and shop
events like Ladies Night Out.
Cyclingnews diarist Keith Bontrager also has a day job; he works
with Treks product designers to create some of the coolest wheels
and carbon fibre kit on the market. Last year, Armstrong tested, approved
and raced Bontragers XXX Lite 55gsm carbon tubular climbing wheelset
that weighs in at 970 grams/pair, and for 2007, Bontrager will now release
its first full carbon XXX Lite clincher wheelset, weighing in at almost
150 grams under the lightest Race X Lite alloy wheelset.
Another Armstrong-tested product are Bontys 31.8mm Boron reinforced
carbon road handlebars, with the shallow VR (Variable Radius) shape optimized
for Shimano levers.
And only for the brave is Bontragers awesome new carbon fibre Speedbottle
and cage; designed to reduce drag to the max while in place. What Equinox
TTX could be without it?
Time to get dirty
Treks mountain bike product manager, John Reilly, went over the
2007 Trek mountain bike range, covered in detail by CNs ace tech
writer James Huang in
a piece earlier this year. For 2007, its a top to bottom
re-do to make Trek best in class in mountain bikes, explained Reilly.
For us, full suspension is a major priority and we are really pleased
with the reception of our R1 Tuner suspension."
That priority had Trek first looking at the weight of its full-suspension
frames. Reilly pointed to the 5-inch travel Fuel EX 9.5 as a good example
of how Trek has tweaked the MTB line. "Not only does this bike have
a great suspension with new hi-lo chainstays and its wide stance, but
the (Fuel EX) 9.5 is full two pounds lighter than last years model.
You put the Lime in the...
Treks new Lime has no travel, but its designed to make two
wheel travel easier thanks to a design adapted to Shimanos new Coasting
drivetrain; a three-speed auto-shift servo gear system designed in cooperation
with industrial design studio IDEO.
Pavement product manager Chad Price told Cyclingnews, Lime
is a special new concept that we created around Shimanos Coasting
transmission and so far the reaction has been very positive".
Trek has included other bikes for fun riding in the 2007 line as well.
The new hot-rod inspired Deuce cruiser, urban transportation bikes like
the Soho and the interesting FX range, where Trek has added a new lightweight
carbon fibre model for fast fitness riding.
For the vert crowd, Trek has formed a strategic alliance with X-Games
legend Dave Mirra and now distributes his new Mirraco BMX and freestyle
brand. Mirras personally-designed pro-level bike is called Blend.
Trek is betting that the Blend LTD will be the must-have park and vert
bike this Christmas, as only 250 completes will be built by Mirraco with
Snafu crankset, stem and hubs and a unique left side crank position.
Trek also continues its relationship with Nike as licensee for the Nike
Cycling brand and for 2007. The line includes the Nike Col; an new entry
level three-strap road shoe, while the Nike Ventoux Plus adds a buckle
closure. Nike also added a new outdoor sandal that is SPD compatible called
the Havasu. And, as always, Nike has a wide variety of bike wear, from
Team Discovery to Armstrongs 10//2 line.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by
Tim Maloney/Cyclingnews
|