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TrekWorld, September 16, 2006For 2007, Trek broadens its rangeWith 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.
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 Trek’s “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, two‘cross bikes, hot-rod style cruisers and X-Games legend Dave Mirra’s Mirraco BMX and freestyle bikes now distributed through Trek. Start at the top Although Cyclingnews previewed Trek’s new top of the line road bike, the Madone 6.9 SSL at this year’s 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 year’s 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. Trek’s 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 Trek’s s.p.a. rear suspension; like Team Discovery’s Paris-Roubaix bikes. Pilger also pointed to Trek’s Equinox TTX bike: “we are seeing a growing triathlon market and will offer the new Equinox TTX, with it’s 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 Trek’s product designers to create some of the coolest wheels and carbon fibre kit on the market. Last year, Armstrong tested, approved and raced Bontrager’s 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 Bonty’s 31.8mm Boron reinforced carbon road handlebars, with the shallow VR (Variable Radius) shape optimized for Shimano levers. And only for the brave is Bontrager’s 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 dirtyTrek’s mountain bike product manager, John Reilly, went over the 2007 Trek mountain bike range, covered in detail by CN’s ace tech writer James Huang in a piece earlier this year. “For 2007, it’s 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... Trek’s new Lime has no travel, but it’s designed to make two wheel travel easier thanks to a design adapted to Shimano’s 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 Shimano’s 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. Mirra’s 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 Armstrong’s 10//2 line. PhotographyFor a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here Images by Tim Maloney/Cyclingnews
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