I am a bit confused at whom they are trying to market this to: https://bikerumor.com/2019/06/20/trek-madone-speed-blends-tri-road-using-integrated-removable-aero-bars/
The aerobars look to be too long for draft-legal, and the seatpost doesn’t look to be adjustable to flip into a TT bike position. Is this just a glorified bolt-on aerobars for roadies what to do the occasional weekend tri races?
Specialized also has both draft legal and non-draft bolt on aerobars for the venge. I suspect this is something similar
Not really… the mono extension for this bike is decidedly non-DL - too far out and no bridge. They may have others coming later but not on the configuration as I can see right now.
Is this just a glorified bolt-on aerobars for roadies what to do the occasional weekend tri races?
I believe that’s the case. In fairness, it looks like a pretty nice system.
It does look nice… I hope they make a draft-legal version of the mono extensions.
just got the email and thought I would check on here to see what people are saying. My ?? is what does this do to the Speed Concept, a disc version coming? The end of the SC? I’ve been riding a SC since it first came out and a TTX before that. I hope this isn’t the replacement for a next gen SC.
To me this is a compromise bike, great road bike set up that can do a decent job doing double duty in TT’s and Tri’s. I prefer to keep my road bike set up as a road bike and my TT/Tri bike as a dedicated TT/Tri bike. The first thing I checked on the specs on this new bike is the seat tube angle and at 72 - 73 degrees it will never work (for me) as a replacement to my current SC.
This is a beautiful looking bike though, just not for me.
It looks pretty damn aero, for a “converted” road bike. You can’t flip the seatpost, but they do have a 5mm setback seatpost that will bring you forward a bit more. It’s not a great bike for the dedicated triathlete, but, for a biker who dabbles in triathlon, or the person who can’t justify having separate road and tri bikes (for budget, or space reasons), it seems about as good a compromise as there currently is on the market. They really missed an opportunity, though, to work with Shimano and figure out some sort of Di2 quick-disconnect that would have allowed shifting from the aerobars without hindering the easy convertibility.
For what it’s worth they offer a version with the eTap clics.
It does look nice… I hope they make a draft-legal version of the mono extensions.
Worst case scenario one could get the plug-in extension and bend a single piece of aluminum tube (it wouldn’t be trivial but it is doable).
just got the email and thought I would check on here to see what people are saying. My ?? is what does this do to the Speed Concept, a disc version coming? The end of the SC? I’ve been riding a SC since it first came out and a TTX before that. I hope this isn’t the replacement for a next gen SC.
To me this is a compromise bike, great road bike set up that can do a decent job doing double duty in TT’s and Tri’s. I prefer to keep my road bike set up as a road bike and my TT/Tri bike as a dedicated TT/Tri bike. The first thing I checked on the specs on this new bike is the seat tube angle and at 72 - 73 degrees it will never work (for me) as a replacement to my current SC.
This is a beautiful looking bike though, just not for me.
This is, almost certainly, not a replacement for the Speed Concept. Geometry is wrong and Trek doesn’t strike me as a company that would make that sort of a mistake.
This is a decent solution for the roadie who does the occasional triathlon or TT.
Considering the price you could easily have a nice dedicated road bike and a TT bike.
I guess they were updating their aero road and thought, might as well have this TT bar option. I think they have gone wrong making the TT bar the focus of the launch rather then just an optional add on.
Kind of strange from a pricing standpoint: this standalone model is ~$6,500 but if you get an identically spec’d Madone 6 and “add” the aerobar it comes out over $7,000 ¯_(ツ)_/¯
Reference picture for everyone else:
.
“Madone Speed has all the award-winning speed and handling of Madone SLR—plus the added benefit of a lot more versatility. You can train with a group without the bars, then throw them on for race day. It’s the smartest option for most people doing triathlon or time trials today.â€
No, its not. A dedicated tri or TT bike is the smartest option for most people doing triathlon or time trials today. And the SC is one of the best dedicated tri or TT bikes on the market.
The bars are an optional add on to the existing Madone SLR.
From Trek:
Utilize the Madone SLR 6 Disc Speed as a stocking model
Retrofit any existing Madone SLR with a new stem faceplate and mono extension for customers who are already riding Madone and want an inexpensive upgrade to unlock extra potential in their bike.
Also available via Project One
“Madone Speed has all the award-winning speed and handling of Madone SLR—plus the added benefit of a lot more versatility. You can train with a group without the bars, then throw them on for race day. It’s the smartest option for most people doing triathlon or time trials today.â€
I don’t know if Trek has plans to downsize the Speed Concept offerings or otherwise change their strategy in triathlon, but that quote certainly suggests it. In addition, the headline for the press release was, “The all-new Madone Speed is the ideal aero setup for most triathletes”.
I hope not but I will say, being a 2019 madone and a gen2 speed concept owner, that I am reaching for the madone a lot more often than the SC in training and I could definitely see myself racing it with aerobars on a hilly or technical course. It handles like a dream and is far more comfortable without really giving up much aerodynamically. I could see why Trek thinks most people would fit into a category of wanting just one bike that’s good at everything. Plus it’s always good to make a bold statement to feed the marketing hype machine ;-).
I don’t know if Trek has plans to downsize the Speed Concept offerings or otherwise change their strategy in triathlon, but that quote certainly suggests it. In addition, the headline for the press release was, “The all-new Madone Speed is the ideal aero setup for most triathletes”.
Well the SC is not listed on the ‘20 dealer price list as of yet. Under the heading of triathlon it only lists the MS
I like this comment below the article.
Paul Signorino June 20, 2019 at 11:01 pm
I am confused. I thought the last 20 years of triathlon fitting has taught us slapping clip ons to a road bike is the exact thing not to do. And here we are.
For me that is doing 5 TRI per year and lots of training ride with my commute bike Giant Defy. I certainly would like to train on a Madone without bars and install the aerobar when racing.
Right now I have a Felt B14, do you think the Madone would be faster with aerobars ?
Thanks
Martin
No way, the b14 is a really clean aero bike that is proven to be fast in triathlon. The aero road bikes would be really hard to get that same angle and position most triathletes ride in. I also think the normal road handlebars alone would creat a huge amount of drag v a TT bull horns and bars, especially considering much of the aero gains now in TT are coming via front end improvements.
Sounds like your road bike and TT setup are working well stick with it. 3 years ago I rode an old Felt b10 to qualify to kona, and finish 6th outright, it looked like a collectors item as I wheeled it into transition with so many 1 or 2 year old bikes and here I am with a 10 speed green and black felt with some zipp404 from 2006.
