Bicycle Design

A new compact Trek?

I know, I know, most of you have probably already seen these images. They have been floating around the web for some time now and I never bothered to post them. I remember seeing them here back in January of this year. Well, a reader, who wishes to remain anonymous, says that the final design for a Trek Carbon Compact frame bike will be unveiled to select dealers on June 1st. He also said that the 2008 Trek road line has been completely redesigned and that the bikes look great with “magnificent” paint jobs.

Here is a little more from the anonymous source about the high-end road bike that we will supposedly see in a few weeks. Please note that this is rumor at this point. I can’t substantiate any of this, but it sounds great, so I hope it is all true. Anyway, here is what he says about the new bike:

“The seattube/toptube junction you notice in one of the pictures looks pretty bulky and nasty. The final production bike will be much sexier. The bike WILL have the extended seat post mast and will NOT be a frame you will have to cut down like on the Giant carbon bikes.

I personally cannot wait until these hit the market. It is going to literally bring frame design, frame strength and frame weight to a new level. I do not know “weight” on the new frame yet, but I’ve heard rumors that it is wicked light. I also heard it is so light that Discovery Channel may not ride this new frame in this years Tour de France and stick with the already lightest made horizontal top tube frame, the Madone 6.9SSL.”

So there you are. Assuming this is true, I can’t wait to see pictures of Trek’s new road bikes in a few weeks. Maybe we can even see a shot of Eki testing out the final production model.

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James

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Comments

12 responses to “A new compact Trek?”

  1. Champs Avatar
    Champs

    Apart from the sloping geometry, this looks like more of the same from Trek, with lugs and tubes.

    But if Campy can still get away with single-pivot brakes, and my ’03 Trek 5200 is just fine, then Trek is OK, too.

    Reply
  2. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Champs – have you ever seen a cut-a-way of a “monocoque” manufactured frame? Trek builds their frames with their proprietary OCLV process for a reason. They have the best strength to weight ratio in the business.

    They insure the quality of each piece of the frame before it is assembled into the final structure. If you ever get a chance to cut in half a non OCLV Carbon bike – you’ll be surprised. Even the new Trek 5000 TCT Carbon is monocoque – and noticiably heavier then it’s US made OCLV counterpart of the same design.

    Stay Tuned

    Reply
  3. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    The last corporate bastion of non-sloping design falls by the wayside… shame.

    Reply
  4. Champs Avatar
    Champs

    I don’t think Trek would shoot themselves in the foot or embarrass themselves by charging more for a heavier, more expensive counterpart. They can always build the 5000 overseas with heavier materials, a more conservative design, or ballast added after construction. Or maybe OCLV really is better — I don’t know, but it works for me.

    With all these changes over to sloping, will Trek carry on with their bizarre sizing, or can the industry shift all at once to top tube (effective, C-C) across the board?

    Reply
  5. Graham Avatar
    Graham

    I heard Trek is going to stop making their high-end carbon bikes in Wisco and move them to the Giant factory in Asia……this thing sure looks like a Giant!

    Reply
  6. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Graham –

    OCLV is a US manufactured bike. If any bikes are going to be made overseas in Asia – they will be manufactured like most every other frame out there – monocoque style.

    Not only is Trek making these new bikes here in their Waterloo, Wisconsin factory, they are also making many other new OCLV projects. Including some for the Gary Fisher brand.

    You might like to think this design is similar to Giant – but in reality it’s not. You won’t have to cut the frame like you have to on the GIANT! or even LOOK for that matter. The Trek will have adjustment up & down just like you are used to now.

    How many sizes does the Giant come in? Oh thats right … 3?

    Trek will continue with 6 or more sizes for 2008.

    We are all literally a week away from the introduction.

    How come Giant doesn’t warranty their frames if they are raced? Isn’t that the whole purpose of buying such an expensive bike like the one you speak of?

    Reply
  7. James Avatar
    James

    Actually, Giant offers there compact frames in 6 sizes, not three.

    See here:
    http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-GB/technology/compactroad/

    Reply
  8. James Avatar
    James

    Oops, I meant to say “their” not there

    Reply
  9. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Your right James – at one time they only made three. S, M, L The interesting part is they make bikes that only come in 5 sizes. The larger point there was that this new frame will be available I believe in 7 sizes. 50,52,54,56,58,60,62

    Reply
  10. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Keep your eye out on Sat. at the Trek 100 for Lance and his new bike!

    Reply
  11. thom y Avatar
    thom y

    Here it is:

    http://neilroad.blogspot.com/

    As announced by LA

    Reply
  12. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    So it turns out … 8 sizes! Made in Waterloo, WI … AND a lifetime warranty. I know what my next bike is going to be.

    Reply

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