trek madone project one blue

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RBA Test: Trek Project One Madone

The 2012 season was a big one for Trek when they unveiled a completely redesigned Madone mere months after debuting the race-winning Domane with its impressively effective IsoSpeed decoupler rear-suspension design. Earlier this year Trek called and spoke of an updated Madone in the works and asked if we’d be interested in ordering a new Madone 7 test bike through their unique Project One custom- build program. ‘A new Madone already?’ we asked ourselves. Well, not exactly.

THE FRAME When Trek went away from the standard seatstay-mounted rear brake on the Madone in favor of the direct-mount design on the chainstays, it helped them achieve their goal of increasing the bike’s aerodynamics, but they never could provide the braking power in the rear that we’ve become accustomed to. A new rear-end layup meant to improve rear braking power is the bike’s most notable change. And although visually it’s nearly identical to the previous design, the keenest of eyes will notice a size increase to the driveside chainstay. All other tube shapings stay the same, including the Kamm Tail Virtual Foil downtube, seat tube and fork blades, which allow Trek to achieve superior aerodynamics over a round or square tube without an added weight penalty. In terms of frame weight, the new Madone drops 25 grams, putting it with the industry super-lights at a claimed 725 grams (56cm with U5 Vapor Coat paint).

While the Madone joins an elite group in terms of weight, it stands alone among major brands in the fact that its OCLV carbon frame is made in the U.S. at Trek’s Waterloo, Wisconsin, facility. Something as distinguishing as this should get some attention, but for whatever reason, it gets very little. A small ‘Made in the USA’ sticker on the seat mast is all that acknowledges its origin, while ‘Designed in Waterloo, Wisconsin’ stickers on the seatstays occupy much more premium real estate. In addition to the various Project One paint options, two head tube lengths are available on the Madone: the H1 and a longer H2 version. We opted for the shorter H1 (3cm shorter on a 56cm frame), which allowed us to get into our ideal position with 1.5cm of spacers under the stem.

THE PARTS ‘Go wild’ was what we remember hearing Trek say when it came time to building our Madone test bike through Project One. Without a doubt, the P1 build program is the most complete custom-build program available in the industry today. And to maximize the opportunity, we invited RBA readers to play a role in our ‘Build Your Dream Bike’ contest. We had nearly 500 entries, with no two bikes exactly the same, thanks to Project One’s thousands of color combinations available for the frame, as well as a selection of SRAM, Campagnolo and Shimano groups, and all the Bontrager wheels, handlebars, stems and saddles to choose from. There were also options of SRM and Quarq power meters, ceramic bottom bracket bearings, in addition to color choices for handlebar tape, hood covers and cable housing.

For the build, we went with the latest Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9070 drivetrain, along with their little-seen dual-post brakes, Bontrager Aeolus 3 carbon clinchers, XXX Lite handlebar and stem, along with a Paradigm XXX saddle. The whole package weighed in at just 14.2 pounds (56cm). Pricing for a stock Madone 7 Series starts at $7199, or $4399 as a frameset, but our Project One build was a ‘wild’ $12,463.

THE RIDE Let’s face it, the most notable feature of the new Madone is the fix to the chainstays to bring back needed stiffness and braking power. And that’s a good thing, because the 2012 version we rode suffered in both departments-although the poor braking could also be blamed on the janky in-house Bontrager brakes. Happily, our bike’s Dura-Ace post-mount brakes helped deliver a noticeable improvement in rear braking power compared to last year’s Madone. Although overall power is still slightly less than a standard seatstay- mounted Dura-Ace 9000 caliper setup, what the Madone and its brake design give up in sheer maximum power, they make up for with superior modulation, allowing us to better use what it does have.

On the road, the Madone is a pleasure to ride in any situation. It’s clear that although designed as a race bike, Trek believes that compliance is of equal importance in the bike’s DNA as the stiffness-to-weight ratio. Even with the 1 1/8-inch to 1 1/2- inch tapered head tube, the Madone has the smoothest ride of any non-endurance style road bike on the market. This isn’t necessarily something new to the Madone and is in fact aided by the Ride Tuned seat mast that gives it an extra level of compliance compared to a standard seatpost. Unlike other integrated seatpost designs that give minimal saddle-height adjustment, the Madone offers 6cm of adjustment. Combining the smooth ride with a longish 99.3cm wheelbase and impressive torsional rigidity from the head tube all the way to the rear dropouts, it handles high-speed corners with a graceful ease. This was a much-appreciated trait when barreling down serpentine descents through the Alps during the L’Etape du Tour.

THE VERDICT When you drop this kind of money on a bike with this kind of price, making any sort of concessions on performance is a deal-breaker. Fortunately, the Madone’s updates are spot-on. The improved rear braking and overall torsional stiffness let you take advantage of the rest of the bike’s skill set-a superb ride quality with exceptional handling. Although the Madone’s brakeless seatstays give it a unique look as is, Trek’s Project One paint and component options are something few others in the industry can come close to providing. The U.S.- made 6 Series Madone also receives the same frame updates and starts at $4599 for the complete or $3599 as a frameset.

PUNCH LINES ? Real individuality courtesy of Project One ? American-made-why not celebrate it? ? Top-of-the-line Madone could bankrupt a small country STATS Price: $12,463 (as tested) Weight: 14.2 pounds Sizes: 50, 52, 54, 56 (tested), 58, 60, 62cm For more info: Trek Bikes Road Bike Action

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I've had a soft spot for Trek's Madones for a while because the ones I've ridden in the past have been soooo responsive. They're light and punchy, sharp-handling and lots of other things that you want from a performance-driven road bike. The good news is that this new design is the best ever. It's an absolute delight to ride.

What we have here is a bike built around the 2013 Madone 6 Series frame. You'll find the new features described below on the cheaper 5 Series (complete bikes starting at £2,100) and the newly introduced and more expensive 7 Series.

The difference is in the carbon. The 6 Series bikes use 600 Series OCLV (optimum compaction low void, if you're interested) carbon which has a higher stiffness-to-weight ratio than you get with the 5 Series but a lower stiffness-to-weight ratio than the 7 Series.

All three of these Series (but not the lower end Madones) get a completely new frame design for 2013...

New KVF tubing

The biggest new feature is the KVF aero tubing. KVF? It stands for Kammtail Virtual Foil and it was first introduced on Trek's Speed Concep t time trial bike.

Essentially, the KVF tube profile is an airfoil shape with the tail chopped off square. Trek reckon that the design makes the air behave as if the tail was actually there in order to reduce drag. The advantages of cutting the tail off are that it uses less material and so reduces weight; it works well in crosswinds; and it allows Trek to stay within the UCI's equipment rules.

You can see the KVF shape most clearly on the down tube – the sides curve around and then the rear edge is cut off flat. Trek use the same shaping on the head tube, seat tube, the seat stays and the upper portion of the fork blades. Extensively, then.

How much difference does it make? You have to have a statistic these days and Trek say the KVF shaping reduces frame (not including fork) drag by 60g over the previous generation Madone. Without taking the bike to a wind tunnel, we couldn't tell you how accurate that is. We're reporting it rather than confirming it.

Brake design

Integration has become ever more important in bike design recently with manufacturers seeking to reduce drag by making everything blend together for more aerodynamic efficiency.

Trek have been busy creating their own new front brake that fits neatly to the fork. Well, their in-house Bontrager brand have. One arm of the Bontrager Speed Limit brake is attached via a central bolt, the other fixes direct to the fork leg. This saves a little weight and allows the two arms to sit flush against the fork crown. Trek reckon that the combined effect of the KVF fork shaping and the integrated front brake reduces drag by another 76g.

Trek put the rear brake just behind the bottom bracket – a position that has been used on many bikes down the years including a whole bunch of today's time trial machines.

Slinging the brake down here allows Trek to keep it hidden from the wind for improved aerodynamics. It also means there's no longer any need for a brake bridge between the seatstays, cleaning up the airflow in that area. Plus, because they don't have to deal with the braking forces, those seatstays can be made with less material to reduce weight.

It works well. You'd be hard pressed to tell any difference between the braking power you get with Trek's new design and a standard set-up. I wouldn't say there's much in it either way. You can adjust the pad position of the rear brake on the fly just as easily as if it was mounted in the standard position because Trek fit a barrel adjuster at the point where the cable enters the head tube.

I did wonder whether the positioning of the rear brake would mean it would get bunged up with gunk from the UK's perma-damp roads, but that hasn't been an issue. It is a little more awkward than usual to clean but it's really not much of a problem.

Other features

The new Madone naturally comes with internal cabling, the rear mech cable emerging right at the end of the chainstay, and it's fully compatible with Di2 electronic shifting.

Trek continue their integration theme with a DuoTrap digital sensor recessed into the chainstay. You'll probably already know that this can take speed and cadence measurements and send them wirelessly (ANT+ compatible) to a computer on your bars.

Trek also integrate their 3S chain keeper directly onto the frame. It's a tiny plastic stop that bolts to a threaded hole just above the bottom bracket. There's no great level of technology going on here but it's really unobtrusive and it works to prevent the chain coming off the inner chainring and damaging any of that lovely carbon.

Okay, so that explains a few of the 2013 Trek Madone's key design features, but how does it ride? That, after all, is what matters.

Well, put simply, this bike rides beautifully. For a start, the lightness and punchiness of previous generation Madones is still there. Our complete bike weighs in at 6.78kg (14.9lb). That's with a mechanical Dura-Ace 7900 groupset and Bontrager's Aeolus 5 clinchers (we're going to do a separate review of those, so standby for that).

You can choose your own spec through Trek's Project One custom programme. Our one would cost you £6,725 – those wheels really jack the price up – although you can have a 6 Series Madone from £3,400 if you adjust the spec.

The Madone really flies forward the second you increase the power. It reacts so quickly. And when you get busy on the climbs, it's perfectly happy to pitch in and do its part.

I'm pretty big by cycling standards (75-77kg) and, despite its light weight, the Madone stood up to all the power I could sling its way. Trek's E2 head tube houses a standard 1 1/8in upper bearing with a big 1 1/2in bearing at the bottom, and it's a chunky piece of work. It holds the front end super-stable and, along with those KVF fork blades, it makes for precise handling through long, sweeping turns and quick, zigzagging ones.

The bottom bracket is Trek's BB90 standard with widely spaced bearings and there's very little flex there either. As far as I can tell, Trek have managed to keep all of the Madone's frame stiffness with this latest incarnation. Despite the big changes, it's every bit as solid as before.

The other big feature is vertical compliance. Now, I don't really like to go on about vertical compliance too much because it's the biggest cliché in cycling. On Road.cc, we tend to take the Mick when manufacturers mention it because they'll wheel out the phrase even if their bike rides like a boneshaker. But that's not to say that vertical compliance isn't a valuable property for a bike to have; it certainly is if you want a comfortable ride.

The reason I bring it up is because the new Madone does have plenty of, you know... VC. Sorry, it just does, especially compared to other aero road bikes I've ridden. That back end in particular just seems to soak up rough roads, unexpected dips and so on.

It helps that I have such a massive (some might say 'ridiculous') amount of seatpost to take the sting out of things. Well, not seatpost exactly... the Madone uses what Trek call 'a no-cut Ride Tuned seat mast'. In other words, you get an extended seat tube with a long mast topper on the outside that gives you 10cm of adjustment. As the name suggests, you don't need to cut the seat tube to length like you do with some systems.

I can't say I'm a huge fan of the Bontrager Inform Affinity RXL saddle. Buy it separately and it's a £100 perch with carbon rails and a carbon-fibre reinforced shell. It's just that I found it to sag in the middle and that's really not comfortable for me. But, when it comes to saddles, one man's meat is another man's poison. Probably not the best choice of words there. Ahem!

As for the ride position, our 6 Series frame is built to Trek's H1 fit which is designed to be low and aero. Trek have increased the reach of the existing H1 geometry a touch for a slightly more stretched ride position.

I'm happy with that setup and find it perfectly comfortable but you might not, in which case, you're in luck... The 6 Series is available in an H2 fit too. The biggest difference is in the length of the head tube. With the H1 fit it's 16cm on a 58cm frame; with the H2 fit it's 19cm. That means your ride position is a little more upright to take the strain off your back and neck, without the need to use a stack of flexing spacers. The H2 setup is still performance-orientated, but it's a bit more relaxed.

I won't bother telling you about the Shimano Dura-Ace groupset because it's not standard – although, as I said, you can spec it if you go through the Project One system. You can also choose your own colour and have your name on the top tube if that's your thing.

I won't tell you about the Aeolus 3 wheels either because we're going to cover them in a separate review. They're brilliant though.

So, that just leaves me to round things up and I'll do that by saying the new Madone is an absolute triumph. It really is. It's light, it's very, very fast and it's way more comfortable than you've a right to expect of a high-performance bike (albeit that I didn't get on too well with the saddle).

I'd love to be more critical and give you a few negatives as well but I'm not going to do that just for the sake of it. This is one of the very best road bikes out there. If the 7 Series is even better, well, we'll happily ride one of those for a bit too. In the meantime, I suppose we'd better box this one up and send it back.

Lightweight, very fast and comfortable - a super-high performance bike that won't disappoint, if you have the cash.

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Trek Madone 6 Series 2013 (custom build)

Size tested: Project One build

About the bike

State the frame and fork material and method of construction. List the components used to build up the bike.

The frame is made from 600 Series OCLV carbon

The fork is full carbon too, including the dropouts

Our bike came with this spec:

Groupset Shimano Dura-Ace 7900

Brakes Bontrager Speed Limit integrated brakes with Shimano Dura-Ace levers

Wheels Bontrager Aeolus D3 3

Handlebar Bontrager Race XXX Lite VR-C

Stem Bontrager Race X Lite

Saddle Bontrager Affinity RXL Carbon

Tell us what the bike is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about the bike?

It's a race/performance bike. The pros teams might be on 7 Series Madones but, really, the 6 Series of bikes are professional level.

In the build we have, it's 6.78kg without pedals (size 58cm). Add the pedals and it's just above the UCI's 6.8kg minimum weight limit for racing.

Trek say, "Madone 6 Series is race-bike royalty, with its legacy of 9 Tour de France wins. Still the same incredible ride feel and hand-built quality, now with an all-new super-aero shape.

"6 Series has charged the steepest climbs, staged the biggest comebacks, carried the greatest legends. It will take you past your limits, beyond your expectations."

Frame and fork

Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork?

Spot on. You can chose your own colour from a vast selection.

Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork?

The frame is Trek's 600 Series OCLV carbon. For all the details, including how it compares to their other grades of carbon, go to Trek .

Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?

You get to choose between Trek's H1 and H2 geometries.

Essentially, H1 is low and aero. H2 is a little more relaxed. The main difference is in the height of the head tube. It's a bit longer with the H2 so you get a more upright ride position - although it's still a performance-orientated set-up.

How was the bike in terms of height and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size?

See above on that. You can go for low and stretched or a bit more relaxed.

Riding the bike

Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.

Very comfortable, yes, especially for a performance-orientated machine.

Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?

Yep, it's as rigid around the front end and bottom bracket as previous generation Madones, as far as I can tell.

How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?

Yeah. Trek have built plenty of Tour-winning bikes in the past and this one is the equal of those in terms of efficiency.

Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so, was it a problem?

A touch on the 58cm frame we have. Not a problem, though.

How would you describe the steering? Was it lively, neutral or unresponsive? The lively side of neutral.

Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?

It feels super-smooth compared to a lot of other high-performance bikes and the steering is pin sharp.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's comfort? would you recommend any changes?

I actually didn't especially like the saddle. I felt the comfort was despite the saddle rather than because of the saddle. It's always a matter of individual taste. There's plenty of give in the frame and seatmast to keep things feeling smooth.

The drivetrain

Not especially good value compared to Ultegra or 105 but very good value compared to top-end groupsets from the other leading brands

Wheels and tyres

You can get lighter wheels; these major on aerodynamics.

Your summary

Did you enjoy riding the bike? Yes.

Would you consider buying the bike? Yes.

Would you recommend the bike to a friend? Without doubt.

Overall rating: 9 /10

About the tester

Age: 41   Height: 190cm   Weight: 75kg

I usually ride:    My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Over 20 years   I ride: Most days   I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding,

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Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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It's possibly a small detail, but one of things I love about the Trek kit is the DuoTrap compartment. Attention to detail like that matters to me and hints that other things have also had a little more care taken over them. Personally I'd go for a Domane as the roads around where I live are far from ideal...but this is stunning.

I think the translation to grams is effectively a comparative that makes it easier for cyclists to understand. Rather than talk about how it reduces the drag coefficient, they talk in grams because people can understand how this is equivalent to, say buying a lighter group set, or saddle, for instance. So if I am thinking of buying a bike, and like one that weight 6.80Kg, and the other weighs 7.0Kg, but is fandangled in such a way that it reduces drag by 200g, there's no real difference.....I think that is the logic.

But if I was an engineer I would probably dislike the terminology, but I guess most people without an engineering background would struggle to understand how a drag coefficient would affect their ride, especially when so often there are so many factors that add to or detract from riding performance - aerodynamics and weight being just two.

im going to say something i have never said before.. these new treks actually look really impressive.

russyparkin wrote: im going to say something i have never said before.. these new treks actually look really impressive.

Have to agree. Never liked Trek much, always seemed a bit sterile and a bit ugly. Nothing offensive, just very anonymous. This model really does look the part.

In science and engineering drag would typically be measured in Newtons, ie. units of force.

I'm not sure why the cycling community measure it in grams, as of course grams (kilograms SI) is a measurement of mass. Weight on the other hand, is a force due to mass sitting in a gravitational field. Measuring drag in grams, is, in my view (as an engineer) just wrong.

Why is drag measured in weight (grams) as opposed to er...erm, well whatever you measure drag with?

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Trek Madone SLR 7

It's no secret that we're big fans of Trek's Project One programme. The ability to mix and match components and choose stunning custom paint finishes, whilst still benefitting from Trek's global economies of scale, meshes perfectly with our own obsession with perfectly fitted, individually tailored bikes.

The Madone SLR sits at the top of the aero road range, using Trek's stiffest, lightest carbon. But Trek are keen to demonstrate that "aero road" doesn't have to mean tooth-rattling discomfort - adjustable top-tube IsoSpeed damping makes for an amazingly plush ride, that belies the deep aero tube profiles.

This subtle "Full Fade" build goes from deep dark blue to pure black, all with a smooth matte finish. Ultegra Di2 provides impeccable shifting with a minimum of effort, allowing you to concentrate on maintaining that speed. That smoothly integrated cockpit is extremely aero, but also remarkably adjustable, and we've opted here for a Bontrager saddle carefully selected to ensure the perfect fit.

Every detail counts, in design and in build, and there's no better example than the Duotrap S sensor neatly integrated into the chainstay, providing ANT+ and Bluetooth connectivity for speed and cadence. Most of the electronics are cleverly tucked into the frame, keeping things aero and efficient.

photos by Bence Bujaki

Key Features

• Trek Madone SLR 7 frameset
• Full Fade Pacific / Deep Dark Blue - Trek Black custom paint
• Bontrager Aeolus Pro 5 TLR carbon wheelset
• Shimano Ultegra Di2 8050 Series groupset
• Bontrager Arvada Elite saddle
• Trek Madone SLR seatpost
• Trek Madone SLR VR-CF bars
• Bontrager R3 Hard-Case Lite tyres (700x25)
• Bontrager DuoTrap S sensor

Recent Builds

Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8

Moots Vamoots CRD

Trek launches new, lighter Madone

2021 Madone gets OCLV 800 carbon, a 450-gram saving and a T47 bottom bracket

Trek has today launched the latest new addition to its range, announcing a significant update to its Madone range, the company's best aero road bike .

For the 2021 model, Trek has given it a diet to the tune of 450 grams. It has also been given Trek's seemingly-now-go-to T47 bottom bracket standard, along with an update in colour palettes and additional Project One themes. 

Along with the launch of the new Trek Emonda last month, Trek unveiled OCLV 800, a new carbon fibre technology that had been over two years in the making. At launch, Trek claimed OCLV 800 to be 30 per cent stronger than OCLV 700.

Best road bikes Best carbon road bikes Best road bike wheels

Thanks to this increase in strength, Trek has been able to use less overall material to achieve the same shape, stiffness and durability. The result for the Emonda was an approximate 60-gram saving. For the Madone, this means a weight saving of 80 grams for the frame alone.

Coupled with the opportunity to spec the new Madone with Bontrager's new Aeolus RSL 37 wheelset and Aeolus RSL bar/stem – both of which also came alongside the Emonda launch – and a lighter weight paint scheme, Trek claims the weight savings add up to 450 grams. 

Trek is clear to point out this is an update, applying its latest technologies to the brand's aero platform, rather than an altogether new Madone. Therefore, the frame shares the exact same silhouette as the current model. This means that, from a frameset point of view at least, the 2021 Madone is aerodynamically equal. 

The other update comes at the bottom bracket. T47 isn't a new concept by any means. Originally conceived back in 2015, the technology made its way into the Trek lineup in 2019 when it was used on the Crockett. However, instead of adopting the standard as-is, Trek applied a minor change that sees the shell width increased by 1mm to allow Trek's factory tools a better purchase on the splined edges. 

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T47 has gained plaudits for its wide-ranging compatibility, ease of serviceability and the generally creak-free nature of a threaded system, so the move will be widely praised among Trek fans. With the Domane launched in July of 2019, the Emonda more recently, and now the Madone, today's announcement sees all of the top Trek road bikes now committed to T47 threaded bottom brackets. 

The 2021 Trek Madone SLR lineup

The new OCLV 800 model will, of course, be limited to Trek's range-topping Madone SLR, available in the following models:

• Madone SLR 6 Disc : £6,250.00
• Madone SLR 7 Disc : £7,500.00
• Madone SLR 7 Disc eTap : £8,200.00
• Madone SLR 9 Disc : £11,350.00
• Madone SLR 9 Disc eTap : £11,950.00
• Madone SLR Disc Frameset : £4,210.00

<a href="https://classic.avantlink.com/click.php?tt=cl&mi=15585&pw=27131&ctc=hawk-custom-tracking&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.trekbikes.com%2F" data-link-merchant="trekbikes.com"" target="_blank"> Find out more at TrekBikes.com

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As the Tech Editor here at Cyclingnews, Josh leads on content relating to all-things tech, including bikes, kit and components in order to cover product launches and curate our world-class buying guides, reviews and deals. Alongside this, his love for WorldTour racing and eagle eyes mean he's often breaking tech stories from the pro peloton too. 

On the bike, 32-year-old Josh has been riding and racing since his early teens. He started out racing cross country when 26-inch wheels and triple chainsets were still mainstream, but he found favour in road racing in his early 20s and has never looked back. He's always training for the next big event and is keen to get his hands on the newest tech to help. He enjoys a good long ride on road or gravel, but he's most alive when he's elbow-to-elbow in a local criterium. 

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Trek MADONE SLR Project 1 / Rim Brake Frameset / H1.5 Geometry / Blue/Blue /52cm

Madone SLR frameset is ready to make your racing dreams come true. This light, aero frame is built from 700-series OCLV carbon, and features IsoSpeed technology for added comfort.  Let your imagination run wild with the custom build of your dreams.

It's right for you if...

You want lightweight, aerodynamics, and exceptional ride quality in a single road bike frameset. Madone SLR frameset is the perfect platform for a custom build that can deliver your fastest rides ever.

The tech you get

A lightweight 700 Series OCLV Carbon frame with Kammtail Virtual Foil aerodynamic tube shaping and road-smoothing Adjustable Top Tube IsoSpeed. Plus a KVF full carbon fork, BB90 bottom bracket, Madone integrated headset, and aerodynamic brakeset.

The final word

Your ultimate race bike starts with the ultimate race bike frame. Madone SLR frameset delivers aerodynamics and superior ride quality in a single light weight frame, and this performance advantage is something you sense from the very first ride.

Madone Project One ICON paint schemes make the ultimate race bike a true piece of artwork.

Frame : 700 Series OCLV Carbon, KVF (Kammtail Virtual Foil) tube shape, adjustable top tube IsoSpeed, invisible cable routing, control center, micro-adjust seat mast, precision water bottle placement, 3S aero chain keeper, direct mount rim brake, DuoTrap S compatible, 130x5mm QR

Fork : Madone KVF full carbon, tapered carbon steerer, invisible cable routing, carbon dropouts, 5x100mm QR

Weight : 56 - 2.44 kg / 5.38 lbs

Bike and frame weights are based off pre-production painted frames at time of publication. Weights may vary in final production.

Riding Style : Group Ride, Racing, Party

Frame Fit : H1.5 Race

Rider : Unisex

Wheelsize : 700c

Brake Type : Rim ONLY Direct Mount

Bottom Bracket : BB90 PressFit NOT included

Widest Tire : 28c 

Max chainring size 1x: 50T, 2x: 54/40

Misc : Mechanical front derailleurs must have a full-housing stop (example: Shimano toggle front derailleurs)

Country of origin : Taiwan

This bike has a maximum total weight limit (combined weight of bicycle, rider, and cargo) of 275 pounds (125 kg).

Warranty : Lifetime frame

This frame is a genuine Trek Frame that carries a full factory warranty if assembled at a Trek dealer. Retain the build invoice and proof of purchase to present as necessary at time of claim

This frameset is exactly as pictured and does not include any additional parts needed to complete a bike build. This DOES NOT include any of the small parts, headset, etc. 

compliance to your preference, and it's damped with an elastomer so it rebounds in a smooth, controlled, stable motion

Let's be honest: this bike looks awesome, like it's breaking speed records even when it's parked at the café for a post-ride espresso

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Your customised ride is four steps away

Choose your model

Choose one of our most-loved models to customise

Choose your paint

Choose from thousands of colours and design schemes

Choose your parts

Spec every component or choose a curated build

Begin the countdown

As fast as four weeks, your customised bike will be delivered to your local retailer and be ready to ride

Be your own artist, or use one of ours

When it comes to customising, there are no wrong choices. Start by picking from a seemingly endless palette of colours, and subtle or bold logo designs to create a bike that perfectly matches your style. Let your creativity soar.

Too many options can be overwhelming – we’ve simplified it for you with curated designs you’re sure to fall in love with. Pick an ultra-premium paint scheme, then cherry-pick your favourite components. Our master painters and mechanics will bring your dream to life right here at our headquarters in Waterloo, Wisconsin, USA.

Choose your customised road bike

Ride fast, ride far or ride light with a Project One road bike. No matter how hard you pedal, it’s sure to look fast.

Madone is speed incarnate – it combines everything we know about going fast into one swift superbike.

• Find out about Madone

Domane’s road-smoothing tech helps you ride with more speed and comfort on every ride.

• Find out about Domane

Domane+ SLR

The Domane+ is our lightest, quietest e-road bike with a subtle boost for all-day adventures and the fastest group rides.

• Find out about Domane+

The Émonda is super light, incredibly balanced and just aero enough to make it our fastest-ever climbing bike.

• Find out about Émonda

Checkpoint SLR

The Checkpoint is made for gravel aficionados who mainly ride off-road and want loads of capability.

• Find out about Checkpoint

Speed Concept

The Speed Concept is the most aero bike we've ever made – and it's your best choice for your fastest triathlon bike splits and time trials.

• Find out about Speed Concept

The benchmark of bike beauty

“The Trek team offers exceptionally crafted, exclusive customised paint jobs on their bikes that are unlike any other in the bike industry... Trek pulls out all the stops to make the customised bike experience a reality for their loyal fans.” – Design & Innovation Award, 2022

See more from Project One

Designer Series

Icon series, ultimate series.

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What is Trek Project One?

If you’ve never heard of Project One from Trek, you might think it’s secret code for a new product that the bike manufacturer wants to keep under wraps. Something like a Trek electric car or maybe even a battery-powered bike. Sorry to burst your bubble, but Project One isn’t any of those things. And it’s much more than just choosing a unique color scheme for your Trek mountain or road bike.

Project One allows you to fully customize your bike from the frame to the drivetrain and everything in between. And yes, color is still a big part of it, but not just in the obvious places. Imagine selecting different colors not only for the frame and the wheels, but also for the saddle, cable housing and even the stem on your handlebar.

What Does Jans Have to Do with Project One?

Since Jans is a Project One dealer, I asked Karl ‘Jake’ Jacobson, the Manager of our Park Avenue store, to tell me a little about the program. “Project One from Trek started out with road bikes and now they’re doing upper-end mountain bikes,” says Jake. “It’s a cool way to customize your own color choices, components, and wheel sets. The concept is being sold through Jans in partnership with Trek.”

What that means to customers is that not only does our Park Avenue store have Project One paint swatches for you to see up close and personal, but our sales staff is also trained on the program itself and can tell you how to get started. They can also share expert advice on componentry and drivetrain options. Most importantly, Jans has some of the Project One models available in our rental and demo programs, so that potential customers can take them for a test ride to help determine which bike they want to order. For the remainder of 2014, Jans will offer the Domane 4.7 with Ultegra components as a road bike demo and the Trek Fuel EX 8 as a mountain bike rental. In 2015, the Trek Émonda will also be available to ride.

What Kind of Trek Bike Can I Order?

Since Trek has made Project One available on more affordable models of road and mountain bikes, the component, wheel and color combinations are virtually endless. So the first step in the process could potentially be the hardest – choosing the model of bike that’s right for you.

While demoing a bike will give you a feel for the bike itself, what really determines the best model for you is how often you ride. “Regardless of whether you’re buying a mountain or road bike, the more time you spend in the saddle, the lighter you want the bike,” advises Jake. “Someone who rides 4-5 hours a week will want the lightest, strongest, best components. In the case of someone who rides 2 weeks out of the summer, the components, and possibly the weight of the bike, aren’t as critical.” For mountain bikes, the Trek Project One models include the Superfly or Fuel EX while roadies can select a Madone, Domane, Émonda, Silque or Speed Concept. Women’s specific design (WSD) models are also available. For a full list of models visit the Project One website .

How Does Trek Project One Work?

After you’ve chosen the bike that you want to customize, the next step is to go to the Project One website and start designing. You can personalize paint colors, drivetrain, components and accessories.

The first step is selecting your frame paint colors, and these aren’t just the standard black and white. Choose from a custom color inspired by Tour de France rider Fabian Cancellara, or my personal favorite, the Real Fire Signature Series which features blue, green or red flames. Customers who select any Signature Series paint job, not just the flame theme, get the added bonus of designing a personalized signature decal that will be displayed on the top tube of the bike.

The next step is selecting your drivetrain. Choose from road bike gruppos such as Shimano 105, Dura Ace or Ultegra and mountain bike options including Sram XX1 and X01 or Shimano XT and XTR. Just make sure that your gruppo is consistent with the value of your bike and your riding style. “For someone purchasing a $2,000 Project One road bike, it doesn’t make sense to add Dura Ace to the bike,” cautions Jake. “That would be like putting a race binding on a beginner ski.” If you’re uncertain about the benefits of various drivetrain options, just come into Jans. Our bike experts will be happy to educate you.

Before moving on from the drivetrain decision, all customers get the added bonus of selecting a custom cable housing color. Mountain bike customers then determine their suspension preferences while roadies move on to the next big decision point – individual componentry.

Here the options are vast. Think wheelset, tires, stem, headset, handlebar style, bar tape, seat mast cap and saddle. For customers overwhelmed by the myriad of choices, Trek offers pre-configured component combinations to take the guesswork out of the process. Alternatively, riders who want to geek out on componentry can have a blast with endless possibilities that will give them the bike of their dreams.

Why Order a Project One Bike?

First off, it gives you a chance to make your riding buddies jealous with a bike that is completely customized to your riding style. And, quite frankly, the building process itself is a blast. Just ask the Jans’ bike shop mechanics that picked out unisex and women’s Project One bikes that we sold in our store this season.

“Project One is just so personalized,” says Jake. “One customer can select the top-end 7 series Madone, another can choose a 6 series that is still a pretty damn good bike for the money and someone else can choose a 5 series which is still responsive and lightweight without getting to race weight. Customers can switch it up and put anything on the bike component-wise. It’s endless what you can do with Project One.”

How Long Until I Get My Bike?

Now for the good news/bad news. As expected, most people order their Project One bikes in the summer, during biking season. According to Jake, “orders placed during the heat of the summer take about 2 months. But in the winter, you can have your bike in about 2-3 weeks.”

Our advice? Start demoing bikes now and talk with our experts about all of the different drivetrain and component options to determine exactly what type of bike you want to build. Then during mud season, or in the dead of winter, go online to trek.com, click on Custom Project One and have fun designing your personalized bike.

Once your bike has been handmade by the experts at Trek, it will be shipped to Jans (or your closest Trek dealer) where our Expert mechanics will assemble it; making sure your Project One bike works exactly as it should. Then all that’s left for you to do is take it for out for your first ride.

Liz Yokubison, Senior Editor

Related Links: Trek Project One website Jans Park Avenue store

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