Yesterday Trek unveiled the new iteration of the Domane, a bike that’s built for all-day comfort on all kinds of terrain. The day before the launch, RIDE Media was lucky enough to unbox a Domane SLR 7… and so begins the first road bike review in two years.

 

– Blog and video by Rob Arnold

 

 

It’s early days of what is going to be a long-term review. The new Trek Domane SLR 7 has been unveiled and there’s a lot to consider about a bike that boasts the IsoSpeed technology that is said to “smooths bumps in the road so you can ride stronger for longer”.

I’ll soon be able to tell you a lot more but for now there’s only been the workshop session (at Park Bikes at Sydney’s Olympic Park on Thursday) and one ride in the rain on Friday morning.

First impressions? Very smooth, thanks very much.

As you likely know, the Domane is one of three bikes in Trek’s road bike range, sitting alongside the (recently re-launched) Madone and the lightweight ‘climbing bike’ the Émonda. One is aero (and fast, and comfortable), another is light (and aero and fast), and the latest update is comfortable (and aero, fast… and lighter than before).

All that make sense?

What makes the Domane different is that it has been designed to manage all kinds of terrain and riding requirements. It could be viewed as a ‘transitional’ bike of sorts: the one you have for road riding but a bike you can also take off-road… if that’s where your mood leads you.

The new Domane features easy-to-use storage, with a removable section on the down tube that allows you to carry tools and spare tubes etc with a minimum of fuss. (More from the workshop session, coming soon.)

This is only the beginning of the review. Don’t expect any judgement calls quite yet. It’s too soon. The embargo for the launch only lifted a day ago and while there are bikes available in Australia now (while the new Madone is still proving difficult to find in shops), I haven’t had it long enough to make any real assessment.

The morning after pulling the Domane SLR 7 out of the box and watching it come together on the workstand, I snuck out for my first ride. It was early, the light wasn’t great, and it was overcast when I got to a favourite spot for photos.

You can see my early reaction to the bike while on my first ride by watching the first of what will be a series of YouTube videos (click the link above). There’s more to come, including the #WorkshopSession with Nash Kent of Park Bikes, and a few comments after my first ride (the second video of the series, #comingsoon).

Before I get to see if I can “ride stronger for longer”, feel free to send any questions you may have – via email and/or a comment on any of RIDE Media’s socials – and I’ll do my best to provide an answer.

For now, I can tell you that the review bike will retail in Australia for AUD$13,200, and it weighs in at 8.2kg* (fully built, complete with pedals, two bottle cages, computer mount with Wahoo Elemnt Bolt, and tools neatly tucked away in the housing inside the down tube).

It has been two years since I’ve done a long-term bike review and I’m looking forward to telling your more when I learn more about the Domane.

 

 

– By Rob Arnold

 

*Note: often bike tests reference weights that are considerably lighter than what I’ve mentioned but that’s can be when it comes off the workstand and before the sundry elements are added… but no one rides a bike without pedals, so the weight I’ve referenced relates to the Domane as it is – ie. ready to ride!