![\"Trek](\"https:\/\/tailwind-coaching.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/domaneteam.jpg\" "\\"Trek")
<\/a>Trek has been one company that has seemingly missed the boat on this fad, at least until now. \u00a0In the past few days, details have been released about the Domane, which is designed to “specifically addresses the challenges of rough road conditions found throughout the spring classics courses with a collection of key innovations unlike any available before today”<\/strong> according to Trek. \u00a0Developed with extensive input from Fabian Cancellara, the Domane has a slew of supposed new features that will make it a formidable chariot for Sparticus (and the local Tuesday night racers who love dirt roads, too.)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
frame design<\/h3>\n
As for geometry, you'll find a shortened top tube, taller head tube and longer wheelbase all of which translates into a more comfortable position and a more stable handling machine, which is especially beneficial on rough roads. \u00a0Trek is offering three geometry variants, H1-3, with H1 being the most aggressive and becoming more relaxed up the line.<\/p>\n The big chirping about the Domane comes from the hardware around the seat tube junction. \u00a0Most mountain bikers will recognize the design as a single pivot suspension linkage, but Trek calls it IsoSpeed. \u00a0Basically, it's a decoupling of the seat tube and top tube. \u00a0But what's the point of the pivot? \u00a0Well, the bearings and axle act as a fulcrum over which the entire seat tube can flex, independent of the top tube. \u00a0Basically, the flexing seat tube isolates the rider's weight and how his\/her weight affects the bike upon hitting bumps, cobbles, potholes, etc. \u00a0It allows the bike to flex underneath the rider without transmitting shock through their body. \u00a0It also helps to keep the wheels in contact with the ground, maintaining stability. \u00a0 This essentially makes the Domane a very comfortable race bike, according to Trek product manager Ben Coates. In fact,\u00a0Trek claims IsoSpeed gives about twice the vertical compliance of any competitor, yet increases lateral rigidity over their own Madone 6 series frame by about 5%. \u00a0More information can be found in the following video from Trek:<\/p>\n<\/a>Like the Madone (of which Domane happens to be an anagram) the Domane is constructed using Trek's OCLV carbon process. \u00a0It utilizes the Trek BB90 bottom bracket design and internal cable routing (which is almost standard fare on any high end frameset these days.) \u00a0Interestingly, Trek calls the new cable routing “race optimized” and all the cables enter the frame on the same side of the head tube. \u00a0It'll be interesting to see if this is retained with the launch of the next Madone or if it's exclusive to the Domane. \u00a0The fork is redesigned as well, presumably with better damping characteristics and a more aggressive rear sweep of the dropouts (to offset the increased head tube angle.) \u00a0Skinny seat stays and an integrated chain catcher also appear, reinforcing this bike's intention as a classics-esque machine.<\/p>\n<\/a>IsoSpeed<\/h3>\n