Trek Domane AL

One of the biggest movements in the road bike world over the past decade has been the introduction of the ‘Endurance’ category. With a more relaxed riding position and an emphasis on compliance, endurance road bikes are the ideal choice for any rider who is looking for more comfort and isn’t so fussed about racing. The Trek Domane is the perfect example of this new category of road bikes, combining stability, comfort and efficiency into the one lightweight package. Compared to Trek’s Emonda and Madone, the Domane features a longer wheelbase and a lower bottom bracket for high-speed stability, and a taller head tube to deliver a more upright riding position.

The other point of difference on the Domane is its patented IsoSpeed Decoupler. Utilising a pivot at the junction between the seat tube and the top tube, IsoSpeed essentially ‘decouples’ the saddle and seatpost from the rest of the frame. This allows for drastically improved compliance without sacrificing stiffness through the chainstays and bottom bracket. So although the Domane is super comfortable to ride, it doesn’t lose anything in terms of acceleration or handling. There’s a reason why pro-peleton racers like Fabian Cancellara choose to race the Domane.

The Domane platform is available in both aluminium and carbon versions with a multitude of different build kits. Standouts include the value-oriented Domane ALR that features an alloy frame and Shimano 105 shifting, and the high-tech Domane 6.9 Disc that uses electronic shifting and hydraulic brakes. Basically, the higher the number, the better the frameset and groupset are. Trek also offer the Domane in several disc brake options for those riders wanting stronger and more reliable braking in varied conditions