Trek Domane winter bike
In this week's post we will be looking at how the Trek Domane AL range can be set up as the perfect winter bike for the roads around Northern Ireland.
The Trek Domane comes in a range of models from £595 to £1100;
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Trek Domane AL 3 £750 (Manager's Choice)
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Trek Domane AL WSD 5 £1100
All Trek Domane bikes come with secret mudguard mounts for ease of fitting. The mudguard mounts can then be removed for the summer time leaving the bike looking clean without any ugly mounting brackets.
The Trek Domane also has plenty of clearance in the forks and frame to allow you to fit 700x28c tyre and full length mudguards. Domane models all come fitted with ISOspeed forks. The ISOspeed fork makes the bike more comfortable over the bumps because of the carbon layup and the sweeping shape of the fork.
Duotrap S compatibility, something that used to only feature in the much higher carbon models, is now a standard feature on the entry level Trek Domane models. Once you fit a Duotrap S sensor this seamlessly allows you to connect to your Garmin device or Smartphone compatible phone.
The Trek Domane, like all Trek models, comes with the Blendr system which allows you to fit your Garmin device or lights into the stem bracket to keep the handlebars uncluttered.
The Trek Domane comes with an endurance fit frame for long winter rides and commuting miles.
Continued below is the Manager's choice winter bike review of the Trek Domane AL 3 2019.
Manager's choice winter bike review
This winter 2018/2019, I (Gavin Hanna) will be using a Trek Domane AL 3 2019 in Viper red as my winter bike. My bike is equipped with Bontrager NCS (No cut stays) full length mudguards and a Duotrap to pair up with the Garmin 510.
I got my Trek Domane AL3 at the beginning of September and since then have put a few hundred miles on it with some commuting miles and weekend spins. I was still using my summer bike until mid October (Emonda SL 6) but it is now fitted to the turbo trainer/smart trainer where it will stay for the rest of the winter. I have the summer bike set up with Zwift which I will cover in another post.
(LINK to Zwift post to follow)
Overview
I have been very impressed with the Trek Domane AL3 over the last few months. It's the perfect mix of comfort and speed with the ISOspeed forks and a slightly more relaxed H2 riding position. The solid and reliable 18 Speed Shimano Sora has not put a foot wrong! I will go into a bit more detail below.
Mudguards
The Bontrager NCS (No Cut Stays) Mudguards mean you do not need to worry about going out on wet roads! The front guard is long enough to protect the front mech from muck, leaves and salt etc. The rear guard is more than long enough to protect your club mates from rear wheel spray and the built-in rear light bracket works extremely well (even on very rough roads) and the light hasn't moved!
Tyres
The AL3 comes with Bontrager R1 Hard-Case Lite tyres which I have also been very impressed with. I haven't had any punctures so far and they seem to grip well on very mixed wet/dry road conditions. I normally ride on Continental GatorSkins tyres in the winter time but I really wanted to give the Bontragers a run. So far I am pleased with them. I will report back at the end of the winter with total miles per puncture!
Groupset
The Sora 9 Speed groupset has proven to be really good! I was impressed with its positive shifting and power transfer with the Hollow tech II bottom bracket. Hollow tech II has been on Sora for the last few years. It will be interesting to see how the chain holds up over the next few 100 miles.
The Bontrager in-house brakes have also been first class and have done everything I have need them to do. I use a pair of Shimano R540 SPD pedals on the winter bike and put simply they just work really well!
Handling/Comfort
The handling on the Domane AL frame is very responsive and confidence inspiring which is no surprise coming from Trek! I have mine set up with the stem fully up to make it a little more relaxed than my summer bike for added comfort and a better riding position for commuting through traffic. The Domane comes with 700x25c tyres as standard and I have been happy with the level of comfort from them running them at 100PSI
Verdict
Overall I am really happy with the bike for the price. It is really incredible the quality and spec you can get these days for under £800. It's also worth mentioning that the Trek comes with a lifetime warranty on the frame, 5 years on the carbon forks and 2 years on all other Bontrager parts, including the wheels!
So if you want to take a look at the Trek Domane AL3 2019, get in touch or call in store.