In the world of sports cycling, there are different kinds of road bikes. Because marginal gains matter, a bicycle can’t be the absolute lightest and also be the most aerodynamic. But Trek claims it has created “the ultimate race bike” with the all-new Madone Gen 8. And it is now available in the Philippines.

Back then, the Madone and the Émonda used to be separate models with the former being the fast aero bike and the latter being the lightweight climbing bike. However, advancements in material science and fluid dynamics have allowed the engineers at Trek to merge the two models into one.

The SLR variant uses the latest iteration of Trek’s patented carbon-fiber technology, the 900 Series OCLV Carbon. It is said to be 20% stronger with a more efficient molding process. The added strength allows less material to be used, which in turn reduces the overall weight.

The other key feature of the Madone Gen 8 is the Full System Foil design. Rather than reducing drag per part, it considers the aerodynamic profile of the system as a whole.

Crucial to achieving such efficiency are the integrated handlebar and stem, and the RSL Aero Water Bottles and Cages, which were specially designed for this bike.

The result is a superbike that is 320g lighter than the previous Madone, and 77 seconds per hour faster than the Émonda. Take note that this was measured with a rider pumping out 200W at the crank with the aero bottles attached.

The eighth-generation Trek Madone is available in two variants. The more basic SL uses the 500 Series OCLV Carbon, a traditional two-piece handlebar and stem assembly, and compatibility with mechanical drivetrains.

On the other hand, the SLR features the 900 Series OCLV Carbon and an integrated handlebar and stem, and it only works with electronic shifting. Being the higher-end variant, it comes with the RSL Aero Water Bottles and Cages, and is available for customization via Project One.

Trek is exclusively distributed locally by Dan’s Bike Shop, and the Madone Gen 8 is available either as a frameset or a built bike with the following prices:

Framesets

• Madone SLR – P290,000
• Madone SLR with handlebar, stem, and seat post – P343,380

Built bikes

• Madone SL 5 – P219,000
• Madone SL 6 – P325,000
• Madone SLR 7 – P567,500
• Madone SLR 9 (with SRAM Red AXS and Tete de la Course colorway) – P949,500
• Madone SLR 9 (with SRAM Red AXS and Chroma Interstellar colorway) – P1,008,000

For more information and updates, you can follow Trek Bicycle Philippines on Facebook.