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Trek Madone SL 7 Gen 7 bike review: IsoFlow + burrito is a perfect match

The trek madone sl gen 7 now completes the line matching the more expensive slr and offers almost the same ride quality..

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It’s been almost exactly one year since Trek launched the Madone SLR Gen 7 with the IsoFlow seat tube cutout. Trek is finally releasing an SL version that is said to maintain many of the same bold claims but with a lower price tag. The Trek Madone SL Gen 7, in a way, completes the Madone Gen 7 lineup since, for the last year, if you wanted the latest Madone frame design, you had to shell out over $8000 for an SLR.

The differences are subtle, but the most impactful is the new Trek Madone SL Gen 7 uses Trek’s 500 series OCLV carbon. Really, that means it is a slightly heavier composite that adds weight but also increases durability. The Trek PR for the new Gen 7 SL is claiming “nearly 300 grams lighter than the bike that came before it.” However, on the weight spec sheet, they claim 1676 grams for a painted frame and fork, while the Trek website says the Gen 6 SL frameset is 2120g. That is a difference of 444 grams.

No matter which way you look at it, they have cut weight. My size 56 Madone SL 7 Gen 7 test bike hit the scale at 17.68 pounds. It is the higher spec of the two versions offered. Trek said they have decided to consolidate models for this generation and are only offering the SL with either Shimano Ultegra or 105. It is also worth noting that the frameset is electronic shifting compatible only.

The next biggest difference from the SLR is that the SL uses the Bontrager flared RSL aero handlebar along with the RCS Pro stem rather than the one-piece cockpit. This means the brake hoses are exposed as they leave the headtube and under the stem. If I am being completely honest, I prefer this two-piece option, and it makes it much easier to adjust fit. Not to mention that shipping the bike or airline travel bike bags is much easier to fit into.

What’s the deal with IsoFlow?

Trek is claiming two major things with the under-seatpost opening. First is improved airflow, and the other is comfort. While airflow is hard to validate without a wind tunnel and a lot of calculations, comfort is something we can all experience. Beyond that, Trek says that IsoFlow is tuned to balance aerodynamics, weight, and comfort across all frame sizes. For me, it seems like the best place to put a burrito for the spin back home after a solid ride.

This unique design is where I found myself in a tough position. The seatpost only offers 6.5cm of adjustment up and down. Trek offers two seatpost lengths, meaning that each size technically has a 10cm adjustment. I received the longer of the two seat posts, and it seems that the claimed lowest height for a size 56 is about 5mm higher than the geometry sheet says.

With limited time between receiving the bike and its launch date, I let a few of my trusted riding mates have a go on it since they are a bit taller than me. I did have a few rides on it using my offroad pedals and shoes since they have a taller stack. The saddle was still a bit higher than I prefer, but I agree with the feedback that I received from the others.

The Ride Experience

The Trek Madone SL 7 Gen 7 is, without a doubt, a performance bike with performance geometry. While that can mean a lot of different things to different people, The SL uses the same race-oriented H1.5 geometry as the SLR. For us, it is responsive but not hyper-responsive. This makes riding in groups easy while also allowing an experienced rider the ability to push the limits in corners.

Less experienced riders will still enjoy the stability and predictability of the bike, but if a mistake is made, you will know it. This sort of modern performance geometry makes race bikes much more versatile and fun for the general rider, and in my opinion, is a great balance for most riders looking for a performance feel from a road bike.

The overall feel of the bike is fast, but the Madone SL seems to do a pretty good job of muting the road feedback. Bigger road imperfections are still impactful and a bit jarring. I normally like a bike with these aspects, but for some reason, there is still a mentality in the performance road segment that if it’s comfortable and smooth, then it’s slow. The Madone seems to balance this fine line well.

Cornering is responsive yet stable at both high speeds and slower, more technical twists. At 17.68 pounds, it’s not super light, and you feel it most when you are on very twisty roads that require you to quickly transition from a hard left curve to a hard right curve. The bike feels stable, but the weight seems to labor the transition.

You also feel the weight when you are climbing, especially out of the saddle. Don’t get me wrong, it climbs well, but at almost 18 pounds with pedals and all the rest, it’s not a featherweight.

The lateral stiffness and pedaling efficiency seem very good, so a lighter set of wheels would probably transform the entire ride. The stock Bontrager Aeolus Pro 51 wheels have a claimed weight of 1600 grams. That isn’t bad for wheels this deep, but I have a feeling that is a wheelset weight that is not ready to ride and will still need rim tape. If you want to go tubeless, you will need to purchase valves separately and get tubeless-ready tires.

The Good and Bad

As we look closer into the specs of the bike, there are some key aspects that I like and don’t like. First and foremost, I like that Trek has included the required headset cover in the headtube measurement on the geometry chart. The carbon frame measures 13.4cm, but with the cover, it’s 15cm. It seems like a small detail, but I appreciate it.

The next is that just like the SLR, Trek is using a T47 threaded bottom bracket. Historically, Trek used a proprietary bottom bracket that complicated getting parts and fitment. The T47 interface is dependable, easy to work on, and has extensive compatibility. Once again, it’s not a game changer, but the small things make all the difference.

My seatpost length and fitment issues aside, the interface and adjustment of the seatpost is easy. Trek explicitly says not to use carbon grease on the post, and we haven’t had any issues. The wedge system is retained by the seatpost, so no worry of dropping it into the frame. The simple 4mm Allen tool through the slot in the frame means that even a compact saddle bag tool could be used.

Okay, now for the not-so-good. Trek is one of the largest bicycle brands, but they are missing a few key aspects when it comes to a bike performance bike at this level. $5,500 and $6,500 is a lot of money, at least in my household, for a bike. So why are the tubeless wheels that come on both of the SL models not complemented with tubeless tires? This is a performance bike, and road tubeless has been proven to be the fastest choice.

Sure, the Madone SL 6 Gen 7 comes with Bontrager Aeolus Elite 50 wheels that only have an internal width of 19.5mm, but they are tubeless-ready. The version I am testing comes with the Bontrager Aeolus Pro 51 wheels with a 23mm internal width. Why is it that Trek is pairing both models with the non-tubeless Bontrager R3 Hard-Case Lite tires in size 25c and tubes in 2023-2024? The bikes don’t even get shipped with the tubeless conversion parts.

While I like the idea of consolidating the Madone line, why is there no SRAM build? All of the SLR SRAM builds come stock with a power meter. I think that is a huge added value, and all of the Shimano bikes are missing it. Even partnering with someone like Stages or, better yet, the new 4iiii Precision 3+ power meter with integrated Apple Find My tracking for all of the Shimano bikes.

Overall, There isn’t a lot of “new” with the Trek Madone SL Gen 7, and that is fine. Since the SLR version has had a year in the wild, there have only been a few isolated issues, making it a great platform for the SL level. I love that it has a two-piece bar and stem combo, but I am disappointed that Trek isn’t supporting road tubeless out of the box.

The Madone SL and SLR are competing in a very competitive road segment. The aero-refined bikes remain a top choice for consumers of all levels, and while I can’t say this is a favorite, the simple seatpost adjustment does bump it up on my list. Plus, unlike many of its competitors, almost any 31.8 stem or cockpit will work, major bonus points.

Weight: 17.68 lb, actual weight, 56 cm size, without pedals Price: US$6,499.99 / AU$10,299.99 / £7,500.00 trekbikes.com

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• Madone SLR 7 AXS Gen 7

Trek Madone SLR 7 Gen 7 review - very fast and very expensive

The latest Madone may have a hole through the seat tube but we couldn't find any in its performance

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The Trek Madone is an absolute speed weapon. The deep-section tubes with the radical-looking cutout help, as does the newly designed handlebar, which is narrow and provides good wrist support for the ‘aero-hoods’ position. And then there are the 51mm deep Bontrager Aeolus Pro wheels. The handling is incredibly fast, responding to the smallest shift in weight and the tiniest tweaks of the bars, and ride quality is so impressive that it’s almost possible to overlook things like the narrow tires and ungenerous clearance - but you can’t ignore the price. If you have the budget and want a WorldTour-level race machine with exceptional handling and ride feel, this is the bike.

Super smooth ride

Light for an aero bike

Striking aesthetics

Limited adjustability

No power meter

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• Construction

Value and conclusion

For this latest Gen 7 version of the Madone, Trek’s aero bike, the US brand removed the IsoSpeed Decoupler of the previous Gen 6 model and left, in its place, a big hole.

OK, it’s not the crude, reductionist approach it sounds like.

The old bike’s micro-adjustable suspension system at the top tube/seat tube juncture added weight and was mostly redundant since Trek discovered most riders would ‘set and forget’.

And by radically reengineering the frame Trek claims to have saved 300g, and says the new bike is almost 20 watts faster than its predecessor, which equates to 60 seconds per hour when ridden at 45kph. It looks radical, too - always a good thing for a new bike.

In our 2023 Race Bike of the Year grouptest we awarded the Madone 'best aero bike' against competition that included the Cervélo S5, the Canyon Aeroad and the Giant Propel.

However, over $9K / £10K for an Ultegra bike has to be unchartered territory - so how does it compare overall to the best road bikes ?

Trek Madone 7 Gen 7: construction

Let’s peer a bit more closely into that hole or, to give it its real name, IsoFlow. The aerodynamic explanation for it is: “It’s a way to direct some high energy flow into a low energy region of the bike.” What that means is that the seat tube area creates a disproportionate amount of drag and the hole helps to dissipate this by adding what Trek calls a “jet of fast moving air.”

It turns out that only half of the claimed watt saving comes from the IsoFlow hole. Trek has entered the integrated cockpit wars (along with Colnago, Canyon, Cervélo et al) with a completely new and very slick-looking design but it’s neither adjustable nor V-shaped: according to Trek it saves watts by changing rider position rather than via the aerodynamic properties of the cockpit itself.

A standard 42cm bar becomes 39cm at the hoods and 42cm at the drops and there’s a backsweep so that a flat-forearms aero position on the hoods becomes very aero indeed.

There are 14 different combinations available and, since the backsweep gives the bar a shorter reach, it’s important to get the right one - if you’re like those of us who rode this bike, you’ll need a longer stem. You can change this at point of purchase at no extra cost, Trek told us, or the 1 1/8in steerer is compatible with a non-integrated stem and bar (though the frame is electronic groupset only).

The same goes for the seatmast. The cutout in the seat tube leaves less room for a long seatpost and less adjustability (around 6cm minimum to maximum) so if you are long-legged but prefer a smaller frame you may need the tall version that comes with the size 56 upwards (as I ideally would have done). There are also two offsets available.

Our size 54 with a standard short mast could only manage a maximum saddle height of 74cm and the reach felt very short with the 90mm stem cockpit it comes with.

The latest geometry is called H1.5 (halfway between the old H1 race and H2 endurance). The reduced reach combined with the shorter reach of the swept-back bar works very well for that super aero hoods position, but it does feel surprisingly short. The kamm-tailed rear of the stem is much closer to your knees than you’d expect.

The new SLR bikes are all made from Trek’s 800 OCLV carbon - from the 105-equipped SLR 6 up to the flagship SLR 9 - and are impressively light, especially compared with other aero bikes such as the Cervelo S5. Trek says this is its lightest ever disc Madone.

There’s clearance for 28mm tires max, which is tight by modern standards. This model comes with Bontrager Aeolus Pro 51 tubeless-ready wheels, set up with Bontrager R3 Hard-Case Lite 25mm tires and inner tubes - again, surprisingly narrow.

Despite the fact that the fit wasn’t optimal - I could have done with the size up - the ride quality of the Madone is absolutely incredible. That’s the first thing that strikes you, or rather doesn’t strike you.

Aero bikes used to supply a harsher ride simply because deep, bladed tubing doesn’t flex like round tubing. This was undoubtedly the reason why Trek bolted the IsoSpeed decoupler onto the Madone two iterations ago. So you might expect that with its suspension system gone, the latest bike might have gone backwards in comfort. Not a bit of it.

It feels like a coiled carbon spring - full of potential energy and floating over bad road surfaces seemingly without any effect on its speed. And this is on 25mm tires that aren’t even the best (at this price they really ought to be).

The handling is also exactly right. The shortish 90mm stem section of the cockpit could have made it a little twitchy, but thanks to the sweeping shape I found my weight sufficiently over the front wheel in the hoods position, and steering was fast but balanced on descents and tight corners.

So it passes ‘comfortable’ and ‘fast’ with flying colors (actually Deep Smoke for this one).

At 7.5kg it’s light for an aero bike - or any disc brake bike - and it leaps up hills as if it weighs even less. I was so impressed with its performance that I kept forgetting Trek also has the Emonda climbing bike. The next Emonda has its work cut out (pun intended).

Finally, stability in crosswinds. There’s one particular gateway on my test loop where any bike not designed for big yaw angles will be gusted and the Trek was indeed blown sideways slightly - but not alarmingly considering the deep wheels and frame tubes.

This bike is incredibly good but it’s also incredibly expensive. It’s a full $1,000 / £1,000 more than the equivalent outgoing Gen 6 Madone SLR 7, and you’d have to look hard to find a more expensive Ultegra Di2-equipped bike from the other mainstream brands. 

The Canyon Aeroad CFR with Dura-Ace costs $8,999 / £8,799, while the Cervelo S5 with SRAM Force AXS costs $9,000 / £9,200. The Giant Propel Advanced SL1 also with SRAM Force costs $8,000 / £8,999.

You might also reasonably expect a power meter at this price - those three bikes all come with them - but it’s just the regular Ultegra crankset here.

So the price is stratospheric but compared with the current aero bikes I’ve ridden so far including the Colnago V4RS , Canyon Aeroad SLX , Cervelo S5, Tarmac SL7 and Pinarello Dogma F, the ride quality is superior.

• Frame: 800 Series OCLV carbon
• Fork: KVF carbon, tapered steerer
• Groupset: Shimano Ultegra Di2
• Wheels : Bontrager Aeolus Pro 51
• Tires : Bontrager R3 Hard-Case Lite 25mm
• Cockpit: Madone integrated
• Seatpost : Madone aero internal
• Saddle: Bontrager Aeolus Elite
• Weight: 7.5kg
• Contact: www.trekbikes.com

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Simon Smythe is a hugely experienced cycling tech writer, who has been writing for Cycling Weekly since 2003. Until recently he was our senior tech writer. In his cycling career Simon has mostly focused on time trialling with a national medal, a few open wins and his club's 30-mile record in his palmares. These days he spends most of his time testing road bikes, or on a tandem doing the school run with his younger son.

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Trek Madone SLR 7 Gen 7 review

Goodbye IsoSpeed, hello IsoFlow

Simon von Bromley

Composed yet fast; innovative design; front end can run both integrated and non-integrated handlebar setups; wide range of frame sizes

Expensive; no power meter; mid-range tyres and cheap inner tubes don’t belong on this bike

Now in its seventh generation, the latest Trek Madone SLR is claimed to be both faster and lighter than ever.

Yet while this latest version retains a typically Madone-esque silhouette, it’s impossible to miss the bike’s unique selling point – the big hole in the seat tube, or IsoFlow, as Trek calls it.

IsoFlow might seem like the main story here, but it isn’t the only thing worth paying attention to.

Overall, the Trek Madone SLR 7 builds on the highly refined Madone platform.

Trek has brought the bike up to date and taken into account the latest aero trends. That's one of the reasons it earns a place in our 2023 Aero Road Bike of the Year category.

While the results are thoroughly impressive on the road, there's no ignoring the high cost of entry, especially on a build with some nominally mid-range parts.

Trek Madone SLR 7 Gen 7 frameset

Unsurprisingly, pro-rider feedback about the previous Madone SLR was simply that those who rode it wanted the new one to be “faster and lighter”.

Starting with the subtler changes, Trek has updated its signature Kammtail Virtual Foil tube shapes (or truncated aerofoils, as everyone else calls them) and overhauled the front end, adding a lighter, fully integrated aero cockpit with flared drops.

Trek also says the handlebar’s narrow hood position plays a significant role in making the bike and rider more aerodynamic.

More noticeably, though, Trek has replaced the comfort-enhancing IsoSpeed system at the junction of the seat tube and top tube with a kite-shaped hole it calls ‘IsoFlow’.

Given most riders, pro or otherwise, apparently didn’t make frequent use of IsoSpeed’s adjustability, Trek opted to replace it with a simpler and lighter solution.

According to Trek, IsoFlow is both lighter and more aerodynamic than IsoSpeed.

Rear-end compliance is claimed to hit the same level as before (with the adjustable IsoSpeed set to its stiffest setting), because the seatpost is essentially cantilevered over the rear of the bike.

Overall, IsoFlow is a win-win solution, Trek says.

The sum of these changes is a bike that’s claimed to be 300g lighter for a complete bike. It’s not a night-and-day difference, but a nice saving nonetheless.

My size-56cm Madone SLR 7 weighs 7.69kg. While that’s slightly lighter than some similarly specced competitors, such as the Giant Propel Advanced Pro 0 AXS and Cervélo S5 , there are lighter aero bikes available for similar money.

The top-spec Canyon Aeroad CFR we tested in 2020, for example, weighed just 7.3kg (size medium). At the time of writing, the 2023 version costs £8,799, yet is specced with a Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 groupset.

In terms of speed, the new Madone is claimed to be 19 watts more aerodynamically efficient at 45kph than the previous one, with a rider on board.

This, Trek says, translates to a time saving of around “60 seconds per hour”, meaning a ride that would take an hour on the old Madone should only take 59 minutes on the new one. That’s an impressive saving for a racer, if the claims are to be believed.

Trek Madone SLR 7 Gen 7 geometry

In terms of fit, the Madone SLR uses Trek’s H1.5 geometry (as seen on the latest Emonda SLR ) – a halfway house between the aggressive H1 and more relaxed H2 geometries it offered previously.

Helpfully, there are eight frame sizes in total, from 49cm to 62cm, meaning a wide range of riders should be able to find a well-fitting bike, too.

Overall, though, the measurements and angles are still very race-focused.

Stack and reach sit at 563 and 391mm respectively, almost identical to key competitors such as the latest Giant Propel and the Cervélo S5.

The head tube and seat tube angles (on my size-56cm test bike) are both relatively steep, at 73.5 and 73.3 degrees, respectively. It also has a short, 58mm trail and a tight wheelbase of just 983mm.

All of which points towards nimble, reactive handling and a riding position designed to encourage you into an aerodynamic riding position .

Trek Madone SLR 7 Gen 7 build

Despite the five-figure price tag, the build encompasses a suite of parts that are nominally mid-range (or would have been before the great bike industry price hikes of recent years).

You get Shimano’s Ultegra Di2 8100 groupset, instead of Dura-Ace Di2, for example. The wheelset is the mid-range carbon Bontrager Aeolus Pro 51, instead of the top-tier Aeolus RSL.

Trek has specced Bontrager R3 Hard-Case Lite clincher tyres (in a size 700x25c), instead of the pricier tubeless-ready versions or the beautiful (and even more expensive) R4 320 Handmade cotton clinchers.

A Bontrager Aeolus Elite saddle, with ‘Austenite’ (a type of steel alloyed with nickel) rails is chosen, rather than the Pro or RSL models with carbon rails.

You don’t get a power meter with Shimano builds, either. SRAM builds come with Quarq power meters as standard, though are a little more expensive as a result.

This ‘mid-range’ kit mostly performs excellently, though, and one could argue upgrading these parts to the fancier, lighter versions is only going to offer marginal gains at even greater expense (that’s what the £13,500 Madone SLR 9 offers).

However, when you consider some of the best aero bikes are available with equivalent specs for significantly less money, it’s a tough pill to swallow.

Still, Trek is far from the only brand making expensive bikes these days.

Whether it’s the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7 , Pinarello Dogma F or Colnago V4Rs , to name three, there are certain bikes that aren’t focused on value first and foremost, and that’s okay.

Though an important factor in any purchasing decision, value won’t be the only consideration for everyone, after all.

Trek isn’t cutting any corners with the most important aspect of the bike, either – the SLR frameset and integrated handlebar are exactly the same as those used to compete at the highest level.

Like my colleague, Ashley Quinlan , who reviewed the Madone SLR 9 eTap last year, I came away impressed by the Madone’s front-end.

As already noted, the new handlebar features a slightly narrower, 39cm (centre to centre) hoods position, while it flares out to 42cm wide at the drops.

This gives you the aerodynamic gain of a narrower handlebar at the hoods, with the wider drops providing additional control and leverage for descending and sprinting.

It’s nowhere near as extreme as the 33/37cm handlebar featured on the Ribble Ultra SL R I tested just prior to the Madone, which inevitably means the gain isn’t as obvious. However, it’s certainly a less intimidating change for those not used to riding with narrow handlebars .

All things considered, it’s a positive change, with no notable compromises to comfort or handling.

There are 11 different stem-length and handlebar-width combinations available, and Trek says a dealer can swap a handlebar size at the point of purchase for no extra cost.

Alternatively, it’s also possible to run a standard, 1 1/8in stem and any handlebar you like, giving you near-limitless options for front-end customisation.

My only real disappointment was my test bike’s drab matt black paintjob .

Trek is renowned for producing some of the peloton’s best paintjobs in recent years, yet, save for the cool reflective down tube logo, this one is about as dull as they come.

Of course, others might feel differently and, either way, there are other choices available, plus the option for a custom paintjob through Trek’s Project One programme (at additional expense).

Trek Madone SLR 7 Gen 7 ride impressions

The Madone’s greatest strength is that it manages to feel like a non-aero bike, but faster.

It barrels along on flat or rolling roads, yet feels snappy and energising when you start climbing or rise out of the saddle to sprint over a brow.

I can’t say whether IsoFlow makes the Madone any faster, but it certainly makes for a comfortable rear end when paired with the excellent Bontrager Aeolus saddle (a firm favourite among many testers at BikeRadar).

It's obvious enough to make the handlebar feel fairly stiff in contrast, in fact.

As expected, Shimano’s latest Ultegra Di2 groupset (here with suitably sporty, 52/36-tooth chainrings and an 11-30-tooth cassette) offers near-faultless performance, albeit at a slightly heavier overall weight than Dura-Ace.

The latest Shimano hydraulic brakes, with burly 160mm rotors front and rear, make the Madone a great partner on descents, too.

Despite the quick handling and short wheelbase, there’s no hint of instability at high speeds.

The Bontrager Aeolus Pro 51 wheels also impress. At a claimed 1,590g for the pair, they don’t feel cumbersome when climbing steep pitches, yet the 51mm-deep rims provide a noticeable performance benefit on the flats.

A 23mm internal rim width also helps provoke extra volume out of the 25c tyres, which inflate to 28.5mm wide at 65psi/4.5 bar.

With an external rim width of 30mm, Trek likely opted for 25c tyres (rather than 28c or larger tyres as many brands now do) to optimise the aerodynamic performance of the combination.

On good-quality roads, this combination doesn’t pose any issues, but I did find myself wanting for greater tyre volume whenever my test rides took a turn down a broken lane.

Fortunately, there’s plenty of scope to size up, if you want more cushioning or grip.

Frame and fork clearance is rated for up to 28c tyres (which would likely measure around 30mm wide on the Bontrager rims), but the space around both front and rear tyres suggests that’s a conservative estimate.

My main issue in this area, though, is the stock Bontrager tyres offer only average performance.

Grip levels are good, but rolling speed isn’t competitive with the best road bike tyres , and the ride feel is disappointingly wooden too.

The latter two points can be attributed partly to the basic butyl inner tubes supplied as stock.

Upgrading to latex or TPU inner tubes would doubtless go some way to improving both, but it’s also fair to say these tyres won’t ever get the most out of this bike no matter what you put in them.

That Trek is charging £10,200, yet skimping on something as critical as tyres, is disappointing.

Replacing them would be relatively easy and inexpensive, of course (and you could go tubeless too, with the addition of tubeless rim tape, valves and sealant for the wheels), but you shouldn’t have to when you’ve spent this much money.

Trek Madone SLR 7 Gen 7 bottom line

The Trek Madone SLR 7 manages to combine the fun and engaging ride quality of a normal race bike with the speed of an aero bike.

It would be a fantastic companion for racing or fast group rides, yet is comfortable enough for big days in the saddle, too.

Though technically mid-range, the parts and components offer excellent all-round performance (tyres and inner tubes aside). Even so, it’s still hard to ignore the fact there are many similarly specced competitors available that cost far less.

However, if you want a super-fast road bike that pushes the boundaries of aerodynamic design and says ‘Trek’ on the down tube, the Madone SLR doesn’t disappoint.

Aero Road Bike of the Year 2023 | How we tested

If you’re trying to ride faster, then aerodynamic drag is usually your biggest problem.

Previously, though, picking a dedicated aero road bike meant compromising on things such as comfort and practicality. Fortunately, such issues are (largely) problems of the past.

Today’s aero bikes are fast on the flats and no slouches up hills either. Most now include clearance for wide tyres and the best have front ends that don’t require a degree in mechanical engineering to work on.

With that in mind, we put the contenders to the test on the twisty, technical and rolling hills of south Bristol.

As with all road bikes, we considered how easy each bike is to live with, and how easily the stock setup can be adjusted to suit your personal needs and riding style.

Many of the bikes featured in this year’s Aero Road Bike of the Year test are at the upper end of the pricing scale, with premium groupsets and parts showcasing the best contemporary equipment. However, most are also available in cheaper specs if your budget doesn’t stretch as far.

Our Aero Road Bike of the Year contenders

• 3T Strada ICR Force eTap AXS
• Giant Propel Advanced Pro 0 AXS
• Ribble Ultra SL R Enthusiast
• Trek Madone SLR 7

Thanks to our sponsors, Lazer , FACOM tools and Band Of Climbers for their support in making Bike of the Year happen.

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2024 Trek Madone SL 7 Gen 7

A carbon frame aero bike with high-end components and hydraulic disc brakes. Compare the full range

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Madone SL 7 Gen 7

In Stock: 47, 52, 54, 56, & 58cm

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Based on build material and quality level of the frame, fork, wheelset, groupset, suspension system, and more.

Compare the full Madone model range

4'11" – 5'3"

5'1" – 5'5"

5'3" – 5'7"

5'5" – 5'9"

5'8" – 6'0"

5'10" – 6'2"

6'0" – 6'4"

6'2" – 6'5"

• 5'11", size 56cm, Fits small
• 5'7", size 52cm, Just right

Nov 2023 · Mat Brett

It had its idiosyncrasies – including flip-out 'Vector Wings’ in the head tube – but we wish every new bike offered as many interesting features as the Trek Madone 9 Series did back in 2015

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Oct 2023 · James Huang

The same cutting-edge aerodynamic performance of Trek’s flagship Madone SLR, distilled into a much more affordable package.

Heaps lighter than before

Tangibly speedy

Surprisingly good ride quality

Superb handling

Lots of tire clearance

User-friendly two-piece cockpit

Sharp lines.

Polarizing IsoFlow aesthetics

Poor weathersealing

Narrow wheels and tires.

Sep 2023 · Sam Challis

If someone wanted to encapsulate the shifting trends of race bikes over the past 20 years, there is no better

Aug 2023 · Matt Hansen

Gen 7 model uses IsoFlow technology from SLR

Trek's new Madone SL Gen 7 is set to deliver SLR performance at a (much) lower price point. So — is the Madone SLR worth the extra money?

Aug 2023 · Troy Templin

The Trek Madone SL Gen 7 now completes the line matching the more expensive SLR and offers almost the same ride quality.

May 2023 · Simon von Bromley

The seventh-generation Madone is an excellent all-round performer, but it comes with a big price tag

Composed yet fast

Innovative design

Front end can run both integrated and non-integrated handlebar setups

Wide range of frame sizes

No power meter

Mid-range tyres and cheap inner tubes don’t belong on this bike

Dec 2022 · Julian Schwede

Does the new IsoFlow system of the 2023 Trek Madone SLR 9 eTap Gen 7 really rise the bar in terms of aeroynamics and comfort?

Very balanced handling at high speeds

Reduced complexity and improved aerodynamics of the IsoFlow system

Customisation options thanks to the Project One configurator

High-quality workmanship

The damping of the IsoFlow system isn’t adjustable

The Bontrager R4 tires lack grip

Last updated June 15