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TECH NEWS

Trek lightens entry-level Domane AL road bikes

Endurance range now has internal cable routing and space for 38mm tyres – and there's a model with Shimano's new 105 R7100 12-speed/mechanical groupset

Trek has updated its aluminium Domane AL road bike range, the new fourth generation offering a lighter frameset than previously, internal cable routing, and space to fit tyres up to 38mm wide for increased versatility. The Domane AL is the most accessible road bike in Trek’s range, priced from £1,125.

2024 Trek Domane AL 4 - 3.jpeg

Trek says the new Domane AL is around 225g (0.5lb) lighter than the previous Domane AL Disc model thanks to a redesigned 100 Series Alpha Aluminum frame and a new full-carbon fork. The mid-range Domane AL 4, for example, has a claimed weight of 10.35kg (22.82lb). That’s clearly much heavier than some of the bikes we review here on road.cc, but we’re talking about a £1,875 bike.

> Check out the best endurance road bikes 2023 — perfect for sportives, audax and mile-munching

2024 Trek Domane AL 4 - 4.jpeg

Another key change is that the new Domane AL has enough space to fit tyres up to 38mm wide, compared with a maximum of 35mm on the previous generation. Trek says that will allow you to “comfortably venture from smooth pavement to bumpy backroads and most gravel trails”. Okay, you’d definitely want wider tyres for rougher gravel and trails, but 38mm should be fine for well-maintained, not-too-bumpy tracks.

2024 Trek Domane AL geometry - 1.jpeg

Trek’s Endurance geometry is unchanged so the Domane AL still provides a more upright ride position than race-focused road bikes in the Trek range like the Madone and the Émonda.

The 56cm Trek Domane AL, for example, comes with a 591mm stack height and a 377mm reach, giving a stack/reach of 1.57. The idea, of course, is to provide comfort on longer rides by taking the strain off your back and neck.

2024 Trek Domane AL 4 - 2.jpeg

The Domane AL bikes also come with a handlebar with a shorter reach than previously – it’s now 80mm – and a 4mm flare from the hoods to the drops. Trek says that this is for improved ergonomics and control.

2024 Trek Domane AL 4 - 1 (2).jpeg

Whereas cables and hoses on the previous Trek Domane AL ran externally to the down tube and fork crown, everything enters the frame at the top of the head tube on the new design. Although this has become the standard way of doing things on high-end road bikes, internal routing is far less common at this price point. Whatever you think in terms of practicality, it certainly makes the Domane AL’s front end look a whole lot tidier.

Trek likes to emphasise the Domane AL’s versatility – hence, as previously, the inclusion of mounts for mudguards, rack, and even a top tube bag.

2024 Trek Domane AL rack mudguards - 1.jpeg

“[These] make Domane AL the ideal rig for everything from workday commutes to weekend group rides,” says Trek.

One thing that is new is the introduction of Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH) compatibility. UDH is an attempt to do away with hundreds of current derailleur hanger designs and replace them with a single system. Trek already uses UDH on its mountain bikes.

Models and prices

These are the fourth-generation Trek Domane AL models:

Trek Domane AL 2, £1,125
Frame 100 Series Alpha Aluminium
Fork Domane AL carbon (tapered carbon steerer)
Groupset Shimano Claris 8-speed, Tektro C550 mechanical disc brakes
Wheels Bontrager Paradigm SL rims (tubeless-ready)/Formula hubs
Claimed weight 10.55kg (23.26lb)

Trek Domane AL 4, £1,875
Frame 100 Series Alpha Aluminium
Fork Domane AL carbon (tapered carbon steerer)
Groupset Shimano Tiagra 10-speed
Wheels Bontrager Paradigm SL rims (tubeless-ready)/Formula hubs
Claimed weight 10.35kg (22.82lb)

Trek Domane AL 5, £2,150
Frame 100 Series Alpha Aluminium
Fork Domane AL carbon (tapered carbon steerer)
Groupset Shimano 105 12-speed (mechanical)
Wheels Bontrager Paradigm SL rims (tubeless-ready)/Bontrager hubs
Claimed weight Not supplied

Get more info from trekbikes.com

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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8 comments

Avatar
Freddy56 | 1 year ago
0 likes

Tis but a gravel bike, look at that frame layback

Avatar
check12 | 1 year ago
0 likes

200g reduction on boat anchor, bike still boat anchor for real bike price, Shame on trek

Avatar
Simon E | 1 year ago
1 like

10.35 kg for a £1,875 mid-range bike. Hmmm.

Although it's apples and oranges but my 2016 Lexa S (Alpha 100, rim brake, cost £600 new) with heavy OEM wheels, Sora groupset, 28mm Durano tyres and Shimano M530 SPD pedals (450g) is about 9.6 kg.

Avatar
Brauchsel replied to Simon E | 1 year ago
3 likes

Decathlon's Triban RC520 weighs about the same, is fitted with 105, and costs £1000 less. 

Avatar
mark1a replied to Brauchsel | 1 year ago
2 likes

I'm also struggling to see where the weight is on this bike, and as well as your comparison of the same weight/less price with the Triban, another is the less weight/same price Boardman SLR 8.9 disc, 105, carbon, 9.4kg, £1750 (8% off that with C UK or BC membership).

You've really got to want a Trek to buy this IMO.

Avatar
MTB Refugee replied to mark1a | 1 year ago
1 like

It's fitted with depleted uranium bolts and bearings

Avatar
RoubaixCube replied to mark1a | 9 months ago
0 likes

Supposedly. The Paradigim SL wheelsets that Trek kit their bikes up with weigh in at about 2.1-2.3kg

Avatar
lawrencefalk | 1 year ago
0 likes

I wonder what the frame weighs...

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