Carbon aero road bike Trek Madone SL 7 matte mauve: IsoFlow, Ultegra Di2, 28 mm R3 tyres, 7.87 kg in ML

Trek Madone SL 7 lavender haze: speed and comfort combined

The Trek Madone SL 7 Gen 8 in Matte Lavender Haze/Deep Smoke, a pale matte mauve paired with a smoked grey, is available in sizes M and XL. It combines an OCLV Series 500 carbon frame with IsoFlow, Shimano Ultegra Di2 2x12 and Aeolus Pro 51 carbon wheels, for 7.87 kg in size ML. This version rolls on 28 mm Bontrager R3 Hard-Case Lite tyres, which are more puncture-resistant.

Technical specifications

Who is it for?

For the rider who wants a fast race bike that isn't harsh, for anyone who does long rides on back roads with uneven surfaces, or for the sportive rider coming from an endurance bike who is worried about an overly aggressive position.

The LVR workshop view

OCLV carbon, Trek's signature. OCLV stands for Optimum Compaction, Low Void: since 1992, pressure and temperature have driven out the air trapped between the fibre layers. The Madone SL 7 uses the 500 series, shared by all Madone SL models, and it is its components, more than its frame, that set it apart from its little brothers. Like all OCLV frames, it is covered by Trek's lifetime warranty.

Put simply: the SL 7 combines the SL frame with SLR-level components, Ultegra Di2, Aeolus Pro 51 wheels and a carbon handlebar. Moving up to the SLR 7 with the same groupset saves 350 g, mainly on the frame and cockpit: noticeable on a col, much less so on the flat or sitting in a group.

IsoFlow is an opening at the top of the seat tube that lets the seatpost flex over bumps: Trek claims 24 % more vertical compliance than the Émonda. On a race bike, that is welcome comfort after three hours in the saddle, without hurting efficiency when you push hard on the pedals.

The roads of the Espinouse or the Saint-Chinian plateau often have coarse tarmac: the 28 mm R3 tyres and IsoFlow make an effective pairing, and the frame takes tyres up to 32 mm if you want to go further. In size M, the cranks are 170 mm; in XL, 172.5 mm.

Which Madone should you choose?

Our take: with IsoFlow and its 28 mm tyres, this 7.87 kg SL 7 is still more comfortable than the old Madone on 25 mm. The SLR 7, with the same groupset, saves 350 g but adds no extra comfort.

Your questions

Why buy from LVR Cycles? In Béziers, we carry out your bike fit, adapt the crank length if necessary and prepare your Madone SL 7 in our workshop before handing it over.

Please note that the specifications may be changed without prior notice by the manufacturer, based on the availability of components and other factors.