Trek Madone Race Shop Ltd (video) review

The Trek Madone Race Shop Ltd frame is the highest spec offered by Trek and is fabricated from 700 Series OCLV carbon – which Trek claims is the lightest and the strongest in the cycling world

Trek Madone
(Image credit: Cycling Studio)
Cycling Weekly Verdict

The Trek Madone and Venge ViAS are very close aerodynamically. Although we did repeat runs the results are so close they are potentially within the realm of experimental error, with both bikes representing the fastest available. The Madone has drool-inducing looks, class-leading aerodynamics and is also comfortable thanks to the IsoSpeed decoupler. It is also impressively light for such an aero design. If I could race on any road bike, the Trek Madone would be it.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Very aero

  • +

    Clever design features

  • +

    Comfortable

  • +

    Looks

  • +

    Great spec

  • +

    Custom options offered

  • +

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    If you want the best, it's going to cost a lot

  • -

    Zac Efron has one

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

As soon as the Trek Madone was unveiled, existing aero bike designs with external cables flapping in the wind instantly looked antiquated.

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Oliver Bridgewood - no, Doctor Oliver Bridgewood - is a PhD Chemist who discovered a love of cycling. He enjoys racing time trials, hill climbs, road races and criteriums. During his time at Cycling Weekly, he worked predominantly within the tech team, also utilising his science background to produce insightful fitness articles, before moving to an entirely video-focused role heading up the Cycling Weekly YouTube channel, where his feature-length documentary 'Project 49' was his crowning glory.