When Trek was first established in Wisconsin in 1976, there were only five employees working in a barn with a yearly production of 900 or so frames. Since those early days, it has become a household name for quality bicycles and the owner of a leading professional road bicycle racing team. The manufacturer just announced the latest generation of its signature Madone SLR model, and it pushes the boundaries of what’s possible when it comes to faster speeds and lighter weights.

The Madone debuted in 2003 and was one of the fastest road bikes in the world right from the start. There’s no doubting its credibility, as Madone is the bike of choice for UCI Road World Champion Mads Pedersen. The brand new seventh-generation Madone SLR is expertly sculpted in search of the most aerodynamic frame and cockpit, with elements such as new Kammtail tube shapes and an aero-optimised bar/stem design. The company utilises a unique technology called the IsoFlow, which doesn’t just help in acceleration through aero design but also flexes over bumps to ensure a speedier, smoother, and more comfortable ride — the 800 Series OCLV carbon frame, discs, and wheels also contribute to the low weight. Combining all upgrades, the latest version is 60 seconds per hour faster than its predessesor when riding at 45km/h.

Available in 2023, the price for the standard Madone SLR Gen 7 starts from US$7,999.99, while the most advanced eTap version costs US$13,199.99.