trek emonda slr geometry

Trek Emonda SLR 9 eTap Long-Term Review: Light for Climbing, Slippery for Speed

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Trek has touted the Emonda as its climbing bike since introducing it in 2014. But the 2021 revision threw aerodynamics into the light-is-right alchemy, producing a road race bike that blurs category lines.

Editor’s note:  Trek issued a recall on this bike and is replacing the integrated stem and handlebar free of charge to the customer. Learn more in our full article .

The claimed aerodynamic gains over the prior model are huge. Trek states that the current Emonda is 60 seconds faster per hour at 350 watts of output on the flats. The claimed gain on an 8% grade is 18 seconds.

And the bike is still substantially lighter than Trek’s aero road race bike, the Madone. The current equivalent Madone has a claimed weight of over 1.3 pounds heavier than the Emonda SLR 9 eTap.

I used the Trek Emonda SLR 9 eTap as a long-term review bike, putting it on the roads for 18 months. The bike rolled across super smooth, new tarmac and neglected country blacktop. I tested other parts on the bike and took it on several trips to ride terrain different from my home in the Hill Country of Central Texas. It has been in my testing rotation longer than any bike.

In short: The Trek Emonda SLR 9 eTap is a pure race bike at the highest end. Although it may be called a climbing bike, the new aerodynamics vault it into a well-rounded road racing machine of the highest caliber. And it still satisfies the weight weenies.

How Aero Is the Emonda?

Aerodynamics on a bicycle frame is mainly dependent on tubing shapes. And often, going “full aero” means losing vertical compliance, which hinders comfort. Super aero tubing also often adds weight.

Trek had to walk fine lines to keep the weight and compliance advantages and maintain lateral and torsional stiffness. But engineers wanted substantial free speed offered by improved aerodynamics.

Modern bike designers use CFD (computational fluid dynamics) and CAD (computer-aided design) to help them in their quest for the ultimate alchemy of shapes to produce the intended results. And Trek claims they scrutinized every inch over hundreds of CFD and CAD models.

The result is truncated-airfoil profiles other than the seat tube, which is still round. Trek also went integrated, with a one-piece bar and stem that hides the cables from the wind.

The claimed reduction in drag is 182 g, with the claimed frame weight for an unpainted 56 cm size being 698 g.

Somewhat surprisingly, Trek kept the non-dropped seat stays. This greatly pleased my antiquated tastes in bicycle aesthetics.

Other Significant Frame Changes

Trek didn’t stop at the truncated airfoil. The brand incorporated several other significant changes.

Trek used to offer aggressive (H1) and more upright (H2) geometries but split the difference on the new Emonda SLR with the middle-of-the-road H1.5. This singular geometry follows the lead of the full aero Madone.

Surprisingly, Trek omitted women’s-specific Emonda frames. But it does offer a full spread of sizes, from 47 cm to 62 cm.

T47 Bottom Bracket

Gone is the BB90 press-fit bottom bracket. A T47 threaded bottom bracket takes its place, pleasing home mechanics everywhere. The BB90 was reportedly problematic, although I never experienced issues with any Trek BB90 bottom brackets.

Not only does this follow the current trend to a homologated bottom bracket standard, but T47 also allows oversized crank spindles where BB90 did not.

800 Series OCLV Carbon

Trek’s longstanding OCLV (Optimum Compaction Low Void) carbon on the Emonda SLR frame moved from 700 series to 800 series, purportedly to allow aero profiles without a concomitant increase in weight.

The Waterloo, Wisconsin-based brand claims the new carbon contains fibers that are 30% stronger, with the same amount of stiffness as before, and with no gain in mass. This means less material is required to maintain the same positive characteristics, which translates to aero shapes without adding weight.

Trek also developed over 50 new carbon layups (how the carbon fibers are aligned) to create the new 800 Series OCLV. Real-world testing of the final layup choices was done by the professional Trek-Segagredo team. And the brand builds these frames in Waterloo.

Trek Emonda SLR 9 Ride Experience

Testing high-end road bicycles these days is an act of trying to split hairs that have already been split. All these bikes are sublime. Any differences in performance are minuscule, and much of it is subjective. But here’s my best attempt after 18 months of solid use.

Damn, It’s Light

There is no getting around how light the bike is (our 56 cm tester weighs a verified 14 pounds, 5 ounces with tubed tires). That attribute alone brought me joy when accelerating or climbing. The Emonda SLR 9 eTap floated like a butterfly. No need for more explanation. Remember when race bikes were 21 pounds?

The H1.5 geometry fits me exceptionally well. I have had custom-built titanium road race frames, and if I ever ordered one again, I would replicate the Emonda SLR geometry.

I am 6 feet tall, but my inseam is only 32 inches, making my torso long. My lower back is accustomed to road racing positioning, but my hips and hamstrings are not exceptionally flexible. I found the reach and stack spot on, and the stock-integrated 100mm stem, without spacers, was also perfect.

The 42cm-wide bars of the Bontrager RSL felt correct, but I had to move the SRAM Red brake hoods a touch higher up the bar’s primary curve to feel comfortable. Moving the hoods up the bar created slack in the brake hoses that was hard to manage. The stiff hoses run straight from the underside of the bars through the head tube.

A tiny range of brake hose lengths will provide a clean run. So this is a concern to anyone that wants to change the dimensions of the front cockpit. But lines are not threaded through the bar, simplifying at least that part of the process.

Stiffness vs. Compliance

Climbing out of the saddle and sprinting revealed that the Trek Emonda SLR chassis is plenty stiff laterally and torsionally about the head tube. The bottom bracket felt equally rigid, and I never felt like the frame was squandering energy.

Riding a stiff, efficient bike typically means trading off some vertical compliance and comfort. And I felt the Emonda SLR chassis sat on the efficient side more than the comfortable side. But it wasn’t overly so, as it tends to be with super light bikes. Much of how the bike felt regarding compliance came down to wheels and tires.

The Emonda SLR 9 eTap came with tubeless-ready Bontrager Aeolus RSL 37 wheels, which felt like a great all-around road wheel. But the Bontrager R4 320 tires (with tubes) were 25c. I felt wider tires on hookless rims with lower air pressures would drastically improve the comfort. Trek states that the frame can accept 28c tires.

It was ridden with various wheels and tires over 18 months as a long-term review bike. Using hookless wheels, 28c tires, and lower pressures improved comfort drastically.

I felt like just swapping the tires to 28c on the RSL 37 stock wheels would be such a welcome change. But going to a wheel like a Zipp 404 Firecrest or Zipp 353 NSW with the ability to use lower pressures (for me, on those wheels, I ran under 72 psi) was an absolute game changer.

It gave me the best of both worlds. A light, super efficient bike that kept me comfortable over long hauls on rough chip seal blacktop.

As expected, the Trek Emonda SLR 9 eTap was a snappy, quick-turning bike. On twisty tarmac, it felt like it wanted to turn about the head tube axis, with the rest of the bike to follow — more of a “turn and flick” instead of the other way around. It was one of the quicker-steering road bikes I’ve tested over the last few years.

Yes, the bike required attention on the straights and in groups, but I never thought it was twitchy or nervous. It reacted to small inputs without delay, but that’s what I expect in a WorldTour race bike. The bike wasn’t a lazy café cruiser, and it shouldn’t be.

On wider radius turns on smooth pavement at high speeds, the Emonda was pure joy. I felt the chassis was reading my mind, putting the tire contact patches precisely where I desired, and fed me the tactile information I needed to predict how it would respond to any slight irregularities in the road.

How Fast Is the Trek Emonda SLR 9 eTap?

The bike came with a SRAM Red eTap AXS groupset with a power meter. And I’m familiar with the power output versus speed on my regular routes. I’m not a human strain gauge, but subjective feelings mated with the power output did convince me that for a “non-aero” bike on moderately aero wheels, the Emonda SLR 9 eTap was a rocket.

On calm days on smooth, flat pavement, the feeling of speed while churning a tall gear was palpable and brought a big grin to my face. Trek’s data points to an aero gain while climbing, but I felt the bike’s super light weight and stiffness contributed more to my feeling of speed on ascents.

With either the Bontrager RSL 37 wheels or the mentioned Zipp wheels, I didn’t feel any buffeting or other negatives of aero profiles except in extremely windy conditions. Only once did the buffeting cause an unstable feeling to the point where I tensed up.

I had exited the cover of trees on a speedy descent, and the sudden, super-gusty, 90-degree crosswind got me pretty good. I cannot say that about other “full aero” setups, which I’ve found somewhat puckering when large trucks pass me.

So, in the end, I felt like the aero gains of the new tube shapes delivered free speed without much downside.

Final Thoughts

One trend in cycling that I don’t necessarily like is the continued segmentation of products. The number of mountain bikes one could “need” is astounding. And coming from road racing in the ’80s, the “need” for a climbing bike and an “aero” bike seems superfluous. Now throw in gravel rigs, and you could have a garage full of bikes.

I can somewhat understand having multiple mountain bikes, as different terrains’ travel and handling requirements dictate wholly differing chassis. But road bikes? Most of us will never see the level of competition that demands different chassis and a slew of wheels. But plenty of serious recreational cyclists buy high-end road bikes, and it’s the category that splits choices into “aero” and “climbing.”

Although Trek labels the Emonda SLR 9 eTap as a “climbing” bike, with the aero gains, it makes a perfect all-around high-end road bike. It’s under the minimum legal weight for the WorldTour, satisfying the weight-obsessed.

It has enough aero shaping for legitimate free speed gains, yet it doesn’t ride like a brick (especially with wider tires and lower pressures). And it’s super efficient.

The MSRP of the Trek Emonda SLR 9 eTap is an astonishing $13,000 . It sits at the top of the Emonda SLR lineup. But the pricing is in line with other bikes of the same caliber. And for that money, to me, the bike should perform well in all areas. Which it absolutely did.

Trek does offer Emonda SL bikes with the same aero gains at a much lower price, using 500 Series OCLV carbon.

Trek Domane Gets Racier, Looks to Keep Reputation for Comfort

Trek cut up to 1.5 pounds of frame weight off the Domane, its all-around road bike that cyclists have long known for a comfy ride. Read more…

Seiji Ishii is Editor at Large at the AllGear network and the Climbing and Cycling editor at GearJunkie.

He has been writing about cycling, climbing, outdoor endeavors, motorsports, and the gear and training for those pursuits for 20+ years.

Before AllGear, Ishii was a freelance contributor to print and web publications related to his interests and professional experiences. He continues to pursue climbing and cycling objectives seriously.

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2024 Trek Émonda SLR 7

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Last updated April 27

Trek Émonda SLR 9 Review

Are you in the market for a new road bike? If so, you may want to consider the Trek Émonda SLR 9.

This high-performance bike has been turning heads in the cycling world, but is it worth the hype?

When it comes to road bikes, there are countless options to choose from.

It can be overwhelming trying to find the perfect bike that meets all of your needs.

The Trek Émonda SLR 9 is a top-of-the-line road bike that promises to deliver speed, comfort, and performance.

With its lightweight frame and cutting-edge technology, it’s no wonder cyclists are raving about this bike.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the features and performance of the Trek Émonda SLR 9 to help you determine if it’s the right bike for you.

– Lightweight carbon frame: The Émonda SLR 9 features a Ultralight 800 Series OCLV Carbon frame that is not only incredibly light but also stiff and responsive, allowing for quick acceleration and precise handling.

– Top-of-the-line components: Equipped with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 electronic shifting and Bontrager Aeolus RSSL 37 carbon wheels, this bike offers smooth and precise gear changes and excellent power transfer for maximum speed.

– Aerodynamic design: The Émonda SLR 9 features a sleek and aerodynamic design that reduces drag and allows you to cut through the wind with ease, giving you a competitive edge on the road.

– Comfortable ride: Despite its focus on speed, the Émonda SLR 9 doesn’t compromise on comfort. It features a H1.5 geometry that provides a more aggressive riding position while still maintaining a comfortable posture for long rides.

– Precision handling: With its responsive and precise handling, the Émonda SLR 9 allows you to navigate tight corners and descents with confidence, giving you full control over the bike.

– Versatile performance: Whether you’re racing, climbing mountains, or going for long endurance rides, the Émonda SLR 9 is designed to excel in all types of road cycling disciplines, making it a versatile choice for riders of all levels.

– Sleek and stylish design: With its clean lines, modern color schemes, and attention to detail, the Émonda SLR 9 is not only a high-performance machine but also a bike that looks great on the road.

One of the standout features of the Émonda SLR 9 is its frame.

Made from Trek’s Ultralight 800 Series OCLV Carbon, the frame is incredibly light yet still maintains excellent stiffness and strength.

This allows for efficient power transfer and ensures that every pedal stroke propels you forward with minimal energy loss.

The frame also features Trek’s H1.5 geometry, which strikes a balance between aggressive racing positioning and all-day comfort.

The components on the Émonda SLR 9 are nothing short of impressive.

It comes equipped with a full Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 electronic groupset, providing precise and lightning-fast shifting.

The Dura-Ace brakes offer exceptional stopping power, allowing you to confidently navigate descents and corners.

The bike also comes with Bontrager Aeolus RSL 37 carbon wheels, which are lightweight and aerodynamic, further enhancing the bike’s speed capabilities.

Performance

In terms of ride quality, the Émonda SLR 9 delivers a smooth and responsive experience.

The combination of the lightweight frame, high-quality components, and aerodynamic design make it feel incredibly agile and nimble on the road.

Whether you’re sprinting on flats or climbing steep hills, this bike accelerates effortlessly and handles with precision.

Comfort is also a priority on the Émonda SLR 9.

The carbon frame helps to absorb road vibrations from the Ride Tuned performance tube optimization, reducing fatigue on longer rides.

The H1.5 geometry ensures a more upright riding position, which can be more comfortable for those who prefer a less aggressive stance.

Additionally, the Bontrager saddle provides adequate support and cushioning, allowing for hours of comfortable riding.

Overall, the Trek Émonda SLR 9 is a top-of-the-line road bike that delivers exceptional performance and ride quality.

Whether you’re a competitive racer or a recreational cyclist looking to push your limits, this bike is sure to impress.

With its lightweight frame, high-quality components, and comfortable design, the Émonda SLR 9 is a worthy investment for any cyclist seeking the ultimate ride experience.

Order yours online today and pick it up at your local Trek store, or have it shipped to your home!

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Emonda goes aero

The Trek Emonda lineup of bikes has been one of Trek’s lightest road bikes and is defined by their race-ready geometry and performance. With the Emonda SLR bikes, Trek has taken that winning formula and added additional aerodynamic tweaks to make the bikes even faster. In this review, we’ll be looking at the latest Emonda SLR 7 which retail for $8,999.99 and sits in the middle of the SLR range. The SLR 7 combines the 800 Series OCLV carbon fiber frame with fast shifting Shimano Ultegra R8100 Di2 12 speed drivetrain. Aerodynamic tube shaping optimizes the bikes performance while the Bontrager Aeolus RSL integrated bars eliminate any exposed cabling. What makes the Emonda SLR bikes feel special is the H1.5 race fit geometry that provides stability and responsiveness.

In terms of the Emonda SLR lineup, there are quite a few bikes to choose from. The top-of-the-line version is currently the $13.2k SLR 9 AXS which includes all the Bontrager RSL goodies and SRAM Red AXS drivetrain. A step down from that is the $12.7k SLR 9 which features Dura-Ace Di2. Then there are the SLR 7 pairs which includes the $9k SLR 7 we have here and a $9.7k AXS version featuring SRAM Force AXS. The SLR 7 uses a few Bontrager Pro components instead of the RSL versions.  Additionally, there are the $8.4k SLR 6 AXS using SRAM Rival AXS and the $7.7k SLR 6 with Shimano 105 Di2. Trek also offers the SLR Disc frameset for $4.2k which gives you the opportunity to build up your own bike. It’s also important to note Trek offers various Emonda SL and even an aluminum Emonda ALR that are much more budget friendly.

The Trek Emonda SLR 7 combines an aerodynamically tuned carbon frame with stable and responsive handling.

We were lucky enough to receive the Trek Emonda SL7 as a part of the Trek Red Barn Refresh program which is Trek’s certified preowned bike program. That meant we received the bike in used condition but with a full warranty and professional inspection. Unlike other bike boxes, the Red Barn Refresh offers a more user-friendly design that allows the entire front portion of the box to flip open. That makes it easy to access all the bike components and even provides a working surface to stand on. The bike itself came nearly fully assembled with only the handlebars, front wheel and saddle removed. Setting up the bike was a simple process of sliding the integrated bars onto the fork and putting the thru-axle through the front wheel. The proprietary seat mast design allows you to simply slide the seat onto the frame and then torque everything down to factory specs. Trek does include a 5 Nm torque bit, but you’ll want a torque wrench like the Topeak Torq Pro Stick to achieve the proper torque amounts.

FIT AND FINISH

Visually, the Trek Emonda SLR bikes have a classic double triangle frame design with curved top tube that’s constructed from Trek’s 800 OCLV carbon fiber. While the SLR bikes may lack the distinctive wedge cutout of the Trek Madone bike, it’s clear that Trek has optimized the aerodynamics. Starting from the front you’ll find the integrated Bontrager Aeolus RSL aero bars with internally routed cabling. In fact, the only cabling that is exposed is where it tucks into the front of the headset and where it enters the brake calipers. Even the stem spacers are cut to match the headtube profile with a fun “go go go” text printed on the backside that’s only visible at higher steering angles. The headtube and top tube have a sharp curved profile that flow into each other with aerodynamically shaping tubing to optimize the bike’s performance.

Trek currently offers the Emonda SLR 7 in seven different color variations from traditional black finishes to bright metallic and gorgeous color shifting options. Many of the colors are shared across the SLR lineup which means there are plenty of options to choose from. There is also the Project One program which lets you customize the bike colors and logo designs for an additional charge. The bike in this review is the Deep Smoke version which has a matte black finish and a color shifting Trek logo on the downtube for a pop of color. While it’s not our favorite color scheme it’s a sharp looking bike that’s nearly blacked out for a sinister appearance. A small Trek Shield head badge sits on the headtube along with simple Emonda branding on the top tube.

With a retail price of nearly $9k it’s not no surprise that the Emonda SLR 7 comes very well equipped. Unlike budget bikes such as the State Bicycle Core-Line that uses unbranded parts, the SLR 7 features the latest and greatest Shimano and Bontrager parts. Specifically the SLR 7 is equipped with the wireless Shimano Ultegra R8100 Di2 drivetrain which is an ultra fast 12 speed setup. The bike is set up with a compact 52/36 Ultegra crank and 11-30 cassette which provides enough gearing to tackle the steepest climbs. The hydraulic 160mm disc brakes provide smooth and powerful braking to bring the Bontrager Aeolus Pro 37 wheelset to a stop. These are a tubeless ready carbon fiber wheelset with a relatively light 1505g claimed weight and versatile 37mm depth.

Trek has mounted the Bontrager R3 700×25 tires onto the bike which provide nice grip and durability. The SLR bikes all have a claimed max tire size of 28mm but it seems like many have had success sizing up slightly wider than that without clearance issues. Not surprisingly, the SLR bikes also have quite a bit of other Bontrager branded parts such as the Bontrager Aeolus Elite saddle and Bontrager bar tape. Perhaps one of the most notable parts of the bike is the integrated bars which are the sleek one-piece Bontrager Aeolus RSL. Although the integrated bar eliminates any adjustment, it’s a beautiful design with a tapered aerodynamic center section and a nice 124 mm drop with internal cable routing. As with other SLR bikes, the SLR 7 has Trek’s seat mast design which means the seat post slides over the frame. It’s a clever design that is easy to adjust but it limits you to using Trek’s seat masts.

RIDING IMPRESSIONS

We were impressed with the Emonda SLR 7 from our very first ride. The Emonda SLR’s magic sauce is the H1.5 race geometry which gives the SLR bikes responsive handling while still being stable. That means the bike handles instantly to any steering input without feeling twitchy or nervous. It’s an impressive feat as it makes the Emonda SLR equally comfortable to ride on training rides or for high-effort sprints. The stock wheelset feels like and offers plenty of grip to make you feel comfortable even on rough pavement. We suspect that’s partially due to the relatively skinny 700×25 tire setup which feels light and allows the SLR 7 to quickly accelerate. 

Comparing the 56cm SLR 7 to our 56cm ALR Disc, it’s easy to see just how aggressive the bike geometry is. The handlebars of the SLR 7 with the stock multi-spacer setup are at the same height as our slammed ALR Disc with flipped stem. That was surprising for us considering the fact that the SLR 7 bars could be dropped another few inches by just cutting the stem and losing a few spacers. Even with similar seat to handlebar drops, the SLR 7 feels far more responsive then our ALR  Disc and older SL5 Specialized Tarmac.  Despite that, the SLR 7 is still quite compliant and smooth even over rough roads and is comfortable on multi-hour rides. Although it’s not as plush as the more endurance Domane lineup, the SLR achieves an impressive balance of speed and stability.

While we’re still skeptical of integrated bar setups, the Aeolus RSL one piece carbon bars on the SLR bikes fit the bike perfectly. Their smooth aerodynamic shaping and internal cable routing give the bike a clean look while still being ergonomic. The center section of the bars taper which makes them comfortable to hold when you’re cruising while still having a nice drop to them. The Shimano Ultegra Di2 drivetrain is also a highlight of the SLR 7 bike as it offers lightning fast and smooth shifting. In fact, the gears shift happen nearly instantaneously and are completed before you can even lift your fingers off the levers. With the focus of the Emonda SLR bikes on climbing, Trek has done a great job gearing the bike with a compact crank that lets you spin up even the steepest climbs.

THE VERDICT

Overall, we found the Trek Emonda SLR to be a fast and responsive road bike. The combination of the 800 OCLV carbon frame, aerodynamic optimization and fast electronic shifting make the SLR perfect for chasing PR’s on climbs or riding centuries. We were particularly impressed with the H1.5 Race geometry which gives the bike a responsive feel without being twitchy. It’s clear that Trek has sweated the details as the SLR bikes all of a sleek frame design, integrated bar setup and hidden cabling. All the performance doesn’t come cheap though as the base SLR 6 still costs $7.7k and you are limited by Trek’s Seat Mast design. That said, if you’re looking for an aggressive and fast bike that doesn’t sacrifice comfort for speed then the Trek Emonda SLR bikes are tough to beat.

Disclaimer:   The product for this review was provided by Trek . The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.

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Trek Emonda SLR 9 eTap review

The emonda's updates include h1.5 geometry, an integrated cockpit, new wheels, and subtle aero shaping. it's an incredible update from trek., review rating.

Integrated handlebar and stem; integrated cable routing through head tube; aero tube shaping; Bontrager Aeolus RSL 37 carbon wheels; SRAM Red eTap AXS drivetrain

Geometry updates are spot-on; Impressively light, and lithe without feeling nervous

Tires aren’t durable; no cockpit adjustability

Our Thoughts

The updated Emonda packs one helluva punch, and Trek has a winner on its hands. The integrated cockpit is nice and all, but the real win is the H1.5 fit, which makes the Emonda feel more stable while maintaining the aggression and responsiveness of previous Emondas. That, coupled with a lightweight construction, comfortable ride, and aerodynamic shaping, brings Trek’s top of the line climber from a very good bike to an excellent one.

14.97 pounds

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Almost exactly two years ago, Trek redesigned its Emonda SLR, but the changes were so subtle you couldn’t really tell without a very close look, and were a roadmap of changes from Trek engineers. In that sense, Trek relied on its proven track record and simply sought to make its climbing bike even, well, climbier . This time around, however, the redesign goals for the Emonda took more factors into consideration, and it got revamped geometry, aerodynamic incorporations, and a brand new carbon dubbed OCLV 800.

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OCLV 800: Emonda’s special sauce

Up until now, OCLV 700 was Trek’s top of the line carbon. OCLV 800 is better! By 100! But what exactly does that mean?

For starters, OCLV 800 is a completely new material exclusive to Trek. Of course, Trek wasn’t ready to spill the beans on what’s in said special sauce, but representatives did say it’s a new fiber type that’s 30 percent stronger than OCLV 700. With the OCLV 700 materials, the new Emonda would have weighed about 60 grams more than it does with OCLV800.

And Trek says the new material may be stronger, but that doesn’t mean it’s stiffer. OCLV 800 can absorb more energy at the same weight, or less, than OCLV 700. This allows Trek to use less material but still pass all the structural testing it does on all its frames. All told, the Emonda touts a sub-700-gram frame that is largely stronger than the previous Emonda.

XXX no more

Do naming conventions matter? In this case, absolutely. Do you want to punch XXX into your work computer’s browser? Didn’t think so. Trek’s finally wise to this and has changed its top of the line Bontrager components from XXX to RSL, or Race Shop Limited. The XXX name had previously been appended to Bontrager’s components and clothing to indicate the top of the line, while RSL has been Trek’s nomenclature for other products in its lineup for years. So not only does the elimination of XXX help keep your search history G-rated, but it also simplifies some of the letter soup in the Trek ecosystem. Win-win.

Trek switched its Madone SLR to the H1.5 fit in 2018. As you might have guessed, the H1.5 fit splits the difference between the H1 fit — Trek’s most aggressively aero position — and the H2 fit, which positions the rider slightly more upright. The result is the optimal position for aggressive riding without sacrificing too much comfort.

The Emonda now gets the same H1.5 treatment. Trek developed the H1.5 fit with professional riders to tailor an ideal geometry, and it certainly shows with the Emonda’s H1.5 fit. On the road, the updated Emonda feels a bit more stable and less nervous than its predecessor. But it still feels like an aggressive all-rounder with racing on its mind.

Click to view larger. Photo: Trek

Emonda aero shaping

Check out that integrated cockpit. Clearly Trek has invested some time thinking about aerodynamics on the new Emonda, which makes sense given the data that has come out over the last few years to indicate that aerodynamics probably matters more to most riders than low weight. Fortunately, Trek has its cake and eats it too, keeping the Emonda light while adding some aerodynamic touches.

But you’ll also notice it’s missing one of the most common features on aero-esque all-rounders these days: the dropped seat stays. “We investigated deeply if dropped stays were the right solution,” says Jordan Roessingh, director of road bikes at Trek. “From CFD perspective, testing came back that dropped stays are faster, but they’re also structurally less efficient. When the stays are high, it provides more torsional stiffness so you can make it lighter. This was the lighter weight solution, and we still get to our aerodynamic goals.”

The aerodynamic shapes on the frame tubing are all quite subtle, yet Trek says that all yields some pretty remarkable aerodynamic data. All told, Trek says the Emonda is 143 grams of drag faster than its predecessor. That equates to 60 seconds per hour faster than the last Emonda at a 0-percent grade; 18 seconds per hour faster at a grade of 8.1 percent; and 13 seconds per hour faster than the Specialized Tarmac at 8.1 percent.

Since the Emonda now features an integrated cockpit, that means you get some internal cable routing to contend with. It’s not that difficult really, but I did run into a problem with the stem spacers and the routing through the head tube.

I won’t get into details, but at one point I had to take the fork out of the frame. When it came time to put it back in, I found myself cursing the internal routing, which was difficult to line up precisely in the stem spacers and head tube. Eventually, I got it all in there, but now when I turn the handlebars, I can sometimes hear the brake hoses moving within the frame. It’s just annoying, and it’s probably my fault, but it does speak to the pitfalls of internal routing through stems and head tubes in particular. If you’re not a home mechanic and will be leaving maintenance to the bike this probably matters to you not at all. For the home mechanic, this is far from a dealbreaker, but it is an annoyance.

The cables run externally on the bar itself to avoid drilling holes where they shouldn’t really be. And the Aeolus RSL Bar/Stem offers aerodynamic advantages, weight savings, and structural efficiency (you can yank real darn hard on ’em!), so the goofy routing seems like a fair trade-off.

The Emonda also gets new wheels: The Aeolus RSL 37 wheels weigh in at 1,325 grams for the set. They are tubeless-ready and are not hookless. The 37mm deep rims are also 21mm wide (inner rim width) to capitalize on wider tires for lower drag. Trek says the Aeolus RSL wheels have been tested aerodynamically, every 5 degrees from -20 degrees yaw to +20 degrees yaw. The result is an average of 136 grams of drag.

There’s clearance for 28mm tires, though the bike is optimized for 25mm tires. Unofficially, you can fit 30mm tires in there (and if you’re daring, you could probably squeeze 32mm tires in the Emonda, though Trek won’t say so).

Finally, Trek has wisely outfitted the Emonda with a T47 bottom bracket. This system features oversize bearings in the frame, which are threaded rather than pressed in. It’s an excellent system that’s likely to do away with creaks.

Riding the Emonda

This is clearly a better bike than the previous Emonda. That’s apparent just by sitting on it and rolling out of the driveway. I struggled with the previous Emonda’s geometry and found it far too tight; the front triangle seemed very small, while the rear end of the bike was longer. That led to a ton of toe overlap that became problematic more than I’d care to admit. It was lithe and easily maneuverable, yes. But that maneuverability came with a compromise I wasn’t crazy about.

The new Emonda SLR seems to solve that problem, largely thanks to the H1.5 fit. This fit really seems to suit me especially well; I like an aggressive position that allows me to get long and low, especially during sprints, but when I’m over the front wheel, I don’t want the handlebars reacting to every little input. The Emonda’s geometry accommodates that without becoming cumbersome on climbs. It’s maneuverable, but it doesn’t punish you for slight sloppiness.

I also get a lot less toe overlap than the previous Emonda. That’s not to say I don’t get any; I still darken the toes of my shoes at stoplights, but I don’t get nervous turning at slow speeds on this version of the Emonda. I certainly did on the last one.

The component spec is mostly good and occasionally brilliant. The Bontrager tires that came stock on the Emonda only lasted me two rides, which wasn’t surprising. I have ridden the cotton-casing R4 tires before, and the ride quality is actually quite wonderful. But the durability is woeful.

Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews.com

On the flip side, I was duly impressed with the Aeolus wheels. They track the ground well, a testament to their stiffness, but they don’t feel punishing, either. I did get some buffeting in really tough crosswinds on a high-speed descent coming down the backside of Lookout Mountain in Golden, CO, but otherwise, in moderate winds and most riding conditions, the wheels felt stable.

Trek’s seat cap system takes a lot of the complication out of seatmasts. It’s a decent system that maintains some adjustability. The Emonda’s seat tube flexes fore and aft for compliance, while still isolating much of the frame’s structure from flex to maintain stiffness. It works well — almost too well, in fact. The fore-aft pivoting actually felt a bit too generous at times, but it was a minor nitpick overall.

My test bike got the Project One treatment, with a sparkly purple base color and pink Trek branding. The combination looks incredible in person and the colors change depending on how the sunlight hits it. It’s a nice upgrade if you’ve got the cash.

Speaking of cash, this is one expensive bike at $13,000 (with the fancy paint Project One paint job). Fortunately, there are other build options, ranging all the way down to the Emonda SL5 for $2,700 (and plenty of options in between).

Emonda verdict

Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com

The Emonda SLR is a vastly better bike than its predecessor and I have largely enjoyed riding it. Trek’s climbing bike feels lithe and maneuverable without the tight, toe-overlapping feel of the last Emonda, which makes it a joy on climbs. The integrated cockpit sure adds a cool look and feel to the Emonda, though I would have felt just fine with a non-integrated system that lends a bit more adjustability and less of a hassle with the hose routing. To be fair, though, the integrated handlebar felt comfortable to me, so I didn’t actually need anymore adjustment.

Trek’s improvements here are notable, even if they aren’t immediately noticeable visually. I like this Emonda vastly better than the last one and it’s well-equipped for just about all race conditions.

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Trek Emonda SLR 8 - long-term review

Fabulously light and quick but best for smooth roads.

You can trust Cyclingnews Our experts spend countless hours testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

This article originally appeared on BikeRadar

Trek made quite a splash when it unveiled the stunningly light Emonda SLR 10, with its jaw-dropping 4.65kg (10.25lb) claimed weight and a correspondingly high price.

We'd argue that the SLR 8 model makes an even bigger impact though. It has the same feathery frame but a more sensible build kit, and costs less than half of the flagship model. Trickle-down, you say? Yes, please.

• Highs: Incredibly light, fantastic handling, awesome brakes, huge range of sizes
• Lows: Chattery ride, potentially creaky cassette
• Buy if: You absolutely live for climbing

Ride and handling: Light and efficient but far from smooth

Fans of prototypical top-end German machines will feel right at home on the new Emonda SLR. The chassis is not only extremely light but also remarkably rigid and efficient. It's quick and responsive when you get on the gas and, as you'd expect with a total weight of just 6.19kg (13.65lb) without pedals, it's an absolute beast on steeper climbs, where that stiffness-to-weight ratio can really shine through.

Big, round(ish) tubes and high-end carbon fibre materials make for a light and stiff frame

The Emonda's geometry figures are nearly identical to those of Trek's long-running Madone, so it's no surprise that it handles extremely well. It has perfectly neutral manners that are well-suited to road racing and all-day rides. It's quick enough to easily adjust your line if you encounter an obstacle mid-corner, for example, but is stable enough to inspire confidence at speeds that are well in excess of common sense.

We find the rider positioning spot-on too. The suitably short head tube and reasonably spacious top tube on our H1 version inspires an aggressively long-and-low stance. As with the Madone, Trek also offers the Emonda in a taller H2 version for riders who want the low weight but with a more upright profile – both in a huge range of sizes.

Not into a super-low position? No worries – Trek makes the Emonda SLR frame in a taller H2 version too

Such low weight and high stiffness doesn't come without penalty though – and in this case, it's the ride quality.

Whereas the top-end Madone is firm but still reasonably comfortable for a long day in the saddle, the Emonda is more unyieldingly rigid in every direction. Although Trek claims its in-house bench testing shows the Emonda has a similar ride to the Madone, we find the Emonda to be noticeably buzzy. This is particularly evident on coarse pavement, but even relatively smooth dirt roads tend to rattle your hands until they're numb and lifeless, made worse by the relatively sparse stock bar tape.

The superb chassis stiffness that's so good on the way up can sometimes cost you on the way down too. Whereas smoother bikes can capably carve through bumpy corners, the Emonda is prone to getting knocked off-line if you encounter a hiccup when you're arcing a twisty downhill pass, particularly with the rather narrow 23mm tyres that come stock.

Asymmetrical chainstays make the most of the available space

Although there are plenty of ovalised sections, all of the tubes are nominally round in profile to maximise the frame's structural efficiency. Likewise, all of the joints feature smooth transitions free of abrupt kinks or unnecessary geometric filigree. Fork tips and rear dropouts are made from fibre – of course – and the bearing seats for both the headset and bottom bracket and moulded directly into the structure so no additional cups are needed.

The cable routing is fully internal and the setup is convertible between mechanical and electronic drivetrains. The former features a remarkably minimal guide on the underside of the bottom bracket shell. Housing paths are generally well situated and it's fairly easy to replace the lines when needed, although there's quite a bit more rub on the sides of the head tube than we'd prefer.

Even the bottom bracket cable guide is remarkably minimal

Otherwise, all of the usual Trek hallmarks are present and accounted for, including the 90mm wide bottom bracket shell, the e2 tapered head tube with an asymmetrical steerer tube profile, a no-cut integrated seatmast, and integrated chain catcher bolted to the base of the seat tube. As before, there's a pocket on the non-driveside chainstay for a Bontrager wireless speed and cadence sensor but this latest iteration is now smaller and tidier, plus it no longer pierces the entire tube.

The internal finish of the frame is utterly fantastic, too. This of course isn't visible when the bike is built but it does lend some confidence in terms of the overall build quality. After all, if this much attention is paid to the bits you can't see, that bodes well for the parts you can see, right?

Equipment: Awesome direct-mount brakes, versatile tubeless-ready wheels

Our Emonda SLR 8 model may only sit second rung from the bottom in the Emonda range but it comes with a complete Shimano Dura-Ace mechanical group and excellent finishing kit from Trek's Bontrager arm.

H1 Emonda bikes come with semi-compact 52/36T chainrings but the taller H2 bikes come with easier-spinning 50/34T ones

As in previous encounters, the transmission is fantastic with smooth and consistent shifts both front and rear, superb ergonomics, and generally quiet running. We say 'generally', since we're now paying much closer attention to the creaks and groans that occasionally emanate from the cassette's carbon reinforced spider under especially hard efforts – an issue we're currently investigating.

The brakes, however, are quite possibly the best road rim brakes we've ever used, with gobs of power, very good control, and an extremely positive and direct lever feel – all thanks to the new direct-mount standard's much stouter foundation, which more firmly anchors the pivot points and decreases caliper flex.

Granted, even this significant advance in rim brake technology isn't as good as a fully hydraulic disc setup but for traditionalists who just can't wrap their heads around road bikes with rotors, these are an awesome way to go.

The direct-mount Shimano Dura-Ace brake calipers are fantastic

We also have nothing but praise for the Emonda SLR 8's Bontrager Race X Lite TLR alloy clincher wheels. While some might lament their decidedly non-aero shape, their modestly wide (17.5mm internal width) profile lends good casing support for secure and predictable cornering characteristics. They're also impressively stiff and quite light – just 1,440g for the set (or 1,518g if you add the tubeless-compatible rim strips). Previous experience has shown these to be very durable long-term, too, plus the DT Swiss Star Ratchet rear driver is simply bombproof.

The rest of the Bontrager finishing kit is very good, too. The Paradigm RXL saddle is firm but comfy and supportive, the workhorse Race X Lite stem is reassuringly solid and reasonably light, and the carbon fibre XXX handlebar boasts a versatile semi-anatomic bend that's easy to like.

The Bontrager Race X Lite TLR wheels may not be aero but they're stiff, durable and reasonably wide

'Easy to like' would be a good way to describe the Emonda SLR 8 in general. Riders who regularly look to blast their Strava times on faster courses won't be blown away by the bike's middling aerodynamic performance but if you're after light and stiff – and can tolerate the firm ride – this would be a good place to start (and possibly end) your search.

The new Trek Emonda SLR chassis is awesomely light and snappy but its very firm ride means you'll likely want to limit longer rides to smooth pavement 

Complete bike specifications

Frame: Trek Emonda SLR Available sizes: 50, 52 (tested), 54, 56, 58, 60, 62cm (H1 geometry); 47, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64cm (H2 geometry) Fork: Trek Emonda Headset: Cane Creek Forty, 1 1/8 to 1 1/2in tapered Stem: Bontrager Race X Lite Handlebar: Bontrager XXX VR-C Handlebar tape: Bontrager gel cork Front brake: Shimano Dura-Ace BR-9010 Direct Mount Rear brake: Shimano Dura-Ace BR-9010 Direct Mount Brake levers: Shimano Dura-Ace STI Dual Control ST-9000 Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace FD-9000 Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace RD-9000-SS Shift levers: Shimano Dura-Ace STI Dual Control ST-9000 Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace CS-9000, 11-28T Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace CN-9000 Crankset: Shimano Dura-Ace FC-9000, 52/36T Bottom bracket: Enduro Pedals: N/A Wheelset: Bontrager Race X Lite TLR Front tyre: Bontrager R4 Hard-Case Lite, 700x23mm Rear tyre: Bontrager R4 Hard-Case Lite, 700x23mm Saddle: Bontrager Paradigm RXL Seatpost: Bontrager Ride Tuned Carbon seatmast Total weight, as tested: 6.19kg (13.65lb) without pedals 

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Title : Active carbons as nanoporous materials for solving of environmental problems

However, up to now, the main carriers of catalytic additives have been mineral sorbents: silica gels, alumogels. This is obviously due to the fact that they consist of pure homogeneous components SiO2 and Al2O3, respectively. It is generally known that impurities, especially the ash elements, are catalytic poisons that reduce the effectiveness of the catalyst. Therefore, carbon sorbents with 5-15% by weight of ash elements in their composition are not used in the above mentioned technologies. However, in such an important field as a gas-mask technique, carbon sorbents (active carbons) are carriers of catalytic additives, providing effective protection of a person against any types of potent poisonous substances (PPS). In ESPE “JSC "Neorganika" there has been developed the technology of unique ashless spherical carbon carrier-catalysts by the method of liquid forming of furfural copolymers with subsequent gas-vapor activation, brand PAC. Active carbons PAC have 100% qualitative characteristics of the three main properties of carbon sorbents: strength - 100%, the proportion of sorbing pores in the pore space – 100%, purity - 100% (ash content is close to zero). A particularly outstanding feature of active PAC carbons is their uniquely high mechanical compressive strength of 740 ± 40 MPa, which is 3-7 times larger than that of  such materials as granite, quartzite, electric coal, and is comparable to the value for cast iron - 400-1000 MPa. This allows the PAC to operate under severe conditions in moving and fluidized beds.  Obviously, it is time to actively develop catalysts based on PAC sorbents for oil refining, petrochemicals, gas processing and various technologies of organic synthesis.

Victor M. Mukhin was born in 1946 in the town of Orsk, Russia. In 1970 he graduated the Technological Institute in Leningrad. Victor M. Mukhin was directed to work to the scientific-industrial organization "Neorganika" (Elektrostal, Moscow region) where he is working during 47 years, at present as the head of the laboratory of carbon sorbents.     Victor M. Mukhin defended a Ph. D. thesis and a doctoral thesis at the Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia (in 1979 and 1997 accordingly). Professor of Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia. Scientific interests: production, investigation and application of active carbons, technological and ecological carbon-adsorptive processes, environmental protection, production of ecologically clean food.   

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