The mud has settled – and the mud has been eliminated – following one other chaotic weekend of racing on the World’s greatest gravel occasion, Unbound.
The Kansas gravel race served as a testing floor for a number of recent tech, together with SRAM 13-speed XPLR AXS and a prototype Big gravel bike. Plus, it appears, a brand new machine from Trek, which the American model teased in a video the place supported athlete Russell Finsterwald outlined the element, full with comical bleeps.
‘Checkmate’ featured on the highest tube of the bike we noticed
(Picture credit score: Future)
Although data on the thriller bike is scarce, there are nonetheless some highlights we will pick on the brand new ‘********’, based mostly on photos taken in the course of the race.
Judging by pictures we have been in a position to seize on the bottom, except the emblem painted onto one Unbound bike was a tease, too, it will be referred to as a ‘Checkmate’ – setting it other than the ‘Checkpoint’ which already exists throughout the vary.
The very first thing Finsterwald appears to cowl within the video is a brand-new cockpit up entrance. So far, all of Trek’s gravel cockpits, on each the Checkpoint and the Boone, have been a two-piece affair, making it doubtless that Trek has designed the brand new bar and stem from the bottom up for gravel.
A more in-depth take a look at the highest of the handlebar within the pictures above reveal a narrower cross part than the present model’s highway going Madone SLR handlebar, together with what could possibly be some rubber inserts on the tops.
This, we predict, might be a gravel particular version, aimed toward enhancing grip and luxury for lengthy days on tough terrain.
(Picture credit score: Snowy Mountain Pictures)
The place you will discover acquainted elements, nonetheless, is on the frameset itself. Instantly recognisable, is what appears to be like to be a model of Trek’s ‘Rear IsoSpeed’ system which is positioned on the seat tube. The IsoSpeed system, which was first launched on the Trek Domane again within the 2010s, concists of a pivot and bushing system that enables for added vertical compliance to the bike on the saddle.
Trek additionally appears to be like to have used a moderately slim seat publish too, alongside extremely slender seat stays, as soon as once more doubtless aimed toward enhancing consolation over tough terrain.
A notice on tyre clearance too – Finsterwald selected 700x50c tyres for the Unbound race, and by the appears to be like of issues, there may be nonetheless a good quantity of leeway each on the fork, and by the rear triangle. In all chance, the brand new bike can be rated for no less than 50c tyres, however we predict it you can most likely match a 52c tyre, rim dependant after all.
(Picture credit score: Snowy Mountain Pictures)
The slight rear of the bike comes as fairly a distinction to what’s a way more industrial entrance finish. The pinnacle tube space, entrance fork, and downtube, are all pretty strong of their building, making us assume that the brand new bike may effectively match into to the gravel race bike class.
The one slight confusion lies within the profiling of the tube shapes up entrance. Except for the built-in cockpit, the brand new bike would not appear to go all out with truncated aerofoil tube shapes, as an alternative using extra conventional design.
The eagle eyed amongst you (no SRAM pun meant) could have seen that the Trek bike wasn’t the one little bit of unreleased package that Finsterwald was utilizing. He was one of some riders utilizing SRAM’s new anticipated RED XPLR groupset, and it tells us one thing else about his new Trek frameset.
(Picture credit score: Snowy Mountain Pictures)
The brand new 13-speed groupset shares some structure with SRAM’s XX Eagle transmission, in that they each make the most of SRAM’s Common Derailleur Hanger System. Geared toward enhancing rear derailleur energy and stiffness, the system depends on bike producers creating framesets which are appropriate with the brand new know-how – one thing that Trek is clearly on board with on the brand new bike.
We do not at present have any additional data or launch dates relating to the brand new bike, however we count on that you may count on to see the brand new bike in retailers earlier than the top of 2024, probably changing – or complimenting – the long-standing Checkpoint, and alongside the Trek Boone Cyclocross bike.
