BUDGET
Trek Domane AL2
£775 A fun, stable, confidence-inspiring ride
Weight 9.62kg (54cm) Frame Trek 100 Series aluminium alloy Fork Carbon, alloy steerer Gears Shimano Claris 8-speed, 50/34, 11-32 Brakes Rim Wheels Bontrager tubeless ready Finishing Kit Bontrager alloy bar, stem, seatpost, P3 Verse Comp saddle, Bontrager R1 tyres
“In times of ever- increasing prices, Trek’s Domane is still refreshingly affordable”
The Good
Impressively smooth; great handling
The Bad
Brakes; non series chainset and bottom bracket
THE DOMANE HAS always been the wild child in Trek’s triumvirate of anagrammatical road bikes. Forever searching for alternate lines, not fazed by rough surfaces, and with the ability to conquer almost anything, the Domane was one of the first effective endurance bikes.
This AL2 promises elements of the Paris-Roubaix-winning rigs at a realistic price – but is it just marketing, or does it really work? The Domane AL2’s frame is built from Trek’s entry-level 100 Series Aluminium, but it shows some design care, is neatly welded and the tubes include hydroformed profiles. The IsoSpeed carbon fork is designed to absorb road vibration, with a 27.2mm seatpost and well-padded saddle to further help. To reduce costs, Trek has fitted Shimano’s eight-speed Claris with a non-series RS200 chainset and unbranded Lee Chi dual-pivot brakes. The bar and stem are Bontrager, as are the tubeless-ready wheels and tyres.
The plush, comfortable saddle contributes, but I still didn’t expect the ride to be so smooth, given that these are 25mm tyres at normal road pressure, even if they measure 27.5mm on the rim.
The Shimano Claris levers have a familiar feel and the shifting is quite swift, and though the gear range from the 50/34 chainset and the 11-32 cassette is ideal for the expected use, there are quite big jumps between gears. The brakes, however, seem allergic to alloy rims! They have no bite, a wooden feel and no pad compression. Rim brakes are an easy, inexpensive swap, but it’s a shame Trek didn’t do exactly that.
Trek’s Domane AL2 has a lot to offer, especially at this price. With mounts for mudguards and a rear rack, this Domane could make an ideal winter bike, or quick commuter, and there’s enough room for 28mm tyres. Its tidy frame and vibe-eating fork are a sound basis for a good bike, which overall the Trek is. The groupset does its job well, but the non-series chainset and narrow-cartridge bottom bracket let it down, with some axle deflection. The ride quality is impressive, though, and increasing tyre volume would add comfort and a little grip.
Verdict
A super-smooth ride, this bike would work well for speedy commuting as well as road rides