After being spotted in shops earlier this week, the new Trek Silque women’s endurance road bike got the official rollout, showing off four models of the OCLV framed, bump eating frame.
Borrowing the IsoSpeed decoupler and other vibration reducing technology from the Domane, the Silque uses size-specific carbon layups to provide an equally smooth ride across all frame sizes. Since they weren’t borrowing an existing frame and slapping WSD components on it, the clean slate allowed them to design the geometry from the ground up for women wanting both performance and comfort. A sloping top tube and shorter seat tube provide good stand over (and a lower center of gravity), while increased stack height puts them in a slightly more upright riding position.
Their customers loved the stack and reach of the Domane WSD, so they kept that part intact.
For the handling, they put it smack in between the racy Madone and all-day Domane. The chainstay length splits the difference, so it’s more stable at speed or on gravel than the Madone, but a little snappier than the Domane. It shares the Madone’s BB drop, which keeps everything a bit lower to the ground for quicker turning response.
Now, let’s take a look at spec…
Frame sizes across the range are 44, 47, 50, 52, 54, 56cm. Four models are available:
- Silque ($2,089)
- Silque SL ($3,149)
- Silque SLX ($3,679)
- Silque SSL ($6,599 or Project One)
All of them use a compact double crankset with wide gearing on the rear. The frames integrate their 3S chainkeeper, and all cable or wire routing is internal. Easy, versatile and clean.
The top of the line SSL is available through Trek’s Project One custom program, letting you pick the colors, details and spec you want (or can afford). The frame is OCLV 600-series with a seat mast and Trek’s E2 asymmetric steerer on a full carbon fork. The “stock” configuration gets Bontrager Race X Lite tubeless ready wheels, Shimano Ultegra Di2, Cane Creek headset and a Bontrager Race X Lite (RXL) cockpit.
The SLX shares the same frameset at the SSL but gets built up with mechanical Ultegra 11-speed, Bontrager Race Tubeless wheels and a similar cockpit. It’s unfortunate that neither come with Bontrager’s excellent tubeless ready road tires, too, but at least the wheels are ready for the future.
The SL keeps the Ultegra drivetrain but drops down to a 400-series OCLV frame and standard (symmetric) E2 steerer tubed fork and regular seatpost. But, it adds back the clever vanishing fender mounts from the Domane. Cockpit is a Race/Race Lite mix and includes a carbon seatpost.
How’s this for a color name: Seeglass Appleseed Blue? While we didn’t know apple seeds were blue, their Seeglass paint is gorgeous and a nice way to make the lowest model look much more upscale. It’s the same frame as the SL, but spec drops to Tiagra 10-speed with fairly standard Bontrager alloy wheels – but they’re still built with tubeless rims! An alloy Bontrager cockpit with short reach/drop handlebar round things out.
Here are a couple more pics before we get to the Lexa:
2015 TREK LEXA
With all the changes introduced on the Silque, Trek’s assistant road brand manager Royce Breckon said they wanted to update the Lexa’s geometry to match. Other than the fork’s rake, it’s virtually identical to the Silque in terms of fit and handling.
“We also improved the tubing and put carbon forks on all models, both of which improved compliance,” Breckon told us. “And we added tire clearance to fit 25c with fenders and have room to spare.”
Indeed, the tubes are much slimmer and sleeker looking than on the prior iteration. The only model that didn’t get these updates is the top of the SLX, which incorporates the IsoSpeed decoupler and carries forward unchanged. The rest of the line, from the SL (shown below) on down all get the new frames/geometry and slightly improved spec over last year.
The Lexa SL is the top model before switching to the IsoSpeed SLX. It retails for just $1,199 and delivers a 100-series Alpha Aluminum frame with Tiagra 10-speed group, Bontrager alloy wheels (tubeless ready!), FSA Vero crankset and a mix of alloy Bontrager standard and Race Lite cockpit parts.
Below that, the base Lexa retails for just $769 with a mix of Shimano Claris, Vuelta cranks and Sunrace cassette. Standard (non-TR) Bontrager alloy wheels and Bontrager SSR components round out the build.
Both the Silque and Lexa models are already in some stores and shipping now. Virtually all of them spec Bontrager’s Hard Case tires, which should help keep everyone rolling smooth for many miles.
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