How long do trek bikes last

Now those high end carbon framesets are produced in Asia, and shipped to Wisconsin for painting and assembly. Most other models are manufactured in countries like the Netherlands, Germany, and China. Gary Fisher has not been produced in the U.

Unfortunately, this move overseas is a pretty common trend in the bicycle industry. Ever since Schwinn went to China in the s, other major manufacturers have followed suit. If you want to find American made bicycle makers, you really have to look small at the boutique shops. New videos every month on how to find products made in the USA, which companies to avoid, exclusive interviews with great American made brands, reviews, and more.

Those thin tubes are only meant to hold shape, not weight. When you accidentally rest too much weight on the top tube of a bike frame, you can cause it to buckle or crack. For mountain bikers, this is especially true, as you can land a jump and bomb a hill with too much speed and force for your bike frame to handle. One of the best ways to extend the life of a bike frame is to make sure it is properly cared for and protected.

For most bike frames, this can include keeping it out of the rain and properly stored, but there are a few things to touch on specifically. You can learn the maintenance intervals, what to inspect after a crash, and how to repair any damage. The best way to store a bike frame is in a cool dry place, where there is no risk of something falling on it or crashing into it. While damage from the Sun takes a long time to take effect, water damage can begin immediately and will cause worry later down the road.

It can be easy to forget to check a bike frame that is working as it should, however, bike frames can hide damage up until the point of failure. Try to check your bottom bracket, headset, and other vital areas of the bike frame once a month or more depending on how you ride. Unfortunately, bike frames will not last forever, even if they are built to the highest standards with the best materials. Rather than waiting for a complete failure, there are a few times when it is recommended that you replace a bike frame.

Most bike frames come with a limited lifetime, and although some manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty, it can be dangerous riding a bike frame way beyond its recommended use.

This can be anything from a crack in the top tube or headset to a large area of rust on some of the vital parts. Bike frames only work when they are completely structurally sound.

This means that all the tubes are solid and welded perfectly together. While cracks usually cause immediate worry, a lot of riders make the mistake of discounting chips in the paint.

Depending on the type of frame material, it may be a good idea to add more paint and fix the chipped area before rust or corrosion starts to set in. Dents are slightly worse than chips because they most definitely affect the bike frame and can be even more dangerous depending on the severity of the dent. Unfortunately, dents are almost as bad as cracks, as they will get worse over time as you continue to use the bike frame.

This will cause you to be more reserved on the bike, and will also severely shorten the life of your bike frame. Cracks are the worse type of damage you can have, as they are hard to repair and often not worth repairing in the first place. And if you think dents get worse over time, you would be surprised how fast a small crack can become a total failure while riding.

If the bike frame is not properly stored or cared for, it can start to develop rust or corrosion on some of the vital areas. This is more of a worry with steel bikes as opposed to the aluminum, carbon and titanium bikes, however, it is still a problem. This is a good time to check for any cracks or corrosion, as unattended issues with wear your bike frame down faster. In fact, most people find a way to repair their bike frames, even if it only allows for a few more days of riding.

Always let a professional assess the damage, however, most bike frames are reparable — even carbon fiber bike frames. Of course, this depends on the severity of the damage and the costs to repair compared to the cost to buy a replacement. In conclusion, bike frames can last anywhere from 6 to 40 years, it just depends on a few factors you can easily control. When I first started cycling, I was surprised by the fact that I could lose weight with such a fun form of exercise. I immediately started doing research to find out how much I should cycle each day When it comes time to take a road trip with your bike, you can be worried about traveling for such long distances.

In addition to making sure you have the right bike rack, it is also a good idea to Skip to content. But one part that remains the same is the bike frame. But it can be hard to know just how much life you can squeeze out of a bike frame. So how long do bike frames last? It believes this carbon creates the best compromise between low weight and high strength and stiffness.

Optimum Compaction refers to the way sheets of carbon are layered into the mould, and optimised via heat and pressure - in Trek's opinion the two treatments are administered to the perfect ratio.

Low Void refers to the minimisation of space between the layers of carbon, which might otherwise reduce strength and durability. In , Trek opened an independent facility inWhitewater, Wisconsin. The idea being that the Waterloo factory would work in frame development only. For those who want to customise their ride, the'Project One' custom paint programme arrived in Trek supported now disgraced American cyclist, Lance Armstrong, through his peak years. He won his seven editions of the Tour de Frances on bikes bearing the brand name, but all of said wins were later taken from him following doping violations.

In that role, it provided bikes for high profile winners such as Fabian Cancellara and Alberto Contador,as well as Jens Voigt, and notably his Hour Record in September In , Trek continued to support the Trek-Segafredo men's and women's race outfits, two highly successful teams. Over the years, Trek has made a number of high profile acquisitions. The most famous, perhaps, Gary Fisher bicycles - the mountain bike brand which it took over in Bontrager, now Trek's component and apparel brand, maintains the same name as does Electra, the creator of leisure bikes and accessories.

Trek is able to offer a wide range of different bikes, each tuned to a slightly different purpose. Some model families are available in a selection of standards SLR premium carbon, SL carbon, ALR premium aluminium and AL aluminium , and then these come with assorted levels of componentry to suit your price bracket.

To add even more depth to the range, Trek offers many models in two different 'fits'. This is more aggressive, shaving off about 30mm on the head tube to create a longer, lower ride. The Domane comes in an H2 'Endurance' fit, with a few models in 'Pro Endurance', again with a longer and lower stance on offer. If you click on this then we may receive a small amount of money from the retailer when you purchase the item.

The Trek Domane was introduced in It was created to offer a comfortable ride, the key feature being an IsoSpeed decoupler which separated the seat tube from the top tube, thus reducing vibrations and fatigue. In it gained theFront IsoSpeed, which helps to reduce vibrations at the front end without impacting handling.

This came alongside a new slider, which alters the level of dampening offered by the rear. In its most recent update , the Domane took notes from the Madone with an aero fork profile, whilst becoming more versatile thanks to clearance for 38mm tyres without mudguards, 35mm with.

It also gained a downtube compartment for stashing tools or snacks! The top Domane bikes come with an H1. The Trek Domane - available as a men's build or with women's specific componentry - is a fast selling model, which comes in a range of frame materials. The Trek Madone is quite another beast, and the bikes come built for men and women; the latter's models with women's saddles and narrower handlebars. With an aggressive geometry and stiffness to boot, it's a road race hero, and aerodynamics have become part of its lifeblood.

When we tested five aero bikes , head to head, the Trek Madone came out fastest. Modern Trek Madone's feature a high level of integration, with the cables tucked away yet reachable via an access point at the top of the down tube. Because being bumped around doesn't make you faster, the Madone also features an IsoSpeed decoupler at the seat tube and more recently an adjustable one at the head tube, which offers greater compliance whilst still being integrated to prevent adding drag.

The newest model, according to Trek, can offer 17 per cent more compliance through to 21 per cent more stiffness, depending upon your chosen setting. A damper at the seatpost is also said to cut rebound by 13 per cent.

All of these stats add up to a bike that can be comfortable and stiff at the same time - and one that earned a place in our Editor's Choice awards.