One of the best parts of living in Austin is the vast network Texas Hill Country roads we’re blessed with, but those same roads can also be a curse when it comes to road quality. When Trek announced the new Domane model this spring we were hopeful that we’d have a bike that could mute those rough surfaces without sacrificing the feel of a race bike. With the release of the full line of aluminum and carbon models we’ve had a chance to put the bikes through their paces and bring you some thoughts.
The Technology
Whether your shopping high end or entry model the heart of of every Domane model is the technology Trek uses to create the Iso Speed Decoupler and the endurance geometry. The decoupler is a cartridge bearing based system at the junction of the seat tube and top tube and works bike helping dissipate the rough roads underneath you. Pair the decoupler with a bike with a slightly longer wheelbase, lower bottom bracket, and you have a bike that takes rough chip seal, road seams, and tames them.
The Ride
With the road shock and handling comes the question of performance. From our first rides on the 6.2, to extended test rides on the 2 series through 6 series models we find a bike that lets you focus more on the joys of the road than the annoyances. From urban city rides to commutes the ability to soften the blow of road seams and bad patch jobs of Austin streets the Domane stood out. While many of you HAVE a dedicated commuter, there are lots on people that want their commute on a road bike and the Domane could serve that purpose well. 
On a of handful long steady road rides the Domane left us satisfied that the bike can and will keep our customers fresher on long rides. The ride is comfortable but not at the sake of being left behind should the pace of group ride turned spirited. In fact, it’ll hopefully make you a more confident at times know you’re on a bike that can handle leaving the road surface in an emergency, rolling down a dirt road, or having to get out of the way of someone doing their best/worst Mark Cavendish sprint impersonation.
From geometry, to getting power to the ground, to technology, everything works together, a package deal based on the ground up design of a bike. We’re thrilled to have them in our line-up and know for many of our customers offer Trek has raised the bar on it’s road offerings.
The Models
We’re proud to stock following Domane models at Mellow Johnny’s. Give us a call, come by or email here to schedule a test ride.
