trek lexa slx 2015

Trek Lexa SLX: First ride review

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Trek Lexa SLX

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Words Derri Dunn | Photos Rupert Fowler

Last year, Trek’s ground-breaking Domane race bike made tidal waves on the pro scene. With its IsoSpeed section set in a carbon frame, the back end was decoupled, making for a much more comfortable and effective endurance bike for racing on tough terrain, like the cobbled Classics of Belgium.

We just love trickle-down technology here at Cycling Active, so we were pretty delighted to spot aluminium Domanes at Trek’s new product launch for 2013, starting at just £1,000. But something’s missing — there are women-specific carbon Domanes, but has Trek forgotten the girls with shallower pockets and aluminium aspirations?

Thankfully not. It turns out there is a women’s aluminium Domane and here it is — it’s called the Lexa SLX. The reason for this Domane travelling incognito is that Trek wants to give its women’s bikes their own distinct identity, rather than just making smaller versions of the unisex models in different colours. Accordingly, the Lexa SLX does not have an identically specced Domane stablemate, though it’s very similar to the Domane 2.3, but without the carbon seatpost and costing £50 less, as you’d expect.

Classy, cool and comfy

Domane technology apart, I’ve long been a fan of Trek’s take on women-specific design. It’s adept at tailoring all the right bits — bar, saddle and of course frame size — without doing anything too peculiar to the geometry of the bike in the process. The extremely compact Bontrager VR-S handlebar is probably my all-time favourite women’s bar and fantastic if your hands are small and your finger reach short. I also like the flat, dense compound of the women’s saddle, with nothing too complicated or fussy going on, but it does look and feel a little low-rent compared to the overall finish of the rest of the bike.

But that’s mostly because the overall finish of the rest of the Lexa SLX is really rather swish. Black and gold makes quite a statement. Metallic bar tape isn’t for shrinking violets, and in this case it walks a fine line between flash and gaudy, happily managing to just stay the right side of that line, thanks to understated frame graphics.

And of course there’s nothing wrong with a bike looking a bit brazen, as long as there’s plenty of go to back up the show, and the ride of the Lexa SLX was no disappointment. I can’t say I noticed any groundbreaking new sensation from the IsoSpeed area, but this is probably part of its strength — it is, as Trek promises, very comfortable. It would be disconcerting if ‘decoupling’ the seat tube from the rest of the bike led to any great movement in the frame, but power transfer still felt plenty direct.

Overall, the frame feel is nimble and compliant, but there’s no sensation of harshness at the fork or saddle end. You could ride all day over potholed urban roads and not feel too jangled.

For all its brooding good looks and rather fancy technology, the Lexa SLX has still been positioned firmly within Trek’s ‘endurance’ — read ‘sportive’ — category and accordingly the geometry sports a relatively high front end, though if you’re a nervy descender like me simply removing a couple of spacers from under the stem positions more of your weight forward for better stability when the road points down.

Practical performer

Though it’s pricy and special enough to be a ‘best’ bike, the Lexa SLX actually makes a pretty nifty fast commute bike. Its angles are relaxed enough to allow you to find a sensible posture for riding in traffic, and it has removable fender mounts on the fork — so it can be your ride to work bike but still look the part when you’re leaving them for dust at sportives and club rides.

In short, it’s a really good inbetweener; a good bridging bike for women who want a bit more than just a bargain basement heavy winter hack, but still don’t want to hand over thousands for a precious carbon super-racer. It’s a little bit special, but still utterly practical when it comes to all the real riding you could throw at it.

Of course, unless you’re making some kind of statement about your Olympian credentials, you might want to swap that glitzy bar tape for something more demure so it looks the part if the Monday to Friday rat run is your only racetrack.

Specification

£1,150

Frame 200 Series Alpha aluminium

Fork Trek IsoSpeed carbon

Groupset Shimano 105 shifters, front and rear; Shimano Tiagra 50/34 chainset and 12-30t cassette

Wheels Bontrager aluminium

Tyres Bontrager R1 700 x 25c

Saddle Bontrager Affinity 1 WSD

Stem Bontrager Race Lite

Seatpost Bontrager Race Lite

Handlebar Bontrager VR-S

Sizes 47, 50, 52, 54, 56cm

Size tested 50cm

Weight 9kg (19.6lb)

Alternative

Trek Domane 2.0 £1,000

If you have the misfortune of being male or only having £1,000 to spend, fear not, Trek’s unisex Domane 2.0 enjoys all the same lovely IsoSpeed frame technology as our Lexa SLX. To trim the fat to the magic one-grand mark it sports a Shimano Tiagra triple groupset. With sizes going down to 50cm, all but the shortest women will also be able to enjoy the Domane 2.0, though of course you won’t get the benefit of the women-specific Bontrager bars and saddle.

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Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away , following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed. 

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The Lexa SLX is designed with a similar rider in mind as the Domane WSD range: the female endurance rider who values comfort and a relaxed ride, but at a lower price.

Both the Lexa SLX and the Domane bikes feature the IsoSpeed decoupler, probably their main selling point and a comfort bonus for the endurance rider too. They have the same geometry and a tall head tube, 14.5cm in length, that's good for riders wanting a comfortable view of the road whilst minimising neck and back strain.

The wheelbase is 3cm longer than the more race-oriented Madone WSD range. Our 52cm Lexa SLX has a 100.3cm wheelbase and is designed with increased stability in mind. The extended wheelbase is achieved with a more relaxed head angle, longer chainstays and a fork with a longer sweep; the effective top tube length is 53cm.

One last point about the geometry is the lowered bottom bracket position, providing a more stable feel to the ride. It's worth noting that other bikes in the Lexa range have a different geometry and a more recreational focus, and so provide less of a useful comparison here.

Both the Domane WSD range and the Lexa SLX share the IsoSpeed technology, basically a linkage separating the top tube and the seat tube, that allows both tubes to be independent rather than joined as they are in normal frame designs.

The seat tube has two different aluminium tubes welded together. You can see the weld if you take a peek just below the top tube. This allows different tubing properties to be used and in layman's terms it allows the seat tube to flex and move backwards slightly to absorb road stutter, vibration, bumps and such things.

We're not talking about a huge amount of movement like mountain bike suspension, more like micro-movement really, but enough to increase vertical compliance and comfort. The IsoSpeed isolates the movement of the seat tube and the rest of the frame so it absorbs more of the road shock, and it really does work.

Using Trek's premium aluminium the tubing has been hydroformed to produce varying tube shapes and different properties to maximize aerodynamics and strength while keeping weight low. Trek call their hard-to-find mudguard mounts 'vanishing', rightly so as they are beautifully integrated in the frame and fork design; you can barely see them.

Another useful detail is the SpeedTrap compatible computer sensor integrated into the fork leg. Recording speed and distance is simple and no need for bulky sensors or wires either.

It's not just the frame that offers a comfortable ride, the carbon-legged fork is designed to absorb more of the road shock and increases front to rear compliance – that's flex in a good way. The fork is laterally stiff so you get good steering control, and the sweeping leg shape with the extra curve at the dropout minimises vibrations traveling up the fork to the frame and rider.

Specification

Shimano's mid-range 105 components make up the derailleurs and shifter/brake combination, whilst Shimano Tiagra parts (one level down in terms of groupset heirachy) are used for the cassette and crankset.

The double chainset has compact sizing (50/34) and combined with 10 gears (12-30), both cruising along and climbing needs were well addressed. There were no complaints about the reliability or quality of the moving components, everything functioned just fine and made a durable groupset.

The 105 brake levers offer adjustable reach by inserting a 5mm or 10mm shim to bring the lever closer to the bar.

Saddle, seatpost, stem and bars are all from Trek's in-house brand Bontrager and don't let the side down at all. The Bontrager Affinity 1 WSD saddle is comfortable from the off, with its plush and supportive padding providing even more respite from harsh roads. The Bontrager Race VR-S bars are a good width (40cm) for female riders, while the pimpy gold handlebar tape and brakes grew on us.

The wheelset survived the poor quality roads, the aluminium hubs with Bontrager Approved rims were solid and dependable and fitted with Bontrager R1 25mm tyres they felt pretty compliant too. It's worth noting that this wheelset is standard on the Domane 4.3 WSD, which is priced considerably more at £1800.

Being brutally honest I wasn't looking forward to testing an aluminium frame. I enjoy a carbon frame and the comfort it provides, especially with my fragile lower back getting hammered by the state of UK roads.

I found I could ride for longer in more comfort thanks to the IsoSpeed system, and being sensitive to rough roads this is a real bonus. I could sit firmly in the saddle and power on through rough road sections without breaking a pedal stroke.

To find out exactly how much of the nasty road surface was being absorbed by the frame, we switched the plush saddle and voluminous 25mm tyres for less forgiving alternatives. The resulting rides were only marginally less comfortable, proving the decoupler really did provide the road shock absorption as promised and it wasn't down to plush contact points or fatter tyres.

Most riders should feel the increased comfort over standard aluminium frames and appreciate the reduced road buzz and associated body fatigue. There is no noticeable disadvantage in terms of reduced stiffness to the frame or added weight either.

The longer wheelbase made for a confidence-inspiring ride, the bike felt really stable and controllable and was in its element on open country roads and while descending. You might expect the extra length to be restrictive on tighter radius turns but this wasn't a particular issue.

Fast descents and open corners were a dream and the bike whizzed across rough sections of road without hesitation. Both the longer wheelbase and taller headtube would provide novice riders a leg up in terms of improving their handling and increased downhill speeds, as the bike felt planted to the road in a very positive way.

At £1150 you can't expect a super-lightweight bike, and at 8.6kg (almost 19lb) it's not a race bike, but it certainly doesn't feel heavy to ride. Performance-wise sprinting and climbing aren't remarkable, but let's remember this is not a race bike and it does both adequately well and once at cruising speed there are no complaints.

It zips along and covers high mileages with ease, sportives and long rides are what this bike is designed for. If you're intent on racing then have a look at the Madone 3 Series; prices start at £1500 for a carbon frame with the same Shimano 105/Tiagra groupset and parts as the Lexa SLX. The geometry of the Madone range is more in tune with the needs of a race ready bike over comfort.

Overall the Lexa SLX impressed us, especially in terms of comfort over long distances, where the IsoSpeed system and the extra compliance certainly reduces rider road fatigue. If you're in the market for a sub £1200 endurance road bike than you need to test ride this bike and try out the IsoSpeed as it stands the Lexa SLX apart from its rivals.

The relaxed geometry is confidence inspiring and makes for a very stable ride. The spec is pretty good, especially for the price, it's good to see few corners have been cut to facilitate the technological advances in the frame and fork.

A women specific endurance biased road bike designed with comfort in mind. Not the lightest bike in this price range but an enjoyable ride thanks to the relaxed geometry, stability and IsoSpeed technology.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Trek Lexa SLX

Size tested: 53

About the bike

State the frame and fork material and method of construction. List the components used to build up the bike.

Frame 200 Series Alpha Aluminium, IsoSpeed, press-fit BB

Fork Trek IsoSpeed carbon, SpeedTrap compatible

Wheels Aluminium hubs w/Bontrager Approved aluminium rims

Tyres Bontrager R1, 700x25c

Shifters Shimano 105 STI, 10 speed

Front derailleur Shimano 105, 31.8mm clamp

Rear derailleur Shimano 105

Crank Shimano Tiagra, 50/34 (compact)

Cassette Shimano Tiagra 12-30, 10 speed

Saddle Bontrager Affinity 1 WSD, steel rails

Seatpost Bontrager Race Lite, infinite tilt adjustment, 20mm offset

Handlebar Bontrager Race VR-S, 31.8mm

Stem Bontrager Race Lite, 31.8mm, 7 degree

Headset 1-1/8" semi-cartridge bearings

Brakeset Aluminium dual-pivot brakes with Shimano 105 STI levers

Grips Bontrager Gel Cork tape

Frame and fork

Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork?

Good quality frame and fork and the IsoSpeed decoupler adds to the comfort and endurance capabilities of this bike.

Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork?

200 Series Alpha Aluminium

Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?

Trek's Endurance geometry is a more relaxed geometry than found on their race bikes, namely the Madone WSD range

Greater fork offset

Much of Domane's rock-solid stability comes from a race-tested 20% increase in fork offset over Madone

As befits Domane, the world's most comfortable performance racing bike, we've developed the world's most comfortable racing geometry. Still racy, but with a slightly higher head tube.

Riding the bike

Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.

Trek's Endurance geometry is definitely comfortable but above all the IsoSpeed decoupler enhanced ride comfort on longer rides. As a seeker of long, hilly rides and having thrown off my race jersey some years ago, I'd definitely opt for comfort and endurance qualities over a responsive race ride any day.

Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?

The IsoSpeed system provides a good degree of compliance without reducing lateral stiffness or adding any weight.

How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?

The Lexa SLX is not a snappy race bike and won't be the first off the line, but then again it doesn't claim to be and nor should we expect that. Once up to speed it moves along a nice swift pace and gets the job done with no fuss and in comfort. The BB86.5 bottom bracket is wide and stiff providing a solid base for acceleration and enhancing the stable ride characteristics.

Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so, was it a problem?

Not particularly noticeable, better than most.

How would you describe the steering? Was it lively, neutral or unresponsive? Definitely neutral with solid cornering and a planted feel on the road.

Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?

Being stable with a generous wheelbase length meant descending was confidence inspiring, and having some 'give' due to the IsoSpeed feature meant I didn't pay any concern to road surface other than avoiding potholes.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's stiffness? would you recommend any changes?

I've talked loads about the IsoSpeed decoupler already and am clearly a fan!

The drivetrain

Wheels and tyres, your summary.

Did you enjoy riding the bike? Yes, more than expected. I wasn't looking forward to riding an aluminium frame over longer distances and was pleasantly surprised by the reduced fatigue and performance of the IsoSpeed decoupler.

Would you consider buying the bike? If I had a budget of £1150 then yes, I'd prefer the Lexa SLX to a standard aluminium frame anyway.

Would you recommend the bike to a friend? Yes, for someone who wants an endurance bike with added comfort.

Overall rating: 7 /10

About the tester

Age: 0   Height:    Weight:

I usually ride:    My best bike is:

I've been riding for:    I ride:    I would class myself as:

I regularly do the following types of riding:

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Add new comment

Has anyone ever tried to fit mudguards on a trek with the vanishing mounts?, the clearances look extremely tight.

• Log in or register to post comments

"at 8.6kg (almost 19lb) it's not a race bike"

I would take issue with that; a few pounds difference makes very little impact, and certainly not enough for amateur riders to be aware of.

It's a perfectly raceable bike.

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Trek Lexa SLX Compact 2015

This 2015 Trek Lexa SLX Compact 2015 - Shimano 105 has a frame size 56. The bike suitable for a rider height of 5 ' 8 " - 6 ' 0 ".

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The Trek Lexa is a road/triathlon bike with an aluminum Series Alpha / WSD-tuned IsoSpeed / 100 Series Alpha frame. The frame comes in colors like gunmetal, platinum and Blue  Ink.

Originally released in 2011, there are 9 versions of this bike. Due to the frame materials and other factors, we estimate that this bike weighs around 25 pounds. The Lexa is fully rigid.

The Lexa comes with Shimano components, including a Bontrager stem, a semi-cartridge, integrated, sealed, threadless, semi-integrated, semi FSA headset and Shimano shifters.

The Lexa has 8,11,10,9 speeds and has Sun Race, Shimano SRAM PG-950 rear cogs and a Shimano derailleur.

It comes with Bontrager tires (622mm x NaN) and aluminum Bontrager rims.

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• Rider Notes

2015 Trek Lexa SL Compact

An aluminum frame race bike with mid-range components and rim brakes. Compare the full range

For This Bike

View more similar bikes →

A bike with lower gearing will be easier to ride up steep hills, while a higher top end means it will pedal faster down hills.

Lexa SL Compact

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Add custom gearing

Attractive, great value for money, punching well above its weight in performance too

Read Review

Dec 2012 · Nigel Wynn

Trek’s new top-level women’s sportive bike is more than just a higher spec Lexa — despite the name it’s actually a Domane in disguise

Last updated June 29 Not listed for 2,508 days

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You really can’t go wrong with simple: a beautiful Bride , perfectly pretty petals , loved ones all around. But add in an amazing firework show  to cap off the night and simple just became downright extraordinary. Captured by Lena Elisseva , with assistance by  Katya Butenko , this rustic Russian celebration is simply fantastic. See it all in the Vault right here !

From Lena Eliseeva Photo …  This cozy and warm summer wedding of gorgeous Natalia and Anton was in the middle of June. The young couple decided to organize their wedding themselves, and the day was very personal and touching. I am absolutely in love with rustic outdoor weddings, and this one is my favourite because of the free and easy atmosphere.

All the decor excluding the bride’s bouquet was made by a team of ten friends of the bride and groom. And it was charming – a light and beautiful arch, eco-style polygraphy and succulents, candy-bar with caramel apples and berries – sweet joys of summer.

At the end of ceremony the guests tossed up white handkerchiefs embroidered by Natalia’s own hands.

The most touching moment was the happy eyes of the groom’s grandmother, the most estimable person on the wedding. And the fireworks were a bright end to that beautiful day.

Photography: LENA ELISEEVA PHOTO | Floral Design: Katerina Kazakova | Hair And Makeup: Svetlana Fischeva | Photography - Assistance: Katya Butenko

These photos from Lena Kozhina are so stunningly beautiful – as in you can’t help but stop and stare – it’s hard to believe it’s real life. But these pics are proof of this gorgeous Bride and her handsome Groom’s celebration at Moscow’s Fox Lodge , surrounded by vibrant colors and breathtaking blooms . Oh, and the idea of prepping for your Big Day outside in the sun ? Brilliant. See more bright ideas right here !

From Lena Kozhina … When we met with the couple for the first time, we immediately paid attention to Dima’s behavior towards Julia. There was a feeling of tenderness and awe, and we immediately wanted to recreate this atmosphere of love, care and warmth on their Big Day.

Later, when we had chosen a green meadow and an uncovered pavilion overlooking a lake as the project site, it only highlighted a light summer mood with colorful florals and a great number of natural woods. The name of the site is Fox Lodge and peach-orange color, as one of the Bride’s favorites, set the tone for the whole design – from the invitations, in which we used images of fox cubs to elements of serving guest tables and other decorative elements with the corresponding bright accents.

Photography: Lena Kozhina | Event Planning: Ajur Wedding | Wedding Dress: Rosa Clara | Shoes: Marc Jacobs | Catering: Fox Lodge | Makeup Artist: Elena Otrembskaya | Wedding Venue: Fox Lodge | Cake and Desserts: Yumbaker | Decor: Latte Decor

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Out of the Centre

Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

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