Discovery Channel Team Unveil New Time Trial Bike

First unveiled at last years Tour de France when Lance Armstrong rode a pre-production model to victory in the final time trial stage, the Trek Equinox TTX returned to the podium at the Giro d’Italia when Paolo Savoldelli unleashed a ferocious effort to win the opening TT prologue by 11 seconds. Like all Trek OCLV Carbon bikes, the Equinox TTX was born and bred for ultimate performance.

The 101

• Tour de France & Giro d’Italia winning design.
• Manufactured using Trek’s proprietary OCLV Carbon at the Trek factory in Waterloo, Wisconsin.
• The main benefit of the TTX design is the ride quality. One will never forget what Lance said when he first rode the bike, “It rolls like a Rolls Royce!”
• The bike will be available as a 2007 production model.

FAQs from Trek HQ:

What was the evolution from the Equinox 11?

With Tour de France, Kona IronMan and Olympic success already to its credit, the Trek Equinox 11 has proven itself one of the slipperiest bikes currently on the market. The goal with the TTX was to make a bike that was not only lighter, but with even better aerodynamics. The ride quality and handling characteristics were also important goals. The top tube and head tube design borrow from the proven Madone® design which maximizes frame and lateral stiffness for improved handling and out-of-the-saddle acceleration. The new longer top tube moves the front wheel forward to provide better front to rear balance while in a typical aero riding position.

What are the improvements?

Better aerodynamics and reduced weight
50% increase in lateral stiffness at headtube for improved handling
52% increase in lateral bottom bracket stiffness
29% increase in lateral stiffness at rear wheel
Longer top tube for better handling in aero position

The new frame shape creates a dramatically stiffer chassis. Weight reduction occurs because the OCLV Honeycomb) Carbon material is no longer used. A virtual seat tube Angle of 73 to 79 degrees is possible due to the reversible aero seat mast which has infinite adjustability for saddle tilt.

What’s special about the Bontrager fork design?

The trailing edge of the fork crown and the frame down tube are integrated to present a virtual “continuous surface” to the wind, which reduces aerodynamic drag at zero yaw and improves the sail effect in crosswinds. This is a detail we learned in the wind tunnel while researching Lance’s TTX, but we didn’t have time to implement it for his bike.

What other changes were made?

The headset on the TTX Equinox has been changed to a 1 1/8” from 1”. The steerer tube is also now aluminum. This change saves weight and increases the front end stiffness of the bike. Lance always said “light and stiff” is what Trek should focus on – that’s what we did with the TTX