RadioShack-Nissan's Trek machines for 2012
Andy Schleck's bike with Shimano D12
This article first appeared on Bikeradar
Trek Bicycle Corporation sponsored both the Leopard Trek and RadioShack teams last year so it's no surprise that when the two teams merged during the off-season that the Wisconsin company would carry on in that role for 2012.
Indeed, returning Leopard Trek riders will essentially have to make no adjustments whatsoever as aside from cosmetics, virtually every piece of equipment is carried over from the 2011 season. Anchoring the entire package is Trek's top-end Madone 6.9 SSL frame, dressed in a complete Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 electronic group plus a wide array of components from the company's parts and accessories arm, Bontrager, including the new Aeolus wide-profile carbon tubular wheels, handlebars, stems, saddles, and even bar tape.
Finishing bits include Schwalbe tires, Cane Creek headsets, Bontrager computers with DuoTrap integrated cadence and speed sensors, and Trek BAT bottle cages – a curious choice in terms of cost (it's one of Trek's least expensive options) but one that makes more sense when you consider the reasonable weight and very secure grip.
Team leader Andy Schleck's bike in particular looks to be especially unchanged from when we profiled it during last year's Tour de France in terms of both the build and positioning. We didn't have a chance to weigh team bikes during the team media presentation last week but we expect it to be just barely UCI-legal at around 6.86kg.
As before, Trek will again offer team replica bikes to the public via its Project One program. Suggested retail price (sans pedals) is US$11,686.48.
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