Trek Madone 6.9 SSL Image Gallery
Related: bicycle power meter, Lightweight, Photography, Road Bikes, Shimano, SRM
The Trek Madone 6.9 SSL with Shimano DI2 has about the cleanest design you’ll find in a bike.
Gone are most of the visible cables, leading to an ultra clean look, almost like a single speed track bike.
On this page I show the build and layout of the bike.
Click on any image to see a larger version.
Images
Various shots of the Trek Madone 6.9 SSL, as I had it built.
Entire bike
Bikes as I had them built— with a 53 X 39 chainrings, and with 50 X 34 compact double.
See details on Trek Madone 6.9 SSL main page.
Drive train
Note the absence of any visible cables. The SRM power meter cranks are visible. I chose the black/white decals in keeping with the overall look of the bike.
The two Arundel water bottle cages weigh about an ounce each, but match nicely and grip a 1-liter Evian bottle firmly.
Drive train closeup
Note how the electric cable is routed internal to the frame, keeping it both safe and out of sight. Pedals are carbon fiber.
Stem, head tube, fork
Black on silver works well. Maybe (maybe) black cable housings would have been better,a nd I could do without the obnoxious Bontrager lettering.
Frontal view
Very clean cable layout.
Handlebar layout
The few cables are totally out of the way, leaving to an ultra-clean look and presumably better aerodynamics. Not to mention my bike lights don’t have to be turned upside down to avoid the light hitting the brake cables.
DI2 battery installed
The battery to power the Shimano DI2 electronic shifting is installed at the bottom of the frame, out of sight an away from harm.
Seat tube, top tube, custom logo
No point in stealing a bike with its owners name built-in. With the Project One program, you can have your own name or whatever built right into the bike. I’m not sure if it can be sanded off, but it probably can since it’s painted on.
The frame is pure elegance at the curves. Note also the cable routing to the rear brake; it’s hidden for the most of the length of the top tube.
Front brake
I suppose I should have photographed this before riding it and accumulating some road grime. The DuraAce breaks are strong and sure-stopping. The tire here is the Veloflex Record tubular, mounted on the Lightweight Ventoux 240 carbon fiber wheel.
Stem and SRM Power Control 7 mounted
The Power Control 7 (65 grams as weighed) as mounted on the handlebars. I’m not sure what the small SRM mounting bracket weighs.
Stem and handlebars with SRM Power Control 7 head unit
The layout is ultra clean, and even the addition of the SRM Power Control 7 head unit fits in naturally.
Seat tube and bike rear
The sculptured look is elegance and functionality all in one. Frame and seat post and water bottle cages are all carbon.
Seat tube and custom logo
Black and silver really look good together.
Saddle with saddlebag, top tube
I found this Bontrager saddle quite comfortable. I stow a pre-glued spare tire and can of sealant in the bag underneath the seat; this adds 1 pound to the riding weight.
DuraAce brake levers and DI2 shifters
Great design!
Conventional style brake lever, with the DI2 shifters visible near the center of the lever.
DI2 controls
These are the electronic controls for the DI2 system. The battery status can be checked, and the shifting adjusted with these controls. You can also reverse the meaning of the levers (which button shifts up and which shifts down).
Stem
Layout of the stem and cables.
Cranks and front derailleur
Nice clean goodness all around.
Rear half of bike
Sleek and functional.
Water bottle cages
I went with the Arundel carbon water bottle cages because the black cages just did not look good or looked like cheap plastic. The cages are bit shinier than the frame, but it’s not really noticeable, especially when a 1-liter Evian bottle is stuffed in there.
SRM Power Meter cranks
The SRM power meter uses the Shimano DuraAce 7900 rings, so no issue with stiffness or shifting. It’s also wireless.