Trek Boone Cyclocross Bike Launch 2014
Baal, Belgium
January 1, 2014
by Jeff Lockwood
While Trek has arguably taken a cautious, measured approach to cyclocross over the past several years as the sport has rapidly grown in popularity, it’s obvious they’re not messing around any longer.
Katie Compton is hands-down the most successful cross racer in the United States, and the most victorious woman on the world stage. Trek signed her two years ago.
There is no doubt that Belgian Sven Nys is THE king of cyclocross. You know you’re a legend when a major cyclocross race is thrown in your hometown, and it bears your name while you’re not only still living, but still racing…and winning. Current World Champion Nys and colleague Sven Vanthourenhout are the latest athletes atop Trek cyclocross bikes, thus galvanizing the fact that Trek is now in the cyclocross game, and is playing for keeps.
The Bpost Bank Trofee GP Sven Nys in Baal, Belgium on New Year’s Day is where Trek unveiled the Boone cyclocross line and Trek as bike sponsor for The Svens. This was the first race where Compton and both Svens would race the Boone. As almost scripted, Nys lead from the start to take the win in front of his hometown crowd, while Compton fended off arch-rival Marianne Vos to cross the finish line first.
The Bikes
The most immediately-noticeable feature found on the entire Boone line is the IsoSpeed decoupler. Originally developed with Fabian Cancellara to soften the horrible blows delivered by the relentless cobbles of Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders, the IsoSpeed technology was debuted on the Trek Domane road bike a few years ago.
The IsoSpeed decoupler isolates the seat tube from the top tube to offer a good amount of vertical compliance to soften some of the unpleasantness in rough riding conditions. While the IsoSpeed decoupler sits a bit ahead of the seat tube along the top tube on the Domane, Trek moved it more inline with the seat tube on the Boone so as not to dig into the shoulder during portage over unrideable terrain.
The Boone’s obvious lineage to the Domane doesn’t end with the IsoSpeed decoupler. Trek has included an internal battery mount for electronic drivetrains, and the proprietary 3S Chain Keeper to help make sure the chain stays in its place.
As with all of Trek’s composite bikes, the Boone is made with Trek’s proprietary OCLV carbon fiber. OCLV 600 Series is used here on the Boone line, and it’s reinforced with Trek’s Carbon Armor to protect the frame for long-term durability. With all of this carbon talk, Trek claims the Boone to be below 1000 grams and the lightest ‘cross frame on the market. Though we were unable to get the frame on a scale at the launch to verify this claim.
Trek brought Katie Compton on board a couple years ago not only to get a lot of wins for Trek, but also to tap her cyclocross experience and insight. Trek used her input to design and build the Crockett cyclocross bike (unveiled last season), and its geometry has carried over directly to the Boone.
The 54cm Boone features a 51.3 cm seat tube, 72/74 head/seat tube angles, 54.4 cm effective top tube, 6.8 cm BB drop, 42.5 cm chainstay, and a wheelbase of 101 cm. The Boone is available in six sizes: 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61.
Each of the three Boone frames are offered in either disc or cantilever brake models. They all offer internal cable routing, BB90, an E2 tapered head tube, a semi-integrated “Ride Tuned” seat mast, and a unique weather-sealed bottom bracket cover for the cables.
One interesting difference between the disc and canti models is that the disc-ready frames feature hidden fender mounts on the underside of the chainstays near the seat tube junction.
Trek is also selling Boone framesets (frame, fork, post, stem and headset) because they know people also like to build rigs to their own personal spec. Retail on both Boone framesets is $2299.99USD. (We’re digging around for UK prices at the moment…)
Boone 9 Disc
Disc balanced post mount brakes
Hidden rear fender mounts
Trek IsoSpeed Cross carbon disc fork tapered fork
Shimano Ultegra 46/36 crank / Ultegra Di2
HED Ardennes carbon fiber wheels with centerlock disc
Matte black with subtle red and gloss black graphics
MRSP $6299.99USD
Boone 9
Cantilever brake mounts
Trek IsoSpeed Cross carbon disc fork tapered fork
Bontrager Race Lite Tubeless Ready (TLR) wheels
Shimano Ultegra 46/36 crank / Ultegra rear derailleur
Matte black with subtle red and gloss black graphics
MRSP $4199.99USD
Boone 7
Cantilever brake mounts
Trek IsoSpeed Cross carbon disc fork tapered fork
Bontrager Race Tubeless Ready (TLR) wheels
FSA Energy 46/36 crank / SRAM Rival
Neon green, black and white
MRSP $3359.99USD
Boone 5 Disc
– Disc balanced post mount brakes
Hidden rear fender mounts
Trek IsoSpeed Cross carbon disc fork tapered fork
Bontrager Approved Tubeless Ready wheels with centerlock disc
FSA Energy 46/36 crank / Shimano 105
gloss black, blue and white
MRSP $3049.99USD or £2400
Boone 5
– Cantilever brake mounts
Trek IsoSpeed Cross carbon disc fork tapered fork
Bontrager Race Tubeless Ready wheels (TLR)
FSA Energy 46/36 crank / Shimano 105
gloss black, blue and white
MRSP $2839.99USD
