Trek Domane SL5 vs Aero Bike: SPEED TEST

CORRECTION: At 4:36 I mention the difference in wattage was 14 watts, but I meant to say 18 watts!
I compare the 2023 Trek Domane SL5 against in a speed test against an all out aero race bike, in this case, the 2020 Cervelo S3. The results really surprised me.
The Trek Domane was almost just as fast as the Cervelo S3 aero race bike, despite the Trek having a full stack of spacers and an upwards slanting stem. I think this is because I dressed it up with aero wheels, race tires, and an aero handlebar, which just goes to show how versatile that bike can be.

[@roberts1159]

Interesting real world comparison of these two bikes. I have a 2023 Domane SL 6 and it works for this 71 year old ! Race geometry is a thing of the past for me.

[@hikerbikeromar]

It’s becoming more of a thing of the past for me too!

[@jeffreysaffir1375]

Really enjoy your videos. They are very level headed, real world for regular riders and well thought out. Keep up the good work sir. I am 61 and ride a 2022 SLR Domane. I removed some spacers, cut the steerer tube, added Aeolus Pro 37 TLR's, Pirelli P Zero Race TL R's in 30's and an ENVE Carbon AR Road bar. As much as I would like to try a dedicated race bike to experience the ride, I don't race anyone but myself lol so the Domane it is.

[@hikerbikeromar]

Thank you so much! 🙏

[@universe-juice]

Hey buddy! Good to hear from you. I gave my domane to my brother. He really needed it. Point is, i miss it BAD. Anyone reading this, dont give away your domane!

[@hikerbikeromar]

Hey man! Wow, thanks for sharing! What about your Felt? Do you prefer the Domane over the Felt?

[@universe-juice]

@@hikerbikeromar the felt is a work of art. But, its definitely not a puttn around kind of bike. It really only has one purpose. To put you in a position that makes you go fast. Comfort isnt a consideration. I have a giant revolt advance 0. I putt around on that, but i really, REALLY, miss my trek domane!

[@hikerbikeromar]

@@universe-juice Understood! Makes total sense. Hopefully your brother lets you use it from time to time :)

[@universe-juice]

@@hikerbikeromar Yeah, hes a good guy and im trying to get him to exercise more. I thought a $4000 bike might help. It did, but i definitely miss my bike 😞

[@universe-juice]

@@hikerbikeromar BTW, i put aeolus gravel rims on it with 32c gatorskins. And OMG does that thing rip 🤣

[@pashonic]

Awsome video. I have same domane bike in 52 with 37 pro wheel set with 34mm tires. One recent thing I did is replace the 105 bushing pulley wheels with ultegra ball bearing, noticed a smoothness improvement in shifting and pedaling; also won't blow up after 750miles.

[@hikerbikeromar]

Awesome!

[@universe-juice]

Hey buddy, have news. Got a checkpoint sl5 yesterday. And am aggressively loving it! Gave up on the felt (for now). Just couldnt make it happen. Checkpoint, with my cadex slr2s is FIRE 🔥 😍

[@hikerbikeromar]

Awesome! Glad you like it. You’ll have to keep me posted with how it rides and you use it more. I’ve never tried a checkpoint but always heard good things. Was the felt just too aggressive and uncomfortable? I feel like I am sort of giving up on aero bikes too.

[@universe-juice]

@@hikerbikeromar Felt is solid. Im currently living in 2 different cities. 2 weeks in 1 and 2 weeks in the other. So i needed a bike for the other city i live in. Is a pain but nothing i cant handle. Anyway, checkpoint is incredible! Highly recomend. Riding the AR in Louisville, and riding the checkpoint in Paducah. Wanted a Felt carbon breed but just couldnt find one.

[@hikerbikeromar]

Got it! Makes sense. Side note - I used to live in Louisville too. Wasn’t into biking back then, it I imagine it’s a nice place for it. Glad you like the checkpoint! One day, I’m sure I’ll get to check it out.

[@universe-juice]

@@hikerbikeromar im positive you will like it. Just super impressed by this thing 🤣

[@harrywebster6752]

Good little test…the other variable that would provide more complete comparison is to change average speed. Wind resistance increases with square of speed. If rolling resistance is dominant at lower speed as you tested, you would see aero differences magnified as you increase average course speed. Would be interested to see your results from such a test. Same course, just different range of speeds above 18mph

[@pashonic]

Ya a down hill test with no wind that pushes bike beyond 20mph would be good

[@hikerbikeromar]

Good idea, thanks for the feedback!

[@angelaselvaggio7251]

i love your videos! I can't believe you forgot my birthday! I LOVE your technique and want to be on your channel. I want your channel to be called "Hiker Biker Omar and Ariella"

[@hikerbikeromar]

Love it!!

[@johnyoon5399]

You know something interesting, on the topic of power output and speed, I think some frames have a definite advantage over others in terms of power transfer and efficiency. Anecdotally, the Aethos has the most efficient power transfer of any bike I've ever ridden (albeit, I don't have much experience with really high-end bikes). It really stands out in terms of how easy it is to pedal. It seriously feels like there is an electric motor giving you a slight push. Diabetic Cycling on YT also noted that the Tarmac SL8, which inherited some design characteristics from the Aethos, is the easiest riding bike he's ever ridden (and he rides all the high-end bikes). He even measured the power output on the SL8 and found that he consistently saved a non-insignificant amount of power (I think 10W) for the same speed on other bikes.

[@hikerbikeromar]

Interesting, thank you for sharing! I have yet to try the aethos, but i've heard others echo similar sentiment.

[@Helldivers2Guy]

Good test!

[@hikerbikeromar]

Thanks!

[@aldrinclementina4297]

A simple and clear review. But like you said. I believe the aerobike would've been faster on a longer rider. That's what the brands tells us. "This model is ...% faster on a ...km distance" 😂 Thanks for sharing. I'm at the verge of moving from an Bianchi 928L(climbing bike) to a Merida Reacto (Aero bike) 😁

[@hikerbikeromar]

For sure, I may redo the test at a longer distance and see what happens. Thanks for watching! Merida Reacto is an amazing looking bike!

[@tommyfreckmann6857]

I highly doubt the tires would make up even half of that difference. And tubes definitely only a few watts compared to tubeless if using butyl. I recently did a test of my Colnago C40 to my Dogma F10 with identical fitment, same wheels used and PM. The F10 is literally only .1 mph. That is Decimal Point( .1) mph faster. That is it! Sometimes having a higher front end is faster as it can reduce frontal area more, increased comfort.

[@hikerbikeromar]

Interesting! Thanks for sharing. And I agree, I'd really have to repeat this test several times over to see what trends emerge.

[@prestachuck2867]

Smoother really is faster. Remember that Cancellara preferred racing on the O.G. Trek Domane' over the Madone, and he won some pretty important races onboard a Domane'. Trek claims that the Gen 4 Domane' is significantly more aerodynamic than Gen3.

[@hikerbikeromar]

Great point!

[@scottboepple7903]

I think people just need to except the fact that aero bike itself in compared to your body position is extremely marginal....I did an all out 6 mile effort recently on my 16lb rim brake venge on chip seal and a few rollers and maintained 22.2 mph then the next day under the exact same weather conditions including wind speed and direction , thought , well let me see what I can do the same ride on my OLD aluminum specialized allez 19 lb 2008 model and results were 21.9 mph.....I was expecting a much bigger diffrence

[@hikerbikeromar]

Interesting, thanks for sharing!

[@markymark9846]

Actually, it's tyres comparison :-)

[@hikerbikeromar]

True!

[@smkaz81]

Great content 👌 👏 Question, wouldn't a wider tire be slower 🤔, the contact patch is larger so would require more effort to move it, why do you think the new Toyota prius has such skinny tires, to make it more fuel efficient, but you are using more of your energy on a wider tire...

[@hikerbikeromar]

Thanks! Yeah that's what I always thought too, and I think a lot of people do. There's a lot of science nowadays trying to explain why wider tires are actually faster on bicycles, but it's still hard to wrap my head around.

[@smkaz81]

@@hikerbikeromar thanks for the quick reply.. So, why do "race" bikes come with such skinny tires & why are those bikes so limited as to putting on wider tires 🤔 Trek emonda sl5 is supposed to be quicker than the domane & max tire size is only 28mm...why would they limit it to only 28mm if they want it to be quicker I'm just trying to understand this Thanks again & keep up the great content as always 👍 👌

[@hikerbikeromar]

@@smkaz81 Hey yeah for sure! So to be fair, this is sort of an emerging science and it's considered new information to the cycling world. A lot of people like me still don't fully understand the physics behind it. But essentially the theory states that wider tires are faster mostly because of road imperfections. Since most roads are not completely smooth, really skinny tires will experience micro bumps as they traverse the road surface, whereas wider tires will glide over more smoothly. The micro bumps that skinny tires experience basically translates to higher rolling resistance, and hence a slower speed. Most race bikes nowadays have leaned into this trend and now offer tire clearance wider than we've ever seen before. The Cervelo S5 for example I believe has 34mm tire clearance. There is a limit though. Most people seem to indicate 30mm is about the limit before the aerodynamics of a wider tire start to work against you more so than rolling resistance. I'm certainly no expert, but that's the theory!

[@smkaz81]

@@hikerbikeromar I've always wondered why bike manufacturers have been increasing tire size capabilities on bikes, I thought it was only to provide better off road experience, didn't ever think it could have any thing to do with speed 🙂 Learn something new... what's your thoughts on the giant revolt, or even the defy .. I test rode a revolt, it was super comfortable but ran out of steam ( gears) pretty quickly... Keep up the great content 👏 👌 👍

[@hikerbikeromar]

@smkaz81 thank you! I haven’t tried either of those bikes actually, but they have excellent reputations. I know for sure that, from what I hear from other people, that they are indeed stellar bikes.

[@harrisr.7979]

Wider tires roll faster. Believe:)

[@s1alker564]

Such heavy disc brake bikes