I have my Trek Domani AL 4 for about three months and love it. But now I did the upgrade with the GP 5000 28 mm tires and the tubilito tubes and I am a new rider it’s unbelievable. I moved up three levels and I am welcomed into the new groups. I would’ve never realized what these upgrades could do so I thank you very 🎉 Lip
Wonderful detailed and relevant and unbiased review. I bought the AL4 and love it, this despite riding on stock tires as I ride mostly on packed gravel. The vibration damping of the carbon forks is amazing. Handling on tarmac is excellent.Thank you for excellent review.
Great info on tires. AL4 will also support tires in the other direction - up to 40mm gravel tires (although the stock tires aren’t bad on light gravel). Also, looks like that stem is upside-down.
I have the same bike and put a set for hunt aero aluminum wheels on for $500. Bike feels great. Big improvement. Those wheels and the conti tires are the way to go.
I watched both your videos on the ALR 4 and I’m convinced with the price per performance with the Tiagra group set. I’m a novice looking to move into endurance and to keep up with my boys. Seeing the road performance video with upgrades is also very valuable in my decision. Thanks for the reviews.
Great info and tips. Just purchased the al 2. I plan to upgrade the spokes from 2.0 to 1.5mm double butted of course. The spokes are sapium. I did this on a vintage with positive results and a lb of weight loss. Again thanks.
AWESOME UPGRADES!!! Thanks for all the tips! Can't wait to buy this bad boy, myself! Your videos are so inspiring & have really motivated me to dive back into my love of biking!
I have the 2023 Domane AL 4 Gen 3. I used to ride Canyon or Cube more expensive model (Di2 105). The Domane is incredible for the price. But the freewheel makes absolutely no noise. I used to have click click click when stopping paddling. This absence make me feel the bike cheap like a toy…
I bought my al 4 2 years ago. Got conti 5000s (TL 25mm) on her slammed the stem and it was a huge different for me. Definitely took me putting in the work on the pedals for sure. But for an amateur weekend warrior it’s gotten it’s money’s worth. Eventually I’ll get new wheels when these have issues. But for now it’s still going strong.
"Cheap" weight savings tips: seat post $100 for a carbon post (Fizik) saves about 80g, bar tape only to just before the tops of the shifters will save you about 80g (you already have padding on your gloves), of course, cut the to of that stem that's protruding over the bar, a Fizik saddle (with at least Ki rails) will save a good 50g for around $100 when you catch them on sale. That's another 1/2 pound for around $300 which might not be as great as the tire/tubes upgrade, but tires/tubes are the best bang for buck. I don't know if you have quick release skewers, but if you do, an $80 set of Titanium skewers is an easy 80-90g savings. That's the 2nd biggest bang for buck upgrade. Too bad you don't have rim brakes. For around $100, you could've saved an easy 80g with a set of SRAM Force brakes over Tiagra calipers. Also, you'll easily drop another pound and a half with a decent wheel swap for around $700 (I suggest the ICAN Aero 50's) while achieving much greater aero gains and that alone will transform your bike the most without a doubt. Plus after that, you can use your OEM wheels as trainer wheels or bad conditions wheels (slap on a set of snow/rain worthy tires).
I have the Domane AL4 as well (size 54). As I am getting more into road biking I am quickly realizing that little changes make a big difference. I added a carbon seat post and my back couldn't be happier. It seems to really absorb the road chatter. Then, sorry Trek, but the stock seat is horrible. I swapped it to Selle and oh the goodness. I love this video because you only changed a little bit and then provided your impressions. It is great to see honest impressions. As for the tubes and tires....I'm curious if it is worth biting the bullet and just going with carbon wheels, tubeless, and then the GP5000 in a 28 or 30 to really get a big jump in performance. I too live in a very hilly region. Anything I can help to make climbing easier, I am all for it. Thanks for the great content and honest reviews.
Thank you for this awesome comment! Similar to you, I am also curious what iprovements carbon wheels would make on this bike. I may do a video on that soon to find out. Thank you so much for watching!
I have the Domane AL5 and earlier this year I could make a great deal on a set of carbon wheels, the Bontrager Aeolus Elite 35. I fitted a pair of GP5000's in 28mm on them, and I have to say the bike feels completely different then with the stock wheels. I really think it was worth the money.
I also had to change the seat, it was killing me on longer rides. I will look into adding a carbon seat post too. Then after that I'm thinking of upgrading to carbon wheels. Some of the Chinese offerings look interesting.
@@ismaelderas I got a specialized power expert saddle, it's the same shaped seat as the saddle that comes with the trek but my pain has completely gone on longer rides.
I just bought this bike. I’m extremely happy with it. It’s worth the money and it looks more expensive bike. If you are not a top professional cyclist, keep away from the expensive carbon bikes and get this. Your fitness is more important.
Omar I modified my Domane AL 5 with Continental GP 5000 30-622 tires and Tubolito Road SV 60 tubes. It shaved 1.06 lbs of weight. I didn’t go with 28mm as I really enjoy the relaxed geometry and comfortable ride of the larger wheels. I’ll compare my new rides average speeds to my prior ones (on Strava).
Glad to hear you upgraded the tires! If you end up upgrading the wheels, I’d probably go with the Hunt 40’s since they are lighter and cheaper than the 50’s, and I think the difference would be hardly noticeable between the two. I’d just verify with your local shop that those wheels would work on that bike. Pretty sure they will, but never installed them with the Domane in particular myself.
@@TruthSpeaker1001 Yeah I totally hear you. I think they would look cool but ultimately I'd say probably not worth the price tag unless you are really pushing the bike to it's limit and need to get more performance out of it.
Hello Omar, so I got the Hunt 50 carbon wheels for my Domane AL 5. I have a size 61 and with the Hunt wheels, Tubolito tubes and Conti 5000 I lowered the weight of my bike (w pedals and Garmin mount) down to 22lbs. I’ve done a 3 group rides from 25-33m and averaged 19.3 to 19.5mph. In order to get a bike with a 18lb or lighter weight, I was thinking of buying a CANYON Endurace CF 8 and swapping the HUNT 50 onto that, or maybe a Domane SL 5 or SL 6 and swapping the Hunt onto either. I’m age 60 and want a relaxed geometry, but also enjoy keeping up with the fast groups. A Domane SL 5 or 6 would not be as light as the Canyon, but I would guess be much more comfortable? Your thoughts?
@TruthSpeaker1001 Hey there, thanks for the update. Congrats on the wheels purchase! That’s awesome. And btw, 19.3 - 19.5 mph average speed is absolutely excellent. Nice! I totally hear you about your choice considerations. Ultimately, the Domane is definitely a more comfortable bike. I have both the Domane and the Canyon Ultimate, and the Domane is hands down the bike that I would choose to take for long rides, and just the overall more practical option. Many of the people I ride with are age 60+, and a lot of them use race bikes similar to the Ultimate. They don’t have any issues, but most of them ride several days a week and their bodies and tuned and flexible enough to handle that geometry. I personally think it’s not worth going with the ultimate unless you ride in a very hilly area. The Domane is more comfortable, and especially if you put those hint wheels on there with the lightweight inner tubes, I think you will have no problems keeping up with fast group rides. You could also make sure you get a stem that angles downward which would make the bike more aero, and you’d really be set. In fact, I just did a video where I compared a Domane SL5 to an aero race bike to gauge the speed differences, and what I found is that the Domane was hardly any slower. It’s my most recent video you can check out on my page if you are interested. Keep me posted!
Very cool information. I just ordered one today in part thanks to your reviews (as well as getting to try the AL3 and the AL5 in store). Am just going to start with those better tires. Should be in by the end of the week!
The problem with the Domane AL is the 100 series aluminum. It's rigid over bumps in an uncomfortable way. The 200 or ALR would have been a brilliant choice for Trek to offer this bike in
I've been making upgrades to my custom made ti frame bike by ditching the carbon cockpit and using Controltech's Timania bar and stem. And ditching other lightweight stuff to get more durable and better quality. I tried those plastic tubes before and it was a ripoff so I now use latex tubes. They are saying now that aero is more important than weight so I have set my goals on having a well made longer lasting strong bike and dropping my body weight.
I got myself a domane al2 and did some upgrades I got it from 22lbs down to 19.5 l bs with new tires new seat post and saddle handlebar I also upgraded from square tapper to hollow tech 2 it rides super great and I got clippless pedals
I just bought the Domane AL yesterday and it sure is a comfortable ride but was very disappointed that I was actually slower on descents by 1 to 2 miles an hour coasting at speeds over 40mph and slower on climbs by up to 30 seconds. I am currently on the stock tires and the wheels are not nearly spinning as long as on my old bike. I’m wondering how much better tires will help and if I can adjust my position to be more aero such as lowering the stem? I was hoping a new bike would have been faster given my fitness not slower. I am only a few seconds away on several KOMs in my old bike and was hoping this bike would give me these few seconds considering my old bike is rusty, not tuned and the rear wheel was slightly wobbling and a more entry level than the Domane.
Have same tubes and Corsa tires forgot if they're 25 or 28. Guess I have to do this mod NOW! I have been sea kayaking. Haven't been biking since early summer. You're dumping rotating weight which is equal to more than static weight. In car racing it's 4:1 ration for wheel rate reduction. Think I dropped it one spacer already. Not a bad bike. May get another CF Trek. May swap tires and weight till spring. Thanks for this review ..
Great reviews. Thank you. I am considering purchasing the AL4 or 5. Your reviews might convince me to go with the 4. I noticed you are using flat pedals on this bike, not clip less or toe clips. I was wondering if you could briefly explain your thinking on this.
Great question! I actually have switched back and forth between clipless and flats with this bike. For now, I have decided on leaving flats on there for the forseable future. The reason is because I want to keep this bike an easy to access ride, without having to commit to full on biking gear. Being able to get up off the couch and immediately hop on this bike regardless of what I am wearing means I end up riding it a lot more. Moreover, I don't personally notice much difference in efficiency with clipless pedals, especially if you use grippy shoes like Addidas five tens. So I feel like I get nearly the same power output with flats, and having flats makes it generally safer, and I am more likely to explore new areas on this bike. It's all totally personal preference though!
Thanks for the comment! I would love to, but I am only able to review bikes that I can get access to. I don't think there are any of those bikes in my area. Sorry1
@@abhijitc06 Hmm, I haven't heard any rumors about the Tiagra. It seems like Shimano will soon do a massive overhaul of their road bike drivetrains, but everything I've heard seems to indicate that will be next year or even 2025. That is all the info I currently have. Sorry!
@@hikerbikeromar I'm terribly sorry to disturb ya Omar but do you have any plans on reviewing anything from the 2023 Checkpoint series - specifically the SL lineup? Would simply love your thoughts before purchasing....thx for your time!
@@jenniferniksich4861 Thank you so much for the comment, and that is an excellent question! I am grateful you hold my opinion in high regard! The Trek Checkpoint has long been on my list of bikes to review. I'd absolutely love to check it out, but haven't been able to get my hands on one. As soon as I am able to, I will upload a review right away, but unfortunately, as of now, I don't have anything planned. So sorry! However, everything I have heard about the Trek checkpoint has been stellar.
Nice upgrades! I'm thinking of buying a Domane 3 and ugrade it with 105 groupset and set of Fulcrum racing 3 wheels that I have on my current bike + carbon handlebars and seatpost. But that big positive angle (rise) of the stem on your Trek bothers me a lot...
@@hikerbikeromar So I finally got my hands on Trek Domane AL 3 and immediately upgraded it and got it at 9 kg with pedals! What a ride! Thanks for your reviews because they made me chose such a wonderful bike!
Why didn't you upgrade your rims? I'm a novice bike rider at 66yo. I made a mistake and bought a Schwinn GTX Elite 3 x 8. The add said light weight. It is not light weight. It is 37.5 lbs. So I have a new bike on order that should be available mid November 2023. I almost ordered the Trek Domane AL 4. Though Specialized had a 2 x 10 on sale for $999.00. The crux of the matter is everyone (not you of course) kept touting the 105 groupset as far superior to anything less. So when I saw that the new Trek Domane 5 gen 4 had 105 2 x 12 for $1999.99 I ordered one. Would the 105 2 x 12 sway your opinion any?
That's a good question. Personally, it doesn't sway my opinion, although many will probably disagree. It's certainly not a bad groupset, but I have used both a lot, and I just don't feel any difference with the Tiagra. For me, the AL4 gen 4 at $1699 is a terrific value, and I wouldn't pay a $300 extra for the same frame but different groupset. Instead, I would save that $300 and put that towards either the tires/innertube or perhaps new wheels like you said. New wheels would really put this bike in a whole new category. I didn't upgrade the rims simply because of cost. But it would have been the next thing I upgraded. And wow 37+ lbs is extremely heavy!
I definietly should have! The bike shipped with the stem in the upwards position, and I totally forgot to flip it. But the aero handlebar and slammed headset would definitely be one of the next upgrades to make, alongisde aero wheels.
Thank you so much for this video! I just purchased the Domane AL 4 Gen 4 and the speed dropped by about a mile. Definitely looking at this setup that you are recommending in our video. Isn’t the Domane tubeless ready? Why did you decide to go with Tyres + TPU tubes and not just Tubeless option? Thank you!
Congrats on the purchase! It's seriously an awesome bike. Yes I am almost positive the Domane wheels are tubeless ready. I definitely could have gone tubeless for sure. I chose to go with TPU tubes simply because I felt it was easier to deal with than tubeless, but in retrospect, I bet tubeless may have been the even better choice. I don't think you can go wrong with either approach though. Thanks for watching!
Im pretty sure on that track sou have driven this bike isnt slower than your "aero" bike with same Wattage. Of course you have to tuck in a bit, i think grabbing the handlebar on the downtube would be enough.
I bought the al4 in February and love it what would you think if I was to buy mavic axium wheels for my domane as I have them already on my specialized roubaix and the are bullet proof
Mavic Axium wheels are definitely known to be pretty awesome. They would probably be more durable than the stock wheels on the Domane AL 4, but the wheels on the AL 4 are pretty strong as is, and so I I’m born sure swapping them out would do much for you. You might be better off running wider tires and lower PSI first before swapping the wheels. Either way, I don’t think you can go wrong!
Thank you very much for your valuable recommendations! I just wonder why you didn't choose the tubeless version of the gp5000.. Should I consider tubeless and is it that complicated for a beginner? I have trek Domane SL5 and wanna ride 70% asphalt 30% light gravel.
You are welcome! I personally never got super into the tubeless systems. Some would disagree, but I think they add a bit of complexity/mess and I don't really see the benefit. Others will tell you they are more puncture resistant, but using the setup I showed in this video, I can count on one hand the number of punctures I've gotten in many years I've been cycling.
Hi, so indeed makes sense this upgrades. I am thinking of going for the domane sl 6 gen 4. On my current BMC, I have the impression that the distance to my handlebar is too large, and bike fit confirms that even after adjustments still. Now what holds me back a bit from the domane is that I would go up on comfort, but on some videos that domane really looks like a womans (sorry...) bike for sunday afternoon lazy rides, you know? I am riding in a group, and will the domane still be fast enough I wonder...
Haha I totally hear you about the looks! Looks are super important for me too :) I actually think the Domane AL 4 and above tend to look pretty good, but definitely not as sporty or competitive looking as the BMC’s or Cervelos tend to. I think if you put some lightweight innertubes and tires, and slam the stem, the Domane would be fast enough to keep on in most group rides. Could always upgrade the wheels to some aero wheels eventually, and would make the bike look a lot cooler :)
I have actually! They are really great for many types of riding. They give a lot of support for your feet and feel very stable, although for faster riding or competitive riding, I feel they are a bit too bulky and heavy. I ultimately stopped using them, but I’ve still got them for the right occasion.
Thank you! The ones I used in this video are linked below. It was an awesome setup! www.amazon.com/Tubolito-Lightweight-Compact-Puncture-Protection/dp/B07HRG1PB6/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1IVR9S569DMGL&keywords=tubolito%2Bs%2Btube%2Broad%2Binner%2Btube&qid=1674152758&sprefix=tubolitoa%2Bs%2Btube%2Broad%2Binnertub%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-5&th=1&psc=1
Which bike do you enjoy more the emonda sl5 or the domane al5🤔 if not really racing but for riding a course like this video, maybe a little gravel...keep up the great content 👏 👍
At first I liked the emonda sl5 more due to its more racey feel, but after upgrading my Domane AL 4, I’ve started to like the Domane more! Thank you so much for watching!
I’m quite happy with my Trek Domane 4. I’ve been riding in wet road conditions in Scotland. Are Continental tires you suggested perform well in winter wet conditions? Should I change the original 32 mm tires in wet conditions? Thank you for your great video. It was really helpful!
The Continental GP 5000 tires will perform pretty well in wet conditions, however, if that is going to be the majority of your riding, I’d recommend sticking with a tire specifically made for that. The stock tires will be more grippy than these Conti GP 5000’s. Thanks for watching!
Thanks! Upgrading to a carbon seatpost would be a great idea. It's relatively cheap, and should shave some weight, but more importantly, would probably add a good deal of comfort. It would be an easy upgrade to recommend for me.
Such a great and thorough review in the first vid, and awesome update and performance comparison in this one! I’m looking to buy this bike - but with a purpose in mind. I want to run a triathlon or two next year. Over the winter I’ll be keeping it indoors on a trainer hooked up to Zwift. Is this bike a good choice for tri’s?
Thank you so much for the positive comments! This is definitely an excellent bike for an indoor trainer! I actually just purchased an indoor trainer myself for use with this bike, and it's perfect. As for the triathalons, that is super cool you plan to do those! You could very easy slap a pair of tri-bars on this bike and use it in a triathalon no problem. The Domane is very modular and can be customized to no end. After throwing a pair of tri bars on there, I'd slam the stem and reverse so that it is angled down as well. If triathalon is going to be your main use, you are probably better off getting an actual tri-bike since that will position you a bit better for running after the ride, and will just overall be more aerodynamic. However, the Domane can absolutely be setup for that very easily in lieu of an actual tri bike, just might not be quite as optimal if triathalon is going to be your main use. Thank you so much for watching!
@@hikerbikeromar Great feedback, thank you! I’m glad to hear there’s a lot of room for modding and upgrading. If triathlons end up being something I enjoy, I will probably upgrade to a tri bike. For now it seemed like a better choice to buy a “budget” bike that can be used in a tri but also as a daily or trainer. Again, great vids and thanks for the suggestions!
Thanks so much for your videos. I have a Trek FX3 which is a great bike and well suited to the majority of my rides (12-15 mile neighborhood/ paved trail). But I do a couple of charity group rides (30-50 miles) and my FX doesn’t do well with hills and wind. I might do more casual weekend group rides too if I wasn’t worried about keeping up. Since this Domane (as it comes) is only 1.5 lbs lighter than my current one, do you think I’ll see a difference with those hills and wind just with the change in geometry (and having 20 gears vs 10)? Also, I like the 32mm tires. Since I do mostly paved but some gravel bits, do you think worth upgrading to the tires you mentioned but keep the same size? Also wondering if a carbon seatpost would be worth upgrading to for lower weight and comfort. Thanks for your great videos!
Thanks for the question! Yes, I for sure think you will see a massive difference in ever aspect of your ride with the Domane, including ease up the hills. As you mentioned, the wind is a major problem with the FX series and I find that the FX series, while comfortable for short distances and great for commuting around town, will fatigue me so much more than the Domane does. I think you will feel a lot more confident if your abilities to keep up with local groups with the Domane, and I think you will increase your performance stats accross the board. Regarding the tires...yep!! I would absolutely recommend 30mm Conti GP 5000's for your case. You will still see a huge performance difference, especially when combining with the lightweight tubolito innertubes. I'd say hold off on the seatpost. I think the 30mm Conti Tires will be plenty comfortable enough. If you feel like your lower back is still aching after longer rides, then I think a carbon fiber seatpost would be something to consider. This is all just my two cents based on my experience. Some would disagree with me since everyone is different, but I am 100% convinced you won't go wrong with the Domane, and it is a better choice than the FX series for your purposes. Thank you so much for watching!
@@hikerbikeromar Thank you! I wrote this in another thread but wondering your pedals opinion, since you ride this bike with flat pedals. One thing that had me hesitant in getting a road bike was feeling I would HAVE to go clipless. In anticipation of ordering a new bike, I had just ordered some Shimano EH500 pedals which are flat on one side and clip on the other (in case I got the guts to try it out in future). I have some Five ten shoes I just bought last summer. Do you think the dual option pedals are a good idea in case I decide to try clipless in future? Or just get a good flat pedal for this bike?
Oh man, this is the million dollar question! Others who see this comment will probably want to flame me, but for me personally, I am simply not convinced there is much benefit to clipless pedals. Just to put some perspective - in the past, I used to ride clipless pedals for as long as I can remember, and would always wear extremely high end shoes with pedals that would cost $400+. However, I never really liked it. Especially for leisurely trail riding, I always found it to be overkill. So one day, back when I used to do competitive time trailing, I decided to try the course using a pair of cheap flat pedals, and SLIPPERS, and low and behold, I’ll never forget I scored the highest time I ever did on that course, and higher than any of my competitors!! Ever since then, I have almost exclusively run flat pedals, and never had a problem keeping up on competitive group rides. I would even go a step further and say that I think flat pedals for most people are going to be BETTER than clipless. The reason is because they offer a wider contact patch which means you are able to put much more of your weight on your feet, rather than the perineum or wrists. As someone who used to get major pain in both my perineum and wrists, switching to flat pedals has really helped me a lot with comfort. The other reason is because I have never found a clipless pedal system with a wide enough Q factor - meaning most of them are pretty narrow, which throws off balance and the ability to put down power. With flat pedals, your feet are not locked into position, so you are able to position your feet wider, and make subtle adjustments to your feet position, which for me, has helped tremendously with comfort. And since I can get a wider stance on flat pedals, I can put more power down, which means I tend to usually go faster. This may not affect people with narrow hips as much as it does for me, but the truth is, most clipless pedal systems are made for pro racers and the commensurate body geometry, which most of us don’t have. As you can see, I LOVE to ramble about cycling! Long story short, every one is different, so what works for me may not work for you. But in my experience, flat pedals have made me more comfortable and more powerful on the bike. I also use five tens and love them! Having said that, as scary as it is, I guarantee you will eventually get used to clipless pedals. But I wold personally recommend you start with flat pedals and switch to clipless if you feel compelled to do so in the future. Others may suggest something different, and I respect everyone’s experience and opinion. Sorry for writing a whole novel, ha!! 😂
@@hikerbikeromar Do you have a favorite pedal to use with your Five Ten shoes and a road bike? I just ordered some Shimano pedals that are flat on one side but clip on the other but wondering if I just commit to riding flat! If so, want to make sure they’re good ones. Thanks!
@@LJG999ab That was my understanding as well. At some point, I'd love to be able to test the difference and see if the added weight is worth it in rolling resistance savings.
Are your wheels the stock Bontrager wheels that came with the Domane? What PSI did you inflate your 28mm tires? I have an AL4 as well and have contemplated switching to narrower tires. My only concern is the ride quality diminishing. The roads where I live have a lot of pot holes and deep cracks.
Yep, the wheels I am running are just the stock wheels. The tires I inflated to 90 PSI I believe. In your situation, you would probably want to keep the wider tires, as you may actually go faster with them given the road conditions.
Hi Omar, like your videos but suggest a softening of the background music. I noticed it again so was not a once off. Thank you for bringing us the content however. The videos are good.
Thanks so much @gamerdj for the advice! I really appreciate it. I usually just mix these on my laptop speakers, so I probably need to start using actual headphones to hear it more properly. Thanks for watching!
@@hikerbikeromar It's just something I think will help. I'm not one for wanting too much 'production' I prefer youtube of old. Amateur is best so long as the info is there and things are clear. At least that's me.
That's a great question! The tubes will make a difference which you will for sure most likely notice, but of course it will not be nearly as much as the full tube/tire combo.
Quick question about the Domane... During your time riding this bike, did you notice any internal cable rattles? I'm hearing that this is an issue with internal cable routed bikes, since the manufacturers aren't sound proofing the cables.
I did not hear any rattling of cables inside the frame, no. However, I used the bike only on road surfaces. If you go on more gravel or bumpy terrain, you might hear it more. Regardless, I would still say it is a very well built bike and feels like quality.
Thanks for watching! Both of those bikes are sitting in slightly different categories. If you do mostly gravel and off road style riding, the Diverge Elite 5 is definitely the better choice. On the other hand, if you do mostly road riding with occasional gravel, I'd go for the Domane. The Diverge may be a bit more comfortable given the tire clearance is wider, but the Domane will be faster. If it were up to me, I'd go with the Domane, but that is because I like to go fast and mostly ride on road and bike trails. Both are great options!
Thank you for your informative videos. I'm sold on buying an AL 4. One question though. What size is your bike?? I've heard from other RUclipsrs that most people rode bikes that are too big for them. I'm 6'0" tall. Thanks.
@@hikerbikeromar My first real road bike was a Trek 1.5. It was the Domane of it's day. Once I dropped the stem height and flipped the stem, it was like night & day bro. It'll drop you down a little and stretch you forward, but you'll be in a much more aero position. Comfort after that is relative, but a stem that's as level as the ground is as possible provides nicer feed back & handling. Looking forward to the rest of your mods. And welcome to Upgraditis! LOL
The next thing to upgrade IMO would be the wheels. After that, perhaps an upgrade to the handlebar to a more aero handlebar and more comfortable bar tape. That's probably as far as I would take it.
I have yes, it works terrific as a gravel bike! Unless you are doing truly hardcore rouch terrain, 38mm tires on the Domane will work great as a road/gravel hybrid.
Can you link to the continental tires? Are there advantages/disadvantages to using the tubeless continental's with your tubilito recommendations? Or is tubeless heavier?
Sure, link is: www.backcountry.com/continental-grand-prix-5000-tire-clincher I have never really been convinced of tubeless for road bikes. The weight would probably be almost the same with the lightweight setup seen in this video, but the hassle of tubeless I think wouldn't be worth it. That's just my opinion of course! Your mileage my vary.
I think the Tiagra is mostly good enough for what this bike is intending to be, but certainly a 105 upgrade would reduce the weight a bit, and give you more confidence in shifting if you were to push this bike to the limit. Although in that case, I'd probably just go with the AL5. It's a great question!
Those are both excellent wheels, but whether or not to upgrade largely depends on what result you are after. If it is just speed, I think the upgrades mentioned in this video are good enough. The wheels may get you a bit more speed, but bang for buck value is very low. So I personally would not recommend adding those wheels to this bike as I don't think it will make much of a difference and not worth the cost.
Emonda will probably be a bit faster, but won’t be as comfortable or smooth over the bumps. Domane AL 5 will pretty much be the same thing as this AL4. I would say between the AL5 and AL4, I would stick with the AL4 because I think it’s a better value. The AL5 will have a slightly better drivetrain and a more comfortable handlebar, but the differences will be so minuscule.
That's a good question. I believe it would be a 23mm, but it may actually be a 25mm. Without having the bike in front of me, I am unable to measure the internal rim width of the wheels, but I believe it is 21mm if memory serves me correctly. In which case, a 23mm would be the narrowist, but I'd pop into your local Trek store to verify.
Considering you did this ride on loose fitting clothings. The gap would be much closer if you want proper cycling clothes on. By the way flipping the stem instead of slamming it would look better and more aero.
I bought the cont gp 5000 tires from backcountry as you had mentioned in your video. They advised me to purchase specialized tubes. Are those good? I only see one type of tubolito tubes on their site but what size should I buy if u recommend me not using the specialized tubes? I also just got the new trek domane 4. Thx :)
Awesome, congrats on the purchases! You'll love it. You could use Specialized tubes, but it depends on what kind. Did you get the 28mm version of the Conti GP 5000? If so, I'd just go with the 18-28mm 42mm valve Tubolito tubes. Let me know if you have any more questions!
@@alibakr6176 No no, clincher is correct, but I was just wondering what size it was. It was probably 28mm or 32mm. If you already bought the specialized tube, then it's probably fine to just keep that! Most of the difference will be in the tire vs the tube.
Thank you. Great info! What would flipping the stem do for performance/ handling? It would lower a couple more mm.. Do you always ride flat pedals? Or do you clip in /stirrups on your carbon race bike?
Flipping the stem would make the bike a lot more aero, and I’m guessing would make the bike feel even a lot more like a race bike. Part of me wants to try it! It would definitely feel much sharper and snappier. I use clipless on my aero racing bike, but for this bike, I wanted to keep it as casual as possible so that I could just walk out the door and hop onto it without thinking twice about what I am wearing. Thanks so much for watching!
No reason other than the (perceived) hassle, and I haven’t observed any discernible difference between tubeless and tubes when running such high pressures. So I just tend to stick with using tubes, but that’s just my preference. Thanks for watching!
I own an fx3 , which I love, but I want to buy a drop bar bike. However when I tried the domane it hurts my privates… how do you get around that? Do you think I should stay away from domane ? I only ride in neighborhoods…please advise?
I’ve had the same issue, so trust me when I say I know how devastating it can be! I even had to go to the doctor, it got so bad for me when I very first started cycling. There are a number of things that can cause pain in the private area. The most common are saddle being too high, reach being too long, and/or drop being too low. A good place to start would be to lower the saddle so that the pressure is being placed in the sit bones rather than the private area. If that doesn’t work, you can try raising the stem. If that also doesn’t work, you can try to reduce the reach by getting a shorter stem, although that’s always a last resort for me. If you have to change the stem length, you are better off just riding a smaller frame bike. Lastly, be sure the saddle is perfectly level and does not tilt upwards at all. If all of those things are set properly, the Domane is very unlikely to cause pain in that area. As for the bike to choose, I’d pretty much choose the Domane in all cases except if you are going to be commuting in the city or urban areas. Otherwise, in my opinion, the Domane is just a more comfortable and faster bike. Hope this helps!!
I still would yes, I think it’s just so much more comfortable. It’s all subjective of course, but I never liked the fx geometry for much other than commuting.
Flip the stem and then cut off the chimney.. that little piece probably weighs 100 gr :). More weight savings. Also.. get some super lightweight carbon climbing wheels .. about 1200 gr
@@hikerbikeromar But how you can use 25 or 28 tires with this rims? They have 21 mm inner width and in every information that i can find, minimal recommended tires are 32 and wider...
@dmitriydv7803 hey man, so basically as long as the tire width is greater than the internal width of the rim, you should be fine. So if the internal width is 21mm, then anything above 25 should work. I am using 28mm which work great, but 25 should be fine too. I recommend going to your local bike shop to verify, but I’m 99.9% sure that a 25mm will be fine.
Great video. I bought the 2023 SL5 version and I love it. I put a set of high end aero wheelset on it wrapped in the Continental gp 5000 tires. The bike is phenomenal. I can keep up with any "racing" bike riders in my club. I actually love it so much that I am going to buy this AL4 too for bad weather rides and a bit different set up. I really wonder if you put carbon wheels on this bike how much better it will get. The Domane is a home run for Trek. By the way, I'm coming of off the gen 6 Madone. Keep up the good reviews! New subscriber here.
@@hikerbikeromar this makes no sense man I had 16mph average on my mountain bike (Giant talon 0) with very fat tires, I bought today the Trek Domane AL4 and plan on testing my average speed tomorrow. I hope you are just not very fit coz I’m expecting of this bike at least 19mph average
I’m extremely fit. It all depends on elevation gain. There’s no way you would get 16mph average speed with a mountain bike on the course I took this bike on.
@@rotten8000I just bought the Trek Domane AL 4 yesterday and was over 1 mph slower on very hilly course than on my o 14 year old Trek beater that was like rusty clunker and up to two or more miles an hour slower on 40 mph plus descents. Not what I was hoping for in trying to go for some KOMs. My old trek was an even cheaper entry level bike.
Giant Revolt is a great bike! If you bought the components brand new, you'd probably be looking at between $800 - $1000 for a full 105 setup. You might be able to get it closer to $500 - $600 if you buy some of the parts used, which I would definitely recommend as long as it's from a reputable dealer.
@@SG-dg6oi Yeah, unfortunately it adds up quick. Have you considered perhaps upgrading to Shimano Tiagra instead? You'll get most of the same performance as you would from the 105, but it may only cost you $200-$300.
I have this exact bike, it's awesome. I had to upgrade the seat however because the sock seat was causing me pain on longer rides. How about upgrading the wheels to carbon wheels and seeing how close you can get to 20mph average speed?
@@hikerbikeromar I am the same height as you with a longer inseam 35.6 inches and the same size bike. I am wondering what height you ha ve the saddle from the bb mine is at 80.5 cm or 31.7 inches.
That is a great question. I actually adjust it quite frequently as I am still trying to dial it in perfectly. Lately, since it’s an endurance bike, I’ve been opting to keep it on the lower side. With my aero racing bike on the other hand, I usually keep it much higher since it helps me get more power out. I am traveling atm, but I’ll measure it when I get back and let you know.
I have my Trek Domani AL 4 for about three months and love it. But now I did the upgrade with the GP 5000 28 mm tires and the tubilito tubes and I am a new rider it’s unbelievable. I moved up three levels and I am welcomed into the new groups. I would’ve never realized what these upgrades could do so I thank you very 🎉 Lip
Amazing! Thank you so much for sharing!
Wonderful detailed and relevant and unbiased review. I bought the AL4 and love it, this despite riding on stock tires as I ride mostly on packed gravel. The vibration damping of the carbon forks is amazing. Handling on tarmac is excellent.Thank you for excellent review.
Thank you so much for watching!
Great info on tires. AL4 will also support tires in the other direction - up to 40mm gravel tires (although the stock tires aren’t bad on light gravel). Also, looks like that stem is upside-down.
I have the same bike and put a set for hunt aero aluminum wheels on for $500. Bike feels great. Big improvement. Those wheels and the conti tires are the way to go.
That’s awesome! I’d love to potentially try putting some aero wheels on there as well. Thank you for sharing!
Yes those Kinlin X31 31mm alus rock.
I love how you were enjoying the test ride after the tyre change. I'm looking forward to slap these on mine.
Haha thanks! It made a huge difference! I’m sure you’ll love it. Thanks for watching!
I watched both your videos on the ALR 4 and I’m convinced with the price per performance with the Tiagra group set. I’m a novice looking to move into endurance and to keep up with my boys. Seeing the road performance video with upgrades is also very valuable in my decision. Thanks for the reviews.
Thank you so much for sharing!!
Great info and tips. Just purchased the al 2. I plan to upgrade the spokes from 2.0 to 1.5mm double butted of course. The spokes are sapium. I did this on a vintage with positive results and a lb of weight loss. Again thanks.
AWESOME UPGRADES!!! Thanks for all the tips! Can't wait to buy this bad boy, myself! Your videos are so inspiring & have really motivated me to dive back into my love of biking!
I have the 2023 Domane AL 4 Gen 3. I used to ride Canyon or Cube more expensive model (Di2 105). The Domane is incredible for the price. But the freewheel makes absolutely no noise. I used to have click click click when stopping paddling. This absence make me feel the bike cheap like a toy…
I bought my al 4 2 years ago. Got conti 5000s (TL 25mm) on her slammed the stem and it was a huge different for me. Definitely took me putting in the work on the pedals for sure. But for an amateur weekend warrior it’s gotten it’s money’s worth. Eventually I’ll get new wheels when these have issues. But for now it’s still going strong.
"Cheap" weight savings tips: seat post $100 for a carbon post (Fizik) saves about 80g, bar tape only to just before the tops of the shifters will save you about 80g (you already have padding on your gloves), of course, cut the to of that stem that's protruding over the bar, a Fizik saddle (with at least Ki rails) will save a good 50g for around $100 when you catch them on sale. That's another 1/2 pound for around $300 which might not be as great as the tire/tubes upgrade, but tires/tubes are the best bang for buck.
I don't know if you have quick release skewers, but if you do, an $80 set of Titanium skewers is an easy 80-90g savings. That's the 2nd biggest bang for buck upgrade.
Too bad you don't have rim brakes. For around $100, you could've saved an easy 80g with a set of SRAM Force brakes over Tiagra calipers.
Also, you'll easily drop another pound and a half with a decent wheel swap for around $700 (I suggest the ICAN Aero 50's) while achieving much greater aero gains and that alone will transform your bike the most without a doubt. Plus after that, you can use your OEM wheels as trainer wheels or bad conditions wheels (slap on a set of snow/rain worthy tires).
All excellent suggestions - thanks for the tips!!
I have the Domane AL4 as well (size 54). As I am getting more into road biking I am quickly realizing that little changes make a big difference. I added a carbon seat post and my back couldn't be happier. It seems to really absorb the road chatter. Then, sorry Trek, but the stock seat is horrible. I swapped it to Selle and oh the goodness. I love this video because you only changed a little bit and then provided your impressions. It is great to see honest impressions. As for the tubes and tires....I'm curious if it is worth biting the bullet and just going with carbon wheels, tubeless, and then the GP5000 in a 28 or 30 to really get a big jump in performance. I too live in a very hilly region. Anything I can help to make climbing easier, I am all for it. Thanks for the great content and honest reviews.
Thank you for this awesome comment! Similar to you, I am also curious what iprovements carbon wheels would make on this bike. I may do a video on that soon to find out. Thank you so much for watching!
I have the Domane AL5 and earlier this year I could make a great deal on a set of carbon wheels, the Bontrager Aeolus Elite 35. I fitted a pair of GP5000's in 28mm on them, and I have to say the bike feels completely different then with the stock wheels. I really think it was worth the money.
I also had to change the seat, it was killing me on longer rides. I will look into adding a carbon seat post too.
Then after that I'm thinking of upgrading to carbon wheels. Some of the Chinese offerings look interesting.
I also have a size 54 domane which saddle did you purchase by the way?! Looking into getting a new one soon
@@ismaelderas I got a specialized power expert saddle, it's the same shaped seat as the saddle that comes with the trek but my pain has completely gone on longer rides.
I just bought this bike. I’m extremely happy with it. It’s worth the money and it looks more expensive bike. If you are not a top professional cyclist, keep away from the expensive carbon bikes and get this. Your fitness is more important.
I agree! Thanks for sharing!
Yeah, I've been thinking about getting one. I want to ride more in life, to keep fit. I think it's good enough for me.
Omar I modified my Domane AL 5 with Continental GP 5000 30-622 tires and Tubolito Road SV 60 tubes. It shaved 1.06 lbs of weight. I didn’t go with 28mm as I really enjoy the relaxed geometry and comfortable ride of the larger wheels. I’ll compare my new rides average speeds to my prior ones (on Strava).
Glad to hear you upgraded the tires! If you end up upgrading the wheels, I’d probably go with the Hunt 40’s since they are lighter and cheaper than the 50’s, and I think the difference would be hardly noticeable between the two. I’d just verify with your local shop that those wheels would work on that bike. Pretty sure they will, but never installed them with the Domane in particular myself.
I may pass on the wheels. They’d run $950 plus and shave off maybe 2lbs but like you mentioned, return on investment may not be worthwhile.
@@TruthSpeaker1001 Yeah I totally hear you. I think they would look cool but ultimately I'd say probably not worth the price tag unless you are really pushing the bike to it's limit and need to get more performance out of it.
Hello Omar, so I got the Hunt 50 carbon wheels for my Domane AL 5. I have a size 61 and with the Hunt wheels, Tubolito tubes and Conti 5000 I lowered the weight of my bike (w pedals and Garmin mount) down to 22lbs. I’ve done a 3 group rides from 25-33m and averaged 19.3 to 19.5mph. In order to get a bike with a 18lb or lighter weight, I was thinking of buying a CANYON Endurace CF 8 and swapping the HUNT 50 onto that, or maybe a Domane SL 5 or SL 6 and swapping the Hunt onto either. I’m age 60 and want a relaxed geometry, but also enjoy keeping up with the fast groups. A Domane SL 5 or 6 would not be as light as the Canyon, but I would guess be much more comfortable? Your thoughts?
@TruthSpeaker1001 Hey there, thanks for the update. Congrats on the wheels purchase! That’s awesome. And btw, 19.3 - 19.5 mph average speed is absolutely excellent. Nice!
I totally hear you about your choice considerations. Ultimately, the Domane is definitely a more comfortable bike. I have both the Domane and the Canyon Ultimate, and the Domane is hands down the bike that I would choose to take for long rides, and just the overall more practical option.
Many of the people I ride with are age 60+, and a lot of them use race bikes similar to the Ultimate. They don’t have any issues, but most of them ride several days a week and their bodies and tuned and flexible enough to handle that geometry.
I personally think it’s not worth going with the ultimate unless you ride in a very hilly area. The Domane is more comfortable, and especially if you put those hint wheels on there with the lightweight inner tubes, I think you will have no problems keeping up with fast group rides. You could also make sure you get a stem that angles downward which would make the bike more aero, and you’d really be set.
In fact, I just did a video where I compared a Domane SL5 to an aero race bike to gauge the speed differences, and what I found is that the Domane was hardly any slower. It’s my most recent video you can check out on my page if you are interested.
Keep me posted!
Very cool information. I just ordered one today in part thanks to your reviews (as well as getting to try the AL3 and the AL5 in store). Am just going to start with those better tires. Should be in by the end of the week!
Awesome, congrats on the purchase! It is an absoutely awesome bike, and I am sure you will love it!
I think that if you turn the stem the right way up you can lower the handle bars even more
The problem with the Domane AL is the 100 series aluminum. It's rigid over bumps in an uncomfortable way. The 200 or ALR would have been a brilliant choice for Trek to offer this bike in
I've been making upgrades to my custom made ti frame bike by ditching the carbon cockpit and using Controltech's Timania bar and stem. And ditching other lightweight stuff to get more durable and better quality. I tried those plastic tubes before and it was a ripoff so I now use latex tubes. They are saying now that aero is more important than weight so I have set my goals on having a well made longer lasting strong bike and dropping my body weight.
I hope you got another bike fit for slamming that stem. You were better off flipping the stem but to each is own. Good review on the bike
Nice work, man!
Thanks!
I got myself a domane al2 and did some upgrades I got it from 22lbs down to 19.5 l bs with new tires new seat post and saddle handlebar I also upgraded from square tapper to hollow tech 2 it rides super great and I got clippless pedals
That’s super cool! I hope others see this comment for inspiration. Thanks for sharing!
I just bought the Domane AL yesterday and it sure is a comfortable ride but was very disappointed that I was actually slower on descents by 1 to 2 miles an hour coasting at speeds over 40mph and slower on climbs by up to 30 seconds. I am currently on the stock tires and the wheels are not nearly spinning as long as on my old bike.
I’m wondering how much better tires will help and if I can adjust my position to be more aero such as lowering the stem? I was hoping a new bike would have been faster given my fitness not slower. I am only a few seconds away on several KOMs in my old bike and was hoping this bike would give me these few seconds considering my old bike is rusty, not tuned and the rear wheel was slightly wobbling and a more entry level than the Domane.
Watched a few of your vids. I figured you had 50k subs minimum. Great content. Looking to upgrade my 2003 Trek Alpha Series 2000 SL road bike.
Thank you!
Your videos are priceless man, really great job!
Thank you so much for your kind words!! And thank you for watching!
Have same tubes and Corsa tires forgot if they're 25 or 28. Guess I have to do this mod NOW! I have been sea kayaking. Haven't been biking since early summer.
You're dumping rotating weight which is equal to more than static weight. In car racing it's 4:1 ration for wheel rate reduction.
Think I dropped it one spacer already. Not a bad bike. May get another CF Trek. May swap tires and weight till spring.
Thanks for this review ..
That’s an excellent point about the rotating weight. Thanks for sharing!
Your Watts decreased on the faster ride with the new tires! I'm not clear the aero bike was faster. Your effort in watts was higher. Great video
Bought the domane al4 after coming across your video
You’ll love it! It’s my favorite bike. Congrats on the purchase
Great reviews. Thank you. I am considering purchasing the AL4 or 5. Your reviews might convince me to go with the 4. I noticed you are using flat pedals on this bike, not clip less or toe clips. I was wondering if you could briefly explain your thinking on this.
Great question! I actually have switched back and forth between clipless and flats with this bike. For now, I have decided on leaving flats on there for the forseable future. The reason is because I want to keep this bike an easy to access ride, without having to commit to full on biking gear. Being able to get up off the couch and immediately hop on this bike regardless of what I am wearing means I end up riding it a lot more.
Moreover, I don't personally notice much difference in efficiency with clipless pedals, especially if you use grippy shoes like Addidas five tens. So I feel like I get nearly the same power output with flats, and having flats makes it generally safer, and I am more likely to explore new areas on this bike.
It's all totally personal preference though!
Hello Omar
Can you review
Bergamont Sweep 6 and
Scott Metrix 20
Thanks for the comment! I would love to, but I am only able to review bikes that I can get access to. I don't think there are any of those bikes in my area. Sorry1
@@hikerbikeromar okay I'll reject them too. Can we anticipate tiagra with 11x2 gears this year
@@abhijitc06 Hmm, I haven't heard any rumors about the Tiagra. It seems like Shimano will soon do a massive overhaul of their road bike drivetrains, but everything I've heard seems to indicate that will be next year or even 2025. That is all the info I currently have. Sorry!
Sensational content Omar - I’ll look for you out on the rolling hills of 60010! ;)
@Jennifer Niksich Ha sounds good! I’ll be here! :)
@@hikerbikeromar I'm terribly sorry to disturb ya Omar but do you have any plans on reviewing anything from the 2023 Checkpoint series - specifically the SL lineup? Would simply love your thoughts before purchasing....thx for your time!
@@jenniferniksich4861 Thank you so much for the comment, and that is an excellent question! I am grateful you hold my opinion in high regard! The Trek Checkpoint has long been on my list of bikes to review. I'd absolutely love to check it out, but haven't been able to get my hands on one. As soon as I am able to, I will upload a review right away, but unfortunately, as of now, I don't have anything planned. So sorry!
However, everything I have heard about the Trek checkpoint has been stellar.
Nice upgrades! I'm thinking of buying a Domane 3 and ugrade it with 105 groupset and set of Fulcrum racing 3 wheels that I have on my current bike + carbon handlebars and seatpost. But that big positive angle (rise) of the stem on your Trek bothers me a lot...
That would be a sick upgrade! Ha I agree with you about the angle of the stem! The next thing for me to do would be to flip it :)
@@hikerbikeromar So I finally got my hands on Trek Domane AL 3 and immediately upgraded it and got it at 9 kg with pedals! What a ride! Thanks for your reviews because they made me chose such a wonderful bike!
Wow, I am so happy to hear that! Thank you so much for sharing!!
@@hikerbikeromar Thank you for your reviews that made my choice! Cheers!
@@lkbfreak i got the AL3 too, what did you upgrade on it?
Great video, congrats
Thank you!
Why didn't you upgrade your rims? I'm a novice bike rider at 66yo. I made a mistake and bought a Schwinn GTX Elite 3 x 8. The add said light weight. It is not light weight. It is 37.5 lbs. So I have a new bike on order that should be available mid November 2023. I almost ordered the Trek Domane AL 4. Though Specialized had a 2 x 10 on sale for $999.00. The crux of the matter is everyone (not you of course) kept touting the 105 groupset as far superior to anything less. So when I saw that the new Trek Domane 5 gen 4 had 105 2 x 12 for $1999.99 I ordered one. Would the 105 2 x 12 sway your opinion any?
That's a good question. Personally, it doesn't sway my opinion, although many will probably disagree. It's certainly not a bad groupset, but I have used both a lot, and I just don't feel any difference with the Tiagra. For me, the AL4 gen 4 at $1699 is a terrific value, and I wouldn't pay a $300 extra for the same frame but different groupset. Instead, I would save that $300 and put that towards either the tires/innertube or perhaps new wheels like you said. New wheels would really put this bike in a whole new category. I didn't upgrade the rims simply because of cost. But it would have been the next thing I upgraded.
And wow 37+ lbs is extremely heavy!
Also, this is just my opinion. If you already ordered the gen 4 with the 105, it's certainly a great option too! I'm sure you'll love it.
You should turn the stem over and pick up a 38 cm bontrager aerolite handlebar. Would you also consider a cane creek slammed headset?
I definietly should have! The bike shipped with the stem in the upwards position, and I totally forgot to flip it. But the aero handlebar and slammed headset would definitely be one of the next upgrades to make, alongisde aero wheels.
Thank you so much for this video! I just purchased the Domane AL 4 Gen 4 and the speed dropped by about a mile. Definitely looking at this setup that you are recommending in our video. Isn’t the Domane tubeless ready? Why did you decide to go with Tyres + TPU tubes and not just Tubeless option? Thank you!
Congrats on the purchase! It's seriously an awesome bike. Yes I am almost positive the Domane wheels are tubeless ready. I definitely could have gone tubeless for sure. I chose to go with TPU tubes simply because I felt it was easier to deal with than tubeless, but in retrospect, I bet tubeless may have been the even better choice. I don't think you can go wrong with either approach though. Thanks for watching!
I love the content!! i have a emonda sl5 that will do the same thing! Currently weighing 21.2
Thank you! Emonda SL5 is a beautiful looking bike!
Im pretty sure on that track sou have driven this bike isnt slower than your "aero" bike with same Wattage.
Of course you have to tuck in a bit, i think grabbing the handlebar on the downtube would be enough.
I’d love to know what the frame/fork alone weigh
I bought the al4 in February and love it what would you think if I was to buy mavic axium wheels for my domane as I have them already on my specialized roubaix and the are bullet proof
Mavic Axium wheels are definitely known to be pretty awesome. They would probably be more durable than the stock wheels on the Domane AL 4, but the wheels on the AL 4 are pretty strong as is, and so I I’m born sure swapping them out would do much for you. You might be better off running wider tires and lower PSI first before swapping the wheels. Either way, I don’t think you can go wrong!
Thank you very much for your valuable recommendations! I just wonder why you didn't choose the tubeless version of the gp5000.. Should I consider tubeless and is it that complicated for a beginner? I have trek Domane SL5 and wanna ride 70% asphalt 30% light gravel.
You are welcome! I personally never got super into the tubeless systems. Some would disagree, but I think they add a bit of complexity/mess and I don't really see the benefit. Others will tell you they are more puncture resistant, but using the setup I showed in this video, I can count on one hand the number of punctures I've gotten in many years I've been cycling.
Hi, so indeed makes sense this upgrades. I am thinking of going for the domane sl 6 gen 4. On my current BMC, I have the impression that the distance to my handlebar is too large, and bike fit confirms that even after adjustments still. Now what holds me back a bit from the domane is that I would go up on comfort, but on some videos that domane really looks like a womans (sorry...) bike for sunday afternoon lazy rides, you know? I am riding in a group, and will the domane still be fast enough I wonder...
Haha I totally hear you about the looks! Looks are super important for me too :)
I actually think the Domane AL 4 and above tend to look pretty good, but definitely not as sporty or competitive looking as the BMC’s or Cervelos tend to.
I think if you put some lightweight innertubes and tires, and slam the stem, the Domane would be fast enough to keep on in most group rides. Could always upgrade the wheels to some aero wheels eventually, and would make the bike look a lot cooler :)
Have you tried to Catalyst Pedals, yet? I know there was a comment on one of your vids where you were going to check them out.
I have actually! They are really great for many types of riding. They give a lot of support for your feet and feel very stable, although for faster riding or competitive riding, I feel they are a bit too bulky and heavy. I ultimately stopped using them, but I’ve still got them for the right occasion.
Do you have a link to Tubolito S-Tube Innertubes. I have been researching picking up either the AL4 or AL5 and you video was fantastic.
Thank you! The ones I used in this video are linked below. It was an awesome setup!
www.amazon.com/Tubolito-Lightweight-Compact-Puncture-Protection/dp/B07HRG1PB6/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1IVR9S569DMGL&keywords=tubolito%2Bs%2Btube%2Broad%2Binner%2Btube&qid=1674152758&sprefix=tubolitoa%2Bs%2Btube%2Broad%2Binnertub%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-5&th=1&psc=1
Which bike do you enjoy more the emonda sl5 or the domane al5🤔 if not really racing but for riding a course like this video, maybe a little gravel...keep up the great content 👏 👍
At first I liked the emonda sl5 more due to its more racey feel, but after upgrading my Domane AL 4, I’ve started to like the Domane more! Thank you so much for watching!
You do great videos.
Thank you so much!
I’m quite happy with my Trek Domane 4. I’ve been riding in wet road conditions in Scotland. Are Continental tires you suggested perform well in winter wet conditions? Should I change the original 32 mm tires in wet conditions? Thank you for your great video. It was really helpful!
The Continental GP 5000 tires will perform pretty well in wet conditions, however, if that is going to be the majority of your riding, I’d recommend sticking with a tire specifically made for that. The stock tires will be more grippy than these Conti GP 5000’s. Thanks for watching!
Great video, I want to do this upgrade to my Domane 4, any tip about where I can get the Tubolito 23g 18-28?
Sure! I picked mine up from here: www.backcountry.com/tubolito-s-tubo-road-tube
@@hikerbikeromar thank you!
I will add the upgraded tires and inner tubes on my Trek AL5.
Great video. Would you upgrade the seat post to carbon?
Thanks! Upgrading to a carbon seatpost would be a great idea. It's relatively cheap, and should shave some weight, but more importantly, would probably add a good deal of comfort. It would be an easy upgrade to recommend for me.
Such a great and thorough review in the first vid, and awesome update and performance comparison in this one! I’m looking to buy this bike - but with a purpose in mind. I want to run a triathlon or two next year. Over the winter I’ll be keeping it indoors on a trainer hooked up to Zwift. Is this bike a good choice for tri’s?
Thank you so much for the positive comments! This is definitely an excellent bike for an indoor trainer! I actually just purchased an indoor trainer myself for use with this bike, and it's perfect. As for the triathalons, that is super cool you plan to do those! You could very easy slap a pair of tri-bars on this bike and use it in a triathalon no problem. The Domane is very modular and can be customized to no end. After throwing a pair of tri bars on there, I'd slam the stem and reverse so that it is angled down as well. If triathalon is going to be your main use, you are probably better off getting an actual tri-bike since that will position you a bit better for running after the ride, and will just overall be more aerodynamic. However, the Domane can absolutely be setup for that very easily in lieu of an actual tri bike, just might not be quite as optimal if triathalon is going to be your main use. Thank you so much for watching!
@@hikerbikeromar Great feedback, thank you! I’m glad to hear there’s a lot of room for modding and upgrading. If triathlons end up being something I enjoy, I will probably upgrade to a tri bike. For now it seemed like a better choice to buy a “budget” bike that can be used in a tri but also as a daily or trainer. Again, great vids and thanks for the suggestions!
Thanks so much for your videos. I have a Trek FX3 which is a great bike and well suited to the majority of my rides (12-15 mile neighborhood/ paved trail). But I do a couple of charity group rides (30-50 miles) and my FX doesn’t do well with hills and wind. I might do more casual weekend group rides too if I wasn’t worried about keeping up. Since this Domane (as it comes) is only 1.5 lbs lighter than my current one, do you think I’ll see a difference with those hills and wind just with the change in geometry (and having 20 gears vs 10)? Also, I like the 32mm tires. Since I do mostly paved but some gravel bits, do you think worth upgrading to the tires you mentioned but keep the same size? Also wondering if a carbon seatpost would be worth upgrading to for lower weight and comfort. Thanks for your great videos!
Thanks for the question! Yes, I for sure think you will see a massive difference in ever aspect of your ride with the Domane, including ease up the hills. As you mentioned, the wind is a major problem with the FX series and I find that the FX series, while comfortable for short distances and great for commuting around town, will fatigue me so much more than the Domane does. I think you will feel a lot more confident if your abilities to keep up with local groups with the Domane, and I think you will increase your performance stats accross the board.
Regarding the tires...yep!! I would absolutely recommend 30mm Conti GP 5000's for your case. You will still see a huge performance difference, especially when combining with the lightweight tubolito innertubes.
I'd say hold off on the seatpost. I think the 30mm Conti Tires will be plenty comfortable enough. If you feel like your lower back is still aching after longer rides, then I think a carbon fiber seatpost would be something to consider.
This is all just my two cents based on my experience. Some would disagree with me since everyone is different, but I am 100% convinced you won't go wrong with the Domane, and it is a better choice than the FX series for your purposes.
Thank you so much for watching!
@@hikerbikeromar Thank you! I wrote this in another thread but wondering your pedals opinion, since you ride this bike with flat pedals. One thing that had me hesitant in getting a road bike was feeling I would HAVE to go clipless. In anticipation of ordering a new bike, I had just ordered some Shimano EH500 pedals which are flat on one side and clip on the other (in case I got the guts to try it out in future). I have some Five ten shoes I just bought last summer. Do you think the dual option pedals are a good idea in case I decide to try clipless in future? Or just get a good flat pedal for this bike?
Oh man, this is the million dollar question! Others who see this comment will probably want to flame me, but for me personally, I am simply not convinced there is much benefit to clipless pedals. Just to put some perspective - in the past, I used to ride clipless pedals for as long as I can remember, and would always wear extremely high end shoes with pedals that would cost $400+. However, I never really liked it. Especially for leisurely trail riding, I always found it to be overkill. So one day, back when I used to do competitive time trailing, I decided to try the course using a pair of cheap flat pedals, and SLIPPERS, and low and behold, I’ll never forget I scored the highest time I ever did on that course, and higher than any of my competitors!! Ever since then, I have almost exclusively run flat pedals, and never had a problem keeping up on competitive group rides.
I would even go a step further and say that I think flat pedals for most people are going to be BETTER than clipless. The reason is because they offer a wider contact patch which means you are able to put much more of your weight on your feet, rather than the perineum or wrists. As someone who used to get major pain in both my perineum and wrists, switching to flat pedals has really helped me a lot with comfort.
The other reason is because I have never found a clipless pedal system with a wide enough Q factor - meaning most of them are pretty narrow, which throws off balance and the ability to put down power. With flat pedals, your feet are not locked into position, so you are able to position your feet wider, and make subtle adjustments to your feet position, which for me, has helped tremendously with comfort. And since I can get a wider stance on flat pedals, I can put more power down, which means I tend to usually go faster. This may not affect people with narrow hips as much as it does for me, but the truth is, most clipless pedal systems are made for pro racers and the commensurate body geometry, which most of us don’t have.
As you can see, I LOVE to ramble about cycling! Long story short, every one is different, so what works for me may not work for you. But in my experience, flat pedals have made me more comfortable and more powerful on the bike. I also use five tens and love them!
Having said that, as scary as it is, I guarantee you will eventually get used to clipless pedals. But I wold personally recommend you start with flat pedals and switch to clipless if you feel compelled to do so in the future. Others may suggest something different, and I respect everyone’s experience and opinion.
Sorry for writing a whole novel, ha!! 😂
@@hikerbikeromar Thank you so much!
@@hikerbikeromar Do you have a favorite pedal to use with your Five Ten shoes and a road bike? I just ordered some Shimano pedals that are flat on one side but clip on the other but wondering if I just commit to riding flat! If so, want to make sure they’re good ones. Thanks!
Do you like the Vittoria Competition Latex Tube- it seems to be more puncture resistant than the Tubolito- but still fairly light weight?
That's an excellent question. I've never actually used it, but I've heard great things from those who have. Wish I had more info. Sorry!
I guess they have very low rolling resistance- but are not nearly as light as the Tubolito.
@@LJG999ab That was my understanding as well. At some point, I'd love to be able to test the difference and see if the added weight is worth it in rolling resistance savings.
Are your wheels the stock Bontrager wheels that came with the Domane? What PSI did you inflate your 28mm tires?
I have an AL4 as well and have contemplated switching to narrower tires. My only concern is the ride quality diminishing. The roads where I live have a lot of pot holes and deep cracks.
Yep, the wheels I am running are just the stock wheels. The tires I inflated to 90 PSI I believe. In your situation, you would probably want to keep the wider tires, as you may actually go faster with them given the road conditions.
Hi Omar, like your videos but suggest a softening of the background music. I noticed it again so was not a once off. Thank you for bringing us the content however. The videos are good.
Thanks so much @gamerdj for the advice! I really appreciate it. I usually just mix these on my laptop speakers, so I probably need to start using actual headphones to hear it more properly. Thanks for watching!
@@hikerbikeromar It's just something I think will help. I'm not one for wanting too much 'production' I prefer youtube of old. Amateur is best so long as the info is there and things are clear. At least that's me.
I have a new Domane AL5. What do you think of upgrading just the tubes for now? Will I get better rolling resistance and a better feel?
That's a great question! The tubes will make a difference which you will for sure most likely notice, but of course it will not be nearly as much as the full tube/tire combo.
Quick question about the Domane... During your time riding this bike, did you notice any internal cable rattles? I'm hearing that this is an issue with internal cable routed bikes, since the manufacturers aren't sound proofing the cables.
I did not hear any rattling of cables inside the frame, no. However, I used the bike only on road surfaces. If you go on more gravel or bumpy terrain, you might hear it more. Regardless, I would still say it is a very well built bike and feels like quality.
Nice info thx! Do u recommend buying this trek or specialized diverge elite 5? Thx
Thanks for watching! Both of those bikes are sitting in slightly different categories. If you do mostly gravel and off road style riding, the Diverge Elite 5 is definitely the better choice. On the other hand, if you do mostly road riding with occasional gravel, I'd go for the Domane. The Diverge may be a bit more comfortable given the tire clearance is wider, but the Domane will be faster. If it were up to me, I'd go with the Domane, but that is because I like to go fast and mostly ride on road and bike trails. Both are great options!
Thank you for your informative videos. I'm sold on buying an AL 4.
One question though. What size is your bike??
I've heard from other RUclipsrs that most people rode bikes that are too big for them.
I'm 6'0" tall. Thanks.
You'd almost definitely be a size 58. I am 6'1" and a 58 fits me pretty well, although I am right on the cusp of a 60. Thanks so much for watching!
@@hikerbikeromar thanks so much dude your video really helped me with choosing my next bike
@@tonyg.ta2701 Awesome man! Glad to hear it! You'll love it for sure
02:50
"Slam it! Flip it! Tighten it down...OH NOOOOO!" -Bel Biv DeVoe
Seriously man, flip that stem!!!
Haha I know man. That’s how the bike shipped, but I need to flip it :)
@@hikerbikeromar My first real road bike was a Trek 1.5. It was the Domane of it's day. Once I dropped the stem height and flipped the stem, it was like night & day bro.
It'll drop you down a little and stretch you forward, but you'll be in a much more aero position.
Comfort after that is relative, but a stem that's as level as the ground is as possible provides nicer feed back & handling.
Looking forward to the rest of your mods.
And welcome to Upgraditis! LOL
What other upgrades are you thinking about on this bike
The next thing to upgrade IMO would be the wheels. After that, perhaps an upgrade to the handlebar to a more aero handlebar and more comfortable bar tape. That's probably as far as I would take it.
Have you try the bike in gravel roads? I am thinking to put a 38mm tyres. Any thoughts?
I have yes, it works terrific as a gravel bike! Unless you are doing truly hardcore rouch terrain, 38mm tires on the Domane will work great as a road/gravel hybrid.
Can you link to the continental tires? Are there advantages/disadvantages to using the tubeless continental's with your tubilito recommendations? Or is tubeless heavier?
Sure, link is: www.backcountry.com/continental-grand-prix-5000-tire-clincher
I have never really been convinced of tubeless for road bikes. The weight would probably be almost the same with the lightweight setup seen in this video, but the hassle of tubeless I think wouldn't be worth it. That's just my opinion of course! Your mileage my vary.
Awesome brother! You convinced me to upgrade the tires! Thanks for the very comprehensive review!
@@songtran1792 Awesome man! You'll love it, it's such as awesome bike, and with these upgrades, it's even better!
What about a 105 chainset upgrade?
I think the Tiagra is mostly good enough for what this bike is intending to be, but certainly a 105 upgrade would reduce the weight a bit, and give you more confidence in shifting if you were to push this bike to the limit. Although in that case, I'd probably just go with the AL5. It's a great question!
Hello Omar, I have the AL 5, would you recommend the Hunt 40 or 50 wheelset? If so which one?
Those are both excellent wheels, but whether or not to upgrade largely depends on what result you are after. If it is just speed, I think the upgrades mentioned in this video are good enough.
The wheels may get you a bit more speed, but bang for buck value is very low. So I personally would not recommend adding those wheels to this bike as I don't think it will make much of a difference and not worth the cost.
How do you think the Trek Emonda ALR5 would be? Or the Trek Domane AL5 Disc?
Emonda will probably be a bit faster, but won’t be as comfortable or smooth over the bumps. Domane AL 5 will pretty much be the same thing as this AL4. I would say between the AL5 and AL4, I would stick with the AL4 because I think it’s a better value. The AL5 will have a slightly better drivetrain and a more comfortable handlebar, but the differences will be so minuscule.
I was wondering what is the narrowest tire that will fit the stock rims on the al4?
That's a good question. I believe it would be a 23mm, but it may actually be a 25mm. Without having the bike in front of me, I am unable to measure the internal rim width of the wheels, but I believe it is 21mm if memory serves me correctly. In which case, a 23mm would be the narrowist, but I'd pop into your local Trek store to verify.
Considering you did this ride on loose fitting clothings. The gap would be much closer if you want proper cycling clothes on. By the way flipping the stem instead of slamming it would look better and more aero.
I bought the cont gp 5000 tires from backcountry as you had mentioned in your video. They advised me to purchase specialized tubes. Are those good?
I only see one type of tubolito tubes on their site but what size should I buy if u recommend me not using the specialized tubes? I also just got the new trek domane 4. Thx :)
Awesome, congrats on the purchases! You'll love it. You could use Specialized tubes, but it depends on what kind. Did you get the 28mm version of the Conti GP 5000? If so, I'd just go with the 18-28mm 42mm valve Tubolito tubes. Let me know if you have any more questions!
@@hikerbikeromar looks like it says “clincher” tire? Did I get the wrong one? Also return the specialized tube they recommended me? Thx
@@alibakr6176 No no, clincher is correct, but I was just wondering what size it was. It was probably 28mm or 32mm. If you already bought the specialized tube, then it's probably fine to just keep that! Most of the difference will be in the tire vs the tube.
@@hikerbikeromar got it thx man!! Appreciate the honest content you put out 🙌
@@alibakr6176 Thank you so much! Good luck!
Thank you. Great info!
What would flipping the stem do for performance/ handling? It would lower a couple more mm..
Do you always ride flat pedals? Or do you clip in /stirrups on your carbon race bike?
Flipping the stem would make the bike a lot more aero, and I’m guessing would make the bike feel even a lot more like a race bike. Part of me wants to try it! It would definitely feel much sharper and snappier.
I use clipless on my aero racing bike, but for this bike, I wanted to keep it as casual as possible so that I could just walk out the door and hop onto it without thinking twice about what I am wearing.
Thanks so much for watching!
The aero cervelo avg 20 mph , which cervelo are you referring to?
It’s a 2020 Cervelo S3. Sorry for not specifying!
I've been thinking about getting a AL 4 or 5. I'm curious, why didn't you go tubless?
No reason other than the (perceived) hassle, and I haven’t observed any discernible difference between tubeless and tubes when running such high pressures. So I just tend to stick with using tubes, but that’s just my preference. Thanks for watching!
@@hikerbikeromar Thanks for the reply. Good video BTW
I also wondered about this as tubeless would also take off weight. Been reading articles weighing pros and cons and was leaning towards trying,
I own an fx3 , which I love, but I want to buy a drop bar bike. However when I tried the domane it hurts my privates… how do you get around that? Do you think I should stay away from domane ? I only ride in neighborhoods…please advise?
I’ve had the same issue, so trust me when I say I know how devastating it can be! I even had to go to the doctor, it got so bad for me when I very first started cycling.
There are a number of things that can cause pain in the private area. The most common are saddle being too high, reach being too long, and/or drop being too low. A good place to start would be to lower the saddle so that the pressure is being placed in the sit bones rather than the private area. If that doesn’t work, you can try raising the stem. If that also doesn’t work, you can try to reduce the reach by getting a shorter stem, although that’s always a last resort for me. If you have to change the stem length, you are better off just riding a smaller frame bike. Lastly, be sure the saddle is perfectly level and does not tilt upwards at all. If all of those things are set properly, the Domane is very unlikely to cause pain in that area.
As for the bike to choose, I’d pretty much choose the Domane in all cases except if you are going to be commuting in the city or urban areas. Otherwise, in my opinion, the Domane is just a more comfortable and faster bike.
Hope this helps!!
@@hikerbikeromar i only ride at most 10miles. Even so you would choose domane?
I still would yes, I think it’s just so much more comfortable. It’s all subjective of course, but I never liked the fx geometry for much other than commuting.
@@hikerbikeromar Thank You!
Of course! Good luck!
I put the same tires and a different brand of latex tubes. So much better
Awesome!
Latex is the best and comfort tube before upgrade to tubeless.
Flip the stem and then cut off the chimney.. that little piece probably weighs 100 gr :). More weight savings.
Also.. get some super lightweight carbon climbing wheels .. about 1200 gr
Very true!!
What is the rear light mount?
It was this: SHEAWA Bicycle Tail Light Saddle... www.amazon.com/dp/B08Z43VX9D?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Do you think 25cc tires would be too narrow? I’ve been thinking between 25 and 28
No definitely not! I think 25 would be excellent, even faster than the 28’s. Not as comfortable, but would feel even more racy.
@@hikerbikeromar But how you can use 25 or 28 tires with this rims? They have 21 mm inner width and in every information that i can find, minimal recommended tires are 32 and wider...
@dmitriydv7803 hey man, so basically as long as the tire width is greater than the internal width of the rim, you should be fine. So if the internal width is 21mm, then anything above 25 should work. I am using 28mm which work great, but 25 should be fine too. I recommend going to your local bike shop to verify, but I’m 99.9% sure that a 25mm will be fine.
Great video. I bought the 2023 SL5 version and I love it. I put a set of high end aero wheelset on it wrapped in the Continental gp 5000 tires. The bike is phenomenal. I can keep up with any "racing" bike riders in my club. I actually love it so much that I am going to buy this AL4 too for bad weather rides and a bit different set up. I really wonder if you put carbon wheels on this bike how much better it will get. The Domane is a home run for Trek. By the way, I'm coming of off the gen 6 Madone. Keep up the good reviews! New subscriber here.
That’s awesome, thank you so much for sharing! The 2023 SL5 Domane is hot on my purchase list, it looks like the perfect ride.
What kind of pedals do you have on that bike?
Those are just generic flat pedals the bike shipped with.
@@hikerbikeromar what flat pedal do you recommend
@@jimmycruz9114 I've always liked the Catalyst pedals linked below, but really any flat pedal should be just fine.
pedalinginnovations.com/
What pressure are you using on the new tires?
I am running these at 95 psi
Why not tubeless?
What flat pedals are you using?
They are actually just some no name flat pedals I got for free at the bike shop. I prefer the Catalyst flat pedals though.
Just bought the AL5 and installed the Bontrager R3 28mm tyres. Can't wait to use it as there is still snow here!!
Awesome!
what was your average speed with the original tires?
16.8 mph
@@hikerbikeromar this makes no sense man I had 16mph average on my mountain bike (Giant talon 0) with very fat tires, I bought today the Trek Domane AL4 and plan on testing my average speed tomorrow. I hope you are just not very fit coz I’m expecting of this bike at least 19mph average
I’m extremely fit. It all depends on elevation gain. There’s no way you would get 16mph average speed with a mountain bike on the course I took this bike on.
@@hikerbikeromar I hope you are right man I dont want to return the bike just yet
@@rotten8000I just bought the Trek Domane AL 4 yesterday and was over 1 mph slower on very hilly course than on my o
14 year old Trek beater that was like rusty clunker and up to two or more miles an hour slower on 40 mph plus descents. Not what I was hoping for in trying to go for some KOMs. My old trek was an even cheaper entry level bike.
How much would it cost me to upgrade my Giant Revolt 2 to Shimano 105?
Giant Revolt is a great bike! If you bought the components brand new, you'd probably be looking at between $800 - $1000 for a full 105 setup. You might be able to get it closer to $500 - $600 if you buy some of the parts used, which I would definitely recommend as long as it's from a reputable dealer.
@@hikerbikeromar oh forget that might as well just spend the money on a new bike
@@SG-dg6oi Yeah, unfortunately it adds up quick. Have you considered perhaps upgrading to Shimano Tiagra instead? You'll get most of the same performance as you would from the 105, but it may only cost you $200-$300.
I have this exact bike, it's awesome. I had to upgrade the seat however because the sock seat was causing me pain on longer rides.
How about upgrading the wheels to carbon wheels and seeing how close you can get to 20mph average speed?
I actually have a video planned for exactly that topic! It’s a question I have been wondering too. Stay tuned!! :)
You rolling at like 11 or 12 mph going up a steep hill I go like 12 mph on flat lol
you are going to break the steerer tube with the stem fixed low on it. Better cut that steerer tube soon.
Hi what is the size of your bike here ? :)
Hello! This is a size 58
@@hikerbikeromar what's your height and inseam if you don't mind I have a trek domane al too
@antoniskontogiannis41 , sure, my height is 6”1 and my inseam is 34. The size 58 fits me perfectly. 👍
@@hikerbikeromar I am the same height as you with a longer inseam 35.6 inches and the same size bike. I am wondering what height you ha ve the saddle from the bb mine is at 80.5 cm or 31.7 inches.
That is a great question. I actually adjust it quite frequently as I am still trying to dial it in perfectly. Lately, since it’s an endurance bike, I’ve been opting to keep it on the lower side. With my aero racing bike on the other hand, I usually keep it much higher since it helps me get more power out.
I am traveling atm, but I’ll measure it when I get back and let you know.
What bottle cages are those?
Those were just some cheap plastic water bottles I got from Amazon for literally $3 each.
Stem is still upside.
I just watched this dude blow through multiple stop signs
Nice.
If your going to slam the front you would have been better off getting the emonda lol!!. Much lighter
If you keep the same ways I bet the cervello is slower.