The 2006 Discovery Channel Team Bikes

Fresh from their most successful season ever (including wins at the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Tour of Georgia) the 2006 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling team heads into the new year with high expectations. Although Lance Armstrong is no longer competing, the team remains stocked with the talent and dedication required to achieve another record setting season.

Trek OCLV Carbon

In the thirty years that Trek has been hand building bikes at our Waterloo, Wisconsin factory, we have developed a variety of new technologies that have impacted the sport like few others. Of these, we are most proud of our pioneer status in the production of carbon fiber bicycles.

It was in 1992 that Trek's future as a leader in carbon fiber frame production took hold with the development of their proprietary OCLV (Optimum Compaction Low Void) Carbon technology. This patented manufacturing process allows Trek to make frames that exceed aerospace standards for quality. When most other brands were still developing their aluminum frames, Trek was already on course developing a frame that would eventually make Tour de France history.

During the last fourteen years, Trek has continually evolved its OCLV technology. From the material itself, to the variety of new applications, every OCLV Carbon component has been designed to meet the standards of the world's top road, mountain and triathlon cyclists. Beyond the frames, Trek's OCLV Carbon is also being used to build high performance forks, handlebars, seatposts, wheels and cranks. Every OCLV Carbon product is handmade at the Trek factory in Waterloo, Wisconsin.

The Team Bike: The Madone SL

Like the aero-enhanced Madone that preceded it, the Trek Madone SL is another bike that was born from a specific request by Lance. Lance first used the Madone SL to win the Tour de France in 2004. The lightweight carbon fiber bike returned in 2005 under Paolo Savoldelli to win the the Giro d'Italia.

Originally intended as a specific climbing bike for 2006, the Madone SL is now the official team bike of the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team. From wining stages in the Tour of California to the Three Days of Panne in Belgium, the Madone SL is already laying claim to another winning season. Key features of the Madone SL include the OCLV 110 Carbon frame and signature one-piece top tube/head tube design that Lance and the team have continued to point to for much of the bike's proven ride quality.

Beyond our OCLV Carbon technology, we remain most proud of the fact that every Trek bike ridden to victory at the Tour de France is pulled from the same production line as the bikes destined for the sales floor of your local Trek dealer. While few companies can boast of selling the same bikes that have won the Tour de France, fewer still can boast of having won the race seven consecutive times. In fact, only Trek can and it's another reason why we have become the number one name in cycling!

Discovery Channel Team Bike Spec:

Frame: Trek Madone SL 5.9

Components: Shimano Dura-Ace

Rims: Bontrager Aeolus 5.0

Tires: Hutchinson

Saddle: Bontrager (rider choice)

Fork: Bontrager Race XXX Lite

Handlebar: Bontrager Race XXX Lite

Stem: Bontrager Race X Lite

Seatpost: Shimano Dura-Ace

Pedals: Shimano PD-7800

Headset: Chris King

Bottle cages: Bontrager RXL

Handlebar tape: Bontrager Cork or Iso-Gel

Computer: Trek Incite 9i

Other: Bontrager Bzzzkill handlebar inserts

For more information, go to: www.trekbikes.com

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