Sven Nys and Sven Vanthourenhout unveil their new Crelan-AA Drink Trek Boone team bikes. © photopress.be
Sven Nys’ debut on his new Trek Boone cyclocross bike was conveniently at his own race, the Grand Prix Sven Nys (GP Sven Nys), on January 1, 2014. It coincided with the unveiling of a new sponsor in AA Drink, and a new team name and jersey (Crelan-AA Drink) for both Nys and teammate Sven Vanthourenhout.
However, most cyclocross racers were more excited to see Nys’ new Trek cyclocross bike versus his new jersey, at least, in clearer fashion than a random leaked Instagram picture.
Sven Nys’ new Trek carbon Boone cyclocross bike, with Iso Speed technology. photo: Trek
Well, we’ve got photos of Nys’ bike, both from the Trek photo Studio and also from the GP Sven Nys race. Nys had at least five bikes at his disposal at the race, and put several disc brake models to good use, swapping bikes on most laps, and opening up a huge lead to win the 2014 edition of his race.
What’s the big deal with this bike? Trek considers the bike one of the most advanced designs on the market, and it was built with considerable input from nine-time National Champion Katie Compton. Compton also helped Trek develop the Crockett, and the Boone adopts the Crockett’s geometry but adds the Wisconsin company’s OCLV carbon and unique IsoSpeed decoupler that was originally launched on the Domane road bike and raced at Paris Roubaix.
The IsoSpeed actually contains a sealed bearing that allows the seat tube to rotate independently from the top tube, with the goal of increasing vertical compliance and rider comfort. Trek claims the design doubles the vertical compliance.
The frame also offers some other interesting features, including carbon rear dropouts with “vanishing” fender mounts, a no-cut seat mast, and an integrated Trek 3S chainkeeper.
The new carbon Trek Boone that Compton and Nys will ride will use the IsoSpeed seat tube / top tube junction with a sealed bearing to allow for vertical movement to isolate vibration. photo: Trek
Nys’ own bikes maintain many of the same components we saw on his Cross Vegas-winning Colnago Cross Prestige bike we profiled in September, including the Shimano Dura-Ace 9070 11-speed components, Dugast tubular tires, and Shimano brakes (either CX70 cantilevers or R785 hydraulic levers with XTR M985 brakes).
However, with the disc brake model, Nys swaps the Dura-Ace 9070 Di2 levers for the R785 Di2/Hydraulic levers, and utilizes the M985 XTR hydraulic calipers, instead of the R785 calipers (a road and cyclocross-tuned version of the Deore XT M785 brake). [See our first ride and review of the Shimano R785 Hydraulic Brake and Levers]
