This video made some good points. Yeah, its a great bike (if it fits your needs), but is Trek just jumping on the gravel bike train with the same old bike (just barely squeezing larger tires onto the same frame...)
At least Specialized tweaked there geometry a bit before slapping on a Gravel moniker...
Trek's true gravel bike (rumored to be called the Checkpoint) is supposed to be revealed in the next few weeks. The Domane Gravel was just a gap filler.
No, the Domane is not a real dedicated gravel bike, but I ride gravel roads on mine all the time, just nothing super gnarly. I even have done a 50+ gravel event on it, with 28mm tires no less, though now I run 30mm. My Domane is a 2015, made before they widened the front and rear spaces, so 30mm is max. I also run a redshift shockstop which helps a lot. I'm keenly interested in this new Checkpoint!
Agreed. I recently acquired the Domane SL5 Gravel, but I bought it specifically to replace a Madone I sold a few years ago. I really like the color scheme, and it has better shifters and brakes than the Domane SL5 Disc. Although I bought it specifically for pavement, it's nice to know I could take it on some of the gravel I ride, but it's exactly the same frame as the other Domane SL Disc bikes. My gravel bike is now wearing the G-Ones that came on the Domane.
@rocthrower, thanks for pointing out the better levers and brakes on the 2018 Domane SL5 Gravel compared to the SL5 Disc. I had assumed that only the tires & paint scheme were different, but the Trek website and your post prove otherwise. Yeah, the SL5 Gravel version looks superior in all of those aspects (I agree re. the color too).
I'm interested in getting a multi-purpose commuting / wet riding (fenders) / occasional gravel bike and am looking hard at the Domane. I appreciate your info.
i think it's good that the reviewer repeatedly highlighted that a bike you can ride on gravel doesn't make it a gravel bike.
i know for the gravel around me in TX 35mm tires are just not enough. i know it has the front and rear decouplers but i doubt that makes up enough difference. also those 35's are tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight in there! wouldn't be able to hit anything close to muddy.
I do think he has a point that companies might design to their environment.
I definitely want more tire clearance in a PNW rainforest than what I would need in the Texas Hill Country or Rio Grande Valley. That's going to effect my bike choices a lot.
I agree with the general premise in this thread, but I have been on my 2018 Domane SL5 for a week or two now and gravel/dirt riding is a part of pretty much every ride I go out on. This bike has been a joy to ride on pretty much every type of terrain I have taken it on. It's a perfect blend of comfort oriented and race oriented features. The 32mm tires that come stock and clearance for 35mm are a nice add as well. I highly recommend it if you aren't regularly riding muddy or technical roads. It really is a bike that handles itself well on a variety of terrain for the adventurous/Classics loving roadie. So, no it's not a pure "gravel bike in the 45mm/650b sense of the title, but it is a really cool bike that you can take on paved roads, dirt, and gravel and not miss a beat on any of them. I can't think of one bike I would trade it for right now (I guess maybe an aero version of itself....)
