2012 Trek Madone 3.1 Carbon Road Bike
Made from 300 series OCLV carbon the 2012 Madone 3.1 has had some great features added to make it a great entry level carbon race bike. Now being OCLV certified you know that Trek are backing the 3 series all the way. OCLV or “optimum compaction, low void” is more than a carbon lay-up technique, it’s an entire way of creating the frame from how the carbon is cut, to moulded and then cured.  If only you could see inside an OCLV frame you would appreciate how much difference this makes. Each OCLV frame from Trek goes through 27 strength and stress tests to make sure it’s up to the Trek standard. This is compared to the industry standard of 14 tests, which is why Trek now have 6 OCLV test centres around the globe and are regarded as the leaders in carbon fiber frame technology. Inspired by the Tour-winning 6 Series Madone, the 3.1 combines class leading comfort in terms of vibration dampening, with a stiff and responsive bottom bracket area to achieve the best of both worlds. Check out the massive BB area that houses a press-fit BB86.5 bearing system, eliminating the need for thread-in cups and widening the crucial BB area to make for a very strong and stiff interface. The result is snappy acceleration and a response under power that will see you powering up the climbs and leading out the sprints.

The 2012 Madone 3 series comes with a carbon Bontrager Race fork that uses a tapered steerer tube to nestle in with the frames massive E2 headtube. Like the BB area, the reinforced head tube on the 3.1 results in a super stiff front end that keeps handling crisp and avoids the understeer that flexier bikes can suffer - particularly noticeable on high speed descents. The Race fork also uses the neat SpeedTrap port for fitting on a wireless Bontrager Node computer. No need to mess your beautiful new bike up with tape and cable-ties, keep it all clean. Shimano 105 shifting is the benchmark for an entry group and so that’s what you get on the Madone 3.1 making it very hard to find faults at this price point. A compact SRAM crankset and wide-range 10 speed cassette give you all the gearing you could need in order to tackle steep climbs and flowing descents. A quality Bontrager wheelset is specced as an alternative to flashier Mavic or Shimano wheelsets, and although not quite as light as those options, is a much stiffer and stronger set of wheels that complement the 3.1's handling and acceleration nicely. Other bikes around this pricepoint can suffer from having good components with a flexy wheelset, which leads to poor response under power, sluggish handling and ongoing durability issues. In our experience however, this is an area where Trek road bikes tend to be the strongest.
With a solid groupset and a 6-series inspired carbon frame made by the most experienced carbon manufacturer in the business, the Madone 3.1 packs in a whole lot of race-level technology at an impressive price that shows this bike is far from entry level.

Features
	New 6 Series-inspired frame offers carbon performance and road-smoothing comfort
	Incredible value—our least expensive Madone ever
	BB86.5 bottom bracket improves pedaling performance for exhilarating acceleration
	SpeedTrap compatible for seamless electronics integration
Frameset
Frame	300 Series OCLV Carbon, E2, fender & rack mounts
Fork	Bontrager Race w/E2 aluminum steerer, carbon legs, SpeedTrap compatible
Wheels
Wheels	Alloy hubs; Bontrager Approved alloy rims
Tires	Bontrager R1, 700x23c
Drivetrain
Shifters	Shimano 105 STI, 10 speed
Front Derailleur	Shimano Tiagra, 34.9mm clamp
Rear Derailleur	Shimano 105
Crank	SRAM S350, 50/34 (compact)
Bottom Bracket	SRAM press fit
Cassette	Shimano Tiagra 12-30, 10 speed
Pedals	n/a
Components
Saddle	Bontrager Affinity 1, steel rails
Seat Post	Bontrager Race Lite Alloy, infinite tilt adjustment, 20mm offset
Handlebars	Bontrager Race VR-C, 31.8mm
Stem	Bontrager Race Lite, 7 degree, 31.8mm
Grips	Bontrager gel tape
Headset	Integrated, cartridge bearings, sealed, alloy, 1-1/8" top, 1.5" bottom
Brakeset	Alloy dual-pivot brakes w/Shimano 105 STI levers
Extras	Fender & rack mounts

Our favourite features of the Madone 3.1

	300 Series OCLV A better carbon at an amazing price. 300 Series OCLV is a smooth, intermediate-modulus material that proves that great performance and affordability don't have to be mutually exclusive.
	Tour-tested geometry The perfect balance of handling, comfort, and acceleration. Does everything well, and has 9 Tour de France victories to prove it.
	H2 fit H2 retains all the handling geometry and ride characteristics of our pro-fit H1 platform, with a slightly higher head tube height to put less strain on a rider’s back and neck. It will also accommodate riders with slightly less pelvic rotation and core stability. The H2 higher head tube is the right way to get most riders in the right place. No goofy high-rise stems, no huge stack of spacers—the look is nothing but pro.