trek superfly pro sl

• Crosscountry
• Rider Notes

2012 Trek Superfly Pro

A 29″ carbon frame crosscountry bike with ultra high-end components. Compare the full range

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A bike with lower gearing will be easier to ride up steep hills, while a higher top end means it will pedal faster down hills.

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On a long ride or during the wee small hours out on track at a 24hr race, it’s not unusual to get a song stuck in your head. Traditionally it’s something dire, like Peter Allen’s ‘Rio’. But on board this bike, the groove is strong; feel the soul, channel the year 1972. It’s Superfly. We …

A light, fun, fast cross country machine

Superbly relialbe

Clean looks

Not the plushest or stiffest of rides.

Read Review

Trek sought out to drop a full pound from their already lightweight Superfly 100. They wanted to maintain all stiffness numbers to build a worthy race bike. Did they succeed? - Mtbr.com

Feb 2012 · James Huang

Great power transfer, natural-feeling geometry and smart overall spec list, but not as stiff or comfortable as some competitors

Nov 2011 · MBA Action

A Stealth Fighter on Singletrack: The Trek Superfly 100 Elite Still confusing to some riders, the "Fisher" brand was absorbed into its parent company,

Aug 2011 · Emily Schaldach

Among a handful of fast women set to face-off with Rusch are top riders such as Jenny Smith, Kelli Emmett, Gretchen Reeves and Sari Anderson.

Last updated 29 June Not listed for 2,495 days

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• 08 Apr 2013
• by Anthony Mikrut
• in News , Product Reviews

Trek Superfly 100 Pro SL

2013 Trek Superfly 100 Pro SL

New bike day is a great day. It is even more fabulous when the new bike is a 2013 Trek Superfly 100 Pro SL. From the box, this bike is the hotness. An amazing specimen of Trek engineering, I cannot wait to get this carbon rocket ship in the woods and on the trails. I only changed a few parts on the bike from the stock build, Ergon SM3 Pro Carbon Railed saddle , Ergon GS1 grips , and Schwalbe Racing Ralph tubless tires . Tossed on a set of the new TIME ATAC XC 12 Carbon Ti pedals on, and we are ready to rock.

Here are the specs…

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Related post, village cycle center to sponsor chicago cyclocross cup 2013, trek project one – build your dream, little black dress: trek lexa slx.

[…] your bike. And when it comes to the newest addition to my bicycle collection, this amazing Trek Superfly SL 100 Pro, I freaking love this […]

Great detailed pictures. One question: Why do you choose the Schwalbe Racing Ralf?

For the trails I usually ride and race on, the Racing Ralph has been quite fast, grippy, and not to bad weight either.

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Trek Superfly 29er Hardtail

Superfly is THE choice for the aficionado seeking the fastest, most advanced, best 29er out there.

• USER REVIEWS

It's a truly great bike. Fast, light, superb handling. I live it.

There are no weaknesses

The first carbon bike I've owned. The bike is light, fast and fun.

The bottom bracket bearing wore out earlier than I would have expected.

Awesome Bike , Great improvement with the new 142 thru axle ,wow ,awesome stiff. I am 6' 230lbs , Bench 350,squat 650,this bike is a great at climbing and it goes down almost as well. Love the G2 ,always have.

I have owned many mtn bikes (20+) ,if ur lookin for a fast climbing machine that descends very well ,this is a great choice. Just got mine ,it's wonderful. I will let u knw in August how it held up. I rode 1700 on a rd bike last yr and 400 in the woods,look to do 1,000 in the woods on this. Trek Superfly 29er rules.

Similar Products Used:

2014 trek ex 9, salsa Horsethief 2014, Nukeproof Scalp,Cannondale super six evo , E5 SL Smartweld, Trek mamba,Cannondale scalpel & rush and many many others owned by me.

for the Superfly 5 2014 18,5 frame which I am rating: frame design - geometry, great handling

regarding the frame, none. Components, there is Supefly 5 - 9, you get what you pay for, choose the class which suits you and your budget and upgrade what ever you like, mainly the wheels I would recommend.

I am rating the Superfly 2014-2016 alluminium frame. Superfly 5 – 9 have the same frame and are priced according to components selection. My frame is Superfly 5 2014 size 18,5 virtual. I wanted this frame. Components, I upgraded practically everything. Great frame, fantastic geometry, handling could not be better. I had TREK Paragon 29“ 2011 which is the same design as Superfly 2012 and 2013. This frame is a next generation from these. I will repeat what I wrote for the Paragon 2011 review; It is fast, nimble, at high speeds as well while maintaining great stability. G2 geometry really works. The frame is stiff, well built. This new frame design only confirms these facts and only adds to the overall riding confidence. One big advantage of TREK 29” HT is the frame length. Probably the longest 29” HT frame out there. Size M is as long as size L of most other brands which means you can get a one size smaller frame to fit you perfectly and you get more standing clearance. It only would not fit the long legged (models). If you are of this stature and want a 29” HT, TREK Superfly is maybe the best option. It does not come with 12x142 rear wheel hub through axle set up. You have to get the TREK 12x142 conversion set. I got it, but still have to get the wheels for it. For now I am using WTB Stryker TCS Cross Country Race 29? 2012 wheel set (9x135 QR) which I used on my Paragon for about 3 years. They are a fantastic wheel set, but can not be converted to 12x142 ;( Since it was introduced in autumn 2013 I really wanted it. At the time I was still happy with the previous superfly frame design (riding the Paragon 2011) and did not quite realize what can be improved. Compared with the previous frame, this one has: more size options (added the 18,5 which I have), closed convert dropouts - 12x142 rear axle option, internal cable routing, shorter chain/seat stays – stiffer frame, curved seat tube – better pedaling angle and BB are app. 0,5 cm lower which results in better stability. After riding the Paragon 2011 for app 3 years I switched to this Superfly 2014, riding feel is noticeably better. I can not say that the difference is dramatic, but it is noticeable, I have just a little bit more riding confidence feel. Highly recommended.

Marin Nail Trail 29" 2011, TREK Paragon 29" 2011

Fast, climbes faster than my colleagues at the office, and is much easier to control.

Haven't found any yet

I simply love this bike, almost as much as my wife and Stabak football team. It beats me older bike (Specialized Sumpjumper) in every respect. Everyday use showes it is faster, and it is much easier to controll. For me it also feels more responsive when climbing.

Gary Fischer X-Cal, LaPierre 529, Specialized Stumpjumper.

Fast, responsive, great technical capabilities for an XC bike, wonderful handling at all speeds, strong brakes, great fork, great price, cranks are easily upgraded due to being compatible with many different hollow tech type cranks.

No TLR wheels on 2014 SF 5 (fixed for 2015 models), a little heavy for an XC race bike (it doesn't feel heavy though)

If you can only have one bike this is definitely one to look at. The few gripes I had with the 2014 Superfly 5 (the lowest model available) have been fixed for 2015. The upside of not having those upgrades was that it pushed me to swap to parts that are superior to what you will find on the current stock models. I like going fast but I wanted a bike that could handle the technical sections like a trail bike. The SF definitely fits that bill even on stock components. I swapped in 2010 Bontrager Rythm Elites and paired them with Team Edition 2.3" XR3 tires. The bike is now faster due to the better wheels/hubs but also handles better due to the more aggressive tires and stronger all mountain wheels. I also changed to a single ring and dropped some weight and maintenance that way. Not everyone will want it set up like this but for me it's the best way to go. The bottom line is that the Superfly is light, maneuverable, fast and fun. I've gone back and forth on the same trails with this 29er and smaller 26" wheeled bikes and I can honestly say that even on the tightest of trails this 29er doesn't give up any maneurerability due to it's bigger wheel size and it's much faster on everything else. I know a lot of people go with the carbon frame on this board, and some of them have had durability issues. I just can't justify that extra money, the alluminum frame is already super comfortable for a hardtail, fairly light and I don't have to worry about cracking issues. I've had zero reliability concerns over the last 1200 miles and the only wear item I had to replace was the chain. Even the XR3 tires which have over 700 miles on them at this point look like they will be able to go a lot further.

I'm reviewing a Superfly 5, 2014, 19.5 inch frame: Handles well at all speeds Climbs well. Great on flowing trails Great geometry Handles technical sections well for an XC oriented bike. Cockpit dialed in. Accelerates well if you're in shape

Not tubeless ready. A bit heavy for a bike in this category. Rather have a 2 X 10 drivetrain. Crank set should be upgraded. Needs race tires (Bontrager XR1s are good all around tires, but not so "racy" like the Schwalbe 29er tires.

This bike is fast if you are, and handles flowing trails like a dream.For an XC oriented trail bike it handles technical, mid west style hill riding really well. I've taken some crazy jumps on it just fine, bombed ski slopes, hopped a lot of logs, ridden really fast. I thought to change out handle bar for a straight, but I feel they dialed in the cockpit really well with the slightly bent handlebar it has. It has Deore/ XT, but not the shadow version. It didn't feel as crisp as the Specialized Crave at the price point, but felt more forgiving, definitely better downhill. The Crave felt maybe a bit jumpy in comparison. Pretty paint job, great geometry, and well thought out frame. However, what I have since discovered is that you're not getting an entry level race bike for this price point ($1,300-$1,500) (although it's billed as such), but really just a more XC oriented hardtail trail bike. My naivete. Now I have to upgrade the wheelset to get ready for some races. (I'm new to XC racing.) I put a remote lockout on it too. The 2015 model has a remote lockout standard, but I believe there was price creep on the 2015 model. More people I know ride Specialized, but some seem to love Trek, too. Piece of advice: don't buy to save money-wait til you can spend the money for the bike you want, or you will spend more upgrading over the long run.

2011 Trek Superfly ELITE Relatively light, handles well, rides

Trek Corporation

I purchased a $4,700.00 Trek Superfly Elite (carbon frame), when after a few rides the frame cracked (as did many others). Trek (the company) replaced my ELITE with an entry level DELUXE. After the LBS received the frame, I knew right away this was an inferior cheaper frame. The obvious feature was NO replaceable dérailleur hanger and the fact that it weight a quarter pound more than my original frame. Prior to purchasing my Superfly, my inquiry to the bike shop retailer with regard to warranty was explained as- "Trek will replace with the exact frame, if the exact frame is not available they replace with the next model up" THAT WAS A COMPLETE LIE. Trek was insistent that the replacement frame was identical to my original. When I asked them about the weight difference and replaceable dérailleur hanger, they had no answer and just hung up. Trek's Lifetime (limited) is very limited. Caveat venditor- buyer beware of Trek policy's

Great frame for aluminum category ! Fantastic brakes ! Decent shifting. Rides quick !

The seat. The seat. The seat. Bike supplied with non tubeless compatible tires.

A decent reliable Shimano drivetrain with excellent brakes and an awesome (for aluminum) frame. TREK 2014 Superfly 6. At about $1650 this would make a great casual race bike or a better bike touring load hauler with its nice frame. These should be out there at a discount now that the 2015 models are coming out. A better wheelset, tires, and seat are all this bike needs.

grippy shimano brakes, wide gear range with triple crankset, stiff frame

a bit heavy, front derailleur a tad slow

bought a 2013 Superfly in July 2014. Got great price from City Cycle in Corte Madera. Love the way the 29" tires roll over terrain that was slow going on my Klein Attitude w/26" wheels. Actually bought it to replace a Specialized carbon road bike that was stolen. I put 700c x 38 mm Michelin road tires on the rims and it handles great on pavement. Love flying over the trails with the stock 2.2" MTB tires. Shimano brakes are quiet and confident. Had to get 2013 model to get triple crankset. 2014s are all compacts. I use that 3rd front chainring all the time, on the road and on trails. Very happy with the bike.

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Trek Superfly 100 Elite SL review

29er full-suspension race bike.

You can trust Cyclingnews Our experts spend countless hours testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

This article originally published on BikeRadar

Trek set out on an aggressive weight-saving campaign for the latest Superfly 100, and by all accounts its engineering team was largely successful.

Even with a not-incredibly-light Shimano Deore XT group and mid-range wheels, our medium-size Superfly 100 Elite SL test bike weighs just 10.90kg (24.03lb) without pedals. The lack of mass is noticeable on the trail but, unfortunately, so is the lack of stiffness and so-so pedaling performance.

Ride & handling: Lightweight with good suspension but lacking in efficiency

The revamped Superfly 100 platform feels right at home on fast and flowy trails with lots of wide open, high speed sections.

The long wheelbase and relatively low bottom bracket provide a very stable feel through sweeping corners. And even though it's lost 10mm of movement compared to its predecessor, the remaining 100mm of rear suspension is active and pleasantly progressive, impressively sucking up smaller trail chatter without bottoming out harshly on bigger impacts while maintaining a lively feel throughout.

The rear end offers a good amount of pop for leaping out of berms and dips. And, as we've noted in the past, Trek's G2 geometry, with its increased-offset fork crown, goes a long way towards neutralizing both the big feel of 29in wheels and its unusually long wheelbase.

Steering feels light and natural without requiring much in the way of excessive rider input, and it's usually only in very tight switchbacks that you notice the Superfly 100 Elite SL's considerable overall length.

Like the Giant Anthem X Advanced 29er we tested last year, though, the Superfly 100's chain stays are still a little long at 452mm. Therefore, it's not the most natural bike to manual or wheelie.

Such handling traits would generally be no big deal in the Superfly 100's intended context of cross-country racing, where speeds are usually higher and there often aren't as many technical features as in general trail riding or enduro. However, the Superfly also doesn't pedal that efficiently, either.

Switching the Fox Float CTD rear shock to its middle Trail setting is a must nearly any time pedaling is required, and we frequently resorted to the firmest Climb position even on short sections of fireroad. We saved the fully open Descend setting for extended downhills only. Otherwise, there's far too much movement and a somewhat dull feel under power, particularly when you're hammering along in the big ring.

Nor did we find the Superfly 100 Elite SL's new carbon fiber frame particularly rigid. Front triangle stiffness is admittedly quite good, with the large diameter, nominally round main frame cross-sections and tapered head tube.

That's largely squandered out back, though, with an appreciable amount of out-of-plane flex, particularly in high-load situations such as bermed corners or excessively rough sections of trail. Here, instead of the rear wheel tracking precisely behind the front one, we repeatedly noticed the rear loading up – only to spring back when unloaded, which occasionally sent us off-line.

One simple test verified our suspicions, too: stand beside the Superfly 100 Elite SL with one hand atop the rear tire and the other on the saddle, push forward on one side while pulling back on the other, and you can see the top of the seat stays moving side to side relative to the seat tube more easily than one would expect from a bike of this caliber.

We should note that two BikeRadar testers independently came to identical conclusions on two separate test samples. Naturally, Trek has expressed concern over our findings.

"We're going to be testing that bike to evaluate stiffness testing," said Trek mountain bike brand manager Travis Ott. "I trust you felt what you experienced. Numerous sessions with pros and test riders haven’t exposed any weakness with the rear end stiffness.

"At this point, we’re concerned about repeating what you experienced so we can better figure it out. We’re also retesting stock frames currently. Point being, we take this seriously and when we get conflicting reports, we try and get to the bottom of it.

"As for the suspension spec and pedal bob, four out of five Trek Factory Racing riders also use the same rear shock tune. They wanted a very stiff lockout and we were able to achieve that with this tune. Thus far, the feedback and results from our pro riders have been exceptional. To date, we’ve been happy with the feedback on the bikes from our testers and pros."

Frame: Elegant lines and light weight but could use more brawn

The Superfly 100 Elite SL's performance is particularly disappointing given that the new frame is a gorgeous piece of hardware. The low-slung, molded carbon fiber front triangle features nominally round tubes devoid of superfluous kinks, bulges, or edges, while the one-piece molded carbon fiber seat stay assembly is similarly sleek and clean looking.

As opposed to the original Superfly 100 – or the current Superfly 100 Pro SL flagship model – this version uses TIG-welded aluminum chain stays, which adds some weight but should prove beneficial in terms of long-term durability.

Linking everything together up front is a minuscule swing link – molded from short-strand carbon fiber, of course – driving Fox's superb Float CTD rear shock.

The back end of the bike features Trek's ABP (Active Braking Pivot) concept, with suspension pivots situated concentrically about the rear axle to produce a pseudo-floating brake effect. Those ABP pivots are so cleanly integrated that you could be forgiven for thinking the rear end was one solid unit, although the axle path is strictly single pivot in nature.

The rear end is effectively a single pivot in terms of axle movement

The main pivot is situated inline with the curved seat tube, about halfway between the inner and outer chainrings in terms of height – about where we'd expect it to be. Moving it a touch higher, however, would make for more neutral pedaling performance in the big ring, and add more anti-squat when clawing up grades in the inner ring. Moreover, the Superfly 100 Elite SL's pedaling performance could further benefit from more aggressive compression tuning.

Other features include thru-axles front and rear, Trek's extra-wide BB95 bottom bracket with bearing seats molded directly into the shell, a tapered 1 1/8in to 1 1/2in head tube (again, with bearing seats directly molded in), a direct-mount front derailleur, post-mount rear brake caliper tabs (sized for 140mm rotors and up), and internal cable routing – including for the hydraulic rear brake.

The latter will be cumbersome if you ever decide to swap brake models (although we're not sure why you would – more on that below). Otherwise, though, Trek's internal routing solution is reasonably easy to service despite not being guided from end to end.

Exit ports are fairly large, the paths are clean and kink free, and the whole operation runs impressively quietly, thanks in part to clamps at either end of the brake hose to keep it from rattling around on the trail.

Further dulling sounds is the thick plastic guard on the underside of the down tube. Unfortunately (and rather inelegantly) it's held in place with a couple of giant o-rings.

Actual frame weight for our 17.5in sample is 2.13kg (4.7lb) including rear shock, seatpost collar, rear derailleur hanger, and water bottle bolts – slightly lighter than the previous edition, which is impressive considering the switch to aluminum chain stays. Riders who place a priority on weight will appreciate the lack of heft, but otherwise we'd rather Trek invested the mass currency on bolstering the chassis.

Equipment: Brilliant Deore XT components and Fox suspension plus solid Bontrager gear

There's little to fault when it comes to the Superfly 100 Elite SL's build kit, with Shimano's faultless Deore XT 2x10 transmission and brakes, a perfectly matched Fox 32 Float 100 CTD fork and Float CTD rear shock, and the remainder filled out with bits from Trek house brand Bontrager.

Shift performance is fantastic, with quick and precise chain movement, impressively hushed running, and excellent shifter ergonomics despite the I-Spec integrated clamps' lack of independent shifter angle or shift paddle adjustment. Gear ratios are smartly chosen, too, with versatile 26/38T chainrings up front and a wide-range 11-36T cassette that works well for both racing or general trail riding provided you've got a reasonable amount of fitness.

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few years, it goes without saying that the matching hydraulic disc brakes are among the best on the market. Power is ample even with just 160mm rotors fitted front and rear, it's very easily controllable even in slippery conditions, and lever feel is arguably second to none.

Riders in extremely mountainous regions might wish for Shimano's finned brake pads and their greater heat capacity, but we never noticed any fade even on longer descents in Colorado.

We were mostly pleased with the Bontrager cockpit components, too. The Race X Lite Carbon handlebar is suitably light and rigid, with just 5mm of rise to help keep the front end low. However, we would prefer something wider than 690mm for more leverage – it's easy to cut things down if need be but you generally can't make a narrow bar wider.

Ditto for the forged aluminum Race X Lite stem, which is always a solid performer, albeit one whose profile hasn't changed in ages and could stand a larger cross-section in this application.

Saddles are, of course, a personal issue. The Evoke 3 should suit most rear ends with its fairly flat profile and densely padded top with rounded rear corners that help boost maneuverability. We've no complaints on the Rhythm Elite aluminum seatpost, either, with its secure two-bolt head and what should be reliable forged construction.

Rolling stock is a little more of a mixed bag, though. The Bontrager Race Lite TLR Disc CL 29 wheels are fairly light (1,640g per pair, claimed), easy to set up tubeless (although Trek doesn't include the requisite rim strips and valves), reasonably stiff, and held up well during testing with no truing required. We feel the 19mm internal width is a touch narrow for general trail use, although most cross-country types probably won't mind much.

Bontrager wraps the otherwise-capable wheels with their rather narrowly focused 29-1 tires, though, which don't even measure 2in across and aren't designed to be run tubeless (although we managed the conversion anyway).

Rolling resistance is noticeably very low, but it comes at the price of traction in anything other than tacky dirt, what with its hard rubber compound and tightly spaced array of small knobs. We'd advise at least swapping out the front for something a little more secure and saving the extra one for a spare, fast-rolling rear.

Price: US$5,569.99/£4,250 Weight: 10.90kg (24.03lb, complete bike, 17.5" size, without pedals); 2,133g (4.70lb, frame only, including rear shock, seatpost collar, rear derailleur hanger, and water bottle bolts) Pros: Good high-speed geometry, lively rear suspension performance, lightweight Cons: Not very efficient, not very stiff, very long wheelbase BikeRadar verdict: 3 stars More information: www.trekbikes.com

Complete bicycle specifications

Frame: Trek Superfly 100 Elite SL, 100mm travel, OCLV Mountain Carbon main triangle and seat stays, aluminum chain stays Available sizes: 15.5, 17.5 (tested), 19, 21, 23" Rear shock: Fox Float CTD Performance Series Fork: Fox 32 Float 100 CTD Performance Series Headset: Cane Creek IS-3, 1 1/8-to-1 1/2" Stem: Bontrager Race X Lite Handlebars: Bontrager Race X Lite Carbon, 5mm rise, 690mm width Tape/grips: Bontrager Race Lite lock-on Front brake: Shimano Deore XT BR-M785, 160mm SM-RT81 rotor, standard (non-Ice Tech) pads Rear brake: Shimano Deore XT BR-M785, 160mm SM-RT81 rotor, standard (non-Ice Tech) pads Brake levers: Shimano Deore XT BL-M785 Front derailleur: Shimano Deore XT FD-M785-E2 Direct Mount Rear derailleur: Shimano Deore XT Shadow Plus RD-M786-SGS Shift levers: Shimano Deore XT SL-M780-I Cassette: Shimano Deore XT CS-M771-10, 11-36T Chain: KMC X10.93 Crankset: Shimano Deore XT FC-M785, 38/26T Bottom bracket: Trek BB95 by Enduro Pedals: n/a Wheelset: Bontrager Race Lite TLR Disc CL 29 Front tire: Bontrager 29-1 Team Issue, 29x2.2" Rear tire: Bontrager 29-1 Team Issue, 29x2.2" Saddle: Bontrager Evoke 3 Seat post: Bontrager Rhythm Elite

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Trek Superfly 100 Elite SL review

29er full-suspension race bike

James Huang/Future Publishing

James Huang

Trek set out on an aggressive weight-saving campaign for the latest Superfly 100, and by all accounts its engineering team was largely successful.

Even with a not-incredibly-light Shimano Deore XT group and mid-range wheels, our medium-size Superfly 100 Elite SL test bike weighs just 10.90kg (24.03lb) without pedals. The lack of mass is noticeable on the trail but, unfortunately, so is the lack of stiffness and so-so pedaling performance.

• Pros: Good high-speed geometry; lively rear suspension performance; light weight
• Cons: Not very efficient; not very stiff; very long wheelbase

Ride & handling: Lightweight with good suspension but lacking in efficiency

The revamped Superfly 100 platform feels right at home on fast and flowy trails with lots of wide open, high speed sections.

The long wheelbase and relatively low bottom bracket provide a very stable feel through sweeping corners. And even though it's lost 10mm of movement compared to its predecessor, the remaining 100mm of rear suspension is active and pleasantly progressive, impressively sucking up smaller trail chatter without bottoming out harshly on bigger impacts while maintaining a lively feel throughout.

The rear end offers a good amount of pop for leaping out of berms and dips. And, as we've noted in the past, Trek's G2 geometry, with its increased-offset fork crown, goes a long way towards neutralizing both the big feel of 29in wheels and its unusually long wheelbase.

Steering feels light and natural without requiring much in the way of excessive rider input, and it's usually only in very tight switchbacks that you notice the Superfly 100 Elite SL's considerable overall length.

Like the Giant Anthem X Advanced 29er we tested last year, though, the Superfly 100's chain stays are still a little long at 452mm. Therefore, it's not the most natural bike to manual or wheelie.

Carbon fiber seat stays but aluminum chain stays

Such handling traits would generally be no big deal in the Superfly 100's intended context of cross-country racing, where speeds are usually higher and there often aren't as many technical features as in general trail riding or enduro. However, the Superfly also doesn't pedal that efficiently, either.

Switching the Fox Float CTD rear shock to its middle Trail setting is a must nearly any time pedaling is required, and we frequently resorted to the firmest Climb position even on short sections of fireroad. We saved the fully open Descend setting for extended downhills only. Otherwise, there's far too much movement and a somewhat dull feel under power, particularly when you're hammering along in the big ring.

Nor did we find the Superfly 100 Elite SL's new carbon fiber frame particularly rigid. Front triangle stiffness is admittedly quite good, with the large diameter, nominally round main frame cross-sections and tapered head tube.

That's largely squandered out back, though, with an appreciable amount of out-of-plane flex, particularly in high-load situations such as bermed corners or excessively rough sections of trail. Here, instead of the rear wheel tracking precisely behind the front one, we repeatedly noticed the rear loading up – only to spring back when unloaded, which occasionally sent us off-line.

One simple test verified our suspicions, too: stand beside the Superfly 100 Elite SL with one hand atop the rear tire and the other on the saddle, push forward on one side while pulling back on the other, and you can see the top of the seat stays moving side to side relative to the seat tube more easily than one would expect from a bike of this caliber.

We should note that two BikeRadar testers independently came to identical conclusions on two separate test samples. Naturally, Trek has expressed concern over our findings.

"We're going to be testing that bike to evaluate stiffness testing," said Trek mountain bike brand manager Travis Ott. "I trust you felt what you experienced. Numerous sessions with pros and test riders haven’t exposed any weakness with the rear end stiffness.

"At this point, we’re concerned about repeating what you experienced so we can better figure it out. We’re also retesting stock frames currently. Point being, we take this seriously and when we get conflicting reports, we try and get to the bottom of it.

"As for the suspension spec and pedal bob, four out of five Trek Factory Racing riders also use the same rear shock tune. They wanted a very stiff lockout and we were able to achieve that with this tune. Thus far, the feedback and results from our pro riders have been exceptional. To date, we’ve been happy with the feedback on the bikes from our testers and pros."

Frame: Elegant lines and light weight but could use more brawn

The Superfly 100 Elite SL's performance is particularly disappointing given that the new frame is a gorgeous piece of hardware. The low-slung, molded carbon fiber front triangle features nominally round tubes devoid of superfluous kinks, bulges, or edges, while the one-piece molded carbon fiber seat stay assembly is similarly sleek and clean looking.

As opposed to the original Superfly 100 – or the current Superfly 100 Pro SL flagship model – this version uses TIG-welded aluminum chain stays, which adds some weight but should prove beneficial in terms of long-term durability.

Linking everything together up front is a miniscule swing link – molded from short-strand carbon fiber, of course – driving Fox's superb Float CTD rear shock.

The back end of the bike features Trek's ABP (Active Braking Pivot) concept, with suspension pivots situated concentrically about the rear axle to produce a pseudo-floating brake effect. Those ABP pivots are so cleanly integrated that you could be forgiven for thinking the rear end was one solid unit, although the axle path is strictly single pivot in nature.

The rear end is effectively a single pivot in terms of axle movement

The main pivot is situated inline with the curved seat tube, about halfway between the inner and outer chainrings in terms of height – about where we'd expect it to be. Moving it a touch higher, however, would make for more neutral pedaling performance in the big ring, and add more anti-squat when clawing up grades in the inner ring. Moreover, the Superfly 100 Elite SL's pedaling performance could further benefit from more aggressive compression tuning.

Other features include thru-axles front and rear, Trek's extra-wide BB95 bottom bracket with bearing seats molded directly into the shell, a tapered 1 1/8in to 1 1/2in head tube (again, with bearing seats directly molded in), a direct-mount front derailleur, post-mount rear brake caliper tabs (sized for 140mm rotors and up), and internal cable routing – including for the hydraulic rear brake.

The latter will be cumbersome if you ever decide to swap brake models (although we're not sure why you would – more on that below). Otherwise, though, Trek's internal routing solution is reasonably easy to service despite not being guided from end to end.

Exit ports are fairly large, the paths are clean and kink free, and the whole operation runs impressively quietly, thanks in part to clamps at either end of the brake hose to keep it from rattling around on the trail.

Tiny set screws secure the incoming lines to help reduce rattle

Further dulling sounds is the thick plastic guard on the underside of the down tube. Unfortunately (and rather inelegantly) it's held in place with a couple of giant o-rings.

Actual frame weight for our 17.5in sample is 2.13kg (4.7lb) including rear shock, seatpost collar, rear derailleur hanger, and water bottle bolts – slightly lighter than the previous edition, which is impressive considering the switch to aluminum chain stays. Riders who place a priority on weight will appreciate the lack of heft, but otherwise we'd rather Trek invested the mass currency on bolstering the chassis.

Equipment: Brilliant Deore XT components and Fox suspension plus solid Bontrager gear

There's little to fault when it comes to the Superfly 100 Elite SL's build kit, with Shimano's faultless Deore XT 2x10 transmission and brakes, a perfectly matched Fox 32 Float 100 CTD fork and Float CTD rear shock, and the remainder filled out with bits from Trek house brand Bontrager.

Shift performance is fantastic, with quick and precise chain movement, impressively hushed running, and excellent shifter ergonomics despite the I-Spec integrated clamps' lack of independent shifter angle or shift paddle adjustment. Gear ratios are smartly chosen, too, with versatile 26/38T chainrings up front and a wide-range 11-36T cassette that works well for both racing or general trail riding provided you've got a reasonable amount of fitness.

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few years, it goes without saying that the matching hydraulic disc brakes are among the best on the market. Power is ample even with just 160mm rotors fitted front and rear, it's very easily controllable even in slippery conditions, and lever feel is arguably second to none.

Deore XT brakes provide heaps of stopping power

Riders in extremely mountainous regions might wish for Shimano's finned brake pads and their greater heat capacity, but we never noticed any fade even on longer descents in Colorado.

We were mostly pleased with the Bontrager cockpit components, too. The Race X Lite Carbon handlebar is suitably light and rigid, with just 5mm of rise to help keep the front end low. However, we would prefer something wider than 690mm for more leverage – it's easy to cut things down if need be but you generally can't make a narrow bar wider.

Ditto for the forged aluminum Race X Lite stem, which is always a solid performer, albeit one whose profile hasn't changed in ages and could stand a larger cross-section in this application.

Saddles are, of course, a personal issue. The Evoke 3 should suit most rear ends with its fairly flat profile and densely padded top with rounded rear corners that help boost maneuverability. We've no complaints on the Rhythm Elite aluminum seatpost, either, with its secure two-bolt head and what should be reliable forged construction.

The Bontrager Evoke 3 saddle is suitably firm and comfy for longer trail rides

Rolling stock is a little more of a mixed bag, though. The Bontrager Race Lite TLR Disc CL 29 wheels are fairly light (1,640g per pair, claimed), easy to set up tubeless (although Trek doesn't include the requisite rim strips and valves), reasonably stiff, and held up well during testing with no truing required. We feel the 19mm internal width is a touch narrow for general trail use, although most cross-country types probably won't mind much.

Bontrager wraps the otherwise-capable wheels with their rather narrowly focused 29-1 tires, though, which don't even measure 2in across and aren't designed to be run tubeless (although we managed the conversion anyway).

Rolling resistance is noticeably very low, but it comes at the price of traction in anything other than tacky dirt, what with its hard rubber compound and tightly spaced array of small knobs. We'd advise at least swapping out the front for something a little more secure and saving the extra one for a spare, fast-rolling rear.

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Trek Superfly 100 Pro

• AUS $ NZD $ USD $ CAD $ GBP £ EUR €

Colour / Onyx Carbon/Signature Silver

Size / 15.5, 17.5, 19, 21, 23

At a glance

Where to buy.

Specifications

• Frame OCLV Mountain Carbon main frame & swingarm, Carbon Armor, ABP Convert, Flow Mold Carbon swing link, G2 Geometry, E2 tapered head tube, replaceable derailleur hanger, 110mm travel
• Fork RockShox SID XX 29 w/Dual Air spring, remote lockout, rebound, custom G2 Geometry, 51mm offset crown, E2 tapered steerer, 15QR thru axle, 100mm travel, 100mm
• Shock Fox Factory Series Float RP-23 Adaptive Logic w/ Kashima coat, Boost Valve, 3-position ProPedal, rebound; 7.25x1.75", tuned by Trek in California
• Hubs 15mm FCC front hub, 142x12mm rear hub, 28 hole
• Wheels Bontrager Race X Lite TLR Disc 29 wheel system,Tubeless Ready
• Tires Bontrager 29-1 Team, 29x2.2"
• Chain 17.8, , 39.26
• Crank SRAM XX, 39/26
• Bottom Bracket 12.8,
• Front Derailleur SRAM X0, direct mount
• Rear Derailleur SRAM XX
• Shifters SRAM XX, 10 speed
• Brakeset Avid XX hydraulic disc brakes, Avid XX hydraulic disc brakes
• Handlebar Bontrager Race X Lite Carbon Big Sweep, 12 degree sweep
• Saddle Bontrager Evoke RXL, carbon
• Seatpost Bontrager Race XXX Lite, 31.6mm, 5mm offset, 31.6, , 31.6,
• Stem Bontrager Race XXX Lite, 31.8mm
• Grips ESI Silicone
• Headset Cane Creek 40

Q: How much is a 2012 Trek Superfly 100 Pro?

A 2012 Trek Superfly 100 Pro is typically priced around $7,350 USD when new. Be sure to shop around for the best price, and also look to the used market for a great deal.

Q: Where to buy a 2012 Trek Superfly 100 Pro?

The 2012 Trek Superfly 100 Pro may be purchased directly from Trek .

Q: What size 2012 Trek Superfly 100 Pro should I get?

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The trains and stations of the Moscow Metro

2 Comments · Posted by Alex Smirnov in Cities , Travel , Video

The Moscow Metro is the third most intensive subway system in the world after Tokyo and Seoul subways. The first line was opened on May 15, 1935. Since 1955, the metro has the name of V.I. Lenin.

The system consists of 12 lines with a total length of 305.7 km. Forty four stations are recognized cultural heritage. The largest passenger traffic is in rush hours from 8:00 to 9:00 and from 18:00 to 19:00.

Cellular communication is available on most of the stations of the Moscow Metro. In March 2012, a free Wi-Fi appeared in the Circle Line train. The Moscow Metro is open to passengers from 5:20 to 01:00. The average interval between trains is 2.5 minutes.

The fare is paid by using contactless tickets and contactless smart cards, the passes to the stations are controlled by automatic turnstiles. Ticket offices and ticket vending machines can be found in station vestibules.

Tags:  Moscow city

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Tomás · August 27, 2012 at 11:34 pm

The Moscow metro stations are the best That I know, cars do not.

Alberto Calvo · September 25, 2016 at 8:57 pm

Great videos! Moscow Metro is just spectacular. I actually visited Moscow myself quite recently and wrote a post about my top 7 stations, please check it out and let me know what you think! :)

http://www.arwtravels.com/blog/moscow-metro-top-7-stations-you-cant-miss

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