Trek Madone 4.7 WSD

This is the seventh year for Trek’s legendary Madone series and the 10th year for the company’s Women’s Specific Design (WSD). Trek knows a thing or two about building bikes for women.

The Madone 4.7 is a race bike that doesn’t feel like a race bike: It achieves a pitch-perfect blend of comfort and speed and will meet and expand on your acceleration efforts. During our testing, we used a system of switching bikes while out on the course, and whoever was on the Madone was ahead of the pack, regardless of their condition as a rider.

Maintaining speed while climbing took less effort than most of the bikes we tested, perhaps due to an increase in the stiffness of the 2010 Madone 4 series frames. The geometry also scored points: testers felt in control, making sharp turns and descents with confidence.

The 4.7 also has some unique features: a Duotrap ANT compatible receptacle in the chainstay, a SRAM Rival drivetrain, and an extra-small 43 cm size with 650c wheels that’s unique to the 4.7 in the Madone series. Sizes range from 43 cm to 56 cm, so just about anyone can find a Madone that fits.

The 4.7 stands out in our 2010 road bike test group thanks to its acceleration power, its ride quality, but also thanks to the accessibility of the entire Madone series. There’s nothing exotic or intimidating about the Trek brand; this is Lance’s bike. With a total of 15 different models to choose from, including 7 women’s models, finding the right Madone for you will be a snap. Carbon, SRAM Rival, WSD ($2,620; www.trekbikes.com)