Trek Procaliber 9.6

A few short years ago, most riders were doubtful that a hardtail cross-country bike could get much better. Frames were lighter than ever. Components worked better and lasted longer. 29'er wheels and high-performance tires did a better job of helping the rider stay upright at top speed. How could Trek possibly improve the racing hardtail?

The designers in Waterloo, WI looked at their award-winning Domane road bike (and Boone cyclocross bike) and wondered if their IsoSpeed decoupler could improve performance on the trail as much as it did on the road. They were right. The result is the Procaliber cross-country hardtail. Meticulously built with the right components, the Procaliber is an exceptional machine for all-out racing.

Trek's OCLV Mountain carbon fiber frame boasts astonishing torsional strength as well as feather-lightness. Power transfer from the crankset to the wheels is lightning-quick, delivering trail-conquering speed and acceleration. The bike's overall geometry gives it nimble handling for race day performance, or for just cutting loose on local singletrack.

Razor-sharp handling and excellent power transfer are all well and good, but the IsoSpeed decoupler found at the seat tube/down tube juncture is the secret to rider comfort. And as we all know, comfort = power and power = speed. Staying fresher for longer allows every rider to give their best performance, especially at the finish line. Power transfer is improved with a press-fit PF92 bottom bracket, while a tapered head tube adds handling precision, especially on bumpy terrain. Internal cable routing keeps the Procaliber 9.6 looking clean, too. There's even a polymer downtube guard that protects the paint from "roost" flying off the front tire. Up front, an air-adjustable RockShox Recon Gold RL suspension fork helps tackle rock gardens and technical terrain with 100mm of travel. Don't need the suspension on gravel sections? A remote lockout lever lets you shut it off without taking your hands off the bars. Cool, huh?All this technology has been put through the wringer at World Cup mountain bike races by Trek's Factory Racing Team. If the Procaliber will put up with that, we're sure it'll impress you...

The components haven't been overlooked on the Procaliber 9.6, and they're all race-tested, too. 12-speed Shimano SLX shifters operate a Shimano Deore XT rear derailleur, ensuring lightning-quick operation in the heat of battle. A Shimano alloy crankset with a 30T chainring and a 10-51T Shimano SLX cassette boast a massive gearing range for roller-coaster courses and all-day adventures. Trek didn't scrimp on the Procaliber 9.6's wheelset, giving it a set of tubeless-ready alloy Bontrager Kovee Comp 23 wheels wrapped with grippy tubeless Bontrager XR2 Team Issue tires. Front and rear thru-axle hubs and Boost 110/148 hub spacing adds lateral strength to the wheels, improving handling even further. A Rapid Drive 108 rear free hub all but eliminates wasted "free play" between coasting and accelerating. Easy speed, bags of traction and proven durability are all found here! Helping to reign in speed -rain or shine- is the job of Shimano's MT4100 hydraulic disc brakes. A Bontrager Arvada saddle, alloy 2-bolt Bontrager Comp seatpost, accessory-ready alloy Rhythm stem and alloy Comp handlebar complete the Procaliber 9.6.

Now, go pin on a number.