Classic & Vintage - Vintage Trek 420! 1984??

I recently picked up this old Trek 420 at a pawn shop in Ocala for 60 dollars. The guy who sold it to me didn't know what year it was or anything. Does anyone have any info on this bike?? What year its from? Did I get ripped off for 60 dollars?? The thing rides pretty smooth, but I'm sure it will need some work. Thanks so much!

Here are some pictures of it.

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/3141/1001928fa0.jpg

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/1894/1001930im9.jpg

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/2355/1001937se5.jpg

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/7775/1001938ie4.jpg

Thanks! :)

1984 model.
Nice bike, I'd say for $60 you did not get ripped off.

Marty

Nice bike and it looks to be in good shape.

A link to the original booklet:

http://www.vintage-trek.com/images/trek/84Trek3Touring.pdf

I know this isnt the single speed forums, but I figured I all ready posted a thread for this bike, so I would just post this in here. This bike is on its way to becoming a fixed gear, but I am def a noob and I need some help. I have removed the brakes, shifters, derailleur, etc... But I do not know what I am going to need to purchase other than a single speed cog. I plan on buying new wheels, handle bars, seat and pedals. But I am wanting to know what is necessary for me to do to the bike, so that I can finally ride it again, and have a working fixed gear.

Thanks so much!

As always, the answer can be found on Sheldon Brown's site: http://sheldonbrown.com/deakins/how-to-fixed-conversion.html

Very good deal on the bike.

It is a perfect fixed gear bike, in my opinion.

Have you read the Sheldon Brown info on converting?

Off hand, I would say you will need the following things:
-cog (don't get a cheap off-brand one. ask me why if you don't already know why.)
-rear wheel (unless you are okay with a suicide hub, and/or do not want to redish yours. I think there is nothing wrong with going suicide, by the way.)
-chain
-maybe new a chainring to get the right gearing, but probably not needed
-pedals. most people do not advise going without something to hold your feet on the pedals. Clips usually; and in that case maybe you could just add clips to your current pedals.
-bars. if you need to look all cool, then it is obligitory to get bullhorns. alternatively, you could just chop the ones you have.
-looks like you need new brake hoods also. Depending on what you do with the bars, you might reuse the levers you have, or maybe get a time-trial lever that goes in the end of a bar.
-tires and tubes depending on condition of what you have and how cool you want to look.

Cheapest way: new cog, chain, and clips: about 35 dollars
If you have to (or want to) do all above: possibly 200 dollars

I bet you end up someplace inbetween. If it were me, I would go the first route plus tt levers, and do the rest of the work myself and redish the current wheel. Done for 50 bucks.

Hey, I'm about to order the supplies for my bike. I am ordering a cog, a chain and possibly a lockring. Will a lockring be needed? And will I be able to convert it with the chain and cog? Oh and I am painting the frame within a few days. I will post pictures for sure.

Thanks so much!

From the catalog it looks like a helicomatic freewheel so you can't just unscrew the freewheel and screw a track cog / bottom bracket lockring on. I would put the brakes back on, buy a flip flop wheel and put your track cog on one side and a bmx freewheel on the otherside so I could coast if I wanted to.

You should be able to get a rear wheel with a Formula fixed/free hub for $100. Suicide hubs aren't safe if you plan to skid. That's why they call them suicide hubs. Those short horizontal dropouts aren't the best for a fixed gear, but they'll work.

thanks for info, and sorry for being such a noob! im just trying to figure out what to buy, so i dont waste my money on **** that isnt going to work. so i will be purchasing a new wheel set with a flip flip hub, a cog, a lockring, and a new chain.