Fifty Plus (50+) - R.I.P. ol' Trek, ol'pal...sniff

Well, that's it. Busted at the right side drop-out. I feel like I'm putting down my old dog. :cry: :cry:
http://i12.tinypic.com/2ym7kw8.jpg

Wait!!! It's not over yet! I got new dropouts put on my Steve Bauer road bike, cost about $120. Talk to your nearest frame builder, he might be able to help you out.

Every dog has its day.

Actually had seen the pic of your bike and liked it so much I thought I'd build up a bike just like it. My 830 is at college at the moment and so two days ago, on Ebay, for $81 bucks.....I bought a another TREK 830 Antelope...with an 8 speed hub. I think I'll put some Deore equipment on it. I have an extra set of 8 speed barcons..some 26" Schwable....maybe a moustache bar...you get the picture.

Have been suffering buyers remorse all week.

You guys aren't making this any easier on me. I just shot an email down to Elliot Bay Bicycles in Seattle (Davidson bike fame), along with that pic, to ask about repair. If it's less than the cost of a $eattle-Blue-Tarp-Lean-To, I just might bite. So, I'll hold off on stripping the corpse just yet...

BTW: Do you believe in Providence? Never, since buying this bike in '88, have I ever once seen another exact model like it. Last night I found one on my local CL. Same color but about an inch shorter, which will do fine. Email to that one, too.
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/bik/216244187.html

Sometimes ya gotta let 'em go...

About time the thing died- But you have all the bits attached to an old cra**y frame that are just right for a transplant- Check out a new frame and start stripping.

Very sorry for you loss..........wait.........did I hear it might just be only one foot in the grave???

Upgrade to a lugged frame like a 970. You should be able to find an old good one for less than that 830 on CL. Looks like you already have all the parts you need.

You guys who are saying "ah, yer better off" are missing the point, I think: reading JCM's basenote, it sounds as tho that bike is practically a member of his family. Who would want to get rid of a beloved family member just because they got injured?

You guys who are saying "ah, yer better off" are missing the point, I think: reading JCM's basenote, it sounds as tho that bike is practically a member of his family. Who would want to get rid of a beloved family member just because they got injured?

Ah, Katzenjammer, you have the heart of the matter; that is, I'm a sick man.

I have a beautiful Trek 520 and a new Sequoia Elite out in the shop, yet I go a-Fredding about on this old Trekwan with it's "crappy" frame - to quote that cruel and nefarious Briton over there. Elliott Bay Bicycles did not reply to my E-mail. They're probably just now recovering their wits after seeing the pic. I am utterly dejected. Let's see, I think I have an old bottle of 12 year old scotch around here somewhere...

BluesDawg: I've been watching CL diligently for a 970 frame or bike forever. They are rarer than I thought.

BluesDawg: I've been watching CL diligently for a 970 frame or bike forever. They are rarer than I thought.
Keep in mind that all the 900 series had the same frame with different levels of components. What size do you need?

As you see, it can work for your kind of Frankenbike. Here's Snidely before he went back to being a MTB, Lugnut.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/th_DSCF0668Medium.jpg (http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/DSCF0668Medium.jpg)

Wait, wait--I've got it!
You buy the new bike, because your old one's broken and you need it. Then you find a framebuilder to put horizontal dropouts on the Trek and make it into a singlespeed to ride in the rain and around town.
See how easy that was?

Keep in mind that all the 900 series had the same frame with different levels of components. What size do you need?

As you see, it can work for your kind of Frankenbike. Here's Snidely before he went back to being a MTB, Lugnut.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/th_DSCF0668Medium.jpg (http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/DSCF0668Medium.jpg)

Nice bike there. Just curious as I am not up on all the various Trek model numbers; I though they stopped making lugged frames in the late 80's, like my dead 830. Also, do the 900's have a zillion hardoints like mine? It actually has more than my 520. You can hang your laundry on it and still have places for things like, oh, I don't kmow, panniers and such. Excush the spelling, but I've had a couple in emeory of an old pals' passing... gettin mighty melancholic here...:( :( :cry: :cry:

Oh yeah, you asked what size. Well, the one in the pick is actually too big for me. It's a 23" with a SO of 33 inches. I bought it that way becuase I knew I would only use it for pavement with occasional shoulder or greenbelt use. I like the feel of a taller bike. A 21" or 22" with SO of 31" would do nicely as well. My 520 is a 23" with SO of 31" and it feels pretty good on the road - very good, in fact.

Are those chainstays on the 900's nice and long?

Wait, wait--I've got it!
You buy the new bike, because your old one's broken and you need it. Then you find a framebuilder to put horizontal dropouts on the Trek and make it into a singlespeed to ride in the rain and around town.
See how easy that was?

How terribly insensitive. The meat hasn't even cooled yet...! :D

Nice bike there. Just curious as I am not up on all the various Trek model numbers; I though they stopped making lugged frames in the late 80's, like my dead 830. Also, do the 900's have a zillion hardoints like mine? It actually has more than my 520. You can hang your laundry on it and still have places for things like, oh, I don't kmow, panniers and such. Excush the spelling, but I've had a couple in emeory of an old pals' passing... gettin mighty melancholic here...:( :( :cry: :cry:

Oh yeah, you asked what size. Well, the one in the pick is actually too big for me. It's a 23" with a SO of 33 inches. I bought it that way becuase I knew I would only use it for pavement with occasional shoulder or greenbelt use. I like the feel of a taller bike. A 21" or 22" with SO of 31" would do nicely as well. My 520 is a 23" with SO of 31" and it feels pretty good on the road - very good, in fact.

Are those chainstays on the 900's nice and long?

I believe the lugged 900's were made into the early 90s
If by hardpoints you mean brazed on eylets, my 970 has 2 per side on the rear dropouts and rack mounts at the top of the seat stays. No eyelets on the front fork. I had to use clamps to mount the front fender.
The fork is a fat tubed straight fork that is great for singletrack riding, but I would rather have a curved and tapered fork with eyelets for road use.

I think you are quoting road and MTB dimensions interchangeably, which is a bit confusing. My 970 is 19.5" C-T with a 22.5" C-C top tube and 30.5 standover with fat knobbies mounted. I'm 6' with 34.5" pubic bone height and it fits me on the large side of my fiit range, which is how I like it. For reference, my road bike size is 58cm or 23".
The chainstays are 17".

I believe the lugged 900's were made into the early 90s
If by hardpoints you mean brazed on eylets, my 970 has 2 per side on the rear dropouts and rack mounts at the top of the seat stays. No eyelets on the front fork. I had to use clamps to mount the front fender.
The fork is a fat tubed straight fork that is great for singletrack riding, but I would rather have a curved and tapered fork with eyelets for road use.

I think you are quoting road and MTB dimensions interchangeably, which is a bit confusing. My 970 is 19.5" C-T with a 22.5" C-C top tube and 30.5 standover with fat knobbies mounted. I'm 6' with 34.5" pubic bone height and it fits me on the large side of my fiit range, which is how I like it. For reference, my road bike size is 58cm or 23".
The chainstays are 17".

Yes, you're right. The measurements are 'half-notched' on the MTB. My 830 is 22.5 at the seat tube. I'm dissapointed to learn that the 900's have no eyelets up front. The 830 has two on each side, like the rear, plus a rack mount on the forks. I can dress it up just like the 520, but the 520 only has one front eyelet.

The good news is: the guy with the identical 830 has responded to my email. He says it's a 20" but he probably means 20.5" A little short from what I had, but it's technically the correct size for me. He has three clean but worthless bike (including the 830) for $130. Maybe I can get it for next to nothing. Perhaps providence shall prevail after all...

I know what you mean about the fork style. The tapered, curved ones on the 830 are surprisingly comfortable for long distances.

BlueDawg, check your PM's

Saw it and replied. So, are you going to buy it?

Saw it and replied. So, are you going to buy it?

I bought it. Not the prettiest aesthetically, but solid. I'm dealing with a bad cold right now so I haven't really touched it much, although it rides good and everything works well. I'm not sure what parts I can use off my 830. I'm hoping to use the OvalTech at least. The 930 has the Rapid Fire shifters. Do you know if I can switch to ordinary friction type?

Cool. Friction works with anything. What kind of friction shifters do you have?

Cool. Friction works with anything. What kind of friction shifters do you have?

Well, I have the very reliable Deore Light Action thumbers that came with the 830. Obviously nothing great but they work as smooth as the bar cons on my 520. I'm afraid I haven't a clue as to whether they'll work with the 7speed cassette, tho. The old 830 was a 6speed. I think I may have read here somewhere that as long as I keep it in friction mode, it should be ok, since it's only one extra cog. That true?

Again, friction is compatible with everything. Compatibility of shifters was not an issue before indexing came along. 7 speed is no problem. I have 7 speed freewheel on my Bridgestone. I have used friction thumb shifters with 8 speed on my MTB with no problems. Go for it.

Again, friction is compatible with everything. Compatibility of shifters was not an issue before indexing came along. 7 speed is no problem. I have 7 speed freewheel on my Bridgestone. I have used friction thumb shifters with 8 speed on my MTB with no problems. Go for it.

Good. Thanks.

I'm going to head out back to the shop to write down the components. Would you mind if I asked about their relative quality? You see, I just ride the bikes I have. The only thing I've ever messed with have been comfort issues, like H-bars, tires and saddles, etc. Maybe move this to the Mechanics Forum? Or PM?

Ask away. I'll answer as best I can. If I don't know, I'll say so.

Ask away. I'll answer as best I can. If I don't know, I'll say so.

Ok, thanks. But I'm going to open a new thread over in Bicycle Mechanics. This funeral procession is over...