Touring - Trek 520 steerer tube

Made the decision to purchase a Trek 520.
The bike has a generally good reputation is one reason,
the bike's large size appears to be a good fit,
another is LBS (30 miles away) is a Trek dealer.
Phoned LBS, no they didn't have one in stock,
but the regional stocking location had a few.
So I was just about to place a deposit on one
when I asked "does the steerer tube come uncut",
their answer was- they come already cut and fitted.
I was planning to leave it uncut until I had decided
about the handlebar height.
Does anyone know for sure, is the steerer
tube cut and fitted before it arrives at the LBS ?
If so, does anyone know if there is any extra
lenght (height) to the steerer?
Also asked the LBS if a Trek 520 was available
only as a frame, they didn't think so.
Might have to consider a LHT, which felt sluggish
compared to the 520.
Thanks for any feedback !!

Just relax and buy the Trek 520. Any good wrench can correctly fit you. The whole deal with the uncut steering tube isn't really an issue.

My '07 came with 1.5" of spacers.

Proper fit is a big deal. I tried out a Trek 520, and I didn't get one because the handlebars are too low. The bar-end shifters exacerbate this problem. Just about any other touring bike will have a higher handlebar position.

ScituateJohn,

Sounds like the bike shop wasn't any good, not the Trek 520. It's possible to fit almost any rider, and I mean almost any, to a stock 520. High rise stems, steering tube extenders, bigger frame size....it's what good bike shops do.