Road Cycling - trek 1000

I went to a bike shop yesterday to get fitted. I am a 56. I am thinking about getting a trek 1000 as my first road bike. It seemed like a nice bike for a new rider and my price range. I also saw a lemond on my way out I didnt quite look at which model. When i find out ill let people know the trek 1000 was going for about 600$, so was the lemond. Any info? thanx!

Both are good bikes and both are made by Trek. The Lemond may be more comfortable as it is made of steel, which is a more comfortable ride. However, it will generally have a longer top tube. Suggest you have them fit you on both bikes and decide which is more comfortable for you. Make sure that you ride each for 10-15 minutes and not just around the parking lot. Enjoy!

If you plan on riding alot, especially on hilly terrain, you might want something tougher than the Sora components of the Trek 1000. I just sold one. I was having to readjust stuff wayyyy too often. I ride out of the saddle alot on climbs, and was tearing the stuff up. Maybe spend a little more, and spare yourself some upgrading down the road.

The Trek 1000 is made by someone in China! I found this rather discusting when I went to purchace a lower end Trek and support the USA. Only the higher end Treks are made in the US. If it don't say "Made in the USA" on the bike, it's Chinese!

mmmmkay. The Trek 1000 has a great frame. The bike is very upgradeable. It comes with decent wheels. Im just not a fan of Sora shifting equipment. Other than that,,,,, I was completely happy with my 1000.

When you go for those test rides, try to find some pavement that is not perfectly smooth. It will tell you the difference in the ride comfort between the two frame materials. Unless you ae a very strong rider, Sora will be fine for you. I didn't ahve any problems with mine. My Trek 1000 is still backup to my Lemond Zurich. By the time you become strong, it will be time to replace parts that have worn out, and you can then upgrade.

On the one hand, entry bikes like the Trek 1000 are superior in most ways to bikes of 20 or 30 years ago that cost a lot more (in equivalent adjusted dollars). Sora may seem a little clunky next to Ultegra or most Campy drivetrains, but it's a heckuva lot more durable and smooth than some the Simplex crap that came on the famous $150 ten-speeds from brands like Peugot or Gitane or Raleigh.

And these bikes are lighter, faster, and a lot more fun to ride, IMO.

On the other hand, paying a little more can really get you a much better bike. I'd sooner spend $100-200 extra and get something like a Jamis Ventura or a Fuji Newest or even a Trek 1200 -- Tiagra bikes with drivetrain parts that are interchangeable with 105 and Ultegra, making incremental upgrades easy.

The Trek 1000 cuts a few too many other corners as well, IMO (as do many entry-level road bikes that are designed to meet a certain price point while allowing standard markups).

So if you buy a bike like this, I believe it should be with the understanding that it won't be your last road bike. It will be the bike that lets you get acquainted with road riding, and teaches you what you truly want and don't want in your next bike. You should not plan to upgrade it, because the frame itself will still be a Trek 1000, which will limit its value in resale. A stock 1000, a year old and in good condition, would fetch a good portion of its initial price in resale; adding upgrades won't increase its worth very much.

$600 is too much for a 2003 1000. $550 or less is more like it, especially now at the end of the season. Spending another $200 on a 1200 buys you more than $200 worth of upgrade -- 9-speed drivetrain, better wheels, carbon fork, US-made freame -- and would be worth considering if you expect to keep the bike and put a lot of miles on it.

However, far more important than any of this is fit. Perfect fit is the most important thing about a road bike, and if the Trek geometry doesn't fit you then you shouldn't be looking at them at all.

RichC

You are correct on the resale value of a Trek 1000. I just sold my 2001 model on Ebay for $450.00. There are alot of people looking for the bike. I hope I like the Bianchi as much as I liked the Trek. I strongly considered buying a Trek 1500 and even the 2200, but settled on the Vigorelli.

The Trek 1000 is made by someone in China! I found this rather discusting when I went to purchace a lower end Trek and support the USA. Only the higher end Treks are made in the US. If it don't say "Made in the USA" on the bike, it's Chinese!

Most of Bianchi's entry level bikes are made in Asia as well - hell, anything you buy in the sub-$1000 category is almost certainly made there. They're are still extremely well made bikes - at this point I'd almost rather ride an Asian made frame than a European one, in a lot of cases.

(no one gasps in horror when you have Shimano components on a bike - they're made in Asia too. Where something is made has little effect on the overall quality)

I just wanted to say that when I started, I thought all Treks where made in the USA! I have a Trek 7200 and it is a fine bike. I allso have an older 850 and now a 2000 road bike. There all good bikes. Obtain what you can afford, I think you will be better off to have someone help you find a higher level used bike at the same price. My wife almost kicked me out when I told her what I payed for my Trek 2000, I got a very good deal BTW, God forbid I had looked at a CF bike!

Made in China. I have model airplane engines that are made in Italy, China, Japan, Russia, and Ti. The Japan made engines are tops, the Ti engines are almost as good followed by Italian, Russian and then Chinese. The Chinese have bad QC problems in my opinion.

The 1000 is an excellent bike to start with, my wife and I both started with one. And no matter what people say, DO upgrade the 1000! For just a few dollars you can buy Ultegra components and replace them one at a time, learning how to work on your bike and learning exactly what will improve when you replace a component. These lessons are invaluable and people who never upgrade the parts on their low end bikes miss out on this.

After replacing the front derailer and the brake calipers my bike was a whole new ride, made a huge difference. Made me run out and buy a 5200 :-)

Allan

Originally posted by Flea77
These lessons are invaluable and people who never upgrade the parts on their low end bikes miss out on this.

Well, except for the people who take their bikes apart and put them back together, learning the same skills without having to buy parts.


Originally posted by Flea77
After replacing the front derailer and the brake calipers my bike was a whole new ride, made a huge difference. Made me run out and buy a 5200 :-)


At least you didn't do anything ridiculous like replace the levers and drivetrain.

RichC

Originally posted by Flea77
The 1000 is an excellent bike to start with, my wife and I both started with one. And no matter what people say, DO upgrade the 1000! For just a few dollars you can buy Ultegra components and replace them one at a time, learning how to work on your bike and learning exactly what will improve when you replace a component. These lessons are invaluable and people who never upgrade the parts on their low end bikes miss out on this.

After replacing the front derailer and the brake calipers my bike was a whole new ride, made a huge difference. Made me run out and buy a 5200 :-)

Allan

That’s exactly what I’m doing. I bought a 1000 about 2 months ago and it’s served me very well so far. At the time I definitely didn’t have the money to buy a higher end bike but figured that as I started riding more and more I could upgrade where I saw it to be fit. So far I’ve upgraded the pedals to some look 3.1’s and the seat to a Terry Fly Ti. Next I’ll probably spring for a carbon fork and then some new wheels. Eventually I’ll buy a new groupset when I feel that the Sora isn’t up to what I would like it to be (which it is right now, save for 5% of the time when I’m in the drops). And then I’ll buy a frame and the less significant bits and essentially have a new bike. So instead of plopping down $2000+ for a bike that would be above my level initially I’ll instead be upgrading as I go along to exactly what I would like my bike to have. I guess I sort of take this mentality from building computers, where when you buy a prebuilt system you don’t have the customization range you would have if you do everything yourself bit by bit.

Sent you a PM......Go for it.

Originally posted by Rich Clark
Well, except for the people who take their bikes apart and put them back together, learning the same skills without having to buy parts.

Yes but in my experience it is MUCH easier to get someone, especially myself, to take something apart when you have a reason other than 'to see how it works'.



Originally posted by Rich Clark
At least you didn't do anything ridiculous like replace the levers and drivetrain.

RichC

I fully intend to, 105 levers or so and drivetrain probably all off Ebay. And what is ridiculous to you, is enjoyment to me. And I feel quite certain that you do things I would find equally ridiclous :-)

Allan

Ive had a Trek 1000 for a month now.And just getting started as a roadie I tell you I'm having a blast on it.My ententions are to up grade as I see necassary also.I hope to be in shape to do some charity rides next year,I think I could probably do some 50 to 70 milers rihgt now.

The 1000 is a great bike. You might want to check into the new 1500 tho. It's an Alpha SL frameset w/ a Bontrager Race carbon fork. The shifting is upgraded too. It has Ultegra on the back and 105 shifters and calipers. The only part that might need upgrading is the front der... it's Tiagra. But it's a damn sweet ride. I just got mine today!!! It rocks!!

Yup, saw the 1500s at the LBS not long ago, nice setup and sweet paint job to boot. Too bad they didnt have the 1500 when I got the 1000 to start with, might have stopped me from getting the 5200.......nah!

Just upgrading the 1000 is fun and it will make and excellent beater bike for me when the weather is too bad to ride my baby. Dont like the water spots on the Arundel carbon bottle cages, heh.

Seriously though, the 1500 is nice, bang for the buck it's hard to go wrong with any of the Treks.

Allan

Hi all
I just am trying to get into road biking i picked up a Trek 1000 from the year 2000 it is aluminum and has a threaded headset. Dose anyone know if it is possible to switch the headset to threadless and put a new fork on it? and if so what fork should i look for?

Thanks