Touring - Help with trek 520

I'm in the market for a bike designed for loaded touring, but first a little history.

The bike I'm currently riding is a 2002 Jamis Aurora. I was unable to test ride one because my LBS at the time did not cary any higher end bikes (above $500) because he had no market for them. I bought the 59cm after consulting the general fit guide offered by jamis (give your height, recomends frame size). I know this is no way to pick out a bike but I really didn't know what to do. The problems I have with the bike is no clearance for larger tires and fenders (barely fit fenders but had to put on 25c tires, WAY too Small for loaded touring) and I don't think i'm comfortable enough on the bike for a long tour. To top it all off My bike was involved in an acident while on the rack of my car. Big dent about three inches down on the down tube away from the head tube. So I'm worry about the frame failing under high stress.

So this leaves me looking for a new bike more designed for loaded touring. I've heard good things about the trek 520 but havn't been able to find a shop that stocks them. The shops tell me that it is more of a specialty bike not worth stocking. I really don't want to make the same mistake of not making sure a bike is the right size before I buy it. I wondering if anyone knows of any bikes which are more likely to be in stock with dimensions like the 520? Sorry for the long post but any advice would be appreciative.

Ray

This doesn't really answer your question, but a bike shop that calls a Trek 520 a speciality bike and not worth stocking is telling you "touring bikes are not work stocking." I'd look around for another shop, even if you have to make a trip out of it.

If you let us know your region, someone may have a bike shop recommendation to aim you at. You might also go to the Trek site and ask them about dealers near you.

Cannondale makes a good touring bike (aluminum frame). I think Fuji(?) has one. Do a Google Search on touring bikes. There are only a few mass produced one, but a good number of individual builders (which may or may not be easy to find). I opted for a 520, because I am a steel frame kind of guy and I like (after tens of thousands of miles) bar end shifters which came stock on the 520s when we bought in 2002. And, at the place we bought from our choice was Trek or Cannondale. At least we HAD a choice.

Before we bought the Trek 520s (three of them actually) we visited several biggish bike stores in Seattle (coming down from Juneau Alaska where we have a three month a year bike shop, for other visiting and bike buying). One of those stores tried to point me at some bike as a "touring bike" but there was NO room for fenders. Clearly these folks thought real touring bikes were "speciality bikes not worth carrying.

Gregg's Greenlake Cyclery was our bike heaven. They do feel it is worthwhile to stock touring bikes. The people we talked to there BOTH tour.

FWIW, we enjoyed the Treks on a six week visit to Belgium and France (mostly, including Bretagne and Pyrenees[we saw Lance and the TdF]), last summer. They are good rides.

Thanks for the info, right now i'm in jersey til saturday so I might try to check out New York City on Friday. Monday I'll be back in portland maine. Anyone know a good shop in that area?

Thanks for the help.

Ray

i'm sure there'd be lots of places in nyc. suppose that would go for just about anything, though. = )

actually, there's a poster... IstanbulTea? i believe he is in nyc. you'd have to doublecheck me there, but i gather he could recommend a good shop or two.


fuji does make a touring bike, simply called the "touring." it does have room for fenders and such. seems a good bike, not as expensive, and largely untested next to the 520. a lot of people have gone mighty healthy distances on the 520 as is. a lot would recommend switching out the crank, which most dealers can do at cost.


and about the shop: given how long this 520 will likely last, it is well worth your while to find a local bike shop that can help you out. even if "local" ends up meaning a hundred miles out. BIG points if they have someone employed who has toured themselves. that wisdom and respect for touring and touring bikes is arguably the most important thing you're paying for with that bike. and since they will know more or less exactly what you will need for your tours, you will likely save money where other (perhaps well-meaning) shops would push the trinkety garbage that gets shipped home three days out.


but i assure you, the point is to worry about every possible detail you can for now. and then later on... you ride. you grumble at big grey clouds. you have monologues at cattle. sometimes, amazingly, they pay attention. you startle yourself by laughing for no good reason whatsoever.


the actual touring is the easy part. = )


best,

matt b.

The problem is one of supply and demand... so many shops simply will not stock a touring bike for reasons of having it just sit there and collect dust while all the carbon, Ti and the like bikes move out the door.

That said, you'll probably have to have your local Trek (or whatever brand you're interested in) dealer order the bike so you can test drive it. The sad economics of the touring bikes popularity.

As far as shops in NYC are concerned-I doubt any of these will have a 520 or any tourer (call ahead if you aren't going for any other reason) but they are still great shops...

Larry & Jeffs 2nd Ave.-Bicycles Plus

212-722-2201
1690 Second Ave. (betw. 87 & 88 St)
Hours: Mon–Sun 10 AM–8 PM

Sid's Bike Shop

235 East 34th Street
(btw 2nd & 3rd Ave.)
New York, NY 10016
212-213-8360 Fax: 212-889-1149

I found a shop in NYC named bicycle habitat that has a trek 520 25'' inch frame size in stock. I'm going to try it out hopefully friday. If it seems to big I 'll know to get the 23'' My local trek dealer says they can get it for me for $899. Sounds like a good price does anyone else know a better price?

DeafLamb

If your Aurora was the right size, then replicate the position on your trek. If the Aurora was not exactly right, figure out how it was wrong and look for a size which is right.
Althought you can swap stems etc, it realy helps to be in the ballpark. The general advice seems to be if you between sizes, opt for the smaller one. Size by length rather then hight, since this is a more critical dimension.

Measure up your Jamis Aurora. Use a tape measure, not the factory specs. Measure the points of contact in relation to the bottom bracket, in X and Y. Mark X=0 on the top tube (with masking tape and a plumb-line).This way you can exclude the effect of frame angles and saddle layback.