Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Trek US Postal Service Carbon Frame --INFO??

Cross-posted on Mechanics and C&V -- But this is my home!!:)

At a local pawn shop, I found a Carbon Frame Trek w/ US Postal Service designs on frame (road frame not TT.) The color scheme is blue on predominately white frame. Components are a mix of Dura Ace and Ultegra. Overall in heavily-used shape but may still be rideable or worst case, scavange parts. I might take a gamble & give them the $150.00 they are asking.

Can anyone provide info on this Bike? Year, Model, etc.? I checked the vintage trek site, but I believe this might be too new to be considered vintage. I also checked the Trek archives and nada! I realize that's not much info to go on, but I'm drawing blanks on all the searches I've done -- can't even find a picture!! So, maybe the experts can help me out w/ some info....

Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Look it over for exposed fiber and scratches gouges or cracks. For $150, you aren't taking a huge risk.

Pawn shop?

Is the bike hot?

Pawn shop?

Is the bike hot?

That has crossed my mind and was my next question. How do I check the serial number? Is there any data base? The bike is used / abused (I'm guessing a 2001 or 2002) but it does stand out next to the rusty $40 "Department Store" MTBs.
I know if I had a bike of that caliber & it got jacked, I'd be stopping by all the local pawn shops & putting them on notice.....

Thanks for the info / help / advice.
I went to buy the bike during lunch and........:eek: it was gone!!
That is the second deal I've missed (my own fault) in the last couple of weeks. :(

did you say 150.00 and you need to ask us to buy it?

For $150 from the pawn shop, you could buy it and most likely easily flip it on theBay for twice that. Buy it, sell it, then take the extra cash and put it toward a bike you really really want.

Cross-posted on Mechanics and C&V -- But this is my home!!:)


Can anyone provide info on this Bike? Year, Model, etc.? I checked the vintage trek site, but I believe this might be too new to be considered vintage. I also checked the Trek archives and nada! I realize that's not much info to go on, but I'm drawing blanks on all the searches I've done -- can't even find a picture!! So, maybe the experts can help me out w/ some info....

Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Was asking for info on the bike.......

It's a 2001 Model. Here's a link to the bike you're talking about:

http://www.bikepedia.com/QuickBike/BikeSpecs.aspx?Year=2001&Brand=Trek&Model=5200&Type=bike

If you read the stats on the link i gave you, they only have Ultegra components. However, a small number of the earlier 01 models came with the Ultegra/Dura Ace mix. That could make it worth at the very least $550 in fair condition. What are you waiting for? Go get it before someone else does. Even if the frame is trash, the shifters alone are worth no less than $150 used in working condition.

Sorry to budge in (non-Clyde here), but I have a '00 Trek 5200 that I've got probably 30,000 miles on. It's been raced over the worst roads of NorCal and it's unbreakable. I upgraded the Ultegra group to DA a few years ago and upgraded the wheels to Ksryium SSC SL's last year. It still flies over the pavement.

Assuming it fits and there are no cracks in the CF, buy it today.

Caloso has a point about the durability factor, but he's not a Clydesdale. All the racers I know(and I know quite a few) tell me that their teams don't even recommend a carbon frame to racers over 175 lbs. Their heavier riders tend to ride Scandium or Aluminum frames. Some have even opted for Steel.

As stated in a previous post, I missed the boat.....went to buy it during lunch yesterday & it was gone... Yea I know, don't make me feel worse than I already do......

Thanks for the Info / Input. I've bookmarked BikePedia -- it is a great resource.
That looks like the right paint scheme. It was a triple like the 5200, but had some DuraAce components -- shifters, RD, cranks. It also had the not so Clyde friendly Rolf Sestriere wheels like the 5500. The frame wasn't too badly beat, but the shifters were pretty banged up.

Regarding the durability of CF frames for Clydes....... I'm 5'10" 240ish and currently ride a Giant OCR Limited (Carbon Frame). I haven't had any problems to date. I agree that CF cannot take trauma like Ti, Al, or steel but IMHO carbon should be fine for the "moderately large" recreational rider (like me)who doesn't race, hop curbs, etc. When I have looked at various frame and wheel specs, I have never seen a weight limt on the spec sheets for frames. Different story for wheels (specifically, light weight race wheels) -- often the wheel manufacturers will recommend "for riders under_____lbs."