Pemetic2006

Sorry about that, it seemed fine when I checked last night, but now I'm getting the same as you.
I'll have to try to fix it after work.

Bikedued

After a bath and removal of plastic fantastic. The decals will come off with the edge of an old credit card, so I will probably take them off and order a new set.,,,,BD

What about the bars? Randonneur or no? I am on the fence honestly. I can use the original bars on this stem, but a French 'O' Nese combo might look odd.

Bikedued

Hands, feet, and butt all feel perfectly placed and comfortable, with this setup.,,,,BD


The back wheel was a little warped, and I found a broken spoke, along with a few chewed ones from the chain going over the big ring. I think I am just going to order 72 stainless spokes, and rebuild the wheels. Then that begs the question of replacing the hubs, etc... It's a slippery slope, and soon you're rolling around with 8 speed XT mountain derailleurs, and running brifters, . I'd like to keep it simple and close to stock, and the hubs feel fine. I have a close to NOS Helicomatic freewheel installed now, and the bearings are really smooth.

RobbieTunes

BD, that's one of the best all-around frames made, IMO. .
It can do anything average or better.

Tour, check, A-
Race, check. C+
Century, check, B
Cross, check, B+
Gravel, check, A-

Those may be steel rings on that crankset, and alloys are available.

Plenty of bike messengers get 2 years out of a 520, and only one on other frames.

RobbieTunes

Maybe Belleri. Very nice bars, and they made great track bars.

Bikedued

Nope all alloy rings!.,,,,BD

due ruote 

Nice catch. I recently picked one up that's a bit younger than yours. It's a great rider; not what you'd pick to do intervals, but comfy and smooth as buttah. Mine is wearing Pasela 32mm tires.

Bikedued

Kind of puzzled for tires myself. 27 by 1 1/4, might be too big to use fenders, but I don't know. I need to do research, and try to find a combo that works. I have some stainless fenders I'd love to use. Pasela 1 1/4" might be pushing the limit. I've bought them before and they're pretty huge.,,,,BD

due ruote 

Mine has fenders with the 32's but I'm using 700c wheels. I think I could go to at least 35 with no trouble but my rims are fairly narrow and enough is enough.

I think the 32 width is pretty close to 1-1/4. It's a pretty plush ride; seems right for this bike.

oddjob2

As @OldsCOOL likes to say, "welcome to the club!" It's hard to beat the comfort of a Reynolds tube set Trek. I like touring Treks a lot. I like the cushion from the 27" tires as well. I guess I like all Treks actually.

I really need to finish this 1984 520 build, but I have been riding more than wrenching lately.


I just rode This 1986 520 Cirrus on Monday during a Slow Roll. I bought it with a small dent in the top tube, you can see it between the first and second cable braze on. Otherwise the Imron finish is excellent. It has polished rims on it currently. As many of the roads around here have been newly paved, I found the front wheel has a slight hop to it. Since the rims don't match, I will probably end up replacing both.


Finally a 1985 620 that hasn't seen the road in a year. I think I have a B17 to put on it and I know the original handlebars and levers are in my stash somewhere.

Bikedued

Nice stable of steel treks! I have a pearl black 79 510, and sometime in the next couple of weeks an 83 500, pewter with dk blue band. I had one of the bright blue and white 600's for a while, but it went to a good home when I needed cash.,,,,BD

The Golden Boy 

I've got SKS Chromoplastics on my 720 with 27 x1 1/4 Paselas. No muss, no fuss, but not a lot of room.

I was able to get a VO Facette fender on the rear of my 620. I was mounting a VO Zeppelin fender in the front, but between fork crown height, angle, and the front rack- I have to do some judicious fender trimming to get it to fit under the front rack.

That front fork crown is the most difficult part.

For as little space as the old Treks leave you- my Voyageur SP has 50mm between the bosses. No ****.

I think if you're riding less than 32 or 1 1/4", you're really cheating yourself of the ride these bikes are capable of providing.

mechanicmatt

I may be in the minority but there is no way I would put Helicomatics back on that thing unless that is all you had. The '82, '83, '84's and maybe '85's had them and it is the one item (the wheels) that every time I had this vintage, I would swap. Just don't trust them, the bearing and cone issues are real.

Beautiful bike, those ride amazing all fixed up.

mechanicmatt

Some people have been able to use 700c wheels on these, but had to keep the original brakes because the rim does sit lower and you can juuust get the brakes to line up right with the original calipers. By switching they were, if I remember right, able to get 28c to 30c tires with fenders on but I could be very wrong on that.

Really love that vintage of Trek, they are awesome.

bikemig 

+ 1 on ditching the helicomatics. The problem with the old trek touring bikes is that the cantilever posts are spaced more narrowly than modern posts which makes finding replacements difficult. It's also a problem finding one that will work with 700c but it's worth the effort, I think, to get it to work with 700c wheels.

I love vintage treks and have a hard time passing them up when they pop up locally. I picked up 2 this year, a 1985 Trek 400 and a 1992 Trek 950, locally and a 3 via this website, a 1984 Trek 610. I've really been enjoying the 950. These imron paint jobs just hold so well.

bikemig 

I'm going to try to tone down the old jealousy meter a bit here. Wow, I know that you have at least 1 of each vintage bike but this is quite the haul. I'd ride the heck out of that 620 if it were mine.

OldsCOOL

@oddjob2 it's good to hear you are getting some ride time in. Our roadie season is winding down up here.

The Golden Boy 

I hear ya.

I'm afraid of them. I had the stock Helicomatic/Maillard 700 on my 85 720 for a few months. I *KNOW* the hubs have been serviced recently and I KNOW it's not going to spontaneously assplode- but I swear I was thinking every noise, every click, every shudder... it was all the Helicomatic getting ready to blow up and take me and 14 other people with it.

The corollary there is that the hubs are REALLY smooth turning. After a while, I started riding those wheels on my Trek 400- and that front wheel is really cool... I replaced the Helicomatic hub with a Maillard 600 level sealed bearing hub. It's a pretty decent wheelset.

mechanicmatt

Yeah I have used the front hubs as well but also have seen those fail over time. I never experienced anything catastrophic, like the wheel going haywire, blowing up ala action movie style, but when they finally gave, it wasn't a pleasant experience.

I too have used their slightly later replacement hubs made by Mailard and those are some smooth rollers. The frames are superb though and worth some sort of investment on wheels, or full part upgrade every single time.

The Golden Boy 

I've got one Helicomatic wheel yet- I'm going to throw that on a bike, bolt on a Mountech derailleur and watch the universe implode upon itself!!!!

Bikedued

I had never heard anything about cones? The only complaint I ever heard was no replacement gears. Nor did I ever have a single bearing/cone problem on any Helico I've had.,,,,BD

If it breaks, I will replace it. Until then...

Bikedued

Don't forget the AVA stem, a Viscount fork, and a Benotto frame...

Bikedued

I just checked out my wheel stash. I have a WHOLE bunch of mismatched 700 wheels, and VERY few 27 inch. Very few that were made after 1979 anyway. Lots of big flange Shimanos and Normandys with single wall flat side rims. Not ideal for an 80's bike. I even have an almost matched set of Mavic grey anodized wheels. Same model of rim, but the rear is a 27, and the front a 700. My wheel stash ain't what it used to be. Siiiiigh......

I have a matching set of 27 inch wheels with Shimano hubs dated 1979. The rear wheel though? Without a tire, it feels like I am carrying a set of rims WITH tires and tubes. That isn't going on this bike in a million years. Not while I own it anyways. It looks like I need to find an NOS set of hubs, and rebuild with the Matrix Safari rims. I love the rims, but if the Helicomatic is going to explode, I'd rather not find out in the middle of nowhere.

My front hub (Maillard of course), is dated ten weeks before the rear. 41 I am guessing is the week made, to the rear's 51. Both in 83, for a likely production match to the bike.,,,,BD

Bikedued

Harris has a set of freewheel threaded sealed cartridge bearing hubs with 27 inch Sun CR18 rims, for $160 for the set. Piecing it together would cost more than that. I have a decision to make, it seems.,,,,BD

Oh, the Gazelle stainless fenders are a no go with 1 1/4's, with the clearance provided. That's a shame.

The Golden Boy 

Again- nothing has ever happened on the miles I put on either of the Helicomatics I own- but it has, apparently, happened frequently enough that Sheldon took note:
And from the Helicomatic Museum web page:


There's plenty of people here that have ridden more miles on their Helicomatics than I've ridden. Period.