RoadGuy

I recently bought a pile of bikes in pieces to get the 1986 Trek 400T that I spotted in the pile.

It's actually in great shape, the lugged silver brazed 531 frame shows no rust, and the paint is not bad, showing little or no wear from being ridden (chrome plated freewheel does not show wear) BUT it's too small for me to ride (it's a 19" frame). So, I'm prepping it for sale or trade (would love a Trek 4XX, 5XX, 6XX, 7XX, with a 21" frame in the same condition).

While cleaning it up, I noticed that it has a chrome plated Shimano 5-speed freewheel (14 X 28) on it with a triple crankset, making it 3 X 5 (downtube friction shifters). The rear drops are spaced 126mm. This seems strange to me, even though I went on the VintageTrek site and verified that the bike did come with a 3 X 5 triple originally.

In fact, all of the hardware seems to be original. The tires are shot, and the saddle cover has faded, and is in need of being reglued (but it is the original Specialized Bicycle saddle).

So why did Trek put a 3 X 5 drivetrain on the 1986 400T? The 1986 400D (double crankset) came with a 2 X 6 drivetrain. Wouldn't it have made more sense to use a 3 X 6 drivetrain, since the frame was already spaced for the extra cog, and they were already using Shimano 6-speed freewheels with friction shifters on the 400D?

What do you think? Did Trek have a pile of leftover 5-speed freewheels (or did they get a deal from Shimano that they could not refuse)?

bikemig 

It came stock with 5 in the back, https://www.vintage-trek.com/images/t...rekCatalog.pdf

In any case, this is a freewheel, not a cassette.

The Golden Boy 

Because it's a 'half step and a granny' in the front.

The idea is that you wouldn't need the extra step on the freewheel if you followed a half step shifting pattern.

Theoretically, if you're on the big cog in the middle chainring- if you shift to the big chainring, it's halfway to the 2nd to biggest cog.

The next shift is back to the middle chainring, then UP one cog. You've now gone two half-steps (one full step on the freewheel.)

So instead of a 6 speed 14-28, you've got a 9 speed 14-28.

Does that sort of make sense?

The Golden Boy 

And, for whatever it's worth- I've been riding my 1986 400D as a triple this summer. First with a Stronglight 99 triple, and currently with an Avocet touring triple:

79pmooney

Golden Boy, don't ride that crankset into the ground. You may well end up there too (on the road). My Avocet crankset of the same era broke across the pedal threads. I rode it 8-10 years and put real but not ridiculous miles on it. Retired it. Pulled it out years later to get a new fun bike rolling. On one of that bike's first rides, the right crank broke. I was lucky. I had just come out of the saddle for that very last "umphh" over a rise and wasn't going very fast. Stepped n the road with the pedal, sat down and coasted to a stop. And got to coast downhill to my destination, a meeting with friends, one of whom had a pickup. Given where that bike had already been, I feel very lucky.

I hate to be a bearer of bad news, but my experience with Avocet has been very poor. Every machined aluminum piece (except chainrings) I have every owned has broken on a ride. Only exception - the left crank, retired when the right broke. So, ride it, enjoy it, but keep your eyes open for another crankset. (I'm a 155 pound, skinny and long guy with no sprint and no power. Not your classic crank and seatpost killer.)

Ben

OldsCOOL

Cool bike! That small "chainring" looks like it belongs on the freewheel.

OldsCOOL

To the OP's question of why would Trek use a 5-speed...because they could. The trend was 6 and 7 was coming into play, but if Trek had any parts left over they would and did use them. Aside from the brochure listing a 3x5, you could see in other Trek lines where they tossed in a quality component as they saw fit. My '86 Trek 760 is a case study on that point as was my '85 460 (I miss that sweetheart). The 760 came with a Shimano 13-26 FW on Campy NR shifting.

Pemetic2006

My 1982 614 has a 5 speed on back and the catalog says it came with a 6 speed. I would normally assume that a previous owner swapped it out but with Trek who knows.

OldsCOOL

Precisely.

The Golden Boy 

It does.

24T.

I'm working on a permanent replacement right now.


Of course, it's not this:

The Golden Boy 

Hi Ben,


I've heard "a" story of the Avocet (Ofmega) touring crankset breaking, and I think it was a different experience than yours- I seem to recall the break coming in the spider.

I've known that Avocet made (or had made for them) lots of different bicycle parts- the saddles being THE most prominent. I've had a couple sets of hubs and admired the seatposts. I had one set of hubs that was AMAZINGLY smooth- but those went with another bike, the ones I have now are "nice." I've also got a really cool Avocet wool jersey.

When I was in the market for the triple for this bike- I zeroed in on the Avocet crankset- (more or less because it was "Avocet") when I got it in hand, it's so finely sculpted- you get a sense of that "aero" thing that Ofmega was shooting for- especially in comparison to the Stronglight with the blocky arms. Your warning is good call to make sure to check it over from time to time.

Thank you.

OldsCOOL

Man, that's just pathetic.

The Golden Boy 

I think it was on the Disraeli Gears website- in regards to really, really low gears: "Sometimes, it's just easier to walk."

79pmooney

I never saw the Avocet hubs. Used to ride an Avocet seat and put a ton of miles on it. (The Avocet seats were made by Selle Italia, a company that had made good seats a long, long time.) So I can't say that all Avocet stuff is bad, but my experience with the seatposts and cranksets has been poor.

Ben

The Golden Boy 

Most of the other Avocet parts are rebranded Ofmega. Hubs, cranks- I assume seatposts.