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I weigh 308 lbs... will Trek 520 hold up?

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I weigh 308 lbs... will Trek 520 hold up?

Old 11-28-06, 10:14 PM
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I weigh 308 lbs... will Trek 520 hold up?

Hi all... I'm currently at 308 lbs and I just purchased a new 2006 Trek 520 touring bike. I'm steadily losing weight (I was at 336 three months ago, goal weight is 200).

My question is, should I wait to ride this bike until I get below a certain weight threshold (like 250, 275 or so), or will a Trek 520 hold my current 308 lbs??? (the bike has a 21" frame with stock wheels).

I don't plan on doing any loaded touring with it until my weight is down below 240.

Thanks for any help you can offer!

Mark
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Old 11-28-06, 10:18 PM
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Shouldn't have a problem at all.
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Old 11-28-06, 10:23 PM
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Chromoly you should be fine....

and

I would not wait 1 min to ride it....get out there and have a great time...

Congrads!!!!
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Old 11-28-06, 10:27 PM
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I don't see any issues, I rode a Royce Union (Dept Store bike) at 450 pounds with no issues! You might have to true the wheels a little more often, but that's nort a huge issue, especially if you bought it new and get a year of free tuneups! Enjoy the bike and ride that thjing, lad! That's what it's for!
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Old 11-28-06, 10:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Tom Stormcrowe
I don't see any issues, I rode a Royce Union (Dept Store bike) at 450 pounds with no issues!
Tom, I just watched your video... pretty cool. What weight are you at now?

I guess I'm a bit paranoid about wrecking my new $1200 bike. I purchased a cheap used Schwinn World bike a while back and under my 308 lbs, one of the wheels collapsed. Of course, it was a one-inch aluminum wheel.
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Old 11-28-06, 10:55 PM
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What are the 'stock wheels?' If it's brand new you may want to see if the shop would swap out something beefier if you're worried about them. Check my sig for wheel discussions.

Welcome and get ridin'!
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Old 11-28-06, 11:14 PM
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Originally Posted by markwayne
Tom, I just watched your video... pretty cool. What weight are you at now?

I guess I'm a bit paranoid about wrecking my new $1200 bike. I purchased a cheap used Schwinn World bike a while back and under my 308 lbs, one of the wheels collapsed. Of course, it was a one-inch aluminum wheel.
229 right now, I started at 581 pounds. I ride a 20 year old Raleigh with 27X1 Araya rims. The wheels on the MTB (Royce Union) are Alex Aluminum 26" stock cheapies.
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Old 11-28-06, 11:31 PM
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Though I would say that cheapo mtb stock rims are going to hold up really well compared to cheapy road wheels (says the guy who tacoed two road rims but haven't been able to dent my mtb rims! )
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Old 11-28-06, 11:44 PM
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Ride that sucker. Ride it today, ride it tomorrow. It ought to hold up just fine. If it comes with 700c x 28 tires like it used to when I bought mine in 1994, you might want to swap 'em out for 700c x 32's or 35's (more air, a little more cushion for you and the wheels, less chance of pinch flats), but otherwise you should be good to go. But even on the 28's, you should be okay - just be sure to keep the tire pressure up to the stated max on them. You may also want to ask the shop to check the spoke tension on the wheels to make sure it is where it should be (proper tension will make any wheel stay in true longer and last longer without busting spokes).

Congrat on scoring the 520. It will not let you down.
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Old 11-29-06, 12:10 AM
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You'll be fine. The stock wheels on the 520 are pretty beefy. If I remember right, they're 36h mtb hubs built on sturdy rims. Enjoy the ride!
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Old 11-29-06, 02:00 AM
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new bike

Originally Posted by markwayne
Hi all... I'm currently at 308 lbs and I just purchased a new 2006 Trek 520 touring bike. I'm steadily losing weight (I was at 336 three months ago, goal weight is 200).

My question is, should I wait to ride this bike until I get below a certain weight threshold (like 250, 275 or so), or will a Trek 520 hold my current 308 lbs??? (the bike has a 21" frame with stock wheels).

I don't plan on doing any loaded touring with it until my weight is down below 240.

Thanks for any help you can offer!

Mark
A great choice of bike for you. I'm with others on switching to 32-38 mm wide tires. I ride 32 mm tires at 265 pounds and enjoy the trouble free (no flats) and cushy ride. I have compaired them to 25 and 28 mm tires and they are not much slower, if any, especially on the multi-surface roads I ride on. For smooth and flat and all out speed, a narrow tire may be slightly faster but I hate stopping to fix flats and I like a smooth ride. I just restored a 1980's Centurion steel bike and wow! what a nice ride. So far less than $300 invested including the cost of the bike. All parts were nearly new (just old) and a recent powdercoat (safety yellow with emerald metallic clearcoat) and some select parts swapping from my treasure chest of goodies and I have one cheap and beautifull ride simular to your Trek 520....steel frame , 36 spoke wheels, touring geometry and decent parts what else is there that could be better?
Great minds think alike!!!!
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Old 11-29-06, 07:54 AM
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I agree with the above. That Trek is a strong bike. Enjoy!
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Old 11-29-06, 09:40 AM
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Thanks everyone. Looks like I'll be able to get out there on my 520 right away, then! Woo-hoo!!!

The stock wheels are Shimano Deore LX hubs; Bontrager Maverick rims.

Tires are Bontrager Race Lite Hardcase, 700x32c

Hopefully, those will be okay.
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Old 11-29-06, 09:43 AM
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Let's consider this: A touring bike carrying a rider at 220 lbs (okay maybe closer to 240 ) with a bike that weighs 27 lbs and a touring load of 60 lbs and a Camelbak loaded with 100oz of water and 4 lbs of tools . I make that at a load of 317 lbs and I wasn't afraid to throw the whole mess off the top of Lolo Pass in Idaho at 45mph Mine was a Cannondale T800 (which I think is a better frame for us big guys) but the 520 should do just fine!

If you have issues with wheels (which is likely), have someone rebuild you wheels with DT Alpine III spokes , a good touring rim, and a nice set of XT hubs...you'll be golden!
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Old 11-29-06, 10:09 AM
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Originally Posted by markwayne
Thanks everyone. Looks like I'll be able to get out there on my 520 right away, then! Woo-hoo!!!

The stock wheels are Shimano Deore LX hubs; Bontrager Maverick rims.

Tires are Bontrager Race Lite Hardcase, 700x32c

Hopefully, those will be okay.
Worst case, you'll need to upgrade the wheelset. Not that big a deal. If you do, I'd definitely go with a hand built wheel, it's worth the $$! Have fun and get your butt on the %^#$ BIKE! The Clyde database has spoken! If you don't, is gonna sweep ya!
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Old 11-29-06, 10:52 AM
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Originally Posted by markwayne
Hi all... I'm currently at 308 lbs and I just purchased a new 2006 Trek 520 touring bike. I'm steadily losing weight (I was at 336 three months ago, goal weight is 200).

My question is, should I wait to ride this bike until I get below a certain weight threshold (like 250, 275 or so), or will a Trek 520 hold my current 308 lbs??? (the bike has a 21" frame with stock wheels).

I don't plan on doing any loaded touring with it until my weight is down below 240.

Thanks for any help you can offer!

Mark
I agree with what has been said. I would add:

How you ride has a ton to do with the longevity of your wheels.

I have talked about it before. I think it is supremely important for clydesdales to "ride light." It is partly a mindset and partly discipline. It is partly about taking the weight off of the seat (and sometimes off of the ground) when you hit rough terrain. If I can't avoid a bad bump/hole, I hop it.

"Riding light" is even more about paying attention so you hit the least rough terrain you can.

It will make your wheels last longer, your tires last longer, your seatpost, your bike last longer and your perineum/testicles/butt will thank you. (It may take a greater toll on your pedals...)

Look down the path when you ride and avoid pot holes. (It seems obvious but ride with somebody and it is amazing how many people don't do this.) And don't look at what you want to avoid. It is an old maxum of the MTB world and it is true. If you stare at the obstacle you want to avoid, your front tire will miss it but your back will hit it. The trick it to stare at the clear path next to the obstacle where you want both tires to go. (Don't ask me why this works, but it does.)

Oh, the guys in the group ride behind you will thank you, too.
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Old 11-30-06, 05:56 AM
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Definitely! I am currently around 325 lbs and have been riding my Trek 520 for about a year now. Never had to true a wheel, never had anything fail due to weight. Only thing failed at all was the seat post clamp (while I was unscrewing it to adjust).

https://kingtermite.net/publicstuff/Trek520/
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Old 11-30-06, 11:33 PM
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No worries man, go ride that thing! I have a 2002 520, the stock wheels (35mm) on that thing are just fine. I was a few pounds shy of you when I got mine, never had a problem (except for sizing, which is an entirely different issue)
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