mattyknacks

I have decided to buy myself a Trek 520 when I become light enough to ride one without killing it. Can someone offer suggestions as to what weight I should be for that bike. Also, can someone tell what approx size frame I would need? I have only ridden mountain bikes and and dont know what cm size I need. I am 6' tall with a 32 inch inseam clothes wise.

Thanks,

Matty in Brooklyn

barba

You can ride it now unless you have a physical condition that will keep you off a bike. The 520 is a loaded touring bike meant to handle a rider on an unsupported tour, with all of the gear that entails. Find a Trek dealer and they will help you find the right size.

mattyknacks

Hmmm... I would hate to kill the rims. I loosen up the spokes om my mountain bike rims now.

Matty in Brooklyn

barba

Have the shop check the wheels for even spoke tension and it should not be a huge issue. If you don't mind the question, what do you weigh?

mattyknacks

I dont mind since I am losing. I weigh 310 or so (down from 360) I was thinking of this as a present to myself for a job well done.

Matty in Brooklyn

barba

Good job Matty! I think the bike would handle you now (and you won't likely be there long). If it keeps you riding more (maybe even touring), I see no trouble. If you go for it, you should have the wheels checked carefully before you buy for good tension and true. Keep an eye on them for wobble and you should be fine.

bdinger

I second the "go for it". An old Raleigh with 32 spoke rims held up under my 420-ish girth for about 1000 miles, then from there to 380 a Specialized hardrock got 700 miles of abuse. The 520 will likely break AFTER you do .

I also second the job well done. It's a hell of a thing to work off 50 pounds, keep at it!

bmike

My 520 has something like 40-something spoke touring wheels. Decent rims, and MT hubs. Have the shop touch up the wheels before you roll out the door... and you should be fine. Don't jump curbs, and be weary of potholes. When you destroy the wheels (actually, if you destroy the wheels) treat yourself to some handbuilt wheels designed just for you - consider it a reward for riding.



I had a bit of trouble on my 520 getting my handlebar up to a reasonable level for touring / commuting - the steerer came from Trek cut pretty short. (yes, the bike was sized correctly) - make sure the LBS you are working with knows how you want to ride - from the position you have on your bike over in the fender thread, you'll want the bars at least seat level to start....

jaxgtr

You should have no issue with this bike. I have a friend that has one about 2 years old and he weighs about 265 and 6' 3" and with gear and stuff is probably close to that weight. He has about 8000 miles on his. Rides it all over the southeast. You have got to love being retired.

Mr. Beanz

You prolly won't listen to me but I'll say it anyway! Get yourself a 30 mm high Velocity Deep "V"! Very strong, a bit heavy but durable. I have them on my tandem with over 400lbs of rider weight. Have them on my roadies as I weigh 240. No problems with 32 spoke wheels(3X).

Have them build you a rear wheel. Front is not as critical and will last longer than the rear. SO go for the rear first, unless you have money to throw around.

I say you won't listen cause everybody wants a strong wheel but then decides on lite wieght low spoke counts cause they look cool!

rokphotography

congrats on the job well done.. and i think a 520 is justifiable as a damn nice bike

bikingshearer 

Yo, Matty:
Here's a thought: get the 520 as a reward for breaking 300. Not because it can't handle the extra 10 pounds (it can), but as an extra incentive to make an awsome feat even better.

A big thumbs-up to you. I surprised myself (unpleasantly) by stepping on a scale two or three weeks ago and having it say 295. It is now saying 290, and I'm trying to keep the trend going, so you have my admiration for your accomplishment.

And when you get that 520, ride the hell out of it.

mattyknacks

Wow!!! I wrote that almost a year and a half ago! I was 310 pounds at the time.

So now for an update:

I am now 268 pounds. That means that I lost 42 pounds since then. (92 pounds total)

I just bought my brand new Trek 520 on Wednesday and did my first century on Saturday. It was rough near the end, but I did it. I never though I could do it until my friends in the "northeast" section of this website talked me into it. Bikeforums is the best!

c_m_shooter

Pictures or it didn't happen. Just kidding, Congrarulations on both.

jyossarian

Here's Stevesurf giving last rites to a not yet dead Matty. He changed his mind about being buried there when the home owner yelled at all of us to get off his lawn. He then went on to complete his first century. Sorry, no pics of his bike, and truthfully, I didn't even look at it.

wagathon

My guess is, you want a 25" which is as big as the 520 is currently are made--they used to have a 25.5" but that was looooong ago. I wouldn't worry about breaking a a 520 CroMo mike.

Tom Stormcrowe

I agree 100% with wags....the 520 is an incredibly tough bike designed for loaded touring.

mattyknacks

Wow! At least you got my best side: laying flat on my back

mattyknacks

Actually I got the 21" because that gave me about an inch of space from the top tube to the bottom of my junk while straddling the bike.

misterE0

congrats matty. I'm on Long Island and also a clyde (started at 325, down to 305lbs, goal is 230lbs). I should be back in the 200's very soon I hope.

wagathon

The geo chart says 2" for the 21. Even the 23 has a sub-32" standover height, according to the geo chart, and that does not include shoes. But, whatever works best, so long as you can use the drops; otherwise, you'd be locked into an aggressive posture at the top of the bars.

mattyknacks

Jyossarian provided the picture (see above) and here is the GPS data:
https://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6129885

atomship47

oddly enough, i had this problem with my db comfort bike. haven't had a problem with any of my other bikes (steel roadie, cf roadie, trek hybrid).

but, as a clyde, when my rear wheel starts to get out of true, i have it trued right away. seems like on my db, as soon as the wheel started to warp, it wasn't long before i'd pop a spoke.