djkenny

Hi folks,

I need an upright touring bike. Currently looking at Soma Saga & Surly LHT bikes, but I found out I could ge t a good deal on a 520. I need something like Bosco Bars or Nitto Albatross style.

I rarely see a 520 configured this way. Is it due to the geometry being more aggressive? I figured with some mods it could be just as upright as other touring bikes. Maybe more spacers on the stem?

Love to see some pics.

Thanks!

ShortLegCyclist

A lot of people would already consider the 520 and just about every touring bike as upright.

Do you mean you want to be even more upright, like on a beach cruiser?

Or the RANS crank forward bikes?

djkenny

Albatross bars, swept back... alternative to drop bars. Should have mentioned that.

fietsbob

A drop Bar to upright conversion works the same on all sorts of Bikes .

the cables and levers are different enough , just loosen the 4 bolts in the shifters and Brakes holding the cables
and the stem in the fork, and start from scratch. , new stem new bars and thumbie adapters,
to re use the bar end shifter levers on the new handlebar.

fresh cables and Housing.

treebound 

There is a flat bar 520 on page 7 of the 520 thread https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/51...n-club-10.html

Might be better off (geometry-wise) to look at a mtb => touring bike conversion though. Otherwise trial and error should eventually get you where you want to be.

cyber.snow

While I am pretty much a noob at touring, I have seen several instances where folks have taken the 520 and the LHT and changed the bars. I have seen a number of bikes where they have changed to moustache, Jones' bars, albatross bars, etc. It doesn't look that hard, just realize that the further you bring the bars back, the more weight you are going to put on the saddle. I have seen a Trek 520 set up with a jones bar on one of the bike paths in town and it was a pretty nice set up. Along with changing the bar, she changed the brakes, shifters and grips. The bars were around $125 and she said she got a good deal on the parts either through Nashbar or Amazon and didn't have more than $150 in them. Was a nice set up and it looked very comfortable. In addition, there were lots of places that she could move her hands to on long rides. Being an old single track rider, I prefer the shifters and brakes to the ones that come stock on the 520 and was prepared to make some kind of changes if I bought a 520 (still undecided there).

Are you planning on using the end bar shifters on the Albatross?

djkenny

Yes, if I use Albatross bars ( I already have some sitting around, some steel Nittos) and am aware any touring bike can be converted to a different set up than drops.

I thought perhaps the stacking might be a bit much compared to some bikes offered like the LHT that come with longer head tunes. Unlike the LHT, the Trek 520 also does not some with the fork uncut, I would have to buy a uncut fork and then stack the stem. It would still be a better deal thant he LHT, and I am told the 520 is better quality frame wise, lighter steel.

Comfort is the most important aspect to me.

I just have not seen a great deal of upright conversion online for the 520 and would like to see some before reviewing options. There is tons of LHT bikes to view.

Curious about Jones and Bosco bars, too.

cyber.snow

I am not sure that having the 520 with a precut fork is a real problem. I did buy a TREK DS bike and wanted a more comfortable position and used a stem extension. It raised the handle bar up by about 2 inches, I also have an adjustable stem that allows me to play with the height and reach a little more. If I buy a 520 (which is getting more likely) I will definitely do the conversion to the Jones bar and will play with the location of the handle bar until I get it right. I am now riding a Felt V85 and started with the extension and adjustable stem. I found after making a few longer rides (over 20 miles) that I wanted to drop the bar just a little so I removed the stem extension. The bar seems to be about 1 1/2 to 2 inches above the saddle right now and feels very comfortable. To tell the truth, I am vacillating between the Surly Disc Trucker/Trek 520 Disc/Custom Bike. While Surly sure seems to be popular with the touring crowd, it has been difficult to find one in my size and take it for a serious test ride.

djkenny

I see Surlys with Albatross and the like all the time. I seldom see conversions on the 520. A few, but not as many. The long head tube on the two Soma touring bikes has my attention. But the light frame on the Trek roles well and quick (just road one, I would NEED to do mods to the bars, waaaaaaaay too low)

fietsbob

stem raisers work fine.

NormanF

Least expensive conversion is to keep the road STI brake/lever set but mount them on a Nitto Albastache moustache bar. That's a moustache bar with the sweep of the Nitto Albatross. With a stem riser, you'd be looking at a comfortable upright riding position.