Snuts

You might look at your gearing. An easy place to start. Think gear inches, here is a link.
You can get this heavy riding massaged out. We all start somewhere. Glad you got a ride in.

Bicycle gear inch calculator

-Snuts-

GPH

Did a couple of tweaks in the winter, added Shimano bar-end shifters and a stem raiser. Not much more I want to add for now, I might build 700C wheels eventually to replace the 27" for better tire selection, but other than that I find it's perfect for my needs right now and I really enjoy the ride, so smooth!

roaming_art

Did those front rack adapters come with the rack? Or did you source them from somewhere else? thanks.

ride2018

Hi . New here and need recommendation on front pannier rack for 520 disc since trek dosnt have one ...thanks

ride2018

Hi. What front rack are u using on your 520

DazedNContused

Just picked up an older 520. I think it's a 93. Forest Green, 7 speed rear cog, threaded head, butted frame. It looks great but it has hung in someones basement so long that the tires and tubes were shot, the handlebar wrap was in tatters and it needed a little love. I should have it ready for pics in a week or so. I do have a question. It came with an 11/28 cog. Is it worthwhile upgrading to 11/32? Thanks

Davet

I think so. If you're touring or carrying a load, it's always nice to have the gearing necessary to get you where you need to go.

StarBiker

I would have loved to have kept the one I had found for $40 seven years ago but it was to big. And not by much.

DazedNContused

I second guessed myself and counted and yes, it has 28 teeth on the large cog. I read the specs somewhere and don't remember the source but it indicated that a few years later Trek changed it to the current size. Don't have any references other than my faulty memory but it does in fact sport an 11/28 rear cassette. I think I'm going to give it a shot. The worst that can happen is that I waste a little money on the 32.

Riding the bike is very different than what I'm used to. It's a lot heavier than my Cannondale and not nearly as quick, but it is REALLY a comfortable bike. Just not the hot setup when I'm trying to keep up with the gang.

Here's the new (old) bike.

DazedNContused

Found some of it of Vintage-Trek.com. The Brochure for the 92 520 states that it had 12-28 cogs. The 93 Brochure doesn't have the specs but the 94 referenced below indicates a Shimano HG-60 11-28 7spd same as my 93. While the 520 hasn't changed "much' since 1983, there has been quite a bit of update going on from 6 to 9 speed, brakes have changed, chain stays have lengthened and shortened, from threaded to threadless headsets and butted to tig-welded frames. Regardless I think they have managed to offer a somewhat "timeless" bike that I for one am happy to own.

apparently I can't post URLs yet but if you go to the web site for vintage-trek dot com and look through the brochures you will find it..

treebound 

My 1995 520 has an 11-28 7-speed on back, which agrees with the Trek catalog pages which are posted on the internet someplace.

GTryder

Popped into LBS to pick up a part they had ordered for me and when the mechanic brought it out to the sales desk he tells me to come into the back and see what he has his repair stand and says, "it's just your size". A 17" mid 90's Trek 520 in very nice condition. It was traded in earlier in the day and he was just going over it. He's not sure of the year and from what I can tell from Vintage-Trek.com it looks like a '93.
Talked to the manager and he said around $200 cdn, maybe a bit less. I'm going to have a test ride tomorrow morning. I have gift card from the shop with about $150, remaining and don't want to lay out any additonal cash.
Does this sound like a reasonable deal?

DazedNContused

. Bicycle blue book has it at 100 to 200 dollars depending on condition.

treebound 

How was the test ride?

GTryder

Test ride was good enough to convince me to buy it (along with the fact it is indeed a 1993 - last year of the lugged frames and supposedly one of the best overall) plus the shop did tax in and included new brake pads for the front & rear brakes = final cost of $150 Cdn or $113 usd.
I intended to take the direct route riding it home, but since it was a nice morning and I had my wrenches with me, I had a 15 Km adventure: smoothest rigid frame bike I have ever ridden, great Deore components (rear derailluer shifts very nicely) and Continental tires handle gravel very well.
Only issue is not being able to get comfy with the drop bars - even after getting it home and trying a couple of different 25.4 stems on the threadless quill adapter - to the point of wanting to ditch the drops entirely and try another type of bar that will accomodate the hooded levers and bar end shifters (see my other posting for more info)

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...l#post19723110

treebound 

Since photobucket photobombed, just adding a pic of my 1995 520

GTryder

Gorgeous bike. Love the Brooks saddle.

Schwalbe Marathon's?

treebound 

Yep, Marathons. I did some indirect horsetrading when I got the bike and he included a new set of tires at cost. I really need/want to put some miles on this bike.

GTryder

I have over 7000Km on 700x35 Marathons with my hybrid during 4 summers of commuting/city pavement riding. Rotated them 2 years ago and again this May. They will definitely be good into next summer - outlasting original chain, bottom bracket, cranks/chain rings and two sets of V-brake pads.

Hawksley19

Back from a beautiful fall day ride here in Pembroke, Canada. Last photo before new panniers and tires get swapped in. Can't wait to tour cross Canada. It's finally getting closer. Still over a year away, but the anticipation has been building for some time now....years in fact.


Trekky520.jpg

AL2052

Thought I would share a couple pics of the updates I did to my 2015 520, new trekking bars, Micro-Shifters, some nice blue Lizard Skins tape, and a Brooks Flyer.

jpescatore

1996 or so Trek 520, I'm the original owner - probably about 50K miles on it. That year the 520 came with STI shifters - the first time using them for me and I loved them. They've been 100% reliable over the years, Trek went back to bar end shifters to be more touring-acceptable, but I've stuck with STI on all bikes since.

Some rust on the joint areas of the frame, looking into how to deal with that.

The 520 has been my daily road bike all those years, with a few credit card style tours each year and with an old hybrid Schwinn what I would use on dirt/rail trails and the like. Last year I finally bought another bike - Trek Domane disc. That has become my road bike and the 520 is for trail use now. I'm going to try lightly loaded credit-card style touring on the Domane - I think that is now called backpacking...

I see the new 520s come with disc brakes - the Domane has sold me on those, too.

hfbill

This is my '94 Trek 520. I bought it new almost 25 years ago. It's been rebuilt about 5 times. Deore XT drive train. I mainly do long day trips and credit card tours, so I don't carry as much gear and can get by with these small ABS motorcycle panniers.

jefnvk

Dunno if I am a fan or not, but I just joined the club today! 2004 in pretty good shape, minus needing cables and pads, for $280. Looks to be all stock minus stem and saddle, Shimano 105 up front, Deore LX rear and hubs, and my preferred bar end shifters. Schwalbe Marathon 40 tires, nice and plush. Just need to add some fenders and swap the rack out for my Axiom, and I should be good to go! Came with a free Topeak Road Morph G as well, my favorite mini pump, so that was a bonus.

captronk

I love this bike! What a machine! I use it for everthing. I put Bontrager 35mm cyclocross tires on it since I like to do dirt roads and rail trails. I just don't like the shifters, I would prefer them up highly on the handlebars, I don't like reaching to change gears.