Originally Posted by
HillRider
I expect your 8500 was built for cantilever brakes and the 6 mm holes in the fork crown and brake bridge were intended mostly for fender mounts, not caliper brakes, so Trek didn't pay a lot of attention to "reach".
FTW.
Also, the 8500 was designed around 26" wheels. Bastardizing it with 700c wheels and caliper brakes might be do-able, but you shouldn't be surprised if you have to run non-standard parts or jury-rig it to get it all to work.