It looks like Trek bikes have been quite in fashion in C&V this week, and I had the opportunity to add one to my collection as well.
This is my first Trek, and I'm honestly quite surprised that it's hanging in my garage. I have typically never been a huge fan of Trek bikes, they just never seemed all that attractive to me. But I've recently taken stock of what is important to me in a bicycle, and what I need to be comfortable, and I settled on the following attributes:
1. High quality tubeset - double butted everything and nothing oversized
2. Seat tube angle no greater than 73°
3. 27.2 seatpost for best aftermarket availability
4. Clearance for large-volume tires & fenders, 32c minimum
5. No excessively long chainstays (looking at you, 80s touring bikes with 47cm stays)
After looking around and seeing various posts from members on various forums, among other bikes early 1980s Trek sport-tourers came up quite frequently. The seat tubes are right at 72° for a lot of them, and chainstays are typically between 43-44cm.
I had been thinking that I may be looking into picking up a 400 or 600 series Trek, even if it meant compromising on a really nice tube set, but then [MENTION=401497]RiddleOfSteel[/MENTION] posted his new to him 716. Reading though his thread really made me fall in love with the idea of this bike, and lo and behold, what comes up in the "eBay & Craigslist Finds" threads, but a 25.5" 1981 Trek 716!
I almost immediately messaged the seller and arranged a meeting. I live about 1.5 hours away from where it was listed in Milwaukee, but he offered to meet about half way at a gas station parking lot.
I threw a leg over it and took a spin around the parking lot and fell in love with how smooth it rode. Even with the seat too low the frame felt so eager to just go!
Once I got it home I started taking a better look at it. This bike is quite an interesting dichotomy as far as the condition goes.
The frame is unfortunately chipped
everywhere. The NDS dropout area is in rough shape, and chain slap has uncovered the majority of the top of the DS chainstay. Large scrapes in the downtube,seat tube, and top tube are on both sides. This is really a shame, because the paint is a beautiful deep blue flecked Imron! A definite surprise is that the 531 stickers are still in legible shape.
But the Shimano 600 groupset is in some of the best shape I've ever seen hanging on a vintage frame!
Wheels are corroded at the eyelets, but the rear 7 speed Uniglide cassette looks to be in great shape, and the freehub spins smooth and quiet.
I'm hoping to get my first ride on it tonight or tomorrow, this weekend was either really busy or the wind was blowing at 30mph and snowing.
Unfortunately it does seem like there is a bit of an issue with this frame. I have tried multiple seatposts in the 27.2 size, but in order to prevent the post from moving I have to both shim the post with an aluminum can, and crank down the bolt until the brazed-on ears are almost touching. Is this typical of early 1980s Trek bikes, or is there something else at work here?
