Originally Posted by
Mark Stone
Without reading through all the other responses, would parts become an issue on the 1978 road bike? I had a 1984 or 5 Trek 520 touring bike I traded off to a shop because I was unable to find reliable parts (chainrings, brakes, etc). I guess a collector of fine bikes would know sources, but not me. Do you find it a challenge to find parts?
There is no difficulty at all finding parts for a ‘78 Trek. Biggest problem would be bike people who intentionally walk away from knowing or even seeing anything about bikes not born yesterday.
If you wanted to make your old Trek a museum piece with all original parts to catalog specs that becomes a little harder, but certainly possible. If all you want is service parts that fit there is no problem at all. If you continue to have problems just start talking to the next person you see on an old bike. Consider buying a complete old bike as a parts bike.