I'm in a bind. I was hoping to take off within the next week on my 2000 mile tour, and I don't have a front rack on my 1983 Trek 520. This Trek doesn't have eyelets on the front forks other than at the rear of the dropouts.

I ordered an Old Man Mountain Sherpa rack, and it doesn't even come remotely close to fitting this bicycle. For one thing, it is far wider at the bottom than the fork is, so I can't see how it can be made to attach firmly to the eyelets. I left a message with Silva Cycles in San Jose to see if they can do a quick eyelet braze-on job.

Is there a rack that is sold nowadays that will fit this old Trek?

You may want to ask this in the Touring forum, where people are familiar with racks, and potentially with the Trek 520.

I know it's bit late for this, but rule number 1 of going on a long trip is to ride a bike you've been riding for a while and not make any changes at the last minute. Because you never know what problems that change is going to cause. Before I consider a touring bike "ready" I use it as my commuter for a few weeks, with all racks/bags attached. Then I know it's solid.

There are probably clamp-on racks you can use. Or just get a handlebar bag.

Just put an OMM rack on a touring rider's Bike * It uses a 135 rear skewer through the parts that go outside the dropouts

It's a Super rugged rack , it uses the hub axle QR, not the fork tip eyelets (you missing parts? )

Tubus Tara is a nice Low rider supporting rack , ChroMoly steel simple solid and pretty light for its load capability.

* a NY group of 7 sent theirs ahead, to be built up again.. to ride from here. many 520's different front rack choices.

I just got off the phone with Wayne at thetouringstore.com and he sold me a Tubus Tara and fork adapter kit that we are pretty sure will work. He walked me through the measurements of everything and it seems perfect for carrying my Ortlieb Front Rollers.