Someone in my neighborhood is selling a mint condition Trek US postal team road bike for $900. Carbon fiber frame, ultegra components, rolf wheels. All from that era. The offer seems almost too good to be true. I know Lance Armstrong was a controversial figure but it would seem to me this bike should be in the Smithsonian as its a piece of American culture. From an investment point of view can something like this increase in value if kept in good condition or did Trek makes millions of these and is it considered an old bike?

That is a very iconic, even though Lance had to tumble from glory the bike itself didn't loose much popularity. I think all the exposure has helped maintain value, but I don't think the model itself will turn into higher value unless it is of the actual team issue with provenance.

Although the postal decaling did trickle down to the 5200, or later to the 5500, Lance never rode an Ultegra equipped bike in the Tour. So a good rider and one I'd like to have, for a decent price, but not a collector's item. Lance rode a 5500 to start, went to the 5900 when it kicked the 5500 out of the top tier and finished on a Madone. But the popularity of the postal design and Lance's success means they probably sold enough reproductions to keep them from hitting a real value, we sold more postal bikes at the high end than any other equivalent bike.

In "Mint" condition i.e. original equipment and it was my size and in my area I would consider $900 to be a deal. Although I'd like to own one some day I don't think buying that bike would be considered an "investment". It's a cool bike and I would ride the wheels off it. As others have mentioned I would confirm the year and model number before even going to look at it. As with any used older carbon bike... I'd be going over it with a fine tooth comb.

a neighbor down the street was attempting to sell one of the DuraAce equipped Treks with the postal graphics...
I advised I really could not provide a rational estimate of value, the overwhelming negative view of LA was so overpowering.

Well, I just picked up a 2001 5200 locally for $400 if that helps. Equipped with an Ulegra triple setup which is why I wanted it. These also came in the Postal paint scheme that year. Everything in really good shape except for a fairly worn large chainring and knackered bearing in the headset. Keep in mind, those Rolf's weigh a ton, literally.


Not all that light of a bike, putting on Zonda wheels, Thompson Seatpost, Kurve Saddle, Keo pedals, and a 11-28 SRAM cassettte has it "down" to 18 lbs 8 ozs with a elite carbon bottle cage.

I dig the USPS Treks but I think they’re relegated to novelty status more than an investment. I’d be looking at where the model was in the Trek hierarchy that year. If I were after one of these, I’d hope to find a mid-grade model in the $500 range and the upper level model in the $700 range.