caloso

I'm eyeing what appears to be an '88 Trek 520 frame. The owner is listing it as a '91, but the blue paint and Reynolds 531 tubing makes me think it was an '88 according to the brochures on vintage-trek.com.

The brochure also indicates that this bike was sold with 27 inch wheels. As I understand it, these are not the same size as 700c wheels found on modern bikes. I know that you can still find 27inch rims and tires, but how long is that going to last? Would it make more sense to go with 700c wheels and futz with the brake arms instead?

Has anyone here replaced 27inchers with 700's? What are your thoughts?

Mhendricks

Caloso,
I've replaced the original 27" rims with 700cc on my "83 Trek 720. Reason being that if the original 27" come with those god-awful Malliard Helicomatic, that's a reason to change in itself. The other I found is that tire selection is so much broader using a 700cc wheel. If you still want to stay with 27" I know that Nashbar had some 27" Contis on sale not to long ago. There are also always good 27" rims out there for sale too if you want to change.

caloso

Thanks, Mhendricks. Since all he's offering is the frame, I'd have to get some wheels anyway and the more that I think about it, I'd like to avoid the oddball sized wheels if I could get away with it.

Did you have much trouble adjusting the cantilever brakes to fit the smaller wheels?

Mhendricks

It was a piece of cake. The difference isn't that much so where the cantilevers would have hit the 27" rims, they hit the 700cc at a lower angle. For regular brakes you just have to make sure they aren't short-arms to allow adjustment of the pad.

Mariner Fan

Did you have to have your new rims built or can you buy off the shelf wheels for an old Trek? When you changed out the hub/cassette what did you use? I'm asking because I want to do the same thing with my 1985 Trek 520.

caloso

Oh, and this reminds me: We're talking about a 126mm rear hub, right?

Mariner Fan

I was thinking the same thing. Mine has 126 mm spacing on the back.

Mhendricks

Yes to the spacing. (126mm) As for the wheelset, I went to my LBS that I've been going to for the last 20 years and bought the rims from him and he built them for me. I bought the hubs from Phil Wood here in San Jose. The only maintenance was that this year, I took the wheels back in for a re-spoke. Hope that helps.

Oh, by the way I just posted my Trek on the Classic/Vintage rides part of this forum.