Don't have to tell me....I know I'm an Idiot.
 

I bought a 1987 Trek 400 Elance (serial#0283231) that is way 2 small for me (think it's a 46 to a 48/I need a 50-52)
on E-bay last year.

Was going to resell it and buy what I really was looking for.(a Touring/Cyclocross frame set or bike
for commuting)
BUT,My LBS talked me into trying to make it fit and although it's better it's still not right....See photo's

Should I put the original parts (bars/stem) back on,take it to the LBS to box it up and resell it on E-bay or buy a frame that fits and strip the Elance for the parts?

Anyone here interested? Have a Cyclocross or Touring Frameset to trade?
Want more pictures/info let me know.

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...e/P6210238.jpg
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...e/P6210231.jpg
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...e/P6210236.jpg

Whoa, tall stem....is that a nitto technomic?? You sure it's not above the min insertion??

Remember, the three most important aspects of a bike are fit, fit, and fit.

As someone with a "funny" body (long legs and short torso) I have been appalled at how little the LBS's so-called fit experts really know about fit.

I suggest you try to sell it via your local club or craigslist. Ebay is a hassle with shipping etc., but certainly an option.

Forgive yourself and move on.

Doug

get a proper sized stem for it, then sell it, keep or sell the long stem, then start over.

Components on the Trek aren't anything special, so its not really worth stripping the bike for them. I'd sell the bike complete and consider it a learning experience.

If you could live with a bit less horizontal extension, then the Nitto Dirtdrop stem (Rivendell) would look better. They're not cheap though, like $50. As datlas said, in the end, better to sell the frame and find one that fits.

Thanks guys,

I just listed it on Craigslist for $100.00, Not much interest in bicycles around here though.
If it doesn't sell,I'll try putting it on E-bay.

Should have never listened to the LBS in the 1st place and just resold it right away.

Thanks again
JM

Perfect size for me! I am looking forward to riding this bike.

I woke up this morning to see this ad on Craigslist. I send an email stating that I want it, then I come here and find this thread about my new bike. :D

Sweet Lou, I'm glad you found a nice frame. I've been looking for you, but small frames are hard to come by. I do know someone who is going to be selling a nice, high end Italian frame in about a 50cm, if you're interested, let me know, I'll put you in touch.

j

Thanks OFG, I think this will be last bike for some time, maybe even a year. I have a Miyata 90 that I want to do some things with and make it my winter commuter bike. I'm thinking internal gear hub. I still have a couple of things I want to do with my 90's Bianchi mountain bike turned into a tourer.

My rugby team's annual bike trip is coming up and I will be doing some tune-ups for some teammates. I work at a LBS and the last thing I want to do when I come home is work on bikes. At least right now, it is the busy time of the year for us.

I hear that Bianchi will be coming out with more steel bikes next year, so for now, I will work on the couple of projects I have, and save some money. Then next year either buy a new Bianchi or buy a very nice older bike. But, who knows. If you see a bike I might like, I could be persuaded. :D Especially if it is 80's Japanese steel.

Very cool! And here I was just mulling over how I could persuade JM to send it my way :p .

East Hill

A happy ending. You're not an idiot. It all works out, and often does. Good job.

You may need a 54 given how much stem you have showing on this bike. Remember, there are 2.5 cm to an inch. That stem looks about three inches too tall. The seat post is throwing me off, as it is not so damn high....

It looks like my bike's twin. My Technomic stem was a gift from Amnomad and I bought a black Brooks B67 saddle, a Sugino XD2-600T triple crank and an Acorn medium seat bag for it. My Trek 400 is a 21 inch. My perfect size is probably 22 inches. The 23 inch frame top tubes always seem just a little too close. Anyway, it's a very nice riding bicycle, SweetLou. Enyoy.
Maureen

I finally got the bike yesterday. A buddy of mine that lives a lot closer picked it up for me and delivered it. But, I had to work, so no time to ride it. I trued the wheels and gave the hubs an overhaul instead. Today, I was off of work, but it was raining, so I took out my aluminum bike instead. To my surprise, the Trek is a 12 speed. I thought the ad said 18 speed. But this is a pleasant surprise! I would much rather have a double than a triple.

I did replace the Nitto stem and the ergo handlebars with the originals. Switched brakes and levers with the ones I took off of a '85 Trek 400 also the seat post. I also switched the cables over so that the front brake is controlled by the right lever, the way I like it. The levers will stay on until I get a pair of Tektro R200a levers. They fit my hands nicely and are aero.

Tomorrow should be a nice sunny day, so I will probably ride the bike to work. It's been sitting in my living room and I have been dying to ride it. I just didn't want the first ride to be in the rain or on wet roads.

So far, the only downside to the bike is the Matrix rims. Nothing wrong with the rims, but Matrix must design their rims with the idea of getting tires on and off as something that is not done. Oh, and the hub cones have a small amount of pitting. Nothing major though.

Ride it yet?
would like to see a picture now that you've put it back to stock.

Yeah, I've ridden the bike. It rides really nice. I haven't done much riding though. I am waiting until I can get some brake levers I like and a new handlebar. I really need a 42 cm, traditional bend bar. I also need some cable housing. Since I like the front shifter on the right and I switched the brakes so that the cable is attached on the left side, the housing that is on there now is too short.

I was hoping to have this all done by this weekend, so I that I could ride it Saturday on my team's annual bike trip. But stupid me, I haven't picked up any housing and I haven't ordered my bars yet. The worse part is that I work at a bike shop and can do this at any time. I just keep forgetting to grab some housing.