I never should have rode it!
 

I've been working on this 84' 770 that I got a month ago for $70 at a garage sale with the intention of flipping it for a nice little profit. Finally got all the parts I needed, everything cleaned and lubed. Slapped some new rubber on it and put it all together this afternoon.
With big $$ in my eyes of the impending sale, I hopped on and took her out on the road for a quick check to make sure I had the derailleurs tuned up right. Wouldn't you know it, I got it right on the first try and she shifted thru every gear like butter.........an hour later I pulled up to my place with one big problem on my hands. I don't think I can sell this bike.:love:
Now, I've never ridden a top of the line Italian bike, or anything made of carbon fiber, but I do have a nice little stable that holds a sweet 720 and a Motobecane GR that is one of the smoothest bikes I've ever ridden, but this damn 770 is in a whole different class.
Hell, the damn thing is even too small for me and it feels right! Normally I ride a 60cm, but this 58cm somehow fit's like a glove.

Ah well, enough of my rambling. Here's a few before and after pics. I'm not totally done with the rebuild yet, but I just had to vent a little.

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...y/Trek7703.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s.../Trek77011.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...y/Trek7708.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...y/Trek7709.jpg
after
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...y/DSC01906.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...y/DSC01909.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...y/DSC01902.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s...y/DSC01911.jpg

nicely done!

Gorgeous!!! I think most high end steel Treks are keepers, of cause unless you have one already. They are getting very hard to come by, at least in Seattle. I say keep it.

These early Treks are as nice as any bike made... I'd keep it if it feels that right.

Nice job...looks lovely. You will only regret selling it. Unless the profit gets rolled into a desired bike.

But it looks more like a 56cm than 58cm.

I have a 89 SR600 C-dale that did that to me..

I have found that even though my long legs say a 60cm is right my short torso says a 58cm has a more comfortable top tube length on average.

Man, this sounds familiar! Six weeks ago I bought a '85 760 (same frame) and I can't stop riding it enough to even clean it properly. It just feels so right, and I'm no racer boy. My ti and cf bikes are getting a rest these days.

Strangely enough,, I'm also restoring my old Moto GR. Should be done in a coupla weeks. Hope it rides like I remember, but its been 25 years since I rode it last!

I bought a 170 originally to resell. It's now one of my favorite vintage rides, and no longer available - and I've had some interest. The Treks are great riding steel bikes, even with the love-'em-or-hate-'em cast bits. And the 770 is near the top of the heap - Campagnolo dropouts instead of the Trek ones my 170 has, and that cool, aggressive Tange fork crown.

Where you gonna find another hand made road racer with all Campy Super Record for $70?? Jesus, I'd keep it and ride the heck out of it!

Selling it would be a mistake. Keep it. Ride it.

I have the same bike, 84 770 waiting to get repainted ( the original owner left 1/2 the paint
on after an unsuccessful attempt with chemical stripper). I've got all the super record bits
and the parts to build the Aspin/campy wheels. I'm going to see David at Southwest Frameworks
one of these weekends and probably do some of the work myself.
I had a 670 which was a great rider hopefully this one will be even better.

I agree looks more like a 56 than a 58.

Marty

Lots of renewed interest in those old Treks here lately. Friend of mine just recently acquired an '87 "560" with Reynolds 531 frame and he loves it. I like it too, but his is a 60cm when I ride a 54.

Nice 770 btw, and for $70 you walked away with that one. :thumb:

Beauty. This is pushing me to build my 85 400 for me and no one else. I love the tape color with the frame.

WGN is probably correct on the 56cm size. I am sure it is too small for you so you should sell it to me ....cause it is just the right size ,.....hehehe

Great looking bike. A vote against the blackwalls, though.

Gorgeous bike. I bought a 82 610 with a 531 frame for my daughter last fall that had been hanging in the back room of the LBS for who knows how long. I've already told her that when she decides she doesn't want to ride it anymore - I get it back.

I had never ridden an older steel Trek before. I got an '85 660 frame set on CL 2 weeks ago.
I couldn't wait to gather the parts so I borrowed the parts from my fixed gear to ride it.
OMG it is so nice. I was going to flip it but not anymore.
I am now on a mission to get as many DA/ Ultegra parts as possible to make it a 9 speed bike.

I love that saddle. I have one from my '87 Schwinn Circuit on the Trek.

Nice...a keeper if it feels good.

I don't think its possible to find much fault with the older Trek steel frames. They were built as good if not better than many high end Italian/French bikes. Although they lack the reputation and history of the foreign makers .......... they ride like a dream.
Its to bad Trek alienated the steel frame market ........ but then they wouldn't be the "empire" they are today if they hadn't.
Any mid to high end Trek in good shape is worth hanging onto in my opinion. I love mine.

My basic rule is if I find a nice bike to add to the "fleet", I then retire (sell) one of the existing bikes. And the bikes have to be self funding (one pays for the next). This has allowed me to trade up substantially, without ballooning the keeper list. So I traded out my U08 for my Lotus Classique, my Trek 800 for a Trek 950, and my best "trade up" was my Schwinn Tempo for a Colnago Master Lite. By acquiring at the right price like you did, you can make some nice upgrades without spending any money.

The tough part is when you get one that is "almost" as nice, like the Nishiki Prestige I picked up recently.

I knew that one wouldnt go quietly...

I wouldn't sell that bike. My first good bike was a Trek 660, and I still have it.

If it fits you well, it is definitely a keeper.

Beautiful! :love:

Suggestion noted! The LBS did not have much of a selection for rubber, so I just went with some decent quality Conti's. I'd seem to have a hard time finding good gum walls now a day's, so if any of you have good websites that you can point me to for tires I'd love to see em.

Took her out for another spin today and I'm just blown away at how good this thing feels. Compared to my GR this thing accelerates like a F-1 car.
Now I'm stuck with the decision on what bike I'm going to have to unload from the stable to make room for this one. Maybe I'll just quietly sell off one of the little ladies bikes and hope that she wont notice.:thumb: