Trek retro steel
 

Spotted at Trek World, displayed at the factory during their demo rides, a lugged steel retro concept bike:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2460083...7621933633653/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2460083...7621933633653/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2460083...7621933633653/

Sorry, no closeups of the lugs, but they were fairly decorative, definitely more ornate than traditional Trek lugs of the past. Literature said they were laser-cut. Love the retro logo, and headbadge.

Dear Trek: yes, please for production...

Trek probably got the idea from Schwinn's success with the 70th anniversary lugged 953 Paramount built by Waterford.

Or that Kona bike with the polished lugs. Don't care where they steal the idea from, just want them to put it into production...

Good lord that bike has a Brooks Swallow on it.
I'd love to see Trek return to their roots so to speak, yah it will never be a 913 or 170 but
damn I'm liking this.

Marty

Looks to me like they need to get some of their old brazers back to give the new guys some pointers... :)

John,

I'd second that.
And if you start brazing up 170's I want to be first in line.
Guess they aren't using the robotic brazing system anymore either. . .

Marty

I might sound like a giant ****** but... if you really want a lug frame, why can't you just get a classic steel frame and put in modern components?

Just saying, you know. Just saying...

And please do tell me if I am being a ****** or something I am not getting. Is it the allure of having a new Trek bike?

I would have thought they got the idea from Bianchis fabulous Dolomiti

http://www.bianchiusa.com/09-bicycles/09-classica.html

Does this mean they sold all 70 of them? ;)

"The Paramount 70th Anniversary will be limited in production to not more than 70 frame and fork combos."

http://www.schwinnbikes.com/paramount/index.html

Bob

Hi Bob,

I've heard that all seventy production slots have been sold, but I'll confirm that and get back to you. :D

I was wondering when Trek was going to bring back their lugged steel goodness. They've probably been reading this thread.

That's not a dumb question.

In the case of the 70th anniversary Paramount, I think much of the allure was that each bike was fitted and customized by Waterford for the individual customer, and they were all built using Reynolds 953 stainless steel tubing and custom investment cast lugs for the compact geometry of the new bike. It's different enough from a classic pre-953/XCr steel frame to be desirable to a large enough segment of the customer base to justify production.

I'm not sure what material the new Trek is made of. If it's the same air hardening steels like 853, OX, S3, etc., that have been around for a decade, then there may not be enough allure to attract buyers who could get essentially the same frame used and build it up with modern components as you suggest. The Bianchi Dolomiti, for example, is made with Columbus Spirit tubing.

Maybe the idea came from this source:

http://www.fujibikes.com/LifeStyle/C...bsolute10.aspx

The only thing I don't like about that Trek is the fork. Nothing wrong with a classic lugged steel fork. Even if they felt they had to have a carbon fork, there are plenty of ones with a nice narrow profile and classic curve.

Does it have a sloping TT??

I, for at least one, hope it catches on like wildfire and they can't keep up with demand. And the other "old tyme" makers take notice.

what a shame that would be I could be in the market for a NEW bike next year...

and I could have options from different manufactures?

can you say top of the line 64CMplease?

Bob, Dave Chancellor at Schwinn responded to my inquiry:

"Hi Stan,

Thanks for the email. We have yet to make all 70 framesets and still have a few open slots.

Best wishes,

Dave at Schwinn Bikes"

+1, I'm more inclined to think Trek is being influenced by Fuji and Raleigh who are successfully using the retro concept. It is possible Schwinn and Bianchi played a role, but I doubt it, they're not big enough players.

EDIT: Or they could be influenced by Specialized who just came out with a steel framed road bike with downtube shifters in the $600-$700 range. Yeah, that would get Trek's attention.

Cool ... the Powerball lottery may push $250M tonight. We'll see how I do. :thumb:

If I win I'll buy you one too!

Bob

One-piece headtube with sockets? Lugged fork that looks worse then that off a Schwinn Madison? Compact frame? Riser stem?

Yeeeeeeeeeech (IMO).

I have but one question: Will the brake bridge break off the seatstays like the old ones? :P

-Kurt

Deal! Thanks!

Screw em...The old steel they made was way better. Even the machine made frames were nice. It seems they are just cashing in on marketing an inferior niche product. A second hand vintage Trek is still better for the money.

All I have to say is the brazing on the sample frame pictured would have been totally unacceptable when I was brazing for Trek. :eek:

http://os2.dhs.org/~john/lugged-trek.jpg

Do you think they have the old jigs?