I agree. Looks and rides great. Here is an updated pic of mine.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z...2/DSC00039.JPG

OK Thanks

Yeah my 500 has the 531 but just in the 3 main tubes I guess. Still a pretty comfortable bike for the long haul. I believe I had Tange in my older Univega Gran Rally If I remember correctly (which I might not) and it didn't really seem that much different other than perhaps the angles and handling. Now the first Columbus SP 970 road Trek I had was noticably different.

pretty in pink, Bill!

:lol:

Don't think that it somehow means your bike is inferior or anything- Prior to 1986, your 500 would have been a 600 series bike. More important than the prestige of being "all 531" is that the bike is stable enough to do the stuff you want to do and carry the loads that it's capable of without being too flexy.

People can love a bike for 20 years, but get seriously bent out of shape finding out that their bike isn't 531 frame, fork and stays.

My 620 is 531CS. Butted 531 main tubes and CrMo stays and fork- that's what 531CS is. It has a really long wheelbase and crazy long chainstays. It's a pretty sturdy bike- about as heavy as you'd expect a touring bike to be, but quite stable and flex resistant as a bike with that kind of length is going to be able to be- and it's handled every load I've put on there. By contrast, my 736 has a much shorter wheelbase- and seriously like 6cm shorter chainstays. It is much more lively than my 620- and I can only imagine how bouncy it would be with 6cm longer chainstays- it might be kind of fun- but I can see where the stability would be greatly preferred- especially under load.

It's a great riding bike, it has a responsible weight, well thought out geometry and design- the fact that it has a little 531 sticker that belongs on there is just gravy.

This is correct, and they use different tubing due to certain characteristics of one type of tube will be more suitable in one area but not in another. Obviously some builders will stick to all the tubes from one manufacture, so I really think it's just personal taste with the builder. Most, though not all, factory type of bikes were usually built with tube sets from one manufacture; most custom builders, though not all, usually blended the tubesets.

I have ridden tubesets that I thought were noodly, most notable a mid 70's Peugeot PX10 that flexed like crazy, later a Trek 760 while not as bad as the Peugeot made me pass on it for a 660 that was stiffer. But in general I don't think there is a whole lot of difference between tubesets but there is a difference in how the geometry of a bike is set up.

Here's an interesting read about all of this: http://www.bgcycles.com/frame-tubing-selection.html

Yeah I've appreciated the ride quality of the '86 500 as soon as I rode it out of the LBS where I bought it. If I hadn't I probably wouldn't have stuck to just one bike until this year. I had thought of doing some touring with this one but am only now changing derailleurs and cranks to gear down some for the hills and that's just because of old age and sore knees after a decade layoff from riding. When I retire I might do some light short touring with it yet.

I'm waiting for retirement too to do some hopefully long touring, but I have about 10 years before that can happen. I have started doing some weekend tours which have been fun except my back after the drunk driver accident hurts after laying on the ground, but hopefully as more time goes by that too will resolve itself. The one thing about weekend touring you get a pretty good idea what will work and what won't.

I am amazed at the colors Trek has used, I have one they call taupe. It has grown on me, I call it gold.
Gotta love a Trek.

Yup, gotta love vintage Trek's and their color schemes...but I don't like modern Treks, just my opinion.

If anyone is still looking, I am selling my Trek 770 :(.... The wife said that I have to let it go if I want my new Carbon TT bike. Mine is in great condition! Everything matches original specs except the hoods are black instead of gummy color and of course it doesn't have the original tires.. I should have it up on eBay early next week. I will also post a link here... Size is a 56 or 58... I can't remember. Let me know if you want a sneak peak!

Too bad your wife won't allow you to keep your 770.

And yes, please post up some pics of yours!

Just a reminder, we have dedicated sections of the site for selling items. You'll need an upgraded membership to post there and here are the basic rules (note that linking to ebay is not allowed)- http://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...l#post13666780