I just bought an old 1983 Trek 400 for $100. I know this price is a little high but the bike is in great condition and all the hubs/bearings etc are very smooth and the bike is totally functional.

I don't know anything about the 2001 Manganese Alloy. I know its old steel and its not TOO heavy but its their entry level bike from 30 years ago. Will it hold up to some sport touring ? (ie loaded rear rack w/ camping gear)?

I'm wanting to run it as a commuter/bar bike/ beater/ winter sacrifice with the ability to do some light tours comfortably.

It might inherit my gf's 7 speed rsx double sti drivetrain as i upgrade her allez but I'm considering building it up as a triple.

First things first. New wheels.
If i have a set of 700x23 rims what range of tire sizes will that safely accommodate?

Can i run as high as 28? would you guys recommend 25s?

SKS fenders 700 x 35c?

Tire recommendations?

how about these wheels?
https://cgi.ebay.com/SHIMANO-XT-TOURI...item439d8748cf

I don't know anything about mountain/touring wheelsets. i've just heard the xt hubs and double butted spokes are pretty bomb proof.

Lastly, in my long line of questions.

Brakes are old single pivot with the nut (not recessed like later 80's single pivot). Can i throw on some new long reach dual pivot and just put the nut on to secure it? or am i stuck using ancient brakes. The bike doesn't have braze on for Cantilever.

Thanks!

I did a ss/fg conversion of an '88 Trek 400 I pulled from a dumpster and it has been serving me well as a commuter, distance, and general knockaround bike for a little over a year. I weigh 235 pounds, so the '84 should hold up just as well for you, assuming you're not also a Sasquatch and planning to top that off with a bunch of camping gear.

When you say 700 x 23 rims, are you measuring the outer width or is that just what the current tire size is on the wheel? Regardless, you can fit a 28mm tire on a narrow (14mm inner width) rim without any problems. Heck, I have a pair of 32mm (actually measure at 30.6mm) tires on a 14mm inner width rim (DT RR1.1) right now.
The issue is less with the rim and more with the frame clearance. On my '88 400, I can't fit anything bigger than a 28mm with SKS P-35 fenders, and it's really tight.

The XT hubs on that wheelset won't fit in the '84 400 frame due to chainstay width. The 6spd hub width was 126mm, and the XT hub is 135mm. You'll need to look for a standard road hub, which has a 130mm width. The 4mm difference will be tight, but usable.

I didn't have any luck with the rear brake on my '88 400, but I was able to get a 1991 Shimano 105sc dual pivot on the front with the recessed nut. The rear didn't have a long enough bolt to clear through the brake bridge and put a nut onto.

Epicus07,

Looking at a picture of an '83 Trek 400 at vintage-trek.com, I don't see any braze-ons for a rack A bolt-on rack is usually preferable to a clamp-on rack for touring. https://www.vintage-trek.com/images/t...83/83Trek5.jpg

The rims you have should take 28mm tires easily. I have 28mm Continentals on my commuter, and I like them.

I can't speak to how much fender clearance you'll have... if you're converting from 27" to 700c, I'll guess and say you should have room for 35mm SKS fenders.

The e-Bay wheels look fine... but I don't know anything about that rims manufacturer.

You can get new, nutted, long-reach dual-pivot brakes from Velo Orange. (Ack! Their website seems to be down... look under brakes at https://www.velo-orange.com/ )

Good luck with your renovation

Edit: Ack again! Forgot about hub width!

I just finished upgrading my 1987 400d



I had an extra Ultegra 10 speed FD, RD, 11-25 cassette, a new 105 chain, along with a Sram 46 & 38t Cyclocross Crankset & BB. I also had a Mavic Open Pro W/ 36 spoke Dura Ace hub rear wheel I purchased on eBay last year.

I only needed to get a front wheel and shifters to upgrade the Trek 400D Elance to a modern 2x10 drivetrain. I found new Dura Ace 10 speed bar-end shifters from Nashbar for $50 and purchased a 32 spoke 105 hub for $15. I had the bike shop source a matching 32 spoke Open Pro rim & spokes, the new front wheel cost about $150 in total. The bike shop stripped the bike of all parts, applied Framesaver and rebuilt the bike for $225 in labor. I have about $750 in the bike at this point. Not cheap, but the result is excellent, IMO.

The bike is 22 lbs with the Brooks seat. Mechanically, the bike gets an A+. The frame is responsive, stable and fun to ride. Much smoother riding than a modern Aluminum bike. The drivetrain is quick shifting and the gear set with 46 & 38t chainrings and a 11-25 10 speed cassette has a tight range. I can travel at any speed from 10 to 33 mph and always maintain my target cadence of 85 to 100 rpm.

I just installed SKS 35mm fenders and they fit well with 700 x 28 tires.

I like the OE Shimano brakes and will be keeping them.

I am using a 130mm 10 speed Shimano rear hub with a 2x10 drivetrain. These went on the 126mm wide rear dropouts without a problem. 135mm MTB rear hubs are not recommended.

How many speeds do you want the bike to have?

Thanks for the quick replies.

Looks like i'm definitely going with a road hub, sks fenders and some 28s. Tire recommendations?

The frame has a braze on for a fender on the top of the drop outs...I'm thinking with a long enough bolt i can use it for rack + fender? and i have a C shaped adapter that clamps on to the seat tube and provides a securing point for the top pair of bolts for my bolt-on rack. I HATE clamp on racks. Heavy useless high center of gravity POS. If i can't get around the bolt on rack issue my whole project is borked and i'll have to sell her ;(

Cool beans!
https://www.velo-orange.com/ter5brnumo.html
https://www.velo-orange.com/ter5exlorebr1.html

I'm probably just going to rock a 7 speed drive train. If anything breaks i'll bump up to an 8 w/ some bar ends.

You should have no problems install both fenders & a rear rack.

I use 700 x 28 Continental Gatorskins. They roll well and provide very good flat protection.

I would consider a triple with a 13-28 seven speed freewheel.

This is a great crank: https://www.velo-orange.com/suoldlotr.html

Here are some rough pictures of what i'm thinking...You can see the rack mount and braze on i would use.

Adapter:




Braze-On:

Do you have the small "hourglass" threaded barrels on the seatstays? They would be just above the brake bridge.

Notice the above pics and adapter.

I'm just surprised that you model year did not include these...

me too, the adapter should work. I've ID'd the model by serial and brochure picture/component matching.

It's hard for me to tell by written measurements. Of the two brakes i posted which would give me the most appropriate clearance w/ 28 c tires and fenders without having an excessively long reach.

heres my trek 400, i've had two racks on this thing and have toured on it, no problem...nice bikes..really like the blue one above, very nice! wanna trade?

IMG]https://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac295/johncegw

Oppps! here she is..

I like the brooks saddle+ bar tape Unfortunately i'd have to be a giant to want to trade...what is that a 63cm? that bike has a SERIOUS head tube.

64cm. Same size as mine.

Clifton,
Wow I haven't seen one like mine before..honestly I had no idea of the size, just knew it fit. Kinda of surprised it's a 64 cm. BTW nice bike..i'm assuming you must be in the 6'3" range.

Barrettscv, did you have any problems installing the BB? What BB did you use?

Thanks Wes

It's a 64cm. The 1988, and probably other model years around then, came in a 25" (or 25.5") as their largest frame. I was ecstatic when I saw this monster in the trash heap a couple winters ago. I always heard about people being able to dumpster salvage a bike, but never found one that fit me.
I'm actually 6'6".