I traded my beloved red Brompton for this Trek 520. I do a 20 mile roundtrip 3 times a week on it. Really comfortable even on the rough stuff. I'm still struggling to come up with a name for it. I would describe it as an honest mule. Any suggestions?

Couple questions:

1. What is going on with that second bar?

2. How are you mounting that lock to your rack?

1. I couldn't afford an STI setup and I don't like bar end shifters. So I used a accessory mount to install an old handlebar. The shifters are mounted on this bar along with the headlight. This allows me to keep my hands on the brake levers while shifting. It isn't perfect, but it works.
2. I zip tied a small hollow tube to the rack. I slide the lock in and it holds it in place. It works surprisingly well.

Bartholomule.

Those are pretty clever. Thanks for sharing.

These math challenged people. It is suppose to be N+1 not N-1+1

I think this is great, because it is shows a unique approach to a common issue. I happen to like bar end - or "bar-cons" as we called them 25 years ago, but I would never expect everyone to love them. I was similarly impressed by a few versions of uses of Shimano SIS thumb-shifters pressed into service on stem mounts, I wish I had photos. Great job!

I'm sorry. I'm still very new to these forums. What is N+1? I'm obviously math challenged.

How many bikes you should own with N being the current # you own.

Ahh! Thanks.

I really think the touring bike is very underrated for commuting and general riding. But having ridden a Cannondale T600 for twenty years now, maybe I'm a bit biased. :-) The 520 was on my list way back then to test ride, but I couldn't find one at the time at any local dealers in my size. This in a metro area of 2.5 million.... <grrrrr>

Great looking bike. Nice sleek lines .... but that additional bar??? Sorry to be critical but why detract from such a beautiful bike? I understand functionality but aesthetics are important as well. What about down tube shifters?

I like it!
Something unique. I say leave it as it is.

Kelly 'take offs' are another way to use other levers from the "hoods"..

Retroshift is another , your bar end mech or downtube lever
goes on the front of the brake lever.

its brown paint..
brownies grow into girl scouts, who then sell chocolate cookies.

I have always loved the classic look of the 520.

Nice bike.

Bartholomule it is.

Parting with my Brompton was one of the hardest things that I've ever done. But, I hope to get her back one day.

--

Thanks. My first bike was 70s Schwinn which had those stem mounted shifters. If it was possible I would have tried that setup before this one.

The first bike on my list was actually the LHT. I didn't know too much about touring bikes at the time and thought that the LHT was the only one. In my defense, just about every major video journal of someone touring shoes an LHT. But I do agree with you. Touring bikes are great for commuting.

It looked great in my head as I was contemplating this setup. I'm hoping to go with retroshift setup eventually to clean it up a bit. I actually mounted them on the DT and rode a couple of miles. I just couldn't get comfortable enough with them there.

Well aware of the retroshift. But thank you for bringing "take offs" to my attention.
Oh, I'm brown too. So everything works out.

An honest workhorse among bicycle tourers for years. I wasn't loving the looks when I got it because the previous owner had risers on it. He rode mostly in city traffic and wanted an upright position for comfort and safety. I think the drop bar is better suited to this bike.

Very good looking, and some very clever ideas (that I will be "borrowing" for myself...).

I just recently picked up an old Trek 820 that I'm looking to commuter-ize. Which brake levers are those? I see that they're Tektro, but I mean which model?

They are RL520s designed to work with linear pull brakes. They are economical but of really good quality.
https://www.tektro.com/_english/01_pr...s&sort=2&fid=3