RB1-luvr

After looking for a replacement for my 2009 Windsor Tourist for a couple years, I decided to buy this 2023 Trek 520. I'm tickled. I traveled three hours north from central CT to Waterbury VT to buy it. I could not find one closer. The shop set it up great. Two buds went with me for the drive, and we stopped on the way home in Lebanon NH to ride thirty miles on a sweet rail trail that follows a river and a lake. We stopped four miles from the end at a swimming hole. It was devine.





I've since flipped the stem to lower the bars a bit. I think that may be all that's needed for tweaks. I may get wider bars at some point.

Stay cool everybody.

BTinNYC

Very nice bike and great photos.

BobbyG

It's cool how you took a great bike purchase experience and made it epic!

As my grandmother would say, "Use it in health!"

Duo

good job RB. touring bikes are like cadillacs, the ride is comfy with those wider tires. i ride an old fugi touring bike and the ride is very different from my trek racing bike. both are great, but the trek doesn't get out as much. at our age, what's the hurry?

RB1-luvr

Duo: exactly. I'm slowing down gradually. And yes, that caddy-like ride is enjoyable. I have 32c Gatorskins on the Windsor, and so questioned the 38c size on the 520. But after the first ride, I am fine with them. They roll quite well on pavement and gravel trail.

Duo

great. i haven't tried 38c but i do like the 35c on my front and 32c on the rear. the wider front tire helps with grip and steering, a more secure feeling. my racing bike generally sleeps in the corner wearing 25c, but i may try some 28c tires to see what difference that makes. really though i don't know if a trek 1500 aluminum 9 speed bike can handle 32c or i would put them on.

it was quite a revelation to find out we really don't need skinny tires on road bikes, 25c tires do nothing really except feeling all the bumps in the road and less tire grip, meh i can do without.

JohnDThompson 

Nice. I see they've gone back to the old 70s-style decals.

Ttom

Great looking bike, congrats.
Wider tires on a touring bike is the ticket IMO.

big john

Do they come with those racks or did you add them?

RB1-luvr

it came with them.

big john

Nice! Just add panniers and go.

StarBiker

Looks great. Like the color. The bars wouldn't work for me, but that's my preference.

Best.

Bassmanbob

I love my 2015 Trek 520. I use it more for commuting, but I've done two short tours on it too. I love that bike. It's heavy but loves to roll. I like to describe it as a nimble tank.

Jumpski

Nice bike and excellent color. Have fun on your new bike and enjoy.

RB1-luvr

the one thing I did not research prior to purchase was the weight. I was not too concerned with it I guess, but recently I hoiked the Windsor up onto a storage hook, and then the 520, and was surprised the 520 felt heavier. I would have thought the Windsor is. I'll have to weigh them and find out what the difference is. I have not noticed the 520's weight while riding.

oldbobcat

On the 520 the decals never changed. This is a 1970s touring bike executed in 1990s aluminum with 21st century geometry and drivetrain updates.They are sweet.

RB1-luvr

UPDATE:

I had two three-day tours planned for this bike last year when I bought it, and they both got cancelled. So finally, I took it this past Friday-Sunday on a short gravel tour. I and two buds rode the Airline Trail from East Hampton, CT to Pomfret, CT (only 43 miles). We camped at Mashamoquet State Park. There is no running water yet (not til Memorial Day weekend), so we brought filters and bathed in a stream. I'm an over-packer and total weight was 73 lbs! oy.

I'm thinking about increasing the tires from 38c width to 42c. I'll need wider fenders if I do.

Ttom

Nice bike, may you have many many good long rides.
I have a commuter bike with 32C tires and while they will do gravel they don't do it well. Ok maybe they really suck at it but you can do it.
I too bought a new bike last year a Kona Sutra SE which has 40C tires, I have a ride I make from time to time that has 12 miles of grave road and the 40C tires do pretty good, not great but pretty good when it is time for new tires I think I will go with 42C as well.
I really would like to see wider tires on touring bikes, we are not racing we are going somewhere loaded at times and you don't always know what you are going to run into like gravel roads. Surley says fatties fit so why don't the go ahead and put some on it?
Enjoy the new ride and I hope it out last you.

John E

Very nice machine -- thanks for sharing your pictures and reviews of it.

Interesting to see how trends evolve over time. In the early 1970s, it was all about skinny, low-profile tires, as low as 19mm. Today, wider tires are becoming more fashionable, for on-road as well as for gravel or off-road.

One attraction of the classic 1960s road frames I favor is that they can accommodate 700Cx at least 35 tires.