Trek Multitrack 720
 

Hi, I am new here. I bought a used Trek Multitrack 720 (I think it is from the 1990's from a local bike repair guy and it's in really good condition and he said he tuned it up also. I am new to hybrids, i have an old Trek roadbike from 1982 which i think is a 311. I wanted the hybrid because i am out of shape and new again to biking and was very uncomfortable on my road bike due to the sitting posture (although it is getting easier for me to ride it). Rather than revamp my road bike, the mechanic had this great condition Multitrack 720 so i bought it. I figured if i were to change the headset stuff on my road bike (which would mean new handlebars, brake cables, brake levers, labor and then later want to change it back that wouldnt cost that much less than buying a 2nd used bike. Also my old road bike has sentimental value and id like to keep it stock and use it as i get more comfortable again on it.

Anyway, this Multitrack 720 has quick release wheels (they are 700c wheels). But I cant find any quick release for the front break so i cant figure out how to take the wheel off/on to transport my bike in my hatchback car to the local bike trails. I have no problem fitting my road bike in the car with the front wheel removed.

The brakes on the Multitrack 720 are of a type my mechanic told me are "B" brakes. I am new to those but he said that is a common type of brake used on mountain bikes. I dont see a name brand on the brakes. I have looked all over on the brake and the brake lever for a quick release but cant find one.

Anyone have any info on this model bike to tell me if there is/isnt a quick release on the brake?

The mechanism to take the cable on/off/on on the lever does not seem like it would be easy for me to do every time i want to take the bike in and out of my car.

I am sure i cant get the wheel on and off without releasing the brake.

IF i have no quick release on this setup, what's my best option to have one installed? Do i need to change the brake lever or the brake? Which is best way to do it? I need to be able to frequently take the front wheel off/on to move the bike in and out of my car and also to be able to take off the wheel to lock up the front wheel using a kryptonite U lock.

This bike is much more comfortable for me to ride than the road bike due the sitting posture but i am not sure i am content with (1) the brake levers seem kind of cheap and too far apart for my hands to use with great comfort (I have small hands) (2) the index shifting is new to me and i like the concept but i find the shifting to be clunky, maybe i would like a higher level index shifter or derailler i dont know. This bike works for me ok as is but i am not sure it is a great bike for me.

Is it a cantilever or v-brake?

http://www.personal.psu.edu/bjd5054/...yre/BRAKES.JPG

It is a V brake, i must have misheard when the mechanic said B brake. I can ask the mechanic but not until the weekend.

HI I figured out how to release the brake mechanism on my own, after googling quick release and V brake.
Thanks

How about a picture of your bike? I have a '91 model
I was told by the LBS. Yard sale find. It has the
cantilever brakes.

My shifters work great. Maybe yours need a bit of TLC?

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/1258/dscf2281.jpg

HI I am sorry but i dont have a digital camera. My bike is a mid-green color and has a men's frame design (top bar is parallel to the ground.)
It is a 21". The bike mechanic who sold it to has top reviews on yelp and the bike looks to be in exc. near new condition and he personally adjusted the shifters and said they are good,
so i am sure any complaints i have with the shifters are just my unfamiliarity with this kind
of shifter (I am used to friction shifting) and perhaps there are indexed shifters/deraillers less clunky, i dont know.) The bike has shimano shifting components (I read shimano invented index shifting in the late 80's or early 90's) and my mechanic says they were mid-level at the time. Compared to my 1982 Trek 311 roadbike (that was the cheapest model they made then,with suntour components) I am more impressed with the brakes than the shifting on this 720 bike. The brakes seem very sure and the brake pads are larger than my road bike's. The handlebar design on my 720 is is kind of like a w, it is not flat bar. At first i liked it but since i am out of shape sometimes i am walking with my bike (and for example yesterday i stopped to get a cup of hot tea and was walking my bike while drinking the tea) and i find that it is harder to walk with the bike holding the bike with this kind of handle bar than if it had either standard road bike drop handlebar or flat handlebars, because the ends of the handlebars on my 720 are angled about 45 degrees from being parallel to the frame.
This makes it annoying to walk with the bike while holding the bike with one hand on the handlebar. I see your bike has flat handlebars.

I don't understand all I know about the 720's, I have seen the Multi Track with the high bar, the mid bar
and a womans version, even lower top bar. I was told mine is a fitness bike.

From Ebay
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/3842/l720.png

I know I love to ride it. It replaced a Wally Wally Schwinn MTB.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1998-Tek-720-Hyb...#ht_1035wt_886


This is the way mine looks except mine is green. I think mine is from 1995 because i saw on Bikepedia that it came in green in 1995.