ok guys i know i get pissed when i see a thousand of these thread in the road section but gotta ask when search doesnt yeild much......Ive been trying to sell or trade a 2009 caad9 road bike and have been offered a 2002 trek fuel that has been upgraded a bit. it looks (from pics) to have a little rust on the cassette but no where else and has hydraulic disc brakes. it is my size and ive been looking for a good mountain bike. so question is...... is this a decent bike (not to many frame issues, lasts and has decent frame design) ? thanks guys.

I have no idea what your road bike is worth in terms of a trade for the Trek, nor can I tell what that Trek's components are or what condition it's in. There's lots of threads like this for beginner road bikers too, eh? Figures. FWIW a little rust or not on the cassette isn't exactly important on road bikes either, is it? Not knowing which hydraulic brakes isn't much help either. All you're concerned about is the cassette and that it has hydraulic brakes? Maybe look thru these and at least see which model you're looking at https://bikepedia.com/Search.aspx?Q=2002+trek+fuel

They were decent enough. The suspension was a little more active under acceleration than I like. I could always replace the Float with an RP23 and make it work more to my likening.
But that's just personal preference.
I know people who have broken the ZR 1000 alloy frames from Trek and Fisher, but I think those started a year or two later.

here is the list i was given about the upgrades....

2002 Trek Fuel Aluminium Frame
Aluminium trailing arm
Cane Creek S6 Headset
Manitou Minute 1:00 front shock
Fow Float Shox rear shock
Full Shimano Deore XT drivetrain (crankset to hubs)
Shimano Deore rapid fire shifters
Mavic x3.1 UST disc brake wheelset
Avid Speed Dial 5 Brake levers
Avid BBDB hydraulic disc brakes
Bontrager crowbar handlebars

What are the specs on the Cdale?

factory cdale caad9 6 (tiagara components)

If it's in good condition then it's a fair trade. It's certainly upgradeable if you want to in the future.

Doesn't seem to have hydraulic brakes if it uses Avid Speed Dial 5 levers, those are for v-brakes or mechanical disc brakes and BBDB stands for Ball Bearing Disc Brake (basically the predecessor of the current BB7, a mechanical disc brake). Decent spec otherwise.

im gonna try to meet up with him and check the condition go for a ride and if all is good the trade shall be made

pics of the new bike

good and bad news......the drive train was severly worn and kept slipping the chain in the low and mid chain ring. good news is the guy i traded is paying to have it fixed.