mtnbud

I'm posting this for a friend.

He inherited his late fathers Trek 520, but had to repair a crack in the frame near the seat post. He thinks it's a early 90's or late 80's. The components are good and he's ridden it quite a bit on day rides. When his father had first died, he had told me about his desire to repair and use the bike in rememberance of his late father. Now that he has repaired it and ridden it a bit, he is concerned about the durability of the 27 inch single wall Matrix rims on a long loaded tour. He says the wheels have never gone out of true.

He asked me my opinion. I figure those Matrix wheels and spokes should be fine - especially since they're 40 spoke. I believe touring wheels were made a bit thicker back then.

He's trying to decide which bike to ride on our next tour. I think he's good going with the Trek.

How well do the older 27" Matrix wheels will hold up?

bikemig 

There are too many variables to answer that question. A lot depends on the wear on the actual rims and whether or not the wheels are reasonably true.

I don't know if touring wheels were "made a bit thicker" back in the day.

Bottom line is that touring wheels take a fair amount of abuse given the extra weight. This would not be a bad item to replace if going on a tour. I'd mainly be concerned about rim wear.

https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-me...-worn-out.html

saddlesores

do a goggles and loads of info comes up on vintage treks.

1990 Trek 520 Touring Bike - The Chainlink
(with link to original trek catalog with specs)

that's a real honest-to-tfsm touring bike, so the wheels should be appropriate.
no way anyone on a forum can tell you about the current state of the
wheels. your lbs (if you can trust them) can do that, when they go over
the bike and retension the wheels.

depending on how much you plan to carry, and where, the stock gearing
may be a bit high for you.

and you might even plan to switch the rims to 700c some day, unless
you have a good source of 27" touring tyres.

hueyhoolihan

i would think it unlikely that a late '80's trek would have 27" wheels. NTTAWWT. and, as mentioned, there's nothing to worry about WRT those wheels, assuming they are not worn out or in bad condition.

and believe it or not, a few years ago, i had the bad luck to desperately need a tube with a presta valve while on tour, and i was in a remote, small town in Northern California, where the local hardware store looked more like a junk shop. anyway, they didn't have a tube, but, as i said, believe it or not they had only one tire. it was 27x1 1/8". had to laugh, because as luck would have it, i was running 27"ers. too bad i didn't need a tire.

djb

As said, impossible for internet folks to comment on the specific wheels, they need to be seen by someone you or he trusts.

If in good shape and he decides to use them, my suggestion is to use slightly wider tires if possible and not over inflate them, the lower (within reason) pressures will make things easier on both the rims and spokes.
I'm thinking 32s minimum, although the bike may be limited to that size.

bradtx

mtnbud, In general the Matrix (Made in USA) rim looks to have been the house brand for Trek. I don't remember any complaints of the brand.

Specifically about your friend's wheel set the only advice I can give is to have someone local look them over.

Brad

hfbill

I kept the original Matrix rims on my 94 Trek 520 up until 2 years ago when, due to rim wear, I finally replaced them with SunRingle Ryhno Lite wheels, which I've been very happy with. I hope someone like you keeps my bike up after I'm gone as it will surly outlive me.

mstateglfr 

Dude. ILTASRUP. DBL.

jefnvk

One thing to note, as you don't know the exact era: many of the mid-80s ones came with Maillard rear hubs that had the Helicomatic cassettes. I've got a set like that. They're not made anymore, neither is anything compatible, and require a special tool to take off, and some will argue the rear hub is a weaker design not actually suited for touring.

If he wants to keep them, I've got Paselas 1-1/4" tires on my 27" bikes that fit them that I'd recommend. Good all around tire that is reasonably priced.

indyfabz

Wondered when someone was going to bring that up. I had an 80s Trek 660 (road bike) with Matrix rims and Maillard rear hub with a Helicomatic cassette.


And IIRC, they were, in fact, 27" rims.

Tourist in MSN

If I went touring on a bike with 27 inch wheels, I would carry a spare tire for sure.

I was unaware that some 520s came with a 40 spoke wheel(s). Are they aftermarket? If it has a free hub type hub with a cassette, the wheels might be as good if not better than some modern wheels. I have no opinion on finding new cassettes if it has less than eight speeds.

But if it has an old freewheel type hub, the axle is a weak point, I have bent such axles. A friend of mine bought a used touring bike with 27 inch wheels and freewheel type rear hub, it had a broken rear axle when he bought it.

Your friend might want to re-grease the hubs and if the bottom bracket is cup and cone, re-grease that too.

The 520 of that era might have a road triple. He might want a smaller granny gear if it is a 30T.

fietsbob

I note there is a folding, black 27" tire made, for that spare... though, rolling a tire in 3rds, Skill,

allows the steel bead wire to still be , un kinked, 1/3 the diameter.

mtnbud

I'm guessing they're tandem wheels? Since they're Matrix brand, they should be Trek's version of a tandem wheel.

I'm not sure what the hubs are, but he did say he took them apart and regreased them.

I agree about 27 inch tire availability.

Spreading the frame to 130 or 135, switching to 700c wheels and making all necessary changes and adjustments would be ideal, but he's pretty frugal and already has a bike that would work without using the Trek.

Thanks for everyone's input by the way!

saddlesores

not necessarily.....or probably not.
wouldn't tandem wheels be 140mm?

lotsa cycle tourists had extra beefy wheels built up with 40 or 48 spokes.
check the hubs, odds are he's got some groovy phil woods.
shimano 7spd megarange 14:34 freewheels should still be available.

bradtx

mtnbud, 40H rims weren't uncommon on touring bikes, sometimes only for the rear wheel, during the 27" era. I think that Miyata and Bridgestone touring bikes were two brands that were so equipped. My memory maybe foggy so any corrections are happily requested.

Brad

djb

I have a friend who had a Canadian made touring bike from the late 80s or so and it had 40 some wheels stock.

mtnbud

Thanks guys. I appreciate your input. As I was reminessing about a trip with another friend of mine, I recall one of his rear spokes begain to pull through the rim. He had the stock rims on a Specialized Tricross. Luckily, we noticed it just before we reached the last town with bike shops before wandering out of populated areas.

Having a trusted bicycle mechanic look at the wheels is certainly a good idea given the age of the bike.

I personally bought Mavic A719 32 hole rims for my bike after too many broken spokes with my stock wheels.