More than likely your efficiency is coming from robots, and not a zillion "skilled-people" welders. Other than for highly gifted artisans, welding-skills have no future, as a way to earn a living.

Done any TIG Welding?

Werent Cdale forks steel though? My '93 T700 frame has a steel fork.

Who else makes an aluminum touring bike ?

good question. Thought they were all alum but maybe wrong. I actually have a T800 or something of a friend in my house , so can check. Bike is from about 2002-3-4 or thereabouts.

-------HA, just went down and took my little magnet that I use to remove bearings from hubs when I overhaul them, and sure enough, the fork is steel!

kinda funny, here is this Cannondale reknowned alum touring bike, uses a steel fork, where this reknowned Trek touring bike is now the inverse.

Cannondale was using Al forks on their made-in-PA MTBs by at least >94. My mid-level 1995 M500 had a Pepperoni fork - and they were nicer looking than what Trek is putting on their 520 25 years later.

Jeez. Check stats before you speak.

This is my concern. I have a hunter green 2015 520, and I love it. It's got a heavy ride, but it loves to move. He rides like a nimble tank and his name is Lieutenant Dan.* I crashed the bike while commuting to work into a stockade fence and bent the front fork. It was still ridable, but I called my wife to come get me due to some bruised ribs on my body. Had this happened on a tour, I could have still ridden it without any concerns for a while. With an aluminum fork, I doubt this would be possible. The 520 has such a loyal cult following, why would Trek make these changes?

*Lieutenant Dan was named by my wife after I returned home from bringing him to my LBS to be fixed. She saw my sad face and asked what was wrong with my bike. When I told her it needed a new front fork, she replied, "Don't worry, Hun. Lieutenant Dan will be home soon." When I gave her a confused look she replied in her best Forrest Gump voice, "Lieutenant Dan! You got new legs!"

Thanks, it sounds like you know what you're talking about. How about some stats links? I would love to see how artisans are taking over, and robot-factories are languishing.

You work in a stockade fence?

naw, it was clear enough.
It was however, a rather interesting visual that came to mind, of some guy riding into a stockade fence hard enough to bend a fork and ding ribs....
that'll teach ya from visiting the saloon before work.

LOL. I was riding the sidewalk on a busy road with no bike lane. The sidewalk curved into and then away from the driveway to my right. I was not paying attention and over steered the front tire to the left into a rut right where the grass meets the cement. As I tried to get the front tire out of the rut, I over corrected and rammed head on, right into the stockade fence. I came off the bike and clothes lined my body onto the top of the stockade fence. I still have two faint, but visible parallel diagonal lines on my body from me hitting the top of the 2 X 6 two years later.

OK. I've derailed this thread enough. Back to the new 520.

We all do that.
 

Didn't mean to offend. Just funnin'.

me too,
will make a good story one day to tell the grandkids

Bwahahahahaha! :roflmao:

https://www.theatlantic.com/business...he-gap/567434/

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...06c30c0000.jpg

A look at the controversial changes to the frame, fork and components of the 2019 Trek 520 model .
https://www.cyclingabout.com/2019-tr...-touring-bike/

Try Google and read some news online. The level of ignorance is too much for me to worth my time.

NL Koga, uses 7005 Aluminum for their frames.. fastest cycle around the world

solo rider ,* used Koga bikes..

Cool! I stand corrected as far as welding jobs, in general. Although I didn't see bicycle frames addressed. But hey, I guess you guys are right :)

Huh? You just wasted your soooo valuable time, but others were more considerate! Thanks to you anyway!!!

Yeah, it made me consider learning how to weld. lol

As an early-teen kid my father taught me brazing and I enjoyed building & repairing bikes, mini-bikes, and go-carts. Fun times, but I didn't keep it up, and seemingly not applicable to todays market.