babysaph38

In my area anyway. Been all over va and Pa and Md and wv and no one that carries trek bikes carries them. They only have them small bikes with knobby tires that teenage kids use to job over boards and rocks or the $5000 bikes like Lance Armstrong use to ride. That sucks cuz I wanted one. Oh well guess I will keep touring on my Mtn bike.

Robbykills

last time I was in Bike Line of Newark, DE, where I'm from, they had a 520. Keep in mind though that was around March I think. Don't know how close you are but seeing as DE is in the middle of all the states you listed might be worth calling them?

brianmcg123

Sounds like a blessing in disguise to me, now you can get yourself a Surly Long Haul Trucker.

wrk101

Guess you'll have to buy a used one, and save some $$ to boot. I picked an older one up off of Craigs List in my area last week for $180. Since you are casting a wide net on your search for a new one, I bet you could find one used.

n4zou

+1

cyccommute 

Or a Cannondale Same price as the Trek...better bike. Even better than the LHT but just a smidge

babysaph38

Thanks for the infor guys. What cannondale should I look for? Man, I don't know what to buy. I have been riding a converted mtn bike for 2 years but I know there has to be something more comfortable for long rides.

babysaph38

The LBS around here cater to the 14 year old kids that like to jump over things. No touring bikes at all. That sux. It sux to get old. I am just an ole man that wants to do some long distance rides in comfort.

crocodilefundy

there was a trek touring road frame for sale a few days ago in the philly CL. i don't know if the guy sold it yet.

brotherdan

I bet they could order a 520 for you really easily. They are available in the QBP catalog.

bicyclebilly

I am finally in a position to build my dream bike, so I was planning to sell a 520 that I picked up about a year ago. I bought it from a guy who was a runner, who had bought it to rehab his knee after surgery.
It is a 58cm(23in), it has never been toured on and it is in great shape. I have put less than 200 miles on it since I prefer my T-1000. I don't know what year it is but I will find out and post it when I get some pictures of it. By the way, I was on the phone with Trek today and they said they were sold out of 520s until next year.

bicyclebilly

If you want to build a bike, the Cannondale T1 frameset sells for $599

crocodilefundy

there is a 520 on ebay.
https://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Trek-520...ayphotohosting

Bacciagalupe

Very few shops actually carry touring bikes. Any of them can order one.

You can have your LBS order you a Trek 520 or a Cannondale Touring. Work with them carefully on size, and make it clear that you expect them to figure out the proper size for you (unless you already know exactly what you need).

CCrew

I know where a 58cm is sitting on the floor.

-Roger

rodar y rodar

Yeah, bummer that touring bikes are so hard to find in stock. I`m in the preliminary stages of bike shopping and have checked at pretty much all of the half dozen or so LBS in my area for any of the "usual suspects" (LHT, 520, Aurora, Volpe, Fuji) and so far nobody has one in stock in my size- I keep getting "We can have one for you by...). There`s still hope that my local REI will have a Randonee in my size since I haven`t made it out that way yet. Since I haven`t ridden any touring bike or even sport tourer before, I absolutely refuse to buy on order because I THINK I need such and such size. And since they don`t seem to sell very well, I hate to have a shop go to the trouble of ordering one that I may not even like once I`ve ridden it. I`m either going to start checking further afield (Sacramento, CA is about two hours away and has at least one LBS specializing in touring bikes) or keep pulling the BOB with my mtb and look for something easier to find to take over the duties of my soon-to-be-retired commute and grocery bike.

ebrady

I have been at a number of Trek shops, none of them carry the 520 either. When I ask, they all reply, "Overall, the volume is not there, however when we do get one, it does not stay in the shop very long!" WTF? No volume, but when they get one it just about sells immediately?

They all are more then willing to order one though, which sucks, I have wanted to try one of these bikes out, but can't find one to ride to figure out if it will work for me.

cyccommute 

T800 (old stock), T2 (new stock). If absolutely necessary, the T1 (T2000) would be okay but the gearing and parts spec on the T2 is better for touring.