stevel610 

If anyone is interested there is a smallish 520 on Philadelphia Craigslist for $400. It's not my ad, I don't know the person who is selling it, and don't know anything about it. I saw it tonight while surfing and then saw this thread and thought I'd let others know about it. Peace.

Lovegasoline

Thanks Matadors.
Pricey but they do look fantastic and are well fitted with good clearance. What width are they?

muse kidd

Can an older brother say hello? Here's my 1979 Trek 412. I bought her new - right outta the shop window. I spent the better part of my summer savings for college and never looked back.


There's my girl... 1979 Trek 412

Matadors

A buddy and I rode around the Olympic Peninsula on our Trek 520's last week. Great bikes for rugged touring!

Nyah

I have a Trek 520, 1999 model but, have not been happy with it, due to the "road triple" crank (52/42/30) that it came with. Thus I can't be a member of the Fan Club. I will be cannibalizing the crank for to use on a touring mini-velo.

I'd like to get a new crank for the Trek 520, if I can find one that does 48/36/26 (48/36/22). The thing is, I really want one that is 2-piece but not a MTB crank. Square-taper just seems like too much of a downgrade, to me so, if anyone knows of a 2-piece crank that does 48/36/22 and has a road spindle, please let me know so that I can give this respectable frame/fork the kind of action that it deserves.

Nyah

Actually, even the fork is not all that respectable on this model-year. After I upped the tires to 35mm Marathons, the fork no longer has room for a fender. I've periodically tried to source a new fork for it but, not sure what I need for that. It's a 1" threaded fork with a short steerer tube (frame size is 19", the second to smallest size).

treebound 

[QUOTE=Matadors;22166965]A buddy and I rode around the Olympic Peninsula on our Trek 520's last week. Great bikes for rugged touring!
]

Very nice. It is probably posted somewhere on this site already, but what gearing are you running on your’s and your buddy’s bikes?

I’ve been thinking of changing out the stock 3x7 gearing on my 1995 520.

Matadors

[QUOTE=treebound;22167584]Our bikes are newer, so they have 3X9 gearing, which was perfect for fully loaded touring. We went on some forest service dirt roads that turned really steep and we could peddle all but the steepest.

notyracademy

I just recently bought a used 2005 Trek 520 and after taking it apart to service it, my LBS found that the fork had a crack in it (near the brake housing). Anyone have a suggestion for a replacement fork that maintains the geometry of the original build? I've seen some people suggesting a Dimension fork but the rake is 50 instead of 52 (what the the Trek 520 specs say) and it doesn't have pannier lugs, which sorta kills the whole reason I bought this bike.

Any suggestions or ideas? Thanks.

mff353

Any one know max tire size for new 520 disc? want to know if I can use a 29x2.1

mstateglfr 

What is the front rack on the black 520?

HTupolev

Looks like the Velo-Orange Campeur front rack. In Matador's photo you can even sort of make out the small orange blotch of the Velo-Orange logo sticker just above the NDS light mount.

I have the same rack on my Campeur.

denaffen

I joined the club today

Matadors

I just put new tires on my 520 and could even go wider.

WTB ByWay 700c TCS Light SG2 Gravel Tire 700 x 44mm

muse kidd

UPDATE: New 700c wheels, Zenith wide flange hubs, Exal 17 rims

andrewclaus

I'll join this old but popular club. Last fall I salvaged a 1983 520 from the dumpster. I noticed the Reynolds 501 sticker on the seat tube and decided to try to work with it. I kept the frame, fork, handlebars and seat post and old Blackburn rear rack. I cold set the rear dropouts for a cassette hub, replaced the BB and crank, found salvaged 3x8 Sora shifters, and dual pivot side pull brakes for some decent 700C wheels. Older folks who recognize it have commented on how nice the paint job looks. Sorry, no photos--I left the bike in Tucson for the summer, and it's highly modified. I rode it on one overnight tour down to Arivaca over the winter, mainly it's a daily rider around Tucson--2000 miles on it this year. It's been up Mt Lemmon many times already--it's a great climber.

labestiahumana

I built my 520 Disc frame set in 2016, still going strong. I used 105/Ultegra components and Mavic Aksium Disc wheels .

m.c. 

I just bought a frame just like this.

I wanted something I could put racks and fenders on. I will probably just use it locally to the store and restaurants. There are no hills here, I may go with a 1x drivetrain or IGH but part of me wants a proper touring setup. I don't even know what touring gearing is.

Wiggle

Newer gen 520, been working great for me. Mostly sees commuter and recreational use but ready for some touring in late summer.

sloar

M Rose

max size without fender is 29x2.1

Matadors

Took my 520 from Helena, Montana to Butte on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route and had a ball! The bike was fully loaded, but handled it well.