Looking into getting a touring bike, and I can't quite figure out which one of these to buy... I want to save as much as possible with these, I'm dead-set on keeping Trek for my performance bikes
Does anyone have experience with either or both the 520 and the 520 disc model? How fast do rims wear with the rim-brakes? Planning to ride from Phoenix to Portland on this thing, (Moving to Portland, having my stuff shipped up once I get there) Whichever one I end up with I'll be getting stronger racks and Gatorskin Tires (Thankfully they make them in 700x32, don't want to go narrower for the long trip) I know from Experience that Discs do better in rain/inclimate conditions, but I've heard positive feedback about rim brakes as well.... Help? Are the discs worth the extra $110 and the forgoing the better color? (rim model is hunter green, disc model is black)

If you think you will hit rain while touring, get disc for safety reasons. Long hill descents with a heavy load, go with disc.

The word on the street is, quality rim brakes or quality disc brakes will both work just fine. I prefer discs myself.

Since you're buying a complete bike, maybe compare the qualities of the brakes that come on each?

If you think you m ay ever run an integrated shifter instead of the bar-end shifter, go disc... v-brakes limit what kind of shifter/brake you can use (while still maintaining clearance for wide tires and fenders).

A friend of mine has Travel Agents on his V brakes on his foldup bike so he can use brifters. I have a Travel Agent on the V brake on the front on my expedition bike, the rear on that bike is cantilever so Travel Agent not needed on the back. The Travel Agents do just fine at converting the V brakes (long cable pull) to conventional (short cable pull) brake levers.

You were pretty set on Trek. But have you looked at a new Salsa Vaya 3? Not much of a price difference and I think you get more bike with better components.

I have a Jamis Aurora Elite for commuting and weekend, mini-touring.
The disc brakes are overkill for the dry, flat terrain of North Texas, so I could have saved some dough by just going with rim brakes. But, they do add quite the cool factor to just about any bike.

Does the 520 disc have posts for v-brakes or cantis

if it does, you may want to bring along a set of cantis as back up

I've had a pair of BB5 pistons get stuck during a local ride, glad I wasn't touring away from home

This is why I use a simple roundagon rotor and nothing with fancy cut outs that just wear the pads down. I want more surface area to grab not less on my disc brakes.

I currently run a 203mm roundagon rotor on the front of a fixed gear fat front tourer (going traditional SS soon) and this stops me in all conditions including the current freeze/thaw we are experiencing.

I am also looking into a new touring bike, maybe the LHT. Before spending that kind of cash, I took my first tour on an old Jamis Aurura with rim brakes which included some pretty serious hills. I wished for the power of disc brakes coming down those hills, and it was dry. I have decided it prudent to spend the extra $200 for the LHT Disc. No rim wear and better resale are a bonus.

Personal preference comes into play here... I'm fine with full V brakes but mini-v is pushing it with clearance. I don't have a problem with canti brakes (although many people do); still, I would never convert a bike to canti from v-brake while buying extra hardware (anchor points for the cables). Travel Agents are ugly imho. For me, and I can only speak for myself, the big advantage of discbrakes is that some of them are specifically designed to work with integrated shifters... that's a huge plus in my book.

Disc brakes are also better if you have to ride an out of true wheel to the next town with a bike shop, as they won't rub (although disc rotors can go out of true for other reasons).

I wouldn't avoid a used touring bike because it lacks disc brakes, but confronted with buying new, I'd personally but the bike that has them.

In some parts of the world, you'd have trouble getting your hands on 700c tires, let alone disk brake parts. When I had an accident in central China I had to order a new wheel by mail. Then I had to ride 90km on a split rim with a towel inside my tire to the nearest town with mail delivery so I could pick it up.

Get rim brakes for a touring bike. Save the disks for cyclocross.

I was wondering this myself. Discs are getting pretty common in North America, but still a speciality item.

Our LBS sells Both No, Its Either Or.


My Koga Miyata WTR Has Both , and so Does My Bike Friday (but as a Built-to-Order bike that is a Buyers choice.

But you May be able to fit a Bolt on Side Pull on the fork Crown and rear stay If you really are a Belt-and Braces Worrier ..



And, If the Brakes are Cable discs You can always Pack a spare Caliper in your Pannier-Luggage . and a spare set of pads take up just a tiny Space .


There your service care the way you use them and Weather makes a difference

I got a decade of occasional Really Long European tours in , during the summer, and when I resold my Custom Built wheels they were still in Super shape


Filthy Rims Old Pads and dragging the rear brake a lot the wear will be shorter ..

PDXers ride in all weather on all sorts of Bikes .. wet weather the discs will stop faster .

The $110 is pretty cheap one caliper alone at retail costs More than that . (OEM factory costs are lower , because they get truckloads at one time.)

Heck once You're there have the rim brake posts added to the Disc Frame
(lots of Frame Builders in Town) and get a Paint/Powder redo in any color you want...

In all honesty i don't think I'll be riding outside of CONUS, so the availability of disc parts shouldn't be bad. Ok, i guess that makes my mind up for me... I'll end up getting the disc model. Now just to wait for the moneys to come in

There's always cantis. But if you're using discs the conversion to road discs will be more expensive than a canti conversion.

I just bought a 2015 Trek 520 disc (54 inch frame) and I am in the process of outfitting it with racks and fenders. I am looking at Tubus for racks since they seem to have the best overall reviews. I have two questions.

1. Tubus makes a rear rack for disc brakes which I know will work but has anyone tried mounting the other racks Tubus makes for the rear? The Tubus Disco has a peak weight capacity of 44 lbs. I don't want to overload my bike with weight but I would like the option of going heavier if I need too.

2. With Tubus model racks and the 520 Trek 520 Disc what fenders will work and do brands you recommend? Planet bike seems to be the better option but I welcome other ideas.

Thanks