Comments on: Trek 520 (Day One)

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 19:08:20 +0000

I got my Trek 520 in 2003. I currently have over 16,000 miles on it. Before taking delivery; I had the LBS make a number of changes to the bike: the tires had to be replaced; I now have Specialized Armadillos. The clip-less peddles had to go; I now have toe clips. The shifters had to go, I now have friction shifters on the down tube. The rack had to go; I now have a Blackburn Mountaineer. The saddle also had to go; I pulled the saddle off my previous bike (Trek 613). I use the bike in place of my truck. I use it for about the same reasons. It doesn’t matter if I am going to the Home Improvement store, grocery store, doctor, or school; I am on the bike. Sometime the trip is as little as 5 MILES and sometimes as much as 90. I have added to the bike a set of panners and a trailer. So when I can not carry what I need to carry on the rack; I stick it in one of the bags or in the trailer. The documentation for the rack says it can handle as much as 45 lbs; I know I have had much more. The documentation for the trailer says no more than 75 lbs; I know I have carried more. The bike has no problem with such loads. The bike has no problems with the weather; it doesn’t matter if I ride in the rain or the sunshine. However; if a day should ever come which would cause me to replace the 520; I WOULD NOT buy another 520. Trek has stop making them in the united States. They lost a customer when they did that.

By: Vlad

Vlad — Wed, 09 May 2007 04:55:31 +0000

Get it ! I ride Trek 520 ( stock ) long distances touring , commuting for 2 years , no problem at all , it is great bike ! I like it , comfortable for long distances , best bike I ever had . May you find gearing 52 - 11 little to high so ask bike shop what crank will be best for you , may you go for 48 or 44 ……. My modification : I did change cheap saddle for Brooks so my bum have more comfort , ad old man rack for low riders , I run Shwalbe Marathon Plus tires 700 x 35 , you will need lights front and back , my is from Planet bike , Cateye wireless cyclocomputer , I have good use for airobars and GPS and there is not much space on Trek 520 handlebar . My solution was that I did take couple spacers out and get another stem which I install upside down , I did cut handlebar from old bike , install on second stem to make space for handlebars bag brackets , it work more then well for me when in tour or commuting and I have spase for all the gadgets on Trek drop handlebars . Another option is to use Minoura product to install all this gadgets on Trek handlebars because othervice there is not much room for all the gadgets like bell , computer , lights , airobars , handlebar bag and GPS and you have to give up airobars . Solution was nonexpensive , good looking and simple . I am avid cyclist and I own 5 bikes , racing Bianchi and MTB Koga Miata Worltraveller , Trek is much better bike then my old trusted touring Cannondale 1000 X ! Anyway I have special attachment over the years to this old trusted bike , so frame was painted in autobody , some components was overhauled in local bicycle shop , some best quality components added and I still use this bicycle for winter or Rainy days commuting - flat riding in bicycle fast lines on perfect asphalt I did choose compact gearing . Wish you good luck !

By: ciaran

ciaran — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 23:14:54 +0000

sweet deal, im thinking about getting a 520 and using it for school and work.