I think I want to resurrect my old bike.

[IBrakeforPastry]

About 20 years ago I bought a Trek 720. It was when hybrids were just hybrids. It was my all-around, do everything bike. I admit I never did much in the way of maintenance, I just rode it a lot :o About 10 years ago I bought a Specialized Sirrus and the Trek ended up on the trainer, where it's been ever since. It's not road worthy at all now. The shifters are stiff, the wheels probably aren't true, the cables are shot, and the drivetrain is caked with dried grease and dirt.

With all I've been reading about steel, and perusing the threads about mixtes, beaters, and vintage bikes, I suddenly realized I wanted to breathe new life into my old faithful. There's a little bike shop near here that loves to build stuff. The shop is filled with used bikes (and some new - we talked about building a Surly Pacer, but that's another subject) and LBS guy said he'd be glad to work on my old Trek. I think they even paint bikes! So I'm pretty sure this will cost more than it's worth, but I want to try. A few years ago I bought a Trek 7200 that I never use. It's in great shape. Do you think I should try to sell it whole, or maybe cannibalize it for parts? The bike shop guy said he would buy it anyway.

Any thoughts about this whole project? I'm just afraid that when it's done, it may not be as good as I remember. One of the things I realize is how good the mixte frame is for me. I'm short, with a proportionately short inseam. I don't want to ramble on too much, so thanks for any input.

[Trek420]

I'm just afraid that when it's done, it may not be as good as I remember

It might be better than it was: http://velocult.com/bikes/trek/

[IBrakeforPastry]

Mine's a Multitrack with a straightish bar and mixte frame - I wouldn't recognize it if it came back like that! I think I just found my winter project.

[Trek420]

or .... http://rideonpurpose.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-re-imagined-trek-720-multitrack.html

[lph]

If you clean the drivetrain a bit and lube it and the cables, you can take it for a quick spin and see what it feels like. You'll feel fast enough if the fit is as good as you remember, and if it's "suddenly" gotten a whole lot clunkier than last time you rode it :-) If it feels good, give it up for the total makeover :-)

[IBrakeforPastry]

Oh, it'll feel fast enough. We got almost a foot of snow last night and the brakes are questionable. And I live on a slight hill ;) I'm pretty sure the fit is good. I've been riding it on my trainer for about 10 years. If I get cleared out I'm going to take it to the shop today because, well, I just want to. I'll see what LBS guy says. It's funny how we get excited about these things.

[lph]

Fixing up old bikes is a blast. Have fun :-)

[IBrakeforPastry]

I just dragged the bike through the snow and to the shop. We settled on just a tune-up for now and replacing the chain, cassette, shifters, and brake levers. This guy loves building bikes and really wants to build up something for me. We talked about the Surly Pacer, and a Soma Something. He's scary - I think he has a better idea of what I want than I do! But I trust him. He could tell I liked the old bike, but I heard a little hesitancy, as if he was trying to let me know the bike isn't that great. We'll see how it comes out.

[Megustalaplaya]

I know just how you feel. :) Twenty years ago I bought a Trek Multitrack 700 and rode it everywhere. I just recently pulled it out and started cleaning it up to see if it was still in riding condition. I really didn't want to buy another hybrid since I had a perfectly good frame on the 700. I replaced some cables, cleaned it up, and now it is back in riding condition. Now I have a "vintage" :) bike I or my daughter can use.

Is yours a '92? I see in the catalog that the colors were Glacial Blue and Black. (Yes, I even have the old catalog.)

[IBrakeforPastry]

Oohh, glacial blue sounds pretty! Mine's black, and now that I think about it, it also came in purple. I think I got a little price break if I bought the black. It was 1990 and I was just starting my first real job (that I can retire from in 2 years!) and was certainly counting my pennies.

[Blueberry]

DH has a 730 from 1996? in green. It's still his commuter bike - has been in constant service since it was purchased. It has H bars from Bike Friday now (cool hand positions for a city bike). He loves it!