component upgrades.

So it looks like that K2 Mach 4.0 is probably sold since the poster hasn't emailed back. I actually really like my bike, as I call her the Old Turkey Bird. The Trek520 probably doesn't have the geometry that is perfect for me, but I'm young and flexible so I don't notice it too much!

The thing is it is pretty old (93) and I would like to think about replacing the components. It's a trek 520 touring bike and it has a mix of MTN and road parts. What if I replaced it with all road? it looks like a lot of newer touring bikes are doing that. What would the advantages of staying mixed or going road. I think I would like to go higher end parts shimano 105 (or even SRAM if I knew more about them) minimum since this is my one and only bike and I would get a lot out of upgrading it to some nice pieces. But would I really value those changes on an old lunker? Since my parts are so old and technology has come such a long way, I know I will feel a difference with any drivetrain switchout.

So as many of you know the Old Turkey Bird has downtube shifters. Any upgrade must take those out! I was thinking of putting on STIs but the down tube shifters and barcons are supposed to be indestructible. How much trouble have STIs for sure given you guys? I've actually never had any problems with my shifters and I don't want to lose that security. But at least I don't think I would strike my knee on the barcons- that long top tube is good for something!

wow! I expected at least some input on the gear someone had or wished they had!

I just upgraded my old (early nineties) ti bike with new stuff. I had down-tube shifters that were 7 speed and updated it to 10 speed. I used SRAM rival for the drivetrain and went the barcons in Dura Ace. I wanted to keep it kind of era, plus the STI is way too much $$$. I went with a compact crank and I do a lot of UP riding. I think the upgrade was the best thing I could have done with my budget. I am very happy with it and it was not expensive if you shop around. So my 2 cents is to upgrade to all road as I noticed a HUGE improvement!

Brenda

Motochick, how much did it cost you to do that?
I don't know what Mad's riding will be like in the future but for where she is now I'd like to see her on a new Trek FX (big sale this week at the Bike Doctor in Frederick, tell 'em I sent you...or maybe not:rolleyes:

Way back when I almost bought an FX. I was split between the upright ride and the increased agility of the roadbike. I obviously went road bike but at least one that is not racing bent.

Living in DC makes me appreciated the upright riding more. I end up riding on the flats of my handlebars so much.

I love having a triple and i don't know if I could live without one. Although, my cassette is 7x. maybe a 9 or 10x would make me more amenable.

motochix, how did you choose SRAM over shimano? My bike is for commuting and so I wonder about choosing all ROAD over MTN.

if you're only looking at it as road vs. mountain, see post #17 in this thread "Mountain" might just be what you want.

That Trek520 frame is a beaut.

If your LBS says the frame's in good shape, and it feels good when you ride it, I'd be upgrading the heck out of the components and living large on that puppy.

Later you can get her repainted if you get bored with the color. (Trek420 did that with her GT commuter, and it looks like a whole new bike.)

I haven't had a brifter give out on me, but I do love my barcons with a burning passion. (like my Campy brifters better than my old Shimanos, but future bikes will have barcons rather than brifters) Perhaps the best way to figure out what will please you most is to pick one and try it. I like barcons because I like my brake levers clean and pure and I like having my shifters set to friction.

Feel the bike love, and go with what appeals to you most.

And... moustache bars are compatible with road levers and barcons, give you a few hand positions, and do a lovely job of keeping you upright for commuting purposes. (got 'em on my Surly Cross Check now) Comfy enough for a 50 mile joy ride, upright enough for a 9 mile white-knuckle commute.

Zen, that is a pretty good link. actually I have a deore LX rear derail- complements of that one crash.

I love taking my bike to the shop because they always complement the heck out of my bike.

maybe I will find a DC LBS that is flexible ( I have 2 favorites in MN: one that can emotionally take care of me and one where I see the same guy every time I head in). I could ask them to remove the parts and I could redo the frame (and spray in some framesaver if it not too late). then bring it back and have them add in all of the pieces. when I head home this summer maybe I will try and read a trek520 with bar ends. I'm pretty sure they won't hit me, but if they do it is a good excuse for STIs

in that one line, Lisa said the next time she would upgrade to Ultegra. I'm thinking about it. I'd like to give myself a present. hopefully one people won't steal my steel.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

That Trek520 frame is a beaut.

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and you know, its the last lugged year too. I could never give that up.

Zen, it cost about $430 to do the necessary stuff. Cranks, derailleurs, shifters, cassette, chain. I still had my old 105 brakes and levers which are in primo good shape but I got a set of short reach tektro levers cuz I liked the ergos better. I never liked the pointy Shimano ones and now I can reach the brakes from the drops! My wheels are ancient but the 600 hubs are sooooo smooth and fast, I can't see getting rid of them.

Mad, the reason I chose SRAM is because my hubby had just built a bike from the frame up with the same basic setup and, well.....monkey see, monkey do. I have ridden all three and I like the SRAM and Campy better than the Shimano, for no particular reason. As for being worried about switching to a compact, we just switched our tandem over from a triple and so far so good. We live in a valley so everything is up and with 10 in the rear, we have just as many gear options without all the extra shifts. I considered a triple during the upgrade but looked at the numbers and went compact. No complaints, wouldn't change a thing. (unless I in the lottery)

Good luck on your upgrades!

Brenda

What a cool bike! I have a newer 520 (2006) and LOVE it. I love my bar end shifters. I have them on 3 bikes, and will probably put them on my road bike when the sti shifters give out. STI (for me) seems to require very regular adjustment, and I just don't have the patience for it. I'm much happier with something that just works. Others love STI. If you plan to tour, though, I'd stick with bar ends. STI's either work, or they don't. But if they break, there's not much in between (except putting a down tube back on as an emergency fix...)

Mountain components let you keep a very wide range, so you have low gears if you ever want to do loaded touring. I love them and wouldn't give them up - but that's me. I do wonder if you'll have to change out the rear wheel to go to 9 speed or 10 speed. You would probably notice a wheel upgrade:) I agree with what others have said - repainting is always an option. But, I wouldn't give up that frame (sell it to me, if you do:D).

Good luck:)

CA

Is there any issue with dropout spacing, going to a freewheel with more cogs?

I mean, I know the cogs are narrower, but the freewheel's still wider, isn't it? Is the rest of it just in the dish of the wheel?

My old steel bike has a 6 speed freewheel and a standard double up front - is it possible to put on a 10 speed freewheel and a compact double? Or does that depend on the frame?

Don't know much about the spacing issues - except that you can spread the dropouts on a steel frame if you decide to upgrade and don't have the room. I want to say that 7 speed will be OK, but 6 won't without extra work (but that's a thought in the very back of my mind with no good justification).

Hopefully one of the mechanics can chime in with more specific advice:)

CA

I've heard of other's upgrading from 7-9 without much problems. My front wheel is new and so the rear is just waiting for it. with an upgrade I am hoping I can keep my deore lx dérailleurs and still be able to go to a 9-10x cassette. Any crank I have should have a triple. I've never ridden a compact and with a 30 pound bike, it wouldn't save much weight.

I might switch out my brakes too. I would like to know what the difference is.
Motochick, for all of those upgrades that is not too bad in my book. Can I shop around for parts and bring them to my LBS, or are they strictly buy from us sort of places (like the rip off plumber)

I rethought about a Surly LHT, a steel frame that I could build up from scratch. It looks like the stand over is still a bit too high, and that is the first thing I look at when looking at new frames. It would probably just put me in the same place that I am now with my 520. I would of course need to ride one someday.

I will be honest here and say that I do not use my LBS because I would not trust them to sell me the right tube! I live in a very small rural town so 99% of the things I buy are from the internet. I don't know if they would build yours if you supplied the parts. I am lucky to have a husband that is very mechanical so he builds all of our bikes.

I can comment on the rear wheel spacing a little. Hubby is building up his mid-80's steel frame that used to be a 6 speed. He just had some 10 speed wheels built and they worked. My frame was also 6 speed at one time and my old wheels and frame worked w/the 10. The spacing was smaller back then but with steel you can bend it to work.

Keep us updated on whatchagonna do.

Brenda