New Bike or Old?

[goldfinch]

Also watch Craigslist to see if anything comes up that would fit you and the ride.

[jyyanks]

Agree with the craigslist suggestion or buying a new cheaper bike. I got a bike on craigslist for $100 and it served its purpose.

I think #3 is not an option as 150 miles would be torture if your neck and hands are hurting on shorter rides. Good Luck.

[Hartmame]

If you have a good shop they could do a fit and tell you if swapping out the stem and tires will be enough to make the old bike work for you. Because if it is $120 might be about what you would spend. I also like the Craigslist route to a comfortable bike

[indysteel]

Rent or buy an appropriate bike for the trail. It's not just wider tires you need. You arguably need fenders, too. Having done a long trail ride myself last year (the Katy Trail) fenders really help on crushed limestone when it's raining. Plus, you're probably going to need at least a rear rack. I have a Jamis Aurora. It was a great bike for the trip.

[sarahkonamojo]

Just to fill the duty of enabler... you need a NEW BIKE!!! Maybe not for this ride, but you need one. Good time to demo something you might buy. Be comfortable on the ride. 150 miles can be brutal.

[tzvia]

Well, the Trek 1100 is a road bike and you are going to be limited in tire size. The trail you are going on is packed crushed limestone and not paved so I don't think that bike is going to work out well. I would ride either a hardtail MTB with 2.0/2.1 semi slick tires, or a comfort bike with 32c or so tires.

My experience on shorter stems on road bikes to make up for too long a top tube (bike too big) will make the handling more twitchy, which would not be a + on a crushed limestone trail.

So either rent or buy a comfort/city/touring bike with tires in the neighborhood of 32c. $120 bucks is a good chunk of a nice city bike and you can also use it on those rides with your son that you mentioned.

The Trek 1100 is a really nice bike, a classic, but about as good a choice for that trail as your Madone.

[owlice]

Just to fill the duty of enabler... you need a NEW BIKE!!! Maybe not for this ride, but you need one. Good time to demo something you might buy. Be comfortable on the ride. 150 miles can be brutal.

This!