1992 Trek 1400
 

Hey all-
Still trying to find a road bike for around town and longer rides. The Mongoose I referred to in another thread is in seller purgatory (guy is possibly out of the country), so my fruitless search in Australia continues.

Newest candidate: 1992 Trek 1400 (red frame), 2x7 Shimano 105SC, downtube shifters (meh). Looks to be in good shape. My dad actually has a similar model (1990s Trek 2000, same color scheme, I think he later upgraded it to STI so it may have been 91.). I've ridden it, was a much different feeling than the hunk of Bianchi steel I was used to (namely, much lighter, faster, and could feel every bump). He's asking $110 AUD (~$70 USD).

I'd likely want to "upgrade" to barcon shifters - I know 7 speed ones are as rare as hen's teeth, but Harris and other sources say 8 speed ones are fine. If it has a cassette (I'm assuming it does), I'd entertain the option of putting in 8 speed spacers to make it more smooth. Not worth cramming an 8 speed upgrade in there, the dropout is only 126 and it's apparently "doable," but seems like a ton of work.

The usual question - I know for sure it'll take a compact, but will it take a triple? Microshifters' barcons offer a 2/3 for the front but I don't know if it'll allow for friction (my barcons on my Bianchi are friction for front and it's a lot easier to deal with.). New BB, new crank, new front derailleur?

Thanks for your help!

-KC

:roflmao2::D

I've had/worked on a few of these, they are very nice bikes. Yes they will take a triple, other variants were offered as such. You'll need a triple derailleur, of course, and the bottom bracket spindle length could change. I would't stress over the 126 to 130 spacing in the back; being an older aluminum bike, the stays have a little give and you should be able to (slightly) squeeze a 130 hub in there no problem. And while I personally don't have experience doing it, consensus in many threads I've seen is that 7 and 8 speed cog spacing is close enough so that you can run 8 speed shifters with a 7 speed cog. You just effectively lock out the extra click with the limit screws at the derailleur.