Most versitile modern hybrid?
 

Hi all,

I've recently purchased a 90's era Trek 720 to use as a recreational bike for taking my 3 year old out into the woods and around town. It's a little big (21", I'm 5'8"), and I've had to do a bit of work on it to get it rolling right. Nice and solid, and I cut my teeth on a bridgestone MB in the 90's so I like the similar handling.

I put a shotgun seat on it so that my son can ride along with me. We love it! We ride almost every day for about 2 hours.

As time goes by I'm seeing that this is a perfectly workable bike, but find myself tempted towards disk brakes since they offer more control on downhill descents (which I take very slow on account of my son being in a front seat). I see it as a safety bonus if I have more control, and also this would allow me to take a wider variety of terrain. Right now we do sidewalks, roads, paved paths, gravel, and the occasional mild singletrack. Eventually I'd like to do bikepacking as well.

Long story short, I'm thinking to upgrade, and am looking for a bike with maximum versatility. In my heart something like the 720 but with a more modern frame, disk brakes, and perhaps 1x or 2x drivetrain. Max mounts for racks and such.

So, if you were me, what bikes would you be looking at?

By the way, I don't think most people "do sidewalks" on a bike. lol
The 720 is a well-known touring bike and after almost completing my Nashbar touring bike build, I realized I have toe-overlap. It's not the end of the work but had contemplated buying the 720 frameset made for V-brakes. I've tried a bike with mechanical disc brakes and had the almost exact experience going down a hill as when I use V-brakes. So I wasn't totally impressed. That and the fact that it seems more complicated to mount a rear rack and fenders at the same time with disc brakes. Anyway, maybe in several weeks after more experience with that bike, I might make a thread about it. I have lots to say.

In any case, if you want to go with larger tires, some 650b bikes like the Norco Indie 2 are interesting. Some hybrids just won't allow for larger tires (especially with fenders). The Specialized Roll have V-brakes and 2.3" tires but it's a cruiser. I was thinking of buying one and "converting" it to make it more like a hybrid. (I think I've seen a black hybrid cruiser on one site with 2.8" tires, 8 speed Nexus gearing and disc brakes but I can't find it right now.)

I looked very hard at Salsa Journeyman Flatbar and Surly Bridge Club 700c

I think the Trek is just fine, BTW. Just keep it running. The Multitracks were great and have a lot of fans

Coming from a 90s steel background, I really like the Marin Muirwoods. It has the comfy steel ride, versatile mounts on frame + fork, large tire clearance, modern geometry, and hydraulic brakes.

The Muirwoods is a good option, as is the Jamis Coda and Jamis Sequel if considering steel bikes. Also look at the Breezer Radar Cafe. The Surly Bridge Club noted earlier would be a great bikepacking bike.

I love my '90s 750. I've thought to myself that the perfect bike would be one of those with hydraulic disc brakes.

Jamis Sequel has lots of mounts and hydraulic disc brakes, thru-axles. Reynolds 520!
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...070fedf20f.jpg

Whats in your Local Bike Shop?

Well maybe that is true in the city in Montreal but in the Chicago Suburbs most do do sidewalks as riding in the road is for folks with a death wish. A kid was killed riding in the road just last week a few miles from my house. Here, you ride in the bike lane when it exists, on bike-only paths, sidewalks (where almost nobody walks), and when you have to ride in the road you pedal like hell and watch your back. Maybe I'd take the risk before I had kids but there's not much that would convince me to ride in the streets when there is a safer option. Sometimes I'll even ride in the grass next to the road, been buzzed by too many cars to feel safe when I've got a kid on my bike.

Thanks for the input on the bikes though! I'll check out the Norco, and keep an eye out for your review. I am curious though, what is toe-overlap? Is that when your toe can brush against the tire during a turn? I noticed that happened on a road bike a built some years ago.

Yeah I am thinking I might just look for another 700-ish 90's era Trek. Hoping I could snag a lugged 750 for nostalgia reasons, then rebuild the thing to suit whatever my current purpose would be.

Yeah the 700's are pretty boss. Just put a racing seat on mine and it feels like a new bike!

Is it possible to retrofit disc brakes to an old bike? I know this can be done on the front by replacing the fork, but not familiar if this can be done in the rear.

There are adapters that will work for the rear, but they're sort of a kludge. Here's a representative video:

The nice thing of steel is its workability; its possible to on weld/braze ISO tabs and a brace. Many have done it on vintage MTBs; if you really like the frame, its worth a shot. Ask your Local Frame Builder (LFB). For the fork, you're better off with a new fork as disk brakes add more stress in different areas.

So: weld and paint, new wheels, new fork. And you'll still have the bosses sticking out unless you remove those. IMO not worth it on a Multitrack, V's are fine and modern steel bikes with disk brakes are available.

Yeah toe overlap when you turn and pedal at the same time you touch your shoes on the fender or tire.