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TREK 520 Fan Club

Old 03-09-09, 11:23 AM
  #26  
dubois
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fan.
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Old 03-09-09, 11:24 AM
  #27  
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I've loved my Trek 520 ever since I got it in 2002. It's done over 10,000 miles now, here are some highlights.

During a tour through the Alps with my wife, this is us reaching the top of the Umbrail pass between Switzerland and Italy at 2,505 metres (8,200 ft):



Here, I'm on a ferry that is about to cross part of the Rhine in Holland. This was towards the end of a tour from Switzerland to Holland via the Vosges mountains of France, the hills and valleys of Luxembourg, and the Belgian Ardennes:



I've also used the bike for many things other than touring. For instance, it made a decent, though heavy bike for cyclosportifs until I bought my Madone 18 months ago. This is me with with my brother-in-law just before we did 165 km / 100 miles and 3000m / 10,000ft of climbing in the Gruyere Cycling Tour in Switzerland - he beat me by 7 minutes:



I've made many modifications to my Trek 520. I recently looked at it closely and realized that only the frame, fork, seatpost clamp, and left-hand brake lever are original parts (I've even replaced the headset recently). This highlights another great thing about the Trek 520 - it is so adaptable and customizable.
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Old 03-09-09, 11:50 AM
  #28  
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My Trek 520 ....







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Old 03-10-09, 09:42 PM
  #29  
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Hmmmmm, is this 520 really still brand new? If so, why don't you ride it? I'm sure you could sell it for a bundle.
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Old 03-11-09, 10:36 AM
  #30  
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Hmmmm ... sorry, no pic. But I've got 22000+ miles on my 2002 (?) Green Monster and I still love it. Always a very comfortable, predictable ride. Overall, probably 95% of the miles on it are commuting miles. It's built like a tank and requires very little upkeep -- perfect for commuting. I look forward to many tours on it.

Andy
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Old 03-11-09, 03:24 PM
  #31  
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I was looking through my pictures and realized how few I have of my bike, let alone of it in it's current state.

1. Here's mine in front with a friend's in back
2. In Glacier
3. And here it is straddling the Missippippi with two day old Brooks (great investment even halfway through 2 month tour)
4. On the shore in Anacortes, WA
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Old 03-11-09, 03:30 PM
  #32  
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Sorry, I don't see any pics? I was looking forward to them..
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Old 03-11-09, 03:33 PM
  #33  
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A great description-MORE PLEASE!

Originally Posted by andydreisch
Always a very comfortable, predictable ride. It's built like a tank and requires very little upkeep

Andy
Nice description. I'd love to hear from others too, what is it you all out there love about the 520?
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Old 03-11-09, 03:42 PM
  #34  
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Why did you give it up?

That's quite a blog there. I always hate to here when someone gets hit though. Did I read you gave up the 520? What made you move on. Do you miss it or are you finding advantages to your new ride?
Thanks,
Raphael
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Old 03-12-09, 08:29 AM
  #35  
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I have my 2006 520 in sage green. Funny how I won't put too much thought into my own clothing coordination (ask my wife), but I'll put thought into how things look with the bike. I have a dark green Brooks saddle, red handlebar and trunk bags, and red panniers. Since I have small children I don't have the time/money/freedom to tour as much as I'd like, but I use the 520 as my only bike right now -- commuter, club rides, charity/century rides, and now as a towing bike for my son's Novara Afterburner (trail a bike). Here's a shot of the 520 in its latest role. We're training now for the PALM ride across Michigan in June.
I've also added two photos of the 520 fully loaded, from a trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina in '07.
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Old 03-12-09, 12:09 PM
  #36  
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Nice ride, and the pull behind?

Originally Posted by CyKKlist
I have my 2006 520 in sage green. Funny how I won't put too much thought into my own clothing coordination (ask my wife), but I'll put thought into how things look with the bike. I have a dark green Brooks saddle, red handlebar and trunk bags, and red panniers. Since I have small children I don't have the time/money/freedom to tour as much as I'd like, but I use the 520 as my only bike right now -- commuter, club rides, charity/century rides, and now as a towing bike for my son's Novara Afterburner (trail a bike). Here's a shot of the 520 in its latest role. We're training now for the PALM ride across Michigan in June.
I've also added two photos of the 520 fully loaded, from a trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina in '07.
These bikes are just so sleek looking. They look as classic as they are. You bring more proof that it's an everything bike. I'm commuting with mine currently and pulling the kid's trailer. I have to get those cyclocross rims and tires together so I can trail around a bit. How old was your son when he could ride the pull behind? How long will he ride for? My daughter is 3, I was looking forward to her getting reaching that age, but now another is on their way. I guess it's the trailer for a while longer.
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Old 01-11-10, 08:50 PM
  #37  
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These are from my 2007 Trek 520 on it´s current tour up South America. I love my baby.





Last edited by huie; 01-11-10 at 09:18 PM.
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Old 01-11-10, 10:07 PM
  #38  
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Ditto on the fan...


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Old 01-13-10, 07:53 PM
  #39  
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Originally Posted by ricohman
Behold my still new 1989 520.
I don't yet know what will become of this time "time machine". I may sell it and buy that vintage Miyata 1000 or put it in a museum.
What would you do?

Wow! Nice!

I own two 520's, one just like the one pictured here, only not quite as pristine and an 04 green machine. What a great bike!
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Old 01-16-10, 02:54 PM
  #40  
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Mine

Here's my 1984. I've since added fenders, replaced the saddle with a B17, and made a couple other small changes.

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Old 01-16-10, 04:09 PM
  #41  
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I've got one too

Last edited by mikescooling; 01-16-10 at 04:30 PM. Reason: I can't post a picutre
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Old 01-16-10, 04:20 PM
  #42  
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I can't for the life of me understand how so many old bikes have stock (looking?) paint jobs. I started painting all my bikes black because the paint always gets destroyed. Here's mine. I love my 520.




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Old 01-17-10, 06:31 PM
  #43  
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Originally Posted by ricohman
Behold my still new 1989 520.
I don't yet know what will become of this time "time machine". I may sell it and buy that vintage Miyata 1000 or put it in a museum.
What would you do?

Give us the history. How could this beauty still be new after 20 plus years? Why would you trade it for a Miyata LT?

Depending on my finances, if I were to sell a bike like that, I would rather make less profit and have it go to someone who knew what they were getting and would appreciate than make more profit and have it go to someone who really didn't know what they were getting.

Having said that, what size is it and how much do you want?
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Old 01-17-10, 08:02 PM
  #44  
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I love the look with those handlebars. This might be next years winter project for me.
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Old 01-17-10, 11:35 PM
  #45  
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I bought this for my wife for Christmas. Before she 'unwrapped' it, she couldn't figure out why there was a box with Ortlieb panniers and handlebar bag along with a Tubus front rack under the Christmas tree. She told me they wouldn't fit on her Calfee!

The 520 is bone stock in the pic but that soon changed.

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Old 01-18-10, 09:26 AM
  #46  
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my 2010...waiting to change up the handlebars, stem, and panniers....I just threw my commuting panniers on for fun

13956_227077128367_551478367_4249713_3069471_n.jpg
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Old 06-19-12, 11:19 AM
  #47  
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^Great trek 520.
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Old 06-19-12, 11:59 PM
  #48  
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Thanks for sharing....all very nice. I have only a trek 400, but wouldn't trade it for anything.
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Old 06-20-12, 12:58 AM
  #49  
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Nice zombie thread find.

Here's mine in commuting form.
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Old 06-20-12, 04:07 AM
  #50  
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just put a fresh 450km on it.
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