'83 Trek 500 9spd Mod.
02-23-12, 10:54 PM
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'83 Trek 500 9spd Mod.
This is an ’83 Trek 500 that I tried my first modern conversion on, i.e. 700c rims and 9 spd drivetrain. Although I have ramped and pinned inner rings if needed, the 9 spd chain seems to shift just fine up front on the 8 spd crank.
Although I built the 36H Open Pro rims and Ultegra hubs a couple years ago for a light touring bike that I had imaged, I’ve decided not to try and put a rack set-up on this bike. It seems to me to be more of a practical ‘runabout’ bike. Perhaps one day I will put either fenders or a Tubus Fly rear rack on it. It, however, is definitely a keeper bike to me. 501 tubing is underrated IMHO.
Although I built the 36H Open Pro rims and Ultegra hubs a couple years ago for a light touring bike that I had imaged, I’ve decided not to try and put a rack set-up on this bike. It seems to me to be more of a practical ‘runabout’ bike. Perhaps one day I will put either fenders or a Tubus Fly rear rack on it. It, however, is definitely a keeper bike to me. 501 tubing is underrated IMHO.
02-23-12, 11:11 PM
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I'm a Trek fan myself and I gotta say that bike is sweet ! Nice job with the build and I agree that 501 is underrated .
02-24-12, 12:10 AM
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Tri barend shifters offer a great opportunity for inexpensive drivetrain upgrades.
That color scheme looks fantastic.
That color scheme looks fantastic.
02-24-12, 12:19 AM
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Those Dura Ace indexed barcons are great for just about any drivetrain. They recommend 7700 RD in indexed, but that XT RD is working well indexed.
02-24-12, 03:22 AM
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Lovely job.
You've got some serious low end gears there. Hilly where you live?
You've got some serious low end gears there. Hilly where you live?
02-24-12, 05:48 AM
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Becoming more of a fan of Steel Treks myself. I'm doing a 9 speed set up on a 84 trek 890 myself. Seems like its going to work quite nicely. Laced in a 130mm modern hub into vintage hoops to keep the vintage feel.
02-24-12, 06:35 AM
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We set up my son's 86 Team Fuji with a 9 in the back, works slick with the good old SunTour Sprint Grouppo, set on friction of course. Coda Hubs and Mavic XP21 hoops don't look quite right on it, but they were $10 on CL. We toyed with the idea of finding some Spirit hubs and proper rims, but I think he is spoiled on the gear range now and wouldn't want to go backwards.
