Sunpilot

Just to inform anyone wanting a 8.6 I was at my LBS today and inquired about the DS 8.6...I was told they are not available until probably March, due to a longshoreman's strike. The boats carrying some Treks (the 8.6 for sure) are being held up until after the labor dispute is settled. Unless you dealer has one in stock, you may have to wait a while. I was going to purchase one, now I am looking at other brands/models. Bummer

swoodjr1

JUST when I was getting ready to pull the trigger on one
I will just have to wait. No hurry where I live it's too cold most days to ride.

Sunpilot

I just found one today...a store in another town has one they are holding for me. I am headed there on Monday to get it. Look around and you may find a dealer with one in stock if you don't want to wait. BTW, I live in Arizona, so we ride most any day...

cyber.snow

I went to my LBS to buy a 17.5 8.6 today and ended up buying a 2014 8.5 instead. After comparing the two bikes, I decided that the sales price of $850 for the 8.5 was too good a deal to pass up. There were some changes in the running gear between the 8.5 and 8.6...but not worth the $500 or so that the bike cost more. Now I need to figure out what kind of computer to use....is it worth it to buy a good computer or is it sufficient to just know the basics?

lopek77

$10-$20 will buy you a good basic bike computer to track the miles, time and speed.
Better option would be cycling or multisport Garmin GPS unit. You can get these from $120+++. Nice thing about GPS unit is that you can download all your rides to the web. It will show you the maps, and all the details about your ride. You can also easily share it with your friends.

seattlecivic

Just got me a 2015 8.4 DS size 15.5 (I'm short). What is a good kickstand? I am looking at the bontrager DS kickstand but I see the size is 285mm. Is that standard? Also wondering about the stuff you guys put on yours. Can you list your:

- Kickstand
- Bottle Cage
- Lights
- Bike Computers
- Bag

I've been looking at stuff on amazon, ebay, trek website... I can't make up my mind on if I should just get the cheapest bottle holder. Also the lights I would hope to be decent just to be seen if it starts to get dark. I don't plan on actual night cycling. Thanks! =)


Oh yeah... are the bottle cages pretty much universal in what you can put in it? Lastly... how do I upload a picture to make it larger?

cyber.snow

Nice Bike Seattlecivic,

I am just going through the same questions. I did put an expanding bottle cage on mine as I like to carry either frozen water or ice water with me. Living in the Sacramento valley, it can get really hot in the daytime and I have found that the normal size bottles will not stay cold for more than an hour or so and if you are making a longer ride, you end up with lukewarm water. I did go with a simple bontrager lite kit along with a tube repair kit. Like you, I prefer to ride in the daytime but have been caught out later...especially after a long ride in the early evening and then stopping with a group for a beer....boom, it is dark and I need the lights to legally get back to the car. My dilemma right now is what to put as far as a computer on the bike....besides the basics, I would like to track my heart rate as I come from a family with heart trouble and so far have avoided any problems. There seems to be about 3 choices. One is to go with some sort of integrated package...Bontrager and Catseye both have setups where you can buy the sensors and head unit for about $200. Another option is to use your Iphone and there are a number of good cycling apps that track all your ride data and you can buy the sensors and a display (called an RFLKT) for about $200. Thus you track everything on your phone and save your phone battery by using the display. Finally there is purchasing a GPS unit that does all of that for you. The post above shows the kind of data one of these will provide, it is a little more costly but is an integrated package. I did have one of these on a previous bike and was pretty pleased with it...but it was a much older unit and I understand the new ones are even much better. So those are pretty much the three options that I have discovered.

Sunpilot

I got my new Trek DS 8.6 yesterday. I found one in another city, but the trip was worth it. I had my first ride today, and I am very happy with my choice. I looked at the 8.5 but wasn't real excited about the blue color. I paid $1199, so I'm happy. Looking forward to many miles on this baby. Now, I need a GPS...I did use my cell phone and the MapMyRide app today. It linked up with the Trek DuoTrap S installed on the bike, and I went on the website. My whole ride was there on the map, with times, distance, speed, etc. Pretty cool, and the app is free...can't beat that!

seattlecivic

I'm wondering if anyone got any accessories pieces along with their DS with Blendr mount? Like the piece to attach a light or computer. I can't find anywhere to purchase those pieces for the ion 700. I'm wondering if my local bike shop forgot to give it to me. I just got a Trek CD.

manc

The bike shop you bought the bike from should have give you the mount with the bike. They may have forgotten to give it you. But it will be easy for any Trek dealer to get you one.

Wittyname

To sunpilot and seattlecivic, welcome, I hope you both enjoy your new bikes

seattlecivic - Responding to your question about kickstands, there's a Bontrager rear-mount kickstand that I've found I much prefer to a standard mount. Only cost $20, and it felt much more natural to starting off with it more rear-mounted than having to wiggle around the pedal. Picture for reference

seattlecivic

Thanks cyber.snow, manc, and Wittyname. I called up the bike shop and they did have the pieces I needed which is awesome. While I was there I picked up a front and rear light, bottle cage, and the blendr mounts. I still need to order me that Bontrager kickstand.

I'll keep researching on the computers. I was thinking I might end up doing the Duotrap S + Garmin edge 500. Check out my new pics!

(not sure how to fix the sideways pics, they are normal view on my computer but change after uploading)

AVLThumper

Great pics seattlecivic. The flat black makes for a great looking bike. How do you plan on using your DS....commuting, trails, recreation? I'm trying to decide between a FX and DS and can't decide if I really need the front suspension.

EjF

I recently bougth the twin to Seattle's bike. And your right the flat black is a cool color. I sat on the fence between the FX and DS for a few weeks. Read a ton, Sat on both and decided I like the idea of having the flexibility to take a trail, or jump a curb when ever I wanted. I'll use it mostly around town for errands and on bike and rail trails. I read a bunch of testimonials here on bike forums where people stated there DS kept pretty good pace with some road bikes. And the notion of best of both worlds convinced me to buy the 8.4 DS.

Seattle has good taste! I bought most of the same accessories along with a rack and bag.

AVLThumper

Congratulations EjF....that's a great looking bike. You guys are killing me! I can't find a single dealership within 100 miles of me that has a DS in stock in a 22.5. I don't want to put down any money on a bike until I know for sure it will fit me. I'm 6'6", so it's a big concern for me. Post back when you've had a few rides. I'd like to hear what you think about it.

EjF

AVL... just thinking here, but why can't your LBS locate the bike you want and bring the bike in for you to see and test it before purchasing? I mean even if you put down 25% with the agreement that if you don't like the fit you either get the money returned to you, or apply it to another bike that does fit?

2702

That is probably the sexiest dual sport around. Loving the ideal of a bike that can be ridden everywhere in comfort. I've torn between one of these or a Giant Anyroad. The Anyroad is smooth like butter.

onerugrat

My new 2014 DS 8.4! Need a kickstand!

EjF

Have you looked at this one? Bontrager Rear Mount Kickstand - Replacement Parts - Accessories -Trek Store

limbot

I'd suggest you swap from mapmyride to Strava. Strava is much more bike orientated and gives you better info. You'll appreciate the better data as you get more and more into riding!
I started with mapmyride and after a year wanted to swap to Strava but there's no way to bulk transfer your data out of mapmyride. Had to transfer via a third party hack one by one.

(Note if you don't like strava you CAN bulk export your ride into another app)

Holds even if you switch to a GPS rather than your phone.

Sunpilot

Thanks for the info. I'll download it and give it a try. I am thinking about a Garmin Edge 810 ..I'm just happy to be back riding after many problems with my knees. Love this new bike for sure!

Gussac73

hello

I bought a bike Trek DS 8.4 in October/14, in miami, i brougth it to Colombia and now I'm having problems with the Dynadrive FSA crankset it originally has.

Could you please recommend me what cranksets may I use instead of the FSA (i think Shimano are the easiest to find here)


thank you very much

mconlonx

I built this and sold it, but figured people here might be interested. Trek 8.1 DS (now discontinued, such a shame) converted to drop bar gravel grinder:



New disk wheels, 8sp cass, Avid BB-5r brakes, Shimano 2300 shifters and FD, drop bar, shorter stem, Bontrager 1.9" XO 29r tires. The rear canti studs are removable, the ones on the fork are not, so I decided to disguise the front studs by mounting a VO PassHunter rack.

EjF

We are ready to Trek just about anywhere!!!

quester13

Ordered my DS8.6 this week from LBS. Was advised shipments to UK due on 3 and 9 March. Just have to make do until then with my way past it MTB. Was tempted by the 8.5 which is widely available but that blue is just not right for me and the spec upgrades on 8.6 justify the additional outlay.