Trek 520 VS 1120 vs building a bike
I’m currently riding a 2021 Trek Verve 2 Disk. For riding around town it’s great, but long distances it sucks. I find myself wanting to venture out more on longer rides and find myself wishing for a drop bar road/gravel bike.
In the very near future I will be getting a new job that I plan on commuting to and from via bicycle. I have two job opportunities at the moment. The first is only a 11 mile trip (22 miles round trip) and the second is 18 miles (36 round trip). Both jobs require riding on a mix of pavement and very loose gravel farm roads.
In combination of commuting to work every day, I would like to be able to ride the same recreationally on my weekends touring and bikepacking.
My LBS is recommending the Trek 1120 for its more mountain capacities. Which is where 85% of my recreational activities would be. However I was thinking more along the lines of the 520.
520 Pros:
Price
MIK rack comparability with my Bontrager Commuting Paniers and trunk bag
3x9 transmission
700x40c tires
drop handlebars
520 Cons:
mechanical disk brakes
fixed seat post
1120 Pros:
rack system is more bikepacking friendly
4 Piston Hydraulic Breaks
tubless tires and wheels
dropper seat post
1120 Cons:
price
1x11 transmission
Flat Bars
Custom Pros:
Everything I want in one bike
it would be set up with the components I like without compromising one are to achieve another area
Cons:
PRICE
A lot more time invested ordering and waiting for parts as well as assembly