TREK 520 Fan Club
03-09-09, 11:24 AM
#27
Likes to Ride Far
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.
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.
03-11-09, 10:36 AM
#30
Newbie but oldbie
Join Date: May 2006
Location: San Jose
Posts: 225
Bikes: Trek 520, Lemond Victoire, Fisher Sugar 2, Cannondale tandem
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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
Andy
03-11-09, 03:24 PM
#31
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Columbus, OH -- Randolph, NJ
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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
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
Last edited by mkauffman; 03-12-09 at 09:50 AM. Reason: Failed attempt at pictures.
03-11-09, 03:30 PM
#32
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Heidelberg, Germany
Posts: 180
Bikes: 2008 Trek 520, Brooks B-17 special, Leather handlebar tape, Berhault Stainless fenders, Dinotte 200l, Amber, and taillight, Nitto campee, and Big Rack
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Sorry, I don't see any pics? I was looking forward to them..
03-11-09, 03:33 PM
#33
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Heidelberg, Germany
Posts: 180
Bikes: 2008 Trek 520, Brooks B-17 special, Leather handlebar tape, Berhault Stainless fenders, Dinotte 200l, Amber, and taillight, Nitto campee, and Big Rack
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03-11-09, 03:42 PM
#34
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Heidelberg, Germany
Posts: 180
Bikes: 2008 Trek 520, Brooks B-17 special, Leather handlebar tape, Berhault Stainless fenders, Dinotte 200l, Amber, and taillight, Nitto campee, and Big Rack
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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
Thanks,
Raphael
03-12-09, 08:29 AM
#35
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Triangle, NC
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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.
I've also added two photos of the 520 fully loaded, from a trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina in '07.
03-12-09, 12:09 PM
#36
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Heidelberg, Germany
Posts: 180
Bikes: 2008 Trek 520, Brooks B-17 special, Leather handlebar tape, Berhault Stainless fenders, Dinotte 200l, Amber, and taillight, Nitto campee, and Big Rack
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Nice ride, and the pull behind?
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.
I've also added two photos of the 520 fully loaded, from a trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina in '07.
01-11-10, 08:50 PM
#37
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
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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.
01-13-10, 07:53 PM
#39
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Cherry Hill,NJ
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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!
01-16-10, 02:54 PM
#40
Slow Learner
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Earth
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Bikes: Several - 2 mtbs, 2 fixies, tourer, commuter/utility, tandem
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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.
01-16-10, 04:09 PM
#41
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Chicago Il
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Bikes: Trek 520 and a Schwinn MTN bike
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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
01-16-10, 04:20 PM
#42
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Cape Vincent, NY
Posts: 1,377
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac Expert, 2002 TREK 520, Schwinn Mesa WINTER BIKE, Huffy Rock Creek 29er, 1970s-era Ross ten speed. All my bikes are highly modified(except the Tarmac) yet functional, and generally look beat to ****. .
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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.
Last edited by Thulsadoom; 01-16-10 at 04:26 PM.
01-17-10, 06:31 PM
#43
More Energy than Sense
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Seattle
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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?
01-17-10, 08:02 PM
#44
commuter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Columbus,Ohio
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Bikes: Trek 520, Giant Iguana
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I love the look with those handlebars. This might be next years winter project for me.
01-17-10, 11:35 PM
#45
Licensed Bike Geek
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.
The 520 is bone stock in the pic but that soon changed.
Likes For Davet:
01-18-10, 09:26 AM
#46
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Moline, IL
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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
13956_227077128367_551478367_4249713_3069471_n.jpg
06-19-12, 11:59 PM
#48
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: chula vista, ca
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Thanks for sharing....all very nice. I have only a trek 400, but wouldn't trade it for anything.
