Getting closer to my grail Trek 720
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Getting closer to my grail Trek 720
A bonus of my search for another Voyageur last fall was bikemig letting me know he had a 1983 Trek 720 frame he was willing to part with. Since they came out the 1984 720 was my grail bike and this was a seat tube set of bottle bosses away from it so I couldn’t resist.
The plan was to build it up with spare parts I had. The rear triangle had been spread so I just needed to add a couple 9 speed items.
I had it powder coated and today was the first opportunity I’ve had to start the project. So far everything has come together without any issues other than I failed to tell the powder coater to mask off the cantilever studs. It took some work to scrape, file, and sand it off but the brake set adjusted to the 700 c wheels fine. At least that process left me with good confidence in the toughness of the finish.
I’ll follow up as I move along but here are the results of day one.
Original frame
The plan was to build it up with spare parts I had. The rear triangle had been spread so I just needed to add a couple 9 speed items.
I had it powder coated and today was the first opportunity I’ve had to start the project. So far everything has come together without any issues other than I failed to tell the powder coater to mask off the cantilever studs. It took some work to scrape, file, and sand it off but the brake set adjusted to the 700 c wheels fine. At least that process left me with good confidence in the toughness of the finish.
I’ll follow up as I move along but here are the results of day one.
Original frame
__________________
Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride - JFK
Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride - JFK
Likes For badger_biker:
Likes For nesteel:
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 2,028
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 830 Post(s)
Liked 1,062 Times
in
512 Posts
Excited to follow along. I also was looking for an (86) Voyageur and (85) 720 simultaneously, with no strong preference one way or the other. Ended up with the Voyageur and always happy to see threads of either bike
Likes For polymorphself:
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,505
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5877 Post(s)
Liked 3,445 Times
in
2,066 Posts
Pretty sure @bikemig grows these things in his garage. I got my 60cm '83 720 frameset from him several years ago.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 527
Bikes: 2015 Felt Z75 Disc, 2008 Fuji Cross Comp, 2010 Trek Navigator 1.0, 1974 Raleigh Sports, 1974 Schwinn Le Tour, 1981 Schwinn Super Le Tour, Surly Cross Check, 2021 Giant Talon 2
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 202 Post(s)
Liked 71 Times
in
60 Posts
Looks fun. Keep sharing.
__________________
check out the Frugal Average Bicyclist
Frugal Average Bicyclist – The goal here is to help you keep cycling on a budget.
check out the Frugal Average Bicyclist
Frugal Average Bicyclist – The goal here is to help you keep cycling on a budget.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,505
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5877 Post(s)
Liked 3,445 Times
in
2,066 Posts
I like the workshop with the Dutch sign, verboten fietsen, and the gravel tractor ad. All very appropriate for a bike shop.
Likes For bikemig:
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 557
Bikes: 1970s Coppi/Fiorelli beater, 1973 Raleigh Competition, 1972 Bob Jackson, 1970 Cilo Sprint-X, 1985 Fuji Touring Series IV, 1969 Legnano Roma
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 217 Post(s)
Liked 198 Times
in
129 Posts
!!!! cant wait to read the updates! what model brakes???
(esp. since i've recently acquired a tatty 60cm 1984 that is now hanging around as frame and fork, waiting for inspiration about what brakes to try for 700 rims)
(esp. since i've recently acquired a tatty 60cm 1984 that is now hanging around as frame and fork, waiting for inspiration about what brakes to try for 700 rims)
#8
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,516
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2731 Post(s)
Liked 3,356 Times
in
2,034 Posts
Likes For dedhed:
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Portland Oregon
Posts: 988
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 456 Post(s)
Liked 456 Times
in
266 Posts
I have a 1982 720 that will get built up at some point, looking forward to your finished build! Its looking great so far!
Mine does not have canti studs though :-(
Mine does not have canti studs though :-(
#10
Mr. Anachronism
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Somewhere west of Tobie's
Posts: 2,093
Bikes: fillet-brazed Chicago Schwinns, and some other stuff
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 526 Post(s)
Liked 256 Times
in
165 Posts
Wow that thing is headed exactly in the right direction so far!!!. Who did your powder? Great job whomever.
__________________
"My only true wisdom is in knowing I have none" -Socrates
"My only true wisdom is in knowing I have none" -Socrates
#11
Extraordinary Magnitude
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waukesha WI
Posts: 13,640
Bikes: 1978 Trek TX700; 1978/79 Trek 736; 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1984 Schwinn Voyageur SP; 1985 Trek 620; 1985 Trek 720; 1986 Trek 400 Elance; 1987 Schwinn High Sierra; 1990 Miyata 1000LT
Mentioned: 84 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2597 Post(s)
Liked 1,678 Times
in
926 Posts
What else do you have planned for it- part wise?
__________________
*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
#12
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Sorry no pics of the 720 today as it was a somewhat frustrating day. Added a Brooks Pro and then tackled the brakes. I’m using a pair of early 90’s vintage Dia Comp aero levers. I had to improvise some ferrule stops and can’t figure out how they worked when I previously had them on on my Specialized Expedition. Maybe bigger cable end stops? Anyway setting up the brakes did not get completed. Not sure of the Shimano model (I’ll post a pic tomorrow) but they have a Y yoke where the cable passes through a disk to the cable anchor arm. Not a lot of motion range but I got the rear one set up. There is minimal clearance to the rim but the brake lever nearly bottoms out when you activate them so I’m skeptical on the stopping power.
The front set set seems to have a weak spring on the non anchor arm and are pretty much a fail with that Y yoke limiting how far the lever will spring back from the rim. My next attempt will be to make a standard arched yoke and see if that helps. If not I may need to hunt down some different cantilevers😩. This was supposed to be a build to use up some spare components so I don’t need to add to the list my wife thinks are spare parts😃
__________________
Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride - JFK
Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride - JFK
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
A local metal fabrication shop was powder coating the deck cable railing posts I had made and I happened to ask him if they ever did bikes. Mostly motorcycles but he said they would blast and coat it for $70 so I figured it was worth a try for that cheap of price. I wound up buying my own powder because I wanted a good metallic and it was from a company he hadn’t dealt with. That cost me about $45 but there is enough left to do another frame. They don’t have the equipment to keep the metallic flakes mixed as they spray but didn’t figure it would be an issue on something without any large surface areas where you might notice an uneven pattern and it turned out just fine and even.
__________________
Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride - JFK
Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride - JFK
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I’ll get a list together and post it. Mainly try to keep it on the lighter side for a touring bike and comfortable for some longer unloading rides. More of a rando bike than loaded touring I guess.
__________________
Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride - JFK
Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride - JFK
Likes For badger_biker:
#15
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Here’s an up to date picture and a shot of the brakes I’m using.
Logic told me to try and wind the spring tighter in the weak front cantilever arm but after several fails I tried opening up the spring more and bingo! So I used my last Shimano QR cable hanger and my own straddle cable and have decent front brakes now. If I ever find another QR hanger I may replace the Y set up on the rear with a normal straddle cable too.
More garage “bike corner” background Miguel😊
I have a similar set on my Expedition that work wonderfully with 700 C wheels.
Logic told me to try and wind the spring tighter in the weak front cantilever arm but after several fails I tried opening up the spring more and bingo! So I used my last Shimano QR cable hanger and my own straddle cable and have decent front brakes now. If I ever find another QR hanger I may replace the Y set up on the rear with a normal straddle cable too.
More garage “bike corner” background Miguel😊
I have a similar set on my Expedition that work wonderfully with 700 C wheels.
__________________
Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride - JFK
Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride - JFK
Likes For badger_biker:
#16
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Shimano 600 tricolor hubs laced to Wolber GTX 2 rims. 28mm Specialized Nimbus tires for now. 9 speed cassette.
Straight alloy seat post with Brompton adjusting clamp and Brooks pro with copper rivets.
Stronglight A9 roller bearing headset.
Suntour XCM FD.
Nitto Technimic stem.
Miche pedals.
Parts my wife thinks I had:
Nitto Randoneur bars.
Deore 48-38-24 crank.
Deore XT 9 spd RD
Ultegra 9 spd bar ends
__________________
Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride - JFK
Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride - JFK
Likes For badger_biker:
#17
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Took a break tonight and rode my Voyageur to a bike shop/brewery combo to have a brew and hear a little live music. Very cool place.
__________________
Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride - JFK
Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride - JFK
Likes For badger_biker:
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,505
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5877 Post(s)
Liked 3,445 Times
in
2,066 Posts
Looking good. Yeah the spring tension in the canti is key. Sheldon Brown has a good write up on the y yokes. They speed up installation but they limit adjustability. You can hunt around for the right length. Personally I tend to avoid the y yokes in setting up cantilevers.
Do you ride the dairyland dare? I like the course. I think I may miss it it this year but I’d like to start riding it again. It has a whole lot of hills.
sheldon brown likes the y yokes
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/canti-trad.html
Do you ride the dairyland dare? I like the course. I think I may miss it it this year but I’d like to start riding it again. It has a whole lot of hills.
sheldon brown likes the y yokes
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/canti-trad.html
Last edited by bikemig; 07-09-21 at 07:04 AM.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 557
Bikes: 1970s Coppi/Fiorelli beater, 1973 Raleigh Competition, 1972 Bob Jackson, 1970 Cilo Sprint-X, 1985 Fuji Touring Series IV, 1969 Legnano Roma
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 217 Post(s)
Liked 198 Times
in
129 Posts
Likes For niliraga:
#20
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Looking good. Yeah the spring tension in the canti is key. Sheldon Brown has a good write up on the y yokes. They speed up installation but they limit adjustability. You can hunt around for the right length. Personally I tend to avoid the y yokes in setting up cantilevers.
Do you ride the dairyland dare? I like the course. I think I may miss it it this year but I’d like to start riding it again. It has a whole lot of hills.
sheldon brown likes the y yokes
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/canti-trad.html
Do you ride the dairyland dare? I like the course. I think I may miss it it this year but I’d like to start riding it again. It has a whole lot of hills.
sheldon brown likes the y yokes
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/canti-trad.html
Yes I rode the DD in 2010. My son and I did the 66 mile route. I did it on my 87 Trek Elance but this build should have better gears for the hills if I ever ride it again.
__________________
Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride - JFK
Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride - JFK
#21
Extraordinary Magnitude
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waukesha WI
Posts: 13,640
Bikes: 1978 Trek TX700; 1978/79 Trek 736; 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1984 Schwinn Voyageur SP; 1985 Trek 620; 1985 Trek 720; 1986 Trek 400 Elance; 1987 Schwinn High Sierra; 1990 Miyata 1000LT
Mentioned: 84 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2597 Post(s)
Liked 1,678 Times
in
926 Posts
Do you, by chance, happen to live near Athens?
__________________
*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
#23
Senior Member
Thread Starter
#24
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Let me know what brake set works for you. I’m not super confident these will be the ultimate answer for me.
__________________
Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride - JFK
Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride - JFK
#25
Senior Member