rr99

Hi guys,

I'm a proud owner of 5200 TREK US Postal Service in size 58cm. Despite of the old geometry, still rides like a dream. I absolutely love it. What are your thoughts? Let see how many pride owners of US Postal TREK are still out there.

Best regards,
rr99

Ferguron

I owe this bike a debt of gratitude...it introduced me to the world of road cycling. It changed my life.

I believe it is a 2000. I don't ride it too much anymore but I bought all of the parts to convert it from a 9 speed Ultegra triple to a 10 speed Tiagra double.

tempocyclist

Yep! Still wheel mine out for a good hammer most weeks. It's not as "sharp" as a modern bike, but it still does a damn good job and hardly holds me back.

It's a 2002 model, with a slew of upgrades of course... 😉

rr99

​​​​​​You've upgraded this bike to the max. What a machine. Looking very nice bro. By ditching the old group, I bet you've managed to make it even lighter. Assembled like this, I'm sure it rides smooth.
Compared to new models, despite of the geometry, this bike rides still quite nicely. The only thing I'm worried about is that sometimes the bike seems pretty stiff and dead on the road. I'm 78kg standing 181cm. Thus I'm just wondering what's the durability of these OCLV carbon frames?

WaveyGravey

These bikes are very interesting. Never heard of a US Postal Service bike.

rr99

On the following link, you can find all US postal models.

easyupbug 

Thanks for the memories, I sadly sold my 2000 as I could not bear to make the necessary age/arthritis adjustments I use to keep riding. There is a lovely early 2000 ridden by a lady on one of my favorite rides that I always am on the lookout for.

Trsnrtr

My wife’s Postal Trek is now my daughter in law’s bike. Despite having a good 40,000+ miles on it, it rides and looks brand new.

tempocyclist

Thanks. Yes I admit I may have gone a little overboard when rebuilding it! 😅 I actually wanted to go full 11-speed Dura Ace, but I couldn't find all the parts in stock anywhere at the time...

tempocyclist

Sometimes I'll even go full pro kit w**ker... 😁

curbtender

Trek 5900 with Postal decals. Still have a 60cm hanging in the rafters.

rr99

Very interesting model. If you have time, you can post a photo of it 😁

RB1-luvr

I had the OP's white model. I think the shop told me it was a 2003? At some point I painted the front blue to have the two tone like tempocyclist's bike (though still white in the back). Then it got converted to a flat bar, and then I gave it to a friend's son. It was a beast of a frame.

Kontact 

Unless we're talking about the top tube not sloping down, this bike's geometry is just as 'modern' as anything else. These bikes were essentially the 1992 Trek 5500 frame with minor changes.

wheelreason

Same as every other bike, exept you don't stomp on the pedals, you stamp on the pedals...

ps: My OCLV 5500 is post marked before Lance, and still ride it sometimes.

rr99

Thank you very much for the useful information about the frame durability. I've heard somewhere that back in the day when TREK manufactured these particular models, they all came with a life time warranty.
The model you've had is a 2000 model or ridden by the US postal team on TDF 2000. Its was mostly used on flat stages. The premium model (TREK 5900) which was design specifically for climbing, was one of the lightest carbon frames ever produced at the time. Love that grey color with blue decals.

Regards

rr99

Very good point. I prefer the old geometry more rather than compact (H2) frames. I don't know why everybody says that these particular bikes are pretty dead on the road, especially if you are over 180lbs, which makes the bike stiff and hard on the road. I completely disagree.
All you need is a pair of good legs and you're good to go!

bampilot06

Built this from spare parts and a found frame. I actually really enjoyed this bike, I sold it, but would like another one.

RB1-luvr

Thanks. That's the one. Mine had the Volkswagen script on the chainstay just like that.

tempocyclist

I was always on the lookout for a good condition US POSTAL 5900 model, pretty rare these days! It's the slightly lighter carbon layup frame and fork that Lance used over the standard 5200/5500 OCLV frameset.

Eric F 

My recollection is that the OCLV always had a bit of a "dead" feeling on the road, even when they were new. Then again, I was comparing it to my big-tube aluminum crit bikes.

As for durability, this OCLV frame from 1999 is still getting abused from time to time...

wheelreason

"Daddy's going riding for a little while, we'll Fisher Price hoops when I get back, and then maybe ice cream."...

bampilot06

Chosen for the background to let you know I am human.

curbtender

Well, you got me wondering what I picked up. Bought the frame at a swap from a guy who said he worked at Trek and had gotten it as a warranty return. The chainstay cable stop had fallen off. It was supposed to be destroyed but he epoxied a new one on. Had some stories to tell about the honeycomb structure in the bottom bracket. Is there anyway to ID the frame from the decals? This is posted local...
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/bik...734951387.html

56cm Trek 5900 USPS Team full DuraAce + full carbon - $680 (potrero hill)

‹image 1 of 16›

tempocyclist

Usually the 5900 models have a "OCLV Carbon 110" sticker towards the top of the seatstays (the 5200/5500 were Carbon 120). That one just looks to say "OCLV Carbon" so it's hard to say for sure!

It does have what look to be some original Dura Ace parts, which means it could be a 5900. The 5900 was only sold with Dura Ace. The 5200 was Ultegra, the 5500 Dura Ace, then the 5900 was a lighter frameset with Dura Ace.