Trek 520

Comments:

Love this bike. it rides like a Cadillac! I rode mine from Philadelphia to Key West. The bontrager hard case tires that came with it held up great. No flats the entire trip. I changed the saddle to a Brooks B17 flyer and actually rode with regular shorts...that's right....no pads! The only thing that bothers me with manufacturers is pre-cutting the steer tube. I think it should be up to the customer on how low or high the tube should be cut. I would have like the tube higher for touring. Other than that...great bike!

Comments:

I rode a 2012 Trek 520 from Seaside, Oregon to Long Island, New York. 3,794 miles and it never disappointed me. The frame is heavy, yes, but if you're carrying gear on an unsupported ride, nothing can compete. I had 2 fellow riders on that tour. Both were on "normal" road bikes and had constant issues. I had to replace the tires in Iowa, but other than that the 520 was perfect. I replaced the saddle with a Brooks for a more comfortable ride, and added a front rack for carrying capacity. I found the 520 very enjoyable to ride around without weight, too. (Which is how I got it stolen, and why I need another one.) It's faster than you'd think, in spite of its own weight. The gear system takes a bit of getting used to, but it soon feels natural. The most distinctive difference between this and my racing bike is the wheels. They're wider than a standard road bike, which is perfect for touring. If you ever end up on gravel or dirt, you won't be totally sunk. They also bear weight well. I don't just mean this in terms of balance. I carried about 50 lbs of gear everyday for 52 days and never broke a spoke. This bike is tough as nails, and comfortable to ride.

Comments:

I have ridden over 12,000 miles on my trek 520 and am thinking about getting a second one so I can have 1 full time at my vacation home. After 12 years of riding a mid level trek I decided to upgrade and couldn't believe the difference. I do 2 week long tours in the summer and this bike is good for all types of elevations. fit woman in my 50's I just love this bike

Comments:

I researched all the top brands looking for the perfect bike for me and the 520 has won my heart. It's the most comfortable bike I have ever been on and the gearing is great for flatland or hilly riding. I have been able to double my ride distance and am planning a long tour in the spring. I would not have even thought about it on my last bike. I have upgraded the seat, but that's all.

Comments:

Went from [...] to [...] in 2010, I put over 5,000 miles on the bike in the first year. Only a few modifications like a new saddle but everything else was the same with one tire change and a few tubes along the way. As a 5'2 woman this bike was perfect for me.

Comments:

I bought my 520 in 1995, and since then it's done over 80,000kms. Only the frame and front derailleur are original, but I've had the frame repainted. It is a beautifully balanced bike with touring load on front and rear and is as solid as a rock descending with load, but the brakes are underpowered. Probably better with disks. For my touring I use a 48-36-24 chainring setup and 12-36T cassette. Still have the occasional walk up some hills, but it's considerably better than the standard setup. Price in Oz when they were last imported a year or so ago was double the US cost despite our dollar being almost at parity. It's a good bike, but not at any cost.

Comments:

I bought this bike for less than a year and used it a lot -- RAGBRAI ( bike across IOWA ), NUMB Ride for Hunger in NE (multi-day bike event), many bike events and exercise almost every morning -- No problem with the bike; never have a flat tire; just changed a better saddle-that's all - Happy biker

Comments:

I have a 1997 Trek 520 which has serviced my needs admirably. However, in deciding on a replacement I am facing the same issue now that I was then - I am between sizes, which in Trek's case are simply too far apart to be made up for by stem and seat adjustments. I am a 55-56 cm frame size. And yet Trek only has 54cm (in reality slightly less) and 57cm (in reality slightly more). When is Trek going to move away from the old fashioned 2 inch increments (which it has for every other model) for the 520?

Comments:

Got this bike for my first tour a few years back. Took her from upstate NY to CA, almost 5000 miles in less than two months. She got one flat tire the whole way, and that was it. I named her Sparta by the end of the first week, and it's the perfect name for this bike. Extremely solid and reliable, and a great all-around bike as well. And beautiful. What more can you ask for. Not a racing bike, to be fair, but if you want a racing bike, go get one. Different purpose here.

Comments:

I just rode my first century on the 2011 520 I purchased last month, and I continue to love this bike! It's very comfortable, with a relaxed geometry that still feels good after 100 miles. I especially like the ease of riding on the drops, as well as the easy access to the bar-end shifters from the drops. Great for short grocery trips as well as longer rides. I swapped in half-SPD, half-platform pedals since the stock pedals weren't great for around-town trips. Also, I'm still undecided about the stock saddle, but I think I'll probably replace it with something softer.