1984 Trek 520

A 23.5” (~59.7cm) 1984 Trek 520 frame with all modern components. I bought the bare frame from an eBay seller on 5/1/2015, had a local framebuilder verify its condition and road-worthiness, and then built it up at Sopo Bike Collective in Atlanta in 2016. I spent a little over $2000 on the build (see parts list in photos). The Frame: The frame was made in the Wisconsin factory from Reynolds 501 tubes. The frame is the 23.5” size. It measures 23.5” from the center of the bottom bracket to the center of the top tube measured along the seat tube, and 22.5” (57.2cm) from the center of the seat tube to the center of the head tube measured along the (level) top tube. You can see the original catalog here: http://www.vintage-trek.com/TrekBrochure1984Touring.htm What makes this bike so special is that Trek built these for 27” wheels for just a few years before 700c were cemented as the standard. The 27” wheel size is just slightly bigger than the 700c wheel, but the wheel sizes are close enough that the standard brakes can reach either size wheel. Using the now-standard 700c wheel gives you far more tire options and also extra tire clearance (the 33mm Jack Brown Blues fit, but anything much bigger wouldn't clear the fork crown). The Build: 1984 Trek 520 frame SRAM Force CX1 derailleur medium cage SRAM Force CX1 shifters SRAM Force CX1 crankset 42T 170mm (left arm replaced with SRAM Red version after cross threading a pedal) SRAM alloy GXP bottom bracket KMC X11 Light 11 Speed Chain SRAM PG-1170 11 Speed Cassette 11-36 Chris King headset, polished silver Brooks C17 Cambium saddle Vintage seat post Nitto Dynamic 100mm stem Nitto M106 bar 420mm Velo Orange Randonneur Front Canti Rack Shimano 105 hubs laced to Velocity A23 rims, built by Snyder Cycles Jack Brown Blue tires (700c x 33.333) While the parts list includes a lot of fancy stuff, my favorite highlight is the combo of the Nitto M106 bar (the only short reach and shallow drop bar I could find that fits a quill stem), with a Nitto dynamic stem (the best looking quill stem IMO).