Please help me & my Trek 1500
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I bought a '04 Trek 1500 from my LBS. I really feel I should have gone with a more "cyclocross" type bike because of the road/path conditions I ride. I'm wanting to make this bike more stable, comfortable & with better control thru gravel, sand & water without giving up to much road quickness. Right now the bike is stock with the exception of Shimano Spd's & Specialized Armadillo 23cm tires. Will larger 28cm tires & a "Flat Top" handlebar help? Thanx in advance!
I bought a '04 Trek 1500 from my LBS. I really feel I should have gone with a more "cyclocross" type bike because of the road/path conditions I ride. I'm wanting to make this bike more stable, comfortable & with better control thru gravel, sand & water without giving up to much road quickness. Right now the bike is stock with the exception of Shimano Spd's & Specialized Armadillo 23cm tires. Will larger 28cm tires & a "Flat Top" handlebar help? Thanx in advance!
Maybe on rhe 28s and flat bars mean lots of changes, and $$.
Maybe on rhe 28s and flat bars mean lots of changes, and $$.
How about more of a cyclocross specific handlebar that would fit the bike, allowing for more control? Also would 28cm tires make much of a difference control and stability wise?
I bought a '04 Trek 1500 from my LBS. I really feel I should have gone with a more "cyclocross" type bike because of the road/path conditions I ride. I'm wanting to make this bike more stable, comfortable & with better control thru gravel, sand & water without giving up to much road quickness. Right now the bike is stock with the exception of Shimano Spd's & Specialized Armadillo 23cm tires. Will larger 28cm tires & a "Flat Top" handlebar help? Thanx in advance!
IMHO, this is like buying an SUV and then finding out you need a pickup truck -- the modifications are just too risky, and potentially won't get you what you want.
I would look at getting a bike designed for your needs, even if that means selling or trading what you have. Otherwise you are looking at spending more money and still not getting the right ride.
IMHO, this is like buying an SUV and then finding out you need a pickup truck -- the modifications are just too risky, and potentially won't get you what you want.
I would look at getting a bike designed for your needs, even if that means selling or trading what you have. Otherwise you are looking at spending more money and still not getting the right ride.
I've had the bike for a year now and my daily commute has changed from smooth road to a combo of road/bikepath/hardpack. I'm not clear on the "risks" of changing to a different handlebar and larger tires. Anybody?
I've had the bike for a year now and my daily commute has changed from smooth road to a combo of road/bikepath/hardpack. I'm not clear on the "risks" of changing to a different handlebar and larger tires. Anybody?
Can you find someone to swap wheels with that already has the 28 mm tires?
You can then see what difference it makes. You can also find out if the tires clear frame, fork, brakes, etc.... and not buy them only to find out that they don't fit.
Changing to a flat bar is usually quite expensive as you will also need to change shifters and brake levers.
Can you test ride a bicycle on the tough section that is equipped with what you think would be ideal?
I've had the bike for a year now and my daily commute has changed from smooth road to a combo of road/bikepath/hardpack. I'm not clear on the "risks" of changing to a different handlebar and larger tires. Anybody?
Dave has got the right idea, because the "risks" are that you spend a bunch of money and it still doesn't work. And, now you don't have a real road bike either that you can enjoy on those days when you want to ride on the streets, etc.
But, hey, maybe that just me. If you don't se the risks, go for it -- it's your money.
How about more of a cyclocross specific handlebar that would fit the bike, allowing for more control? Also would 28cm tires make much of a difference control and stability wise?
Most cyclocross bikes, by the way, use road bars (typical), or slightly modified road bars (less typical). In terms of componentry, the differences between 'cross bikes and standard road bikes tend not to be much more than wider/knobbier tires, center-pull or cantilever brakes (primarily for tire and debris clearence), and the occasional addition of extra levers which allow you to brake with your hands on the tops.
That's about it, piece-wise. There are traditional tweaks to geometry; 'cross riders sit more upright. Big rise stems are pretty common too. Both of those alterations, if fit correctly, can contribute to a more stable ride. Obviously, you're not going to be altering the geometry of your frame, but a stem with greater rise might help you feel a tad less precarious.
All in all, there aren't too many parts changes you can make to a road bike like yours with the intent of making it more trail-friendly -- not what you wanted to hear, I suppose. If you're intent on making your current bike work for you -- understandable -- Dave's suggestions, above, are a starting place. You'd have to make a number of significant changes right off the bat, depending on the alterations. A tire or rim and tire change would likely require a new brakeset; a flatbar conversion would require considerable work as well.
There's always a new bike if your needs change, and you bike can't keep up. Good luck deciding.
Thanks to everyone for the help! I'm going to my LBS today to try 28cm tires on my wheels. It's the general consensus that they will fit with the only possible snag being brake clearance and I've been ready for some time to change the stock "no-name" brakes that came with the bike. Salsa makes a "cyclocross" drop bar called the Moto Ace Bell Lap bar as well as a stem by the same name. The bars are about $67 and the stem is around $40. When I started this post I mentioned a "Flat Top" handlebar and was referring to Bontrager products and they have a "flat top" bar that is a "drop" but with a more upright position, sorry I should have been more specific. I'm hoping this works and makes a noticable improvement. If it does, I'll have created a bike that fills my needs perfectly. Again, thank you for the help and I'll let you know how it turns out. http://www.salsacycles.com/comps_handlebars.html
I swapped out the bars for a Salsa Moto Ace and stem, a bit more upright and good for me, lots of positions for hands and the ends angle out a bit which I like. No problem getting 28C Vittorias on front and rear, a bit of brake adjustment and thats it. Tire clearance is a little tight but mud is rare in AZ. A very good set-up for me and thats what counts. The commute Fri. was just as quick and alot more comfortable. This morning I was able to hop off the road onto the single track to pass that group of riders that NEVER move over to let me pass!
Thanx for the advice!
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