Trek 520

So you get kind of the best of both worlds and gearing on the bike, and you get these shift and brake levers. This was another place where Trek believ...

The handlebars are perfectly okay. So that's my review of the trek 520.

I ride a Trek 520 for essentially that use case, and I've been really liking it. In general, I think a steel touring bike would do what you're looking for. I hear good things about Surly and Kona as well but haven't ridden them.

On my way to school everyday, I see a trek 520. And I really have fallen in love a little with it. Things I like about it: The geometry seems very comfortable, drop bars, it is a no-nonsense bike, steel is cool , I like disk breakes/shimano drivetrain, it is street legal, it seems like it would last a long time, the rack in the back.

Older touring bikes give you the option of bigger tires and are akin to modern gravel geometries. Some of the best to look out for are the Trek 520 and Miyata One Thousand or Six Ten. Look for frames made of Cro-Moly as opposed to "Hi-Tensile" steel. I like cantilever brakes, (from touring bikes), because they can be updated with modern versions or mini Vs.

Something like a Trek 520 or better. Just ten years ago, these *were* your gravel bikes. Also used frequently as fondo & beginner cyclocross bikes, especially in the US!. You can buy a complete bike for a reasonable price, and then they're super easy to upgrade as you go, especially since you have a shop and mechanic in the family.

I owned a Trek 520. It is an excellent touring bike, if nothing else because I think Trek has been making that model for like 30 years and they have the geometry pretty dialed in.

Suggest the Canyon or 520. Trek bikes are fine and all, but they're definitely not considered good value at this price range. If you don't mind rim brakes, look at the Specialised Allez range. Shimano 105 is an excellent groupset, it has plenty of headroom if you get hooked into cycling.

No dynamo hub on mine, but it ticks off *some* of your boxes: [Trek 730 Multitrack: thanking my 1995 self in 2020 and If you are able to "buy really well" - find something in great condition for a great price - then you might be able to get a solid starting point for a project for not a lot of money. Another great option would be to find a good deal on a Trek 520. They've been making them for a long time, and there are some deals out there if you are persistent/patient/lucky enough.

I have a trek 520, and I love it. It’s not a real fast bike, it’s like 35 pounds, but it’ll last forever if I don’t let it rust. It also just feels really nice to ride due to the damping effects of steel.