Re: Fw: [CR]Trek serial numbers

(Example: Bike Shops)

Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2001 09:18:29 -0500
From: "Chris Beyer" <beyerc@mailserver.volvo.com>
To: KCTOMMY <KCTOMMY@email.msn.com>
CC: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: Fw: [CR]Trek serial numbers
References: <000901c08371$3a27bdc0$333efea9@oemcomputer>


Hmmmm. If 1k is the breakpoint for "production", how many frames do you think Drysdale, Redcay, or our own R. Sachs have built over the years?

(I know one of the answers, but I'm not tellin' right now)

Chris Beyer Bloomfield, NJ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

KCTOMMY wrote:
> Well, that raises the question of where Trek fits in the grand scale of
> things. The "good" Treks I've seen seemed to be brazed well and ride well.
> The paint quality was decent but not great. The lug filing was very good.
> I am aware of a friend who had a seatstay cap come loose, but it was fixed
> under warranty. Cosmetically, the old style frames with the block type
> decals were very attractive to me. To quote Sheldon Brown/Mike Kone,
> "(o)riginal Columbus or 531 tubed N.R. bikes were really quite nice.
> Historians will probably treasure these bikes in years to come - or maybe
> not. Right now they are probably worth around $650 in guideline condition.
> Reality is that these silver brazed machines could embarrass a lot of
> Italian iron of the time." Certainly I've had no complaints about my 720
> except that it had the less attractive "new style" graphics and paint. The
> paint seems reasonably durable.
>
> Are Mark's quality issues isolated and not the general experience? Or do
> list members have lots of Trek failure tales?
>
> Assuming the Trek quality was good, I would ask for opinions on whether
> Trek's were the best American production (non-custom) lugged frames made.
> Chicago Schwinn Paramounts and modern Waterfords would be the only thing I
> would list as competitors. (Did I miss any?) I am limiting the class to
> production of over 1,000 frames, which would exclude Eisentraut Limiteds or
> Moulton Fusos. Excellent frames, but not a frame "manufacturer". And if
> Trek is one of the best in the US, where do they fit in the World? Ahead of
> Colnago? I think so. Raleigh? Based on my Pro and International, Treks
> were better built. Ahead of old Cinelli? No way!. Ahead of Bob Jackson?
> Well---
>
> Any comments out there?
>
> PS: If anyone can come up with a key to Trek serial numbers, I'd certainly
> pay a few bucks for one.
>
> Tom Adams in Chilly Kansas City
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Mark A. Perkins <bicyclemark@juno.com>
> To: <WBINGHAM@imf.org>
> Cc: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2001 10:41 AM
> Subject: Re: [CR]Trek serial numbers
>
> > I remember seeing a few of the first Trek road bikes come into the shop
> > around 1980 I think. They left me with a bad impression, which hasn't
> > gone away much since then. They had paint that was peeling off, and you
> > could see that there was no primer underneath. One (or was it two?) in
> > particular had a bad crack through the seat lug, and their owners were
> > having trouble getting Trek to fix it. There was nothing about these
> > bikes for me to be impressed with. In fact, I think I would rather have
> > a Viscount with the aluminum fork, even today. My impression back then
> > was that Trek was following a long standing BMA-6 tradition of cutting
> > back on quality in favor of lower prices. Sure they were lugged frames,
> > and made from quality materials, and they had decent components, but
> > quality materials, by themselves, don't make quality bikes. It takes
> > skilled workers, and from what I saw, Trek didn't have any of those. If
> > my words seem too harsh, I'm sorry, but that's what I saw. I will say
> > that Trek seems to have improved over the years, but I still don't want
> > one yet.
> >
> > "Bicycle Mark" Perkins
> > Visalia, CA
> >
> > On Thu, 25 Jan 2001 08:56:15 -0500 "Bingham, Wayne" <WBINGHAM@imf.org>
> > writes:
> > > Jeff -
> > >
> > > Please keep us (I know there are several Trek fans lurking here besides
> > me)
> > > informed on any serial number, dating or model information you're able
> > to
> > > come up with. I tried, unsuccessfully, to get anything out of Trek.
> > They
> > > only seemed interested in being recognized for their industry "firsts"
> > that
> > > had everything to do with aluminum and carbon frame construction and
> > nothing
> > > to do with their lugged steel frame origins. As the owner of an '81,
> > two
> > > '84s and an '85, I'd really like to gather as much information as I can
> > on
> > > the early frames. What is the "Trek historical book" anyway, and if
> > it's
> > > historical, why does it only go back to the early '90s when Trek was
> > > building frames for 15 years prior to that? Anybody know what year was
> > the
> > > first for Trek? '76/'77?
> > >
> > > Wayne Bingham
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Jeff Archer [mailto:firstflight@abts.net]
> > > Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2001 9:36 PM
> > > To: Classic Rendezvous
> > > Subject: Re: [CR]Trek serial numbers
> > >
> > >
> > > I have been talking to the guy who put together the Trek historical
> > book.
> > > The book only goes back to the early 1990's but has complete info down
> > to
> > > spoke lengths, bb lengths..... He is supposed to be trying to round up
> > some
> > > catalog copies for me. I have emailed him and asked him about the
> > serial
> > > number system. If I hear anything positive from him, I will let you
> > know.
> > > Jeff Archer
> > > First Flight Bicycles
> > > 216 S. Center St.
> > > Statesville, NC 28677
> > > 704.878.9683
> > > firstflight@abts.net
> > > http://www.firstflightbikes.com
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "KCTOMMY" <KCTOMMY@email.msn.com>
> > > To: "Classic Rendezvous" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> > > Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2001 7:41 PM
> > > Subject: [CR]Trek serial numbers
> > >
> > >
> > > >
> > > > This may have been asked before, but does anyone know how to date
> > Treks
> > > >from their serial numbers? Is it possible to deduce any further info
> > such as
> > > >model or style from the numbers? Anyone have a contact at Trek that
> > could
> > > >elucidate the Trek system?
> > > >
> > > > Tom Adams, waiting for snow in Kansas City
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> >
> > ________________________________________________________________
> > GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
> > Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
> > Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:
> > http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.