Trek 520

Bicycle touring can be more than just a ride to a B-and-B somewhere out of town. Tours can start and finish in your hometown after a trip around the world!

Long distance tours that last for weeks or even months on end require an exceptional bicycle. A purpose-built touring machine will make every mile easier when loaded down with a tent, panniers, sleeping bag, and food for weeks at a time. The frame needs to be strong and stable, while the drivetrain should be ready for day-long hilly excursions. With all that extra cargo you'll probably have on board, disc brakes are practically required to help reign in speed on steep descents. Trek has been building the 520 since the 80's, ensuring that it is one of the most refined dedicated touring bicycles of the last 30 years.

Butted cro-moly steel is an excellent choice for a touring bicycle's frame. Durability and ride quality is needed for every mile, and the 520 Disc's frame has it covered. The bike can carry up to 275 pounds of total weight (rider+cargo+ total weight of bicycle), making it more than ready for a rider who packs two of everything. Mounts for, well, everything are found throughout the 520 Disc's frame, including bottle cages, front and rear racks, fenders and even a pump peg at the back of the head tube for a full-length frame pump. Tire clearance is generous, allowing up to 40mm tires for a comfortable ride on rough and choppy pavement. An alloy fork with disc brake caliper mounts and low-rider rack eyelets is equally up to the task. The front and rear Bontrager racks shown in the photos are included. Cool, huh?

The drivetrain of the 520 Disc is different than other road bicycles due to the expectations placed on it by long-distance tours. The easy gear ratios need to be really easy, especially when tackling double-digit inclines while loaded down with cargo and camping gear. The Alivio triple crankset's 48/36/26T chainring combination is matched to an 11-36T Shimano cassette, providing a generous gearing range needed for multi-week tours in mountainous terrain. Shimano's adjustable-reach 9-speed Sora dual-control levers bring the bike's shifting and braking to your fingertips. The Alivio long-cage rear derailleur features a Shadow-style "tucked-in" design that works better when shifting under hard pedaling loads. A Shimano Sora front derailleur handles gear changes duties up front. Bontrager's tubeless-ready alloy Affinity Disc wheels are built with 36 spokes each, offering exceptional ride quality and impressive strength. 700x38c Bontrager H1 Hard-Case Ultimate tires soak up rough pavement, while reflective sidewalls add an extra dash of visibility after dark. TRP's Spyre C 2.0 cable-operated disc brakes bring excellent stopping power to the 520 Disc, even in wet and sloppy conditions. Bontrager's Evoke saddle sits atop an alloy Bontrager 2-bolt seatpost, while an accessory-ready alloy Bontrager Elite Blendr stem and alloy Bontrager Comp VR-C road handlebar complete this expedition-worthy touring machine.