Retro? 2003 Trek 1200 (meets 1990 Trek 1400)

[Captain Stupido]

Saw this on a famous auction site. Was local ish and relatively cheap so obviously I bought it. Been looking for a semi-modern road bike to fiddle with and this is my size and my sort of thing in as much as it's unloved, scruffy, bits missing, not fashionable, etc.

OTOH it is an aluminium framed Trek road bike which is exactly not really my sort of thing, normally. Scanning the archives here tells me it's a 2003 model, and that the 1200 is the cheapest model to use the posher Alpha SL frame - a good thing in as much as it ought to be worthy of some minor upgrades... At 17 years old I'd say this is retro now. Let's see if I like it in the end.

Predictably enough it looks worse in the flesh than it did in the terrible eBay pictures. Half the headset is missing (plus numerous other small parts, probably). The front wheel is obviously wrong for the bike, back is missing, along with chain and cassette. That's OK though because all this stuff would be candidates for replacement and upgrades.

Most worrying at the moment is the corrosion visible. Especially around the bottle cage mounts. Would welcome any advice on safe removal of the screws before I yank them round and screw up the bosses. I'm thinking Plusgas overnight first, but tips welcomed.

Anyway the seatpost is free so that's good. I might start taking it apart and cleaning bits up later tonight.

 

[Captain Stupido]

Re: Retro? 2003 Trek 1200

Decided to just get stuck in... seems to be coming apart OK...

 

[Captain Stupido]

Re: Retro? 2003 Trek 1200

Catalogue spec... how come mine's got a double chainset? Shame...

L/H shifter seems to have about 4 clicks, but fairly sure it's a double. Might hook it up to the mech to check. R/H shifter seems to be working OK. 8 clicks (9 speed). Which is good.

 

[Captain Stupido]

Re:

Stripped it... started cleaning up and polishing the frame, it's actually not in bad nick. Frame and forks are both pretty light compared to what I'm used to!

I think this is going to come out nicely...

 

[Captain Stupido]

Re:

Hmm... looking carefully at the pics it's not quite the same as the 2003 model. Checked the date code on the cranks... CF - so 2004. Whatever, I guess.

 

[hamster]

Re: Retro? 2003 Trek 1200

Looks promising - Trek always made good bikes, the only problem is brand snobbery. With judicious use of some small component changes you should be able to put it on a diet and get close to the exotica in weight. For example check if the inner chainring is steel (IIRC it is on Tiagra) and sort some nicer (say 105) brake callipers.
Ride and enjoy!

 

[Captain Stupido]

Re:

Looks promising - Trek always made good bikes, the only problem is brand snobbery. With judicious use of some small component changes you should be able to put it on a diet and get close to the exotica in weight. For example check if the inner chainring is steel (IIRC it is on Tiagra) and sort some nicer (say 105) brake callipers.
Ride and enjoy!

Yep pretty much my thoughts too. There's not all that much wrong with the basic ingredients as far as I can tell... Inner chainring IS steel - and cranks feel pretty heavy. I was actually thinking I'd replace the whole thing with compact 110mm BCD cranks and gain a wider range of gears. In two minds between using some MT60 cranks in my parts box or treating it to a whole new chainset. Not much in it money wise.

https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m8b0s109p45 ... act-Double

Have ordered a new headset off eBay. Going to try one of those super cheap Chinese sealed bearing jobs. LGF says they're decent...

Re the callipers was planning to clean up the ones that came with it and maybe fit some cartridge pads. Would 105 be a significant upgrade?

 

[greencat]

Re: Retro? 2003 Trek 1200

I agree on Trek. Unexciting perhaps, but solidly decent bikes.

 

[Carge]

Re:

I've got a 1500 that I'm currently using as my Zwift bike - with Dura-Ae on it.
Previously used on the roads - it's a good frame.

I have a set of Bontrager Aero wheels that will suit it if you're interested

 

[hamster]

Re: Retro? 2003 Trek 1200

Take the opportunity to weigh bits as you clean them up - stem, seatpost, bars and brakes would be my first thought to check. You can use the Weightweenies website listings to see if you could get a decent saving.

And yes those Spa chainsets are stunning value and very good - I must have bought 5 or 6 over the years! Use a UN70/71/72 bottom bracket to save most weight. I bet the Trek one will be a nasty OE BB as heavy as an anchor.