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TREK 5500 oclv USPS...anybody still riding these wonder machines?

15757 Views 24 Replies 19 Participants Last post by HProunds, 15 d ago

Spinman

Discussion Starter · Oct 15, 2020

Just wondering if anybody is still riding these wonder machines from the TDF of the past and your impressions still if any. Pics would be sweet!!

Thanx's!

1 - 20 of 25 Posts

CrankyCarbon

· #2 · Oct 16, 2020

I have the LeMond Maillet Jaune variant of it I bought in 1997ish.

I recall the first day I got it on the road. It was so much stiffer than my LiteSpeed classic. It was jarringly stiff by comparison. Of course, my bike right after that (an aero aluminum frame) was jarringly stiff and the OCLV felt much more compliant by comparison and the Litespeed like a spaghetti noodle. Perspective changes ...

I recall I had Shimano DuraAce downtube shifters on it originally but then DuraAce 9speed with primarily the Mavic Cosmic Carbones. A few years later I then upgraded to Campy 9 speed (post 2001 9 spd) with a few same 9spd upgrades/replacements along the way. It lived that way for a long time until a few years ago I upgraded it to 2018 Campy SR/Chorus 11 speed with Campy Bullet Ultra wheels as the main wheelset. I also upgrade the handlebar/stem setup to 31.8 aero bars and stem (major stiffness upgrade).

I have about 1,400 miles on it so far this year, and last year was 1,500 miles. I have 3 road bikes though that share in duties.

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duriel

· #3 · Oct 16, 2020

I think the bikes would hold up, but i think everyone's butt's gave that up!

aclinjury

· #4 · Oct 16, 2020

these make for a great repainting project!

Lombard

· #5 · Oct 19, 2020

2

duriel said:
I think the bikes would hold up, but i think everyone's butt's gave that up!

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Spinman

Discussion Starter · #6 · Oct 20, 2020

It appears only one person chimed in on what must be boring as hell to talk about here. Well i already know way more about this bike and it's cons...Opps forget that! There are'nt any...still after 21years AMAZING!!

Trek_5200

· #7 · Nov 3, 2020

Spinman said:
Just wondering if anybody is still riding these wonder machines from the TDF of the past and your impressions still if any. Pics would be sweet!!

Thanx's!

I had a 5200. It was my main bike until 2013 when I went C59. Continued to ride the 5200 winters and when my Colnago was being packe for Vacation but I finally got a gravel bike in 2015 and after that the Trek just didn't offer any advantages. It just wasn't competitive anymore as a bike. I junked it last year. Just didn't have room an with a C59, C64 and a Firefly it was simply time. It might have become a commuter bike but the Dahon folds and I can bring it into stores.

The 5200 was usps. If i recall the 5200 and 5500 were identical except one was ultegra while the other dura ace

happybill68

· #8 · Nov 4, 2020

Still have and ride a 1996 oclv . Up graded the fork but otherwise it’s pretty much stock from 1996.

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pmf

· #9 · Nov 5, 2020

Trek_5200 said:
If i recall the 5200 and 5500 were identical except one was ultegra while the other dura ace

Yep. ccccccccc

jnbrown

· #10 · Nov 13, 2020

I had a 5200 the first year they came out and then was replaced with a 5500 when the BB broke. Rode it over 10 years it was a great bike and nothing wrong with it compared to todays bikes. I bought a used frame off eBay for cheap and built it up for my daughter. I do like my current Cannondale EVO, but it is not a huge difference.

jetdog9

· #11 · Nov 13, 2020

Trek_5200 said:
I had a 5200. It was my main bike until 2013 when I went C59. Continued to ride the 5200 winters and when my Colnago was being packe for Vacation but I finally got a gravel bike in 2015 and after that the Trek just didn't offer any advantages. It just wasn't competitive anymore as a bike. I junked it last year. Just didn't have room an with a C59, C64 and a Firefly it was simply time. It might have become a commuter bike but the Dahon folds and I can bring it into stores.

The 5200 was usps. If i recall the 5200 and 5500 were identical except one was ultegra while the other dura ace

You know, it comes as no surprise to me that you've owned a Trek 5200 for some reason.

Retro Grouch

· #12 · Nov 13, 2020

2

Gone But Not Forgotten

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ogre

· #13 · Nov 14, 2020

I rode a 5900 for several years. That was the first year they offered frames with full 110 oclv tubing. Had a different USPS paint job than what came on the 5500. The bike had a wishbone seatstay and I was more comfortable at speed and cornering on that bike than any other bike I've owned.

The frames (and fork w/ aluminum steerer tube) are obsolete boat anchors by today's standards, but still it's not a bad bike to be riding today.

duriel

· #14 · Nov 14, 2020

My 5200 handled ok, it was a pretty dead ride and is nothing compared to the bikes built today. Sorry, otherwise why are you not riding it now?

ogre

· #15 · Nov 14, 2020

duriel said:
My 5200 handled ok, it was a pretty dead ride and is nothing compared to the bikes built today. Sorry, otherwise why are you not riding it now?

I never understood why people thought the early Madones felt 'dead', but that's not the first time I've heard that.

Why aren't I riding it now? Well, I've gotten four new road bikes in the 19 years or so since I got that one.

MDM

· #16 · Nov 22, 2020

I've got two Madone 5.2 bikes hanging in the garage that don't get ridden. My Ritchey Road Logic weighs the same (similarly equipped) and rides better. These older Trek carbon bikes are not that light. They handle great, ride a bit stiff, and lack tire clearance for wider tires. I'm running 23 mm Continental 4000 S tires, which measure almost 25 mm mounted. Made in the USA though.

SantaCruz

· #17 · Nov 25, 2020

My impression was not great.
Didn't buy one back then.
Other carbon bikes from the same period gave better road feel.
Still ride a Calfee.

Agree on the comment that many early Ti bikes were noodly

pmf

· #18 · Nov 25, 2020

MDM said:
I've got two Madone 5.2 bikes hanging in the garage that don't get ridden. My Ritchey Road Logic weighs the same (similarly equipped) and rides better. These older Trek carbon bikes are not that light. They handle great, ride a bit stiff, and lack tire clearance for wider tires. I'm running 23 mm Continental 4000 S tires, which measure almost 25 mm mounted. Made in the USA though.

You have to remember that back then, a bike under 20 lbs. was gee whiz light. And almost all bikes of that era don't have clearance for tires that are marketed as 25 mm and up tires these days. I had a Kestrel 200 sci back in the early 1990's, it was an exotic bike at the time when steel was still real.

farva

· #19 · Dec 12, 2020 (Edited)

Ride mine occasionally (2001 5500 sold as frameset). Always liked the styling of USPS trek era race bikes. Not a forgiving ride but a nice handling bike overall

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768Q

· #20 · Dec 12, 2020

2

About 5 years ago I happened across one of Kevin Livingston's frames from the '99 season (only year for the quill stem USPS bike). I built it up with NOS 7800 Dura Ace 10 speed stuff and then built one up for the wife in her size, try to get them out a few times a year. Still a great riding bike in my opinion.

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