Gallery - 1982 Trek 311 - Ivan Feldman
What an incredible transformation - Turning a lowly
Trek 311 in to a silk purse.
Ivan writes: "After it met its fate in an ugly
confrontation with another bicycle in 1982, I went looking to replace
my Raleigh Grand Prix. The folks at Roys Sheepshead Cycle in Brooklyn
suggested I look at a Trek. For the first time, Trek was offering a
model the 311 in my limited price range. At $300, the
metallic grey Trek was still $50 more than the Raleigh, and I was hesitant.
Then I took it for a spin
Sold!
"Though the 22½ sport
frame was really one of touring geometry, Ishiwata Magny-X butted tubing
and light Rigida rims made for a responsive, yet comfortable ride, to
the likes I hadnt experienced before. Original componentry was
all basic, but of good quality.
"The bike underwent complete modification in 1989-90,
when I began increasing my hours in the saddle. Philadelphias
Stephen Bilenky shortened the stays, brazed on Campagnolo dropouts,
added shifter, water bottle and derailleur cable guide bosses, and painted
the frame gloss black. I swapped the steel fork for a more stiffly raked
aluminum Vitus. These changes chopped 4.8 cm from the wheelbase (to
97.6) and lowered the bottom bracket by ½ cm. Amazingly, I felt
little change in comfort and stability, but a great improvement in handling
a testimony to the frames design, materials and quality,
and to the compliance of the alloy fork.
"Friends at Dannys Cycle in Scarsdale, NY,
helped me acquire most of the replacement components. Wheels built from
120mm/36-hole Campagnolo Chorus hubs, laced with butted DT spokes to
27 Mavic MA-40 rims, are super strong
I have never had to
true them. Avocet 27x7/8 slicks make them pretty fast, too. The Mavic
SSC headset, friction rear derailleur and brake calipers have all proven
to be well made and durable. The SSC brakeset, made by Modolo for Mavic,
was poorly received due to its spongy feel and mediocre stopping power.
Partnered with Dia-Compe aero levers and Campagnolo cables, however,
the calipers work beautifully.
"The front derailleur, crank, bottom bracket, seatpost
and shifters are a mix of Campagnolo models and all are excellent. Other
goodies include a 3ttt stem, a Regina CX-S 13-21 freewheel, and a Maillard
handlebar (the only remaining original component) that has been drilled
for internal cable routing. Modern additions are a Terry saddle and
Speedplay Zero pedals which, as an added bonus, cured the slight toe
overlap caused by the stiffer fork and longer crankarms.
"Was it all worth it? Perhaps not from a standpoint
of conventional logic. The 311s technology was already outdated
when I began the modifications. But after 30,000 miles, the old Trek
is still solid, still smooth and still sweet. I know its good
for another 30,000. In my mind, completely worth it."
Click on each picture to see an enlargement.
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