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| Rear end detail of a Trek 7900 |
This bike has been really good value for me. I paid $265 for it in 2021 with the express plan to drop bar convert from a flat bar 8spd to a drop bar 9spd. Other than the shifters, bars and cassette, I was able to do the upgrade maintaining the stock Shimano XT drivetrain. Along the way I've minimized expense of marginal upgrades. Every upgrade is with purpose and with the idea of building a more robust bike for gravel and bikepacking/bike touring.
Shown in the photo are the latest upgrades. 36H Velocity Cliffhanger rim on a Shimano XT hub. I prefer rear wheels (and fronts) with 36 spokes. It makes the wheel significantly stronger, not much heavier and makes repairing a (less likely) broken spoke easier. The upgrade happened after the original rim blew a spoke on the last 3 miles of a 200+mi bike tour. I've always preferred more spokes then less. I don't care about marginal weight, just durability, so I used it as an opportunity to get a stronger wheel. Oddly enough the original Trek wheels are really good. So I was surprised I popped a spoke on smooth terrain. Moreso because before I got the bike it was hardly ridden and when it was it was a fit woman using it on bike paths. Spoke fatigue shouldn't be a thing.
In the background (out of focus) are the Avid Shorty Cantilever brakes. These may appear to be a boutique upgrade but they have the stopping power of V brakes with the modulation of cantis and the ease of setup of a V. These are the best of all worlds and are about the best upgrade for a rim brake bike you can make. These are the equivalent of adding bigger rotors or going hydraulic on a disc brake bike. With bike loads in wet conditions these are much appreciated.
The rack is a Tumbleweed Mini Pannier which is a fantastic steel rack that should outlast the bike by a few decades.
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| Trek 7900 at Cohoes Falls. Cohoes, NY |
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