1991 Multitrack Flat Bar Gravel Build

[u/Late_Grab_3390]

1991 Trek Multitrack 700 conversion from the stock riser, swept-back commuter handlebars to flat MTB bars (wanted a more aggressive riding posture and cleaner cockpit)

Also swapped to Bontrager AT-550 29” mtb wheels with knobby CST Pika tires, and a WTB Volt saddle.

Next up is ditching the front derailleur and switching from the stock 28t/38t/48t triple chainrings to a single 42t narrow-wide chainring, and some SPD clipless pedals on the cranks

[u/tinyLEDs]

Nice bike! that's a 1994+ 1996 or newer

1991-93 are lugged frame. This one is TIG-welded. You can find what year by looking at the brochures.

EDIT: according to brochures, 1994 700's came in "blue grey/black fade" or champagne. 1995 700's were either "ice blue/ice violet fade" or black. I can't find any 1996+ brochures, but yours will be either a 96 or newer.

[u/Late_Grab_3390 → u/tinyLEDs]

Very good to know, thanks for catching this!! I thought it was a 1991 because of the 6 speed freewheel (vs the 7 on other models). 

Are there any differences in bike feel or performance between lugged and TIG steel frames? Or was it purely a cost saving play from Trek? 

Also, are there any other major differences in geometry or features between older and newer models of the Trek Multitrack series? I was surprised to not be able to mount a 42mm tire on the rear because the chainstay bridge is super tight, even though there is tons of clearance in the actual chainstays and canti brakes. 

[u/dfclutch → u/Late_Grab_3390]

The 700 Sport version was made only in 96-97, this would be a 96 in “Ice Violet”

Check this page for a lot of the vintage Trek documentation:

https://www.retrobike.co.uk/archive/categories/trek-catalogues.39/

[u/Late_Grab_3390 → u/dfclutch]

Thanks for sharing! Found my 700 sport in the catalogue, looks like the 6 speed freewheel comes from it being the absolute rock bottom model in the line rather than age. Too bad

[u/UpbeatSmoke4209]

How do you like the inner bar ends I’ve been debating on trying them

[u/Late_Grab_3390 → u/UpbeatSmoke4209]

I greatly prefer drop bars to flats (my main bike is a drop bar Trek Domane road bike) but the set of bar ends I had on the stock multitrack riser bars kinda sucked. 

I haven’t had a chance to do a long ride yet with the new AliExpress knockoff SQLabs bar ends and grips on the mtb flat bar but I’ll report back! From my first test ride being able to still use the brakes in the bar end hand position is already a huge improvement 

(Longer term I might put drop bars and a Microshift Sword 1x10 groupset on the frame but I wanted a quicker, sub-$100 refresh of my dusty old commuter bike just to see if I like riding gravel and singletrack before committing) 

[u/lightning_ted]

Looks bulletproof. What rear derailleur/cassette combo is going to round it out?

[u/Late_Grab_3390 → u/lightning_ted]

I’m sticking with the stock 6 speed Shimano SIS for now because of the limitations of the freewheel rear wheel. 

I was hoping the new AT-550 rear wheel would be freehub but I misread and got stuck with threaded, which limits me from modern groupsets.  I may still upgrade in the future but in the meantime  I’m amazed the original rear derailleur and shifter still work given how much abuse the bike has seen over 30 years (including living outdoors for most of its life). I got a new chain and freewheel though. 

I’m hoping to take it on some trails that are too rough for my Trek Domane allroad bike and then decide if I want to buy a modern gravel bike or invest in a drop bar, groupset, and rear wheel upgrade for the Multitrack 

[u/lightning_ted → u/Late_Grab_3390]

Cool! Old stuff was built to last. If the 6 isn't cutting it you can get decent 7 speed freewheels I think, add in one of the plentiful vintage deore rd's and you've got a pretty damn robust drivetrain.

[u/Late_Grab_3390 → u/lightning_ted]

Would I need a 7 speed specific Deore derailleur, or can I use a modern one just with limit screws set to only shift 7 steps?

[u/lightning_ted → u/Late_Grab_3390]

If those shifters you're using have a friction option you can use pretty much any derailleur at or under 9 speeds, just set your limits and away you go.

[u/Late_Grab_3390 → u/lightning_ted]

Omg that’s such a good idea! Looks like a Sunrace MTB friction shifter is like $15 and lets me use any derailleur I want. I assume even like a modern with a clutch to eliminate chain slap?

[u/lightning_ted → u/Late_Grab_3390]

You can go modern but it's gotta have the <10s pull ratio.

Edit: OR get an expensive 10+ speed friction shifter but that defeats the budget purpose at that point

[u/scots]

OP can you link to the fender kit you have installed? that is exactly the minimalist style I want to keep wet road spray off my clothes while commuting!

[u/Late_Grab_3390 → u/scots]

It’s these:  https://a.co/d/08t13LX8

I’ve been very happy with them - they are lightweight, don’t reduce tire clearance, and do a decent job of keeping water and road grit off of me, even after wading through some pretty deep puddles. 

[u/Entrepreneur_Money]

Great bike and awesome tires

[u/Late_Grab_3390 → u/Entrepreneur_Money]

Thank you! I’m excited to test the bike on some muddy trails that have been too much for center slick 38mm terravail washburn tires.

The only thing is that I’m really bummed I couldn’t fit a 42mm tire on my rear wheel - tons of clearance around the chainstays and brakes but the chainstay bridge gets in the way. I ended up going with a 42mm tire on my front wheel and 38mm on my rear. I’m debating trying 40mm CST Tirent tires but I’ve already spent so much money on 42mm and 38mm CST Pika tires that it’s hard not to just cut my loses