Hey guys I am looking at buying this trek 610 frame from I believe 1984. I’d like to build up this frame and eventually use it for a 300 mile bike packing trip.
I am wondering how stiff this frame is and if it will be strong enough to hold a decent amount of weight once all loaded up. Obscure question but if anyone has some insight it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
by sometimes-i-just-sit
5 Comments
IMHO it’s an awful frame for bikepacking and a bad frame for bicycle touring.
Narrow tire choices, absolutely no luggage points, geometry is very road race bike oriented, that fork likely doesn’t like a lot of weight.
​
Unless you are going with a whole vintage build or specific themed build I would opt for something else.
​
This said, is it possible to bikepack with that? Sure but it will be far from comfortable. I would also be weary of that bottom bracket… Someone going the length of stripping pretty much everything and leaving the bottom bracket… I suspect that thing is gonna take some serious effort to get out.
It’s a neat frame but not what you want for bikepacking. Stiff, low tire clearance (even by modern roadie standards!), not designed to lug around gear. Could be a fun project, just don’t expect to enjoy bikepacking on it.
For bikepacking (or even bike touring) you’re much better off with the same era mountain bike.
I bought an older steel frame and I love it. It’s way more comfortable than my full carbon bike (with 700x34c tires) _even_ if it can only run 25c tires (Michelin tires run wider though at 27mm). Springier and even feels stiffer. However it’s a summer bike because rain is its enemy and I would not want to get caught in the rain with it
So no, keep looking. Great road frame but not for touring and definitely not for bike packing.