Always searching for another project, Lucas picked up a beautiful 1984 Trek 830 yesterday, and he’s seeking input on how to rebuild it as a commuter ATB. Peek at his latest time capsule find, share your photos, and weigh in on the first installment of This Old Trek here…

Try as I might, even as someone who’s lived a largely clutter-free lifestyle for a couple of decades now, one thing I have a hard time resisting is a cheap and tall old 26-inch mountain bike. I’ve bought, tinkered with, and sold many over the years and currently have a few too many in my basement workshop.

1984 Trek 830
The original listing photo as spotted on Facebook Marketplace

Yesterday, I stumbled upon a lugged, Wisconsin-built 1984 Trek 830 from a nearby seller on Facebook Marketplace, and seeing its condition, coupled with the fact that it came with a whole collection of retro accessories, I decided to pick it up for the fair price of $125. I bought it from the original owner’s family, and from what I can tell, other than the upgraded pedals, it’s bone stock, just as he would have purchased it in the mid-1980s. The frame and components are in great shape, and most of the wear was caused by time, not use. Even the brittle original tires have a generous amount of tread left.

Having sold my chrome 1986 Diamondback Ascent after submitting it as my entry to the Budget Bikepacking Build-Off and regretting it almost immediately, I’m again in the mood for something I can use to commute, cruise green trails, and take up mountain roads. Rather than building it all in the background, I’ll document it in a few parts as part of this ongoing This Old Trek series.

1984 Trek 830
  • 1984 Trek 830
  • 1984 Trek 830
  • 1984 Trek 830

I’ll start by stripping the bike down to the bare frame and fork to give it a good inspection and cleaning and will rebuild it from there. My initial thought is to cold set the frame so I can fit in a 10-speed rear cassette and spec a 1×10 drivetrain, small front rack and basket, V-brakes, and something slightly swept back for handlebars. With quite a deep parts bin, I have many interesting options that I’ll present later, but I’m also seeking reader feedback. What would you leave or change if building it up as a commuter ATB? What does this frame need, and what should I avoid? Note that I’m not even remotely tied to the idea of keeping it period correct, so anything goes.

  • 1984 Trek 830
  • 1984 Trek 830

If you’ve rebuilt an old Trek, I’d also love to see some visual inspiration in the conversation below. Stay tuned for a handful of updates as I strip and rebuild it over the summer, eventually getting it out for a proper shakedown ride. Pearl Pass is calling!

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