Fifty Plus (50+) - I think I made a mistake

Couple of months ago, my wife and I decided to try bike riding for fun and fitness. We hadn't been on bikes for more than forty years and so we purchased new "hybrid" type bikes (Trek 7200). Since that time we have ridden quite a lot and we really enjoy it. Here's the problem. While my wife is thrilled with her hybrid bike, I am starting to feel that riding a hybrid is kind of dumb (no offense to those who ride them). I'm 62 and in pretty good shape. I use to run five miles every work day before I retired and I do enjoy riding now but I cant help it. I have really got the hots for one of those "real" road bikes. I'm not sure what to do. I went in to my lbs the other day and looked at road bikes. I dont really know enough to know what would be best for me but the Trek 1500 looked nice. There were a couple of LeMonds there that were pretty slick also.

I need some advice. Should I just back off, take a cold shower and ride my hybrid till it falls apart? Or would I be better off getting what I really want? The bikes that I am looking at are in the $1,200 to $1,500 range. I paid just under $400 for my hybrid.

- was (am) exactly where you are... started w/a $350 'comfort' bike - nothing wrong with that mind you, and don't let anyone tell you or give you the impression that a comfort bike (or hybrid) is any less of a bicycle than any other bike (they're ALL bikes)...

- as an old biker i knew that i'd eventually want a road bike, and after a couple months that's what happened... my solution was to find a nice used road bike that fit and is comfortable to ride ($500 for a Specialized Allez Sport, which i then upgraded to all 105 components)...

- i now use the comfort bike for easy days or as a loaner for guest riders, and am pounding the heck out of the road bike until i get fitter, trimmer, faster, etc....

- in six months to a year i'll spring for a really nice road bike...

- but $1000 - $1500 looks like the starting point for a basic new road bike, and i'm sure you'll find one that fits you and feels good in that price range...

- of course if money is no object, then i'm sure there are lots of fellows here with recommendations... (a Merlin Magia comes to mind)...

:-)

- good luck and let us know how it goes! i'm always interested in hearing success/happy stories!

Fergit the cold shower. Life is short. Get what you want.

I need some advice. Should I just back off, take a cold shower and ride my hybrid till it falls apart? Or would I be better off getting what I really want? The bikes that I am looking at are in the $1,200 to $1,500 range. I paid just under $400 for my hybrid.

Most of us have this problem. Not certain if we are going to like the sport,Don't want to spend a fortune on a 5 day wonder, But are we buying high enough initially. Obviously in your case- you've got the bug. Nothing wrong with upgrading your bike, but think of the occasions when you still want to go out with the wife- perhaps two new bikes may be on the cards.............?

Just a couple of points though. In the UK we have a season of the year, starting soon, when the 2006 models start to appear. All those 2005 bikes you are looking at now, will be reduced in price in a couple of months. Possibly just enough time to get out and find the bike you do like, and that likes you. Get a few test rides in, get the size sorted and get a couple of options available. Then start haggling. Surprising how much you can get off an old model bike at the wrong time of the year. 15 to 20% will not be unusual.
Get that test ride. It may look as good and shiny as Lance's bike, but is it going to suit your body. Is the ride position correct. Frame the right size.Does the road shock on that type of frame feel acceptable. Lot to think about, Go for it, but make certain this is going to be the right choice.

Fergit the cold shower. Life is short. Get what you want.

- i LIKE that attitude!

:-)

I made a mistake too. I bought a bike with a frame that is too small for me. Guess I'll have to get a new one. ;)

Keep your eyes open--especially this time of year. Friend picked up a current model Felt Ultegra (if you like aluminum/carbon) for $900. Hate to be gear-conscious, but sometimes a "serious bike" causes its rider to ride more "seriouly" i.e. farther, faster, more frequently, etc. LOL, We may be 50Plus, but we can still have an adolescent head/heart.

Fergit the cold shower. Life is short. Get what you want.

My biggest regret in life is that I have too many regrets and missed opportuntities are amoung the worst. :( I agree with this advice.

You only live once. Nothing wrong with having a hybrid AND a road bike. Different purposes, different uses, different bikes. I have a mtn bike for trails and that sort of thing, a utility road bike (Winsdor Leeds - I rode it today while leading a group of seniors on a 29 mile ride - it has panniers where I can carry extra tubes and emergency stuff for the ride) and a REAL road bike (Lemond BA) when I really want to let loose by myself.

My wife has two bikes - a hybrid and a mtn bike.

Go for it. There is NOTHING like the joy of riding a fast road bike silently along feeling in concert with nature and the world, forgetting all of those problems.

This thread is entitled "I think I made a mistake." Ok, if you want to think that way. Actually you are going thru a normal progression and were smart to buy the inexpensive bike to start. Many of us went the same route, bought the cheaper model to get started and then moved to something more fitting the direction we wanted to go.The good news is it's a $300 bike not a $100,000 boat.

As for how real a bike the 7200 is, a woman riding a 7300 kicked my butt a couple weeks ago. I'm in decent shape and was riding my Lemond Zurick. $400 bike beat $2500 bike. It's not about the bike. How good a bike is the 7200? That's up to you.

Since a hybrid is a mix of road & mountain bikes why not skip a step
and modify the bike you have to see if you even like drop bars and such.
Put road tires & drops on your bike and go for it. ;) ;)

if you get a road bike, try alot of bikes with a more relaxed geometry, and perhaps some steel frames as well. As we get a little older, the more aggressively designed bikes are a less comfortable (although YMMV)

Plus they are often geared more for someone like Lance armstrong (very high)

Since a hybrid is a mix of road & mountain bikes why not skip a step
and modify the bike you have to see if you even like drop bars and such.
Put road tires & drops on your bike and go for it. ;) ;)

Depending on the hybrid and the rider, that just might work, and it is certainly the cost-effective way to go. Otherwise, look around for good used road and mountain bikes, assuming you have storage space for more than one bike. You may find you want the hybrid for shopping trips and general short-hop transportation.

Thank all for the great input. As you can probably tell in my post, I am leaning toward getting a "real" road bike. I like the idea of just keeping my hybrid and having the two bikes. I also appreciate the advice re: waiting until prices come down on the 05's. I guess I just want to be able to get out on the road with, what I consider a "real" road bike (again, nothing wrong with hybrids). I was out this morning with my wife. It was a beautiful morning. We rode about fifteen miles. It was great. We stopped at a coffee shop at the end of our ride. There was a couple of guys there that were about our age. They both had some "serious" road bikes. I'm sorry, but I just thought, "That's what I'm talkin about". So... again, thanks for the input, I will now be trying to determine which bike is going to work for me. Hope to see you on th road sometime.

Suggestions:

1. you'll get the most bang for the buck by buying a 2005 in Oct/Nov/Dec
2. You can often get 0% financing with bike purchase.
3. Make sure your great road bike is the one you really want so you don't go thru the process again. I rented a Litespeed and the owner didn't want to ride it any more. He wanted a Madone. So try all the types in your price bracket:
3.0 Al frames
3.1 TI frames
3.2 carbon fiber frames
3.3 standard sized frames
3.4 compact sized frames
3.5 shamino equipped
3.6 champigno [sp?] equiped
3.7 double chainsets
3.8 triple chainsets
3.9 mid grade level gearing components
3.10 top grade level gearing components
etc.

It's much much easier to make decisions as to what you like before you buy, then after you buy.

I have a 7200 and a Fuji Roubaix road bike. Though i ride the Fuji most of the time, occasionally i hop on the Trek, especially if I want a long ride on the KATY trail (crushed limestone surface). I always appreciate how different the two bikes feel.

One nice thing about the 7200 is that, with its adjustable quill stem, you can play around with handlebar height and reach. Put some bar ends on and you can have a good number of hand positions, too.

If you can do the $ part, I would try to do both. I find a real roadie to be an absolute joy most times, but a rough stuff bike can get you places you can't do on 700X23 tires and carry a full lunch at the same time. The problem that I have found is there seems to be no end to this process.

Thanks for the advice re: the bar ends and raising the handle bars on my 7200. Is that something that I can do myself? I'm fairly handy. Do the cushions just slide off the ends of the bars?

Maybe I'm reading something into this that doesn't belong. It almost sounds like you are afraid of leaving your wife behind since you would be so much faster on a road bike. Since you want a road bike and she would still have her hybrid, maybe you think that she won't be able to keep up with you. I think you can still enjoy a road bike and have your wife ride on her hybrid too. You might even want to use your road bike for when you ride by yourself. You could also look into a tandem and that way you get your road bike and take the wife along too.

7200= Rain bike

New road bike= daily rider

You know what you want!

More Bikes = More Fun.

The rule is:

Wife has to have equal equipment to husband.

Get your wife a road bike, also!

Hi

A lot of people are suggesting different options. IMO get the road bike. You said twice that is what you really want, so, go for it. I have the Trek 1200 and use it every day and enjoy every minute of it.

Jim

I own a hybrid and a road bike. If I were to buy now I would get a touring style bike. The LBSs don't carry many if any and try hard to talk you into something else.

I have a Gary Fisher for riding with my wife and short trips around town. For my "rides" I have a Giant that is a nice bike and will probably last for years. But.....I buy lottery tickets once in a while, and if I ever hit a good one (slim chance but hoping), I will definitely buy a touring bike. Good comfort, good enough speed and great for the 2-3 hour rides I like.

to slip on a banana peel is a mistake, to run into a parked car is a mistake, to step on your cat's tail is a mistake, to buy and ride a bike is not a mistake. some people start off by buying a $5,000 bike and quickly losing interest because it didn't make them into a cycling hero. you on the other hand are going through the normal evolutionary development, keep up the good work and the interest. the bottom line is that "it's not about the bike" (LA).

. You could also look into a tandem and that way you get your road bike and take the wife along too.

I wasn't going to suggest this, Even though I ride a tandem more than my solo's. They are not for everyone, they are expensive, difficult to ride, brakes don't work, steering is diabolical, but the most important thing- THEY ARE FANTASTIC.
I mean it- A tandem is not for everyone, and will not work until the Tandem Team get working together-normally about 3 months or 500miles. If a Tandem is worth a thought- Hire one for a day- well a couple of hours for the first ride, then hire again if you think it is for you. Then think again. If it is for you, send me a message and I will inform you of the problems of tandems more fully, But I will also tell you how good they are at the same time. For a pair of experienced riders, Tandems work and even My co-rider prefers the Tandem to his top grade mountain bike.

In March, my husband bought a comfort bike for me because I have a bulging disk in my back. In May, I was doing things with that bike that it was designed to do, like wandering off pavement. In June, I found myself at the same LBS drooling over eye candy. Two days later, I was begging my sister to front me a loan. The next day, I was on my full suspension mountain bike. Guilt? Yes. Didn't want to hurt my husband's feelings. Regrets? Nope. Just playing on the trails. Back pain? Sometimes. Then I pull out the comfort bike. See? Justification.

Your decision will be fine because it's YOUR decision. (Justify it!) ;)

I went the same exact route. I had an old, low quality moutain bike that I rode for years, but wanted a decent bike, so bought a Trek 7200 a few years ago. It's a great bike and I love to ride it, but on the paved roads around my house, it wasn't quite what I was looking for. So, this year I broke down and bought a Giant OCR3 road bike. My only regret is that I didn't spend a little more money and get some better components on the bike, but I find myself riding a LOT more than I did with just the hybird. I still ride the hybrid, especially on bike trails and I've added a rack to it and occassionally ride it to work. It's great having both - in fact, I'm thinking about upgrading my MTB soon. I'd say get a road bike and keep the hybrid - I doubt you will regret it.

hybrids are often a mistake. They'r'e just not designed to be a buzz to ride--our souls are unmoved by them. The decision a new, older person must make when buying a bike is whether to buy a genuine road bike, but with relaxed geometry, and go through the process of his body adapting to the new sport, or maybe a recumbent. But that's a last resort. Giant, Specialized, Lemond, etc. all make great bikes that don't expect you to be a racer in mind or body.

Update on my search for a "big boy/girl" bike. I have narrowed it down to a Specialized Allez Comp Triple, or a LeMond of similar caliber. Also, I have installed those handle bar end thingies on my hybrid so that I can take the tortion strain out of my arms while riding (also because it looks kind of cool that way). I rode my hybrid 20 miles this morning. Got passed by several road bikes, but I'm starting to be able to get up all the hills pretty good now. My wife is getting very tired of me telling her to call me "Lance". Also, I have lost six pounds since I started riding (three months). That means that I can eat pretty much the things I like, drink a beer or three every now and then, and still loose weight (as long as I keep this bike thing going). What a deal. Makes me wonder what is going to happen when I get that road rocket.....

JEgan - the other thing I've done to make my Trek 7200 a little more fun is take off the knobbier tires and put on narrower, slicker tires. It makes a hugh difference on the road.

I need some advice. Should I just back off, take a cold shower and ride my hybrid till it falls apart? Or would I be better off getting what I really want? The bikes that I am looking at are in the $1,200 to $1,500 range. I paid just under $400 for my hybrid.

My wife and I started riding a little over a year ago. We've gone through 4 bikes each in the time. We started off with a pair of Raleigh comfort bikes. When we outgrew those, we purchase a couple of Cannondale hybrids. When we outgrew those, we made the next jump to road bikes - a couple of Specialized Sequoias. 2 1/2 months ago, we made the leap to a pair of Specialized Roubaix Comps.

If all we wanted was excercize, we certainly didn't need all those bikes, but as we spent more and more time on them (on average 10-12 hours per week) they just sort of justified themselves. Hell, I pay more for a car than our two Roubaixs, yet I spend FAR more time on the bike.

The pleasure derived and the health benefits alone justify the cost of a nice bike.

Go ahead and treat yourself :)

Also, I have lost six pounds since I started riding (three months). That means that I can eat pretty much the things I like, drink a beer or three every now and then, and still loose weight (as long as I keep this bike thing going). What a deal. Makes me wonder what is going to happen when I get that road rocket.....

Eat to ride or ride to eat. You can't lose :)

Steve

- i LIKE that attitude!

:-)


Me, too! Forget the cold shower, get the road bike. But focus carefully on fit! -- Ken

Just another guy who went through the same process. Started riding "seriously" again 11 years ago on a Cannondale Hybrid, but got a Cannondale road bike about 4 years later. About 3 years ago, I found a phenomenal buy on a Trek 5200 OCLV bike in that amazing blue they produced only in 1999. I think wanting to get a better bike is a natural progression. Riding seems to change us. I find my 5200 more comfortable than my hybrid, and ride in more agressive positions than I did when I was in my early 40s.

Funny thing is that I still ride a hybrid most nights after work, but ride my road rocket on the weekends. The hybrid is nice but that Trek is like driving a Ferarri. Speed is fun! Even if it's only the speed us old guys can muster.


Bob

I certainly have "been there, done that". I had a hybrid that I rode for a while then didn't ride it at all. Then my son talked me into getting a road bike and I did. It took me three weeks to get the nerve to even get on the thing because I was sure I'd fall and break a hip. Getting on that bike was the best thing that every happened to me. I couldn't believe the difference in handling (very scary at first because a really light weight racing bike is super responsive) and it was so amazing how much easier it was to climb hills. I love my bike. I got a steel frame Specialized in the $1500 range (my hybrid was also a Specialized but I only paid $250 for it). It was also very intimidating because I was always used to "girls" bikes--there was that top tube I had to deal with! I still have my hybrid but I never, ever ride it. I can't imagine riding anything that heavy again although I'm going to start commuting to work and don't want to worry about my "expensive" bike getting ripped off so I'll get on the hybrid and do my thing. Hope this info helps you get out there and get yourself a light-weight, fun two-wheeler! It sounds like you're ready. You can still ride with your wife, you know!

JEgan - the other thing I've done to make my Trek 7200 a little more fun is take off the knobbier tires and put on narrower, slicker tires. It makes a hugh difference on the road.

Not to hijack the thread, but I'd love to hear more about this. I've been thinking of doing that with my Trek 3900, which has the 2 inch knobbie tires, but I've found I ride almost exclusively on the road. Can you say something more specific about the difference(s) you've noticed?

I Love this Thread...I thought I was the only dummy. I started off with a department store "Blue Bike" Apparently it was a Mountain bike. Then Bought the hybrid ( Trek 7200) then an Intermediate step riding a 1988 Trek aluminum with down rail shifters and finally my Red white and Blue 2005 Trek 5.2 OCLV. All this in 9 months !I wanted to buy a Trek Pilot but they were back ordered. It supposed is designed for us old guys...Bottom line... IF you have the coin; go for it. you can always keep the hybrid for rides with the wife

I have a 7200 and a Fuji Roubaix road bike. Though i ride the Fuji most of the time, occasionally i hop on the Trek, especially if I want a long ride on the KATY trail (crushed limestone surface). I always appreciate how different the two bikes feel.

One nice thing about the 7200 is that, with its adjustable quill stem, you can play around with handlebar height and reach. Put some bar ends on and you can have a good number of hand positions, too.


I agree with Prosody.
My C'dale R2000 lets me go 20 mile in one hour over hilly circular paved road.
I just installed aero bars and I am hoping to improve that average speed.

On lime stone paths, which I do a lot, the hybrid feels safer and with aero bars and all other upgrades, I can average 17.5 miles in one hour. That is with 38 mm tires.

On level ground, the extra weight of the hybrid affects only acceleration. Going up a mountain is an other story. I worry about that because I cannot try it out in the Midwest.

Not to hijack the thread, but I'd love to hear more about this. I've been thinking of doing that with my Trek 3900, which has the 2 inch knobbie tires, but I've found I ride almost exclusively on the road. Can you say something more specific about the difference(s) you've noticed?

I only ride Mountain bikes and use them offroad. For short road rides I still use the knobblies but they do cause drag and are noisy. We also do a few road rides, mainly 65 or 100milers as a change from getting muddy, And all we change on the bike is the tyres.

2 types of slicks to get. One is a slick tyre, normally around 1.5" wide but can be wider or narrower and take a pressure of around 80psi. Not a bad tyre for road use and offer a bit of suspension for comfort. The second one is the on that the more serious Mtb users have and that is a tyre that in width is in comparison to the roadies. I use a Continental Grand Prix and inflate it to 100psi. Boy do these roll. Bit hard for rough roads but minimal drag, and NO noise.
There is a problem with the Conti's though and that is with that high a pressure, you could start to deform the tyre rim on the braking surface. This is caused by the braking surface having got a bit thin by the wearing away of metal through braking, and that higher pressure causing the rim to bow out wards.

Whichever tyre you use, you will notice a difference on the road, mainly in speed and less drag. but the other thing I find is Boredom after about 40 miles. Theres no mud to find on the bike and the only way to tackle those hills is straight up. I do like to have an excuse to fall off occasionally and have a rest and that cannot safely be done on the road.

Not to hijack the thread, but I'd love to hear more about this. I've been thinking of doing that with my Trek 3900, which has the 2 inch knobbie tires, but I've found I ride almost exclusively on the road. Can you say something more specific about the difference(s) you've noticed?

- replaced the 26x1.95 Kenda Kross tires on my comfort w/26x1.5 Tioga City Slickers... bike seems 'faster,' w/less rolling resistance... i add an extra 5 psi over the max...

- however, be careful if you contemplate a higher pressure tire on your ride! research carefully, as stock rims will usually not handle 100 psi tires safely and can bulge... much safer to replace stock rims with heavier duty ones, IMO...

- nevertheless, a few inexpensive changes can make a big difference on a bike!

You are sooooo right about that!!

Gary,

Sure, here's a little more about what I did to my Trek Hybrid (I think I said it was a 7200, but it's actually a 7300). I had the originally 38mm tires on it that had kind of a knobby tread (not nearly as bad as a moutain bike, but still, pretty knobby). I talked to some guys at my LBS, some friends, and read quite a bit on this forum and other web pages, and decided to go to Kenda Kwest 28mm tires. These are relatively slick, except they have some channels that are supposed to help channel water away from the middle of the tire (I'm planning to ride the hybrid on wet days instead of the road bike). I was told with my rims that I might could go as low as 25mm, but 28mm is low enough for me.

What I noticed was the rolling resistance was greatly reduced. It's still a heavier bike than the roadie and will never be great for hill climbing, but I find that it's much easier to accelerate, is a little lighter, and just generally feels more zippy. However, there is a downside; I was used to be able to ride through just about anything with the 38mm tires, but now have to be a little more careful around loose gravel or sand (nothing extreme, just a little more careful).

Since changing to the Kenda's, I rode 72 miles one day on the Erie Canal trail between Rome and Syracuse New York, which is very flat, but has a very fine, packed gravel and stone dust base (there may be some other name for it, although I don't know what it is). The tires did great, but there were a few places with loose gravel that I had to be careful, but it was no big deal. I think with the 38mm's, I would have had a very long day and might not have been able to go so far. I guess it would have been possbile to do with the road bike, but I'm glad I had the hybrid.

Two other things I've done to the bike is put bar ends on (which was much easier to do than I thought it would be) and added a rear rack. The bar ends were great on the 72 miles, it gave me a couple of different hand positions that really helped out. The rack is nice because I can carry a load more stuff if needed. I think of my road bike as the Ferrari and the hybrid as the Hummer (since I can't afford real versions of either :)). They both have their places.

I have been riding a Trek 7200 and am real close to going to a road bike. Will keep the 7200 for winter riding. I am seriously thinking about the Trek 1200c (2005), I think they are calling it the 1200 pilot for 2006. It has some adjustment for the handle bars , there are also brakes on the top of the bar. Also has some suspension, seat I think. Other companies also offer a road bike in something of a comfort series....Lemond,Giant and maybe Specialized.

I can't wait to get one!!!