Recreational & Family - beer budgets and champagne tastes (hybrid bikes)

Here I am in my mid-50's looking to get back into some limited biking after a long hiatus. I expect to ride pavement and maybe some hard packed trails. I know a Wal-Mart bike will do.. but I really don't wanna go that route. So the question is how much overkill to go for. ;-) I've put a few bucks aside for this project and need to decide where to spend it. I'd like to stay $600ish or so for the bike. I am 5'9"/175lbs with a 32" pant inseam.

I've tried comfort bikes but don't like the upright position. I feel cramped. Thus far.. on short test rides, I like the feel of the hybrids.

I initially thought a suspension bike was desirable, but now think it is not worth the weight for the type of riding/price of bike I'm interested in. I thought disc brakes were cool, but my test rides with them were disappointing... feel and stopping power were not dissimilar to standard rim brakes, imo.

I've read through the last year's worth of posts in this forum. Got more to read!

I've tested (very short rides): (rough price of tested bike)
Trek 7500FX (nice gears, liked) - none available from distributor ($650)
Scott Sportster P5 (liked) - want upgraded series.. none available from distributor ($380)
Scott Sub 30 (liked) - prefer sub 10 for 27 spd... none available from distributor ($500)
Giant Cypress LX (so..so. riding position too upright for me)
Giant FCR1 (light, but uncomfortable in the saddle) - too much $$ ($1100)
Marin Novato (liked) - almost bought a 17"er ..see below ($580)
Raleigh C700 (so..so, uncomfortable seat)
and a few others...

I've tried to find the Jamis Coda series but can't find any. No luck on the Kona either. In fact, part of the problem is that this time of year, many dealers are very low on stock from all manufacturers. 2005 must have been a very good year for bike stores/manufacturers!

I almost pulled the trigger on the Marin but thought I should hold out for a 19" frame (17" was all they had). If I haven't found something else by the time the '06 Marins come out, I may just try/buy the Novato in a 19" version.

I'd like to see:
Scott Sportster P2/P3 (suspension bike)
Scott Sub 20
Jamis Coda comp/sport
Kona Dew Deluxe
Giant FCR2
Trek 7300FX (one lbs has this, but not built yet)

I like the 9 speed cassettes and rapidfire shifters... no grip shifters for me. I prefer a slightly wider tire than comes on the Trek 7500FX. Something along the lines of the tires on the Scott Sportster P5 (700x35c). I sorta prefer 700c bikes.. but probably shouldn't shy away from 26"ers... such as the Marin Novato.

Is there any reason to look at one or the other of the above bikes apart from cost and ride comfort? Most seem to be mid to mid-low Shimano components.

I realize some of them are well above my 600ish figure, but am hoping to find some dealers willing to negotiate to make the -ish part work... if I find a bike I really like! ;-)

Ahhh.. gotta love those beer budgets and champagne tastes!

My hubby got the Trek 7500 and it is terrific. Nice gear shift, nice seat and shock absorbing post. As you say the tires are relatively thin, but works nicely for street riding. I suspect you can put different tires on. Adjustable stem is wonderful as one is getting one's body used to riding again. Can start more upright, then tilt down as you build up your muscle tone. No quality problems.

I got a Gary Fisher at similar price. Has the tires that are nubby toward the edges but relatively smooth in the middle which is nice when you hit a little gravel patch. What I dont like about my GF is that the stem is not adjustable (so I got bar ends which is nice). Also the plastic shield on the back wheel breaks off on the GFs. It is not essential part, so not a huge deal. I do like the disk brakes and the easy gearshift on my GF. My GF is a little more "sporty" than the Trek.

However, I find myself coveting my hubby's Trek.

Is that a straight 7500 or a 7500FX? The suspension bikes sorta interest me... but I don't know if they really offer much practical advantage for my anticipated riding or if it is just sales fluff.

The main problem I'm running into is that dealer inventories are so low right now... there is not much selection to choose from.

I called the Kona dealers in my area today and found that 2 of 3 were considering not carrying the Kona line next year. The 3rd dealer had no stock.

You want the 2004 Giant cypress SX ;)

It should handle up to 40c's maybe and will deff do 32c's

It will give you...
road gears,
no suspension,
a straight flat bar,
linear pull rim brakes

If you can find a Giant dealer with one still in stock you can get it for $600 (should be able to, if not less)

without the suspension fork it will drop you 3" in the front and with the straight flat bar it puts you another 3" lower in front. If you don't like the upright riding position so much this is a good hybrid. and very light

I based all of this on, that you thought the cypress LX was too upright.

I went ahead and bought the 2005 cypress SX because I needed the suspension fork (arm injury) but I had them put the 2004 straight flat bar on it. The other reason I bought the SX was it is the only one in the cypress line with the road gears 30/42/52.
I still wish I had bought the 2004 I test rode because I liked the riding position way better without the shocked fork, but I needed the shocked fork.

Well I found by dropping my stem to the lowest, and then setting my shock setting to the softest, I gained much in ride position, probably enough to make me really happy. although I am still stuck with the weight of the disc brakes. As a commuter I can live with that extra weight though.

If you can live without the road gears and a 28/38/48 is good for you, try a Cypress DX .... it will have rim brakes, and then with a straight flat bar you gain 3" and soften up the forks and your ride will not be so upright. plus you lose the disc brakes and extra weight that the LX gave you.

and what does Specialized have for you???


Anyways good luck finding what you want!!! If you don't like my info that is cool. It's free ;)

but I am pretty sure you don't want a 17" I am 5'9" and a 32" inseam @ 170 pounds give or take a few, and sometimes I wonder if my 19" isn't a hair too small

I've got a 2002 Gary Fisher Utopia, which at that time was exactly the same as the Trek 7500FX except the Fisher has a suspension fork. It's been a great bike for me and has been pretty much bomb-proof. I've used it on the streets and on hard packed trails and it's come through like a champ - and I've hit my share of potholes. Aside from having the front wheel trued once, it's been maintenance free. The Bontrager Select wheels are much stronger than they look. It has a more road-bike stance than a regular hybrid and is somewhat quicker. But be warned......after a season or two you'll get addicted to the speed and want a true road bike. It happens to most of us and it's not such a bad thing to end up with two bikes!

Thanks for your thoughts. I pulled out my Giant catalog and looked at the Cypress SX. My lbs wants $750 for it. The specs list the tires as 700x40c. I can't get excited about it... maybe because the pic shows the upright bars.. and I'm not too sure about having the suspension either. I take it the 2004 model didn't have suspension. The SX mentioned above is a 2005 model. Haven't seen any 2004 SXs. And the '06s are just around the corner. I think in the Giant line, the FCR series would interest me more. But my test drive of the FCR1 was not to my liking. I didn't care for the shifter (that I was unfamiliar with).

I don't mind the disc brake.. actually prefer it... but the Giant Cypress LX is the only disc brake bike I've ridden and I found the action soft and imprecise... ergo my disappointment in what should have been a superior brake.. or so I would have thought.

As someone wrote in another thread.... isn't it amazing how you can know just what you want... and yet you really have no clue! So I'm reading, test riding (what few hybrids I can find) and slowly sorting out what I THINK I want as I become better educated.

There are few people who have patience with the education process... they just wanna go buy something. Well, that doesn't work for me. Must be too anal, I guess. :-)

Right now I'm favorably impressed with the Marin bikes. I would really like to check out the Jamis Coda series and the Kona Dew Deluxe... if I can ever find one.

Funny, I was ready to get a Scott Sportster P3 or P4 until I found there were no more in the supply chain. I'll keep looking, reading and test riding... and will find IT (whatever IT is) at some point.

I looked at the Specialized Sirrus but failed to see any value there. The more desirable bike was $800+ if I recall correctly. (don't recall the model)

Seems like we're about the same size... so it appears I made a good move by holding off buying that 17 incher the other day. I am encouraged in that regard. Several shops have told me that my size puts me in an in-between status when sizing me for a bike. Perhaps the lesson is, if in doubt, go larger!

But be warned......after a season or two you'll get addicted to the speed and want a true road bike. It happens to most of us and it's not such a bad thing to end up with two bikes!

Interesting. It's hard for me to relate to the speed issue. Last year I donated my old Schwinn 5-speed that I bought new many years ago. It had the drop down bars and I rode it many a mile... and never a flat tire!

I guess I'll just have to experience the reality myself before I can see myself wanting a true road bike. Hey! Stranger things have happened!

I have not looked at any GF bikes... yet!

Speedlever, I was ready to buy the Trek 7500 fx until another LBS showed me a Marin Mill Valley (last year's model) that he could get for me for less $$$. All I can say is that I love that carbon fork.

So I'm reading, test riding (what few hybrids I can find) and slowly sorting out what I THINK I want as I become better educated.

There are few people who have patience with the education process... they just wanna go buy something. Well, that doesn't work for me. Must be too anal, I guess. :-)


that is the best way to be when buying something :D

I am just glad I found a LBS that was willing to mix match parts from 2004/2005 and sold me exactly what i needed/wanted for the 2005 list price.

Thanks for all the good input folks.

One thing I'm beginning to discover is that aluminum frame bikes are alleged to give a stiffer ride than a steel frame bike. If that is true, would a casual biker really notice that difference or would only the true bike aficionado notice the difference? Same for an all aluminum bike vs one with a carbon fork?

Regarding steel frame bikes... is rust of concern? What about salt air exposure?

The trend I'm seeing is that once I start thinking I need/want a 27 speed bike, a carbon fork, etc... I'm well on the way to a $1k bike... which is reaaaaaally overkill for my presumed needs. :-/

Regarding Marin bikes, what's the diff between the Alps and the Urban bikes? They both have the hybrid look. Road gears vs mountain gears? The Urban Point Reyes has a carbon fork like the Alps series. That Mill Valley bike sounds really nice!

Edit: but that Mill Valley lists for over $1100. That would be a sweet deal to find one for less than the $650 the 7500FX lists for.

I think the trek 7700fx comes with wider tires. I wonder if the bike shop could put a wider tire on the 7500fx for you?

I wonder if the bike shop could put a wider tire on the 7500fx for you?
Wider tire on the 7500FX? I dunno... possibly. However, my information is that all the 7500FXs are gone until the 06s come out.

I went back to the Marin dealer and bought the Novato today. Given the lack of available stock in my area, I decided to jump in and not wait for an undetermined amount of time for the 06s to arrive. The lack of stock didn't help my negotiation power any either. I only saved about $100+ over list on the bike plus some accessories. :-/

Edit to add tire specs from the mfg websites:

7700FX:
Tires Bontrager Select, Kevlar belt, 700x35c

7500FX:
Tires Bontrager Race Lite Hardcase, 700x32c

Marin Novato:
CST 26” x 1.4” with Kevlar Inside Puncture Protection

Perhaps what you should do is buy one of the base models. Most lines have a $300, $400 and $600 model. You could buy the lower end model and take the rest of the $300 and put it into upgrades on your bike after you ride it awhile. After riding it a few weeks you will probably know where you want to put the money in your bike. You will also end up with the bike you really want; and $300 will get you quite a few upgrades.

That is a great idea, jcring! However, as noted above... I've already bought the Marin Novato. I put a few upgrades on... probably shoulda saved some $$ and rode for a while before putting stuff like bar ends on.

For starters, here's what I added to the basic bike purchase:
1) Giro helmet
2) half finger gloves
3) basic repair kit with tube, seat bag, tire tools and CO2 carts
4) Cateye Mity 8 computer
5) bar ends
6) upgraded the stock seat
7) bottle cage


I wondered if it would make sense to get a cheaper bike and put some money into upgrades. I could have bought the Trek 7300FX for well under $400.. and could have put some nicer gears, shifter, etc. for the price of the Marin. But I really like the Marin... and it has mid-range components. It also offers disc brake mounting points should I decide to upgrade the brakes at some point in the future.

Frankly, my main gripe in the purchase process is the current lack of stock to test. Guess my market timing is up to its usual spec. But I'm glad that the biking industry seems to have had a really good year.