Mountain Biking - Trek Bikes in Michigan Metro Parks - Fitness Bike or Cyclocross?

Never been to a Michigan metro park, but received a map of their 13(?) parks yesterday. Here's a website that describes these metro parks, and where you can order maps:
http://www.metroparks.com/activities/biking.php

I can foresee wanting to ride off-road in Michigan metro parks ... if that is permitted in these parks? For non-agressive off-road riding ... by a 50-year old office dweller ... which would provide a more reliable ride with some degree of comfort: Trek 7.7 FX fitness bike or Trek X02 cyclocross?

There would also be paved riding involved for the bikes being considered, so why would I choose either the 7.7 FX or the X02 cyclocross?

well i dont know how comfortable you would be a the cross bike but it would be your better bike. the X02 looks like it has a nice setup but i think it might be a little over kill on the price(just like all treks)

have you looked at the Soho? it look pretty good too and about half the price.
http://www2.trekbikes.com/bikes/bike.php?bikeid=1036000&f=20

I think you'd find a mountain bike more comfortable than both. I'm in my 40's and ride mostly on the road. I had a Trek FX bike and it was uncomfortable on my hands and arms You feel every little bump. I switched to a mountain bike and it is a lot more comfortable because of the front suspension. I added some big slicks and it's like riding on air.

:eek: :eek: you got a 9.8 and ride it mostly on road?

:eek: :eek: you got a 9.8 and ride it mostly on road?
And why not?!? If I could afford it, that's exactly what I would do:) -- that's exactly how I use my Rainier, modified slightly toward road use, and slowly upgrading (i.e. shedding weight) parts as/when they wear out. I love MTBs (I really like the French phrase, velo tout terrain [ATB]) precisely because, if kept light and with the right tires, one has a truly versatile bike: for those of us over 40 (in my case, mid fifties), both more comfortable and stable than either a 'performance hybrid' or a true road bike, in real world terms just as fast as a 'hybrid' (with appropriate tires/gearing), yet still able to go off-road. I remember reading a while back something by a fellow using a Seven Sola just this way; he found that on his typical short/medium distance paved loops his times were only a couple of minutes off his (full zoot) road bike, and he really liked the fact that on those rides he could just duck down onto a trail for a few kms. if he felt like it.

ride both & see what position feels better. i hope you're not planning to do any trails on those 2 bikes.... i go to the metroparks & would think that either of those would be fine, just get some more aggressive tires for the fx if you should go that route. although, to be honest, i can't really think of where you would do some "off road" riding at any metropark that i've ever been to. they mostly have paved routes & the only "off road" riding you would do would maybe be from the parking lot to the picnic shelter or maybe on a dirt road outside of the park.

A question:

At what age over 40 does this fredly, fragile, pussification set in?
Not quite sure about your tone, here -- seems a little nasty given the diction. 'Fredly'? 'Pussification'? Really? In what sense? I guess, though; if recognizing and trying to live within limitations imposed by osteo-arthritis (hands, knees, hips) is 'pussification', so be it. Those over forty who don't have to deal with this, lucky them/wish it were so for me, but it isn't. Similiarly, perhaps somewhat 'fredish' if by that is meant that one is committing some kind of offence against good taste by riding a nice bike adapted to one's requirements. Well, sorry - but there it is.

Fair enough; certainly wasn't my intention to 'speak for all', so should have been a little more precise, e.g. 'for many of us over 40 ..'. Still and yet, don't see the need for the loaded terms in your initial reply;)

A question:

At what age over 40 does this fredly, fragile, pussification set in?


I bet I'm in better shape than most people younger than my age. I just don't need to have a bike that feels rattles my teeth when I ride it.

So what age is it that this teeth rattling while riding a hybrid bike on the road thing sets in?

Your teeth will rattle no matter what your age when riding a Trek FX bike.

If someone's teeth don't rattle while riding a cross bike, or a road bike, on the pavement, then why would they rattle when riding a Trek FX?

I'm just speaking from experience. The Trek FX bike was very uncomfortable to ride. My hands and arms took a pounding. I felt every little bump in the road. I think if it was a carbon frame and fork it would be a little more forgiving.

One more try, and I'm out! 'R. Danneskjold', if indeed 'ultra senior', may be one of those fortunate enough to be able to ride anything, anywhere, age notwithstanding. If so, kudos and hats-off to him/her. I can't, and it would seem the same is true of Trek 9.8 and, in fact, many other people. As it happens, and by the bye, I have tried and tried to buy/ride/adapt to road/cross bikes -- I just can't, much as I'd like to. Like Trek 9.8, I suspect my aerobic fitness, inc. VO2, resting heart rate, max. heart rate, etc. etc. would surprise many younger riders, but my bones just can't take the pounding of high-pressure tires/rigid forks, etc. Coincidentally, at one point I bought a Trek 7.5fx a couple of seasons ago; took it back within two weeks. I've since tried yet more (road/cross/hybrid -- steel, carbon, etc.). So I'm left to do the best I can with either a slow heavy ponderous front susp. hybrid or (my option) a light, quick, 'roadified' mtb; I manage between 3 and 4000 kms./year -- mostly road -- with no ill effects, very little (if any) loss in real-world 'speed', and all the many fitness and other benefits of cycling. If at some point my bones tell me 'full suspension' I'll do that too, w/o embarassment. Pussified Fred out!:D

Maybe its time for a recumbent. My lbs owner is 70 and he rides 15-30 miles/day, 6 days a week on one.

p.s. mccoine, I'm unable to ride a recumbent due to challenges relating to growing a long scraggly beard and my inability to cultivate unidentifiable food stains on my shirts. So I'm stuck with uprights...

My post wasn't directed toward you, I should have quoted the geezer I was replying to. Thats hilarious though..

What about a 29 inch mountain bike? You could use road tires and still get some suspension to cushion the ride.

That's all well and good, but quite different than claiming "Your teeth will rattle no matter what your age when riding a Trek FX bike," right?

After all, the FX is a just slacked-out road frame with flat bars and 700c wheels. There's nothing special about that bike that makes it more harsh/more uncomfortable than a myriad of road or cross bikes made out of a variety of materials.

We're discussing riding bikes on pavement after all.

p.s. mccoine, I'm unable to ride a recumbent due to challenges relating to growing a long scraggly beard and my inability to cultivate unidentifiable food stains on my shirts. So I'm stuck with uprights...

FWIW -- and believe me it isn't much in the scheme of things -- I converted a Trek FX to a fixed gear bike using an ENO hub. I added drops and changed out the crank (to a Sugino XD) and you know what? It was a fine way to tool around the urban landscape! OK, stiff I'll grant you -- particularly when I hit potholes. But rolling with WTB Slickasaurauses on the WTB rims I had a blast while it lasted.

Omgosh, let's all debate whether a cruiser bike rattles our teeth or not on smooth pavement. Superimportantissue here. Someone sticky this thread.

This thread is about people actually riding bicycles, so why are you even participating?

Isn't there another donut somewhere waiting for you to inhale it?
But really, how do YOU find time to ride during your busy schedule of discussing important "bike issues" on bikeforums?

Nah, there is no donut. You ate it, how selfish.

I'm '66,I'm 40 and I ride a fully. I'm such a loser.


......not becuse of my age or my bike thats just what my kids tell me.

I was out west visiting a friend of mine who was training for a fight in Vegas when a 42 year old man rode a cruiser bike into the facility. Lots of cyclists types train there, and they were all like "What joker rides that cruiser bike?" And then the man locked it up, and voices were silenced:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e7/Randy_cropped.JPG

Who is that? A fighter or pro sports guy?

Randy couture, ufc hall of famer.

Ah, the ole "you made me look like an idiot again so you must not have time to ride" fallacy.
Similar to your ASSumption that I don't ride no?


p.s. Why am I not surprised that you "think" (I use that term very loosely) that "cruiser bikes" are being discussed?
What kind of bike is a Trek FX anyway, pete? road? mtb? cruiser?

You were disputing someone's remark about his teeth rattling while riding his trek cruiser (aka road bike with slack geometry) on the road. Like it matters?

I don't know of a Metro Park in Michigan that officialy lets you ride off road. Gotta go to the State Parks for that.

You've proven that you ride infrequently, and poorly at that, by your own posts. Or were you lying?

If you're referring to posts in the past when my old trek 930 was disabled, yes. Since the new bike I clocked in over a 100 miles before switching out frames and have ridden with a bf member a few times recently. So any claims that I don't ride are just silly, but tell yourself whatever you want.

You're just proven my point quite nicely.
In you're mind, I'm sure you think so.

Fun chattin' with you petey. I'll save a donut out for you.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o286/Flycrow/up.jpg

fight! fight ! fight!