Recreational & Family - Well...I "finally" got a bike.

For what it's worth, I picked up a bike this afternoon. I got a Gary Fisher Monona. I test rode the Trek 7.3fx, 7.5fx, and a XO 1. They felt fine, but then the sales person suggested the GF. Ahhh...it was wonderful. In the event you're like I was and dithering back and forth on what to get for city/trail biking, give it a shot.

For what it's worth, I picked up a bike this afternoon. I got a Gary Fisher Monona. I test rode the Trek 7.3fx, 7.5fx, and a XO 1. They felt fine, but then the sales person suggested the GF. Ahhh...it was wonderful. In the event you're like I was and dithering back and forth on what to get for city/trail biking, give it a shot.
Congrats on the new bike Kamaboko. :)

Congratulations. I recently picked up a GF Mendota, which is in the next bike up in the GF Fast City line. I love it. It is light enough and the carbon fork dampens the road buzz and it is stable at 40 mph on a downhill. I only wish it had lower gearing for the climbs around here. My legs are still not up to par. :-)

Hi,
I liked the Monona when I saw it at bikeshop up in the mtns - down here in the city, I've come across the Trek 7.3 and 7.5 fx models and now I'm torn. :eek:

What pushed you to the Monona vs. the Treks? I think the 7.3 is comparable price-wise.

The components seem similar. the Monona has Deore rear derailleur and Alivio shifters. I think the Trek has the same rear but not sure about its shifters?

The Trek 7.3 has a Bontrager Race Lite Hardcase, 700x32c wheel with Bontrager Camino rims.
The Monona has Bontrager Satellite Plus wheel and Alex AT 450 rims.
I don't know the differences between these wheelsets.

Any observations or advice is appreciated!!
thanks.

I wasn't swayed by any difference in components. In fact, with respect to that the Trek is quite similar. I just felt the GF was less squirrelly; better control over the bike.