I just ordered a new 08 Trek 7.5fx yesterday, and am anxiously waiting its arrival later this week.
I pick it up the last day of the Trek Super Sale yesterday, so I received the 12 months 0 financing.

Any way I was very concerned about the low spoke count on the wheels.
I spoke with every lbs in the area, and they all assured me that I will not have any problems, and that the wheels are very strong
The lbs where I bought my bike assured me that if there are any issues that it will be under warranty for the 1st year.
He also agreed that if I have any problems next year when they are out of warranty he would sell me a new set a cost.


I was looking for any suggestions from the group on anything I should have them do to the wheels before I pick it up.
I have read in past posts the stock tires are no good. Why?
Why are Bontrager tires not Clyde friendly?

I have listed the stock components below.


FRAME FX Alpha Hydroformed Aluminum
FORK Bontrager Satellite Plus, carbon
WHEELS
WHEELS Bontrager SSR
TIRES Bontrager Race Lite Hardcase, 700x32c
DRIVETRAIN
SHIFTERS Shimano Deore, 9 speed
FRONT DERAILLEUR Shimano Deore
REAR DERAILLEUR Shimano Tiagra
CRANK Shimano M443 Octalink 48/36/26
CASSETTE SRAM PG950 11-26, 9 speed
PEDALS Alloy
COMPONENTS
SADDLE Bontrager Race Basic Lux
SEAT POST Bontrager Sport
HANDLEBARS Bontrager Crowbar Sport, 25mm rise
STEM Bontrager Select, 10 degree
HEADSET Aheadset Slimstak w/semi-cartridge bearings, sealed
BRAKESET Avid SD-3 w/Tektro levers

how heavy are you?

The Bontrager tires are prone to flats and the saddle wont be very comfortable over a short ride.

Sorry... I left out that I weigh 320

at that weight I'd have them build up a set for you, probably using deep va and 36 spokes. A good LBS should credit you the value of the opriginal wheels against new ones.

other option is to run them a while and hope for the best, but that can lead to some frustrating experiences.

At the very least, be sure they hand-tension the wheels before you take the bike out the door.

Skoper, look at BDingers thread on this bike and it's wheel issues or his blog!
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=325974

http://optifat.blogspot.com/

What would be a good tire to run with?

Also If I break a spoke, can I ride home like that, or do I have to walk my bike home?

This may be a stupid question, but I am a new rider.

On a side note.... I am down 15 pounds, and feel great.
No more running out of breath going up the stairs.

DO NOT ride those wheels at your weight. I'm serious, you are in for trouble, pain, and or suffering. I have no idea why shops are so #$!#!@ clueless in this respect, but they all seem to have drank some special kool-aid that allows wheels with no spokes to magically be the strongest thing on the planet.

I am at 360, and I was running a handbuilt and supposedly strong-as-all-get-out 32h rear wheel. Nothing but problems. When I rode a Pilot with 24's, I was almost scared when I put the power down, I could feel it moving around.

Now I don't mean to scare you, but really, those wheels won't hold up. And on a 24h wheel, if you break a spoke you are pretty much done. The wheel has lost 1/24th of it's support, which is pretty significant. To put it in perspective, when I lose 1 spoke on my 32h wheel, it is seriously wobbly. If I would lose two, I would just park it and get a ride.

That's the bad news. Good news is that you could get a set of 36h wheels that would be great, and last forever. Don't listen to your shop, I hate to call them idiots, but most shops really don't know what the needs of us larger folks are, and will try to steer you towards what they have in stock - not what you need.

The other good news is that the FX series has 135mm rear spacing, which may be russian to you, but means you can run "MTB" hubs - like the Deore series. These things are tough, and 36h versions are pretty affordable. You can get machine-built wheels with LX or XT hubs for around $200 for a set. Your should should/could build you a set for around that, I'd assume. And like others said, they should be able to credit you for the stock wheels - mine did - and apply that towards a new set. You'll likely only be $50-ish out of pocket with that in mind.

As far as tires, the stock Bontragers are good, just keep the pressure up. I have some sidewall issues caused by nobody else but me, as I let the pressure get below 70 a couple days. Run 'em at 110psi, and they'll roll.. FAST.

Now bear in mind that I don't mean to scare you. Aside from the wheel issues, I love my 7.3 FX. It can keep up with roadies, and rides pretty darn comfortably. I've put nearly 900 miles on it since March, and can't say I regret the purchase. But I *DO* regret not listening to the advice that was given to me on this forum, and purchasing 36h wheels for it.

What would be a good tire to run with?

Also If I break a spoke, can I ride home like that, or do I have to walk my bike home?

This may be a stupid question, but I am a new rider.

On a side note.... I am down 15 pounds, and feel great.
No more running out of breath going up the stairs.

Skoper, check your PM's!:D

I again paid a visit to the lbs today to discuss my issues with the wheels.

We decided to go with a set of 29'er over the stock

http://www.bontrager.com/Mountain/Wheelworks/Wheels/17278.php

I again paid a visit to the lbs today to discuss my issues with the wheels.

We decided to go with a set of 29'er over the stock

http://www.bontrager.com/Mountain/Wheelworks/Wheels/17278.php

i think those are not going to work so good.

The 29er is a 29" mountain bike rim. The fx series uses a 700 sized wheel (like a road bike) you need something in that size...

i think those are not going to work so good.

The 29er is a 29" mountain bike rim. The fx series uses a 700 sized wheel (like a road bike) you need something in that size...

Actually, 29er and 700c are one in the same. I'm technically running a 29er rear rim on my Trek 7.3FX - a Sun RhynoLite - with 700x32 tire :). The "MTB" wheels are generally just wider and heavier. However, that brings me to another point.. Skoper.. get them to back those. I think you'll probably be OK, but I had problems as a big fella on Bontrager 32h rear wheels. Granted, the one I had problems with was the Camino, but same difference. Also I wonder how wide those are? Make sure they'll be safe enough for the 700x32 tires.

My suggestion is to ask them to get you a Velocity Deep-V 36h or Salsa Delgado 36h rim and lace it to a Deore/LX/XT hub in the rear. The front would likely be fine.

I read the above with interest, and took a peek at ebay --

http://cgi.ebay.com/Shimano-Deore-XT-disc-Salsa-Delgado-X-36h-29er-wheels_W0QQitemZ290145102567QQihZ019QQcategoryZ58088QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem