Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - New bike, Trek 7.2 FX

My new commuter, 2008 Trek 7.2 FX. I also was interested in the Kona Smoke, Kona Dew, a couple of Raleigh hybrids, and the Jamis Comp. A lack of stock locally and long order waits/backorders, combined with the best customer service of all LBS's at Planet Bike on Rt 18 (trek dealer) pushed me toward the 7.2FX. I looked at the 7.3 as well, but couldn't justify the extra $Benjamin for a 10 mile roundtrip commute.

I'm 5'11" 300ish, and I haven't ridden in years aside from borrowing a bike from my old uni's bike program. It was a 7 speed ladies style comfort bike, and this is a definite improvement. I have been skateboarding the commute occasionally, but it is a bit too far to be practical on a daily basis. It is funny how I can skate (or even walk) that far pretty easily, but a mile or 2 on the bike and I'm beat at this point. I made the mistake of riding for half a mile with the saddle too low, and it wore my legs out and resulted in a tender rear-ender. Moved it higher and back some, and it is much better now.

Here are a couple of pics, I added front and rear blinkies, a frame pump and a bottle cage. A rear rack and some fenders may be in the future, but I'm not sure I'll need 'em since I rarely have to carry anything to work. The bike shop installed a weak little bell and left a kickstand on it, which works out good for me I reckon.

http://www.agileguitarforum.com/uploader/files/08trek72FXa.jpg
http://www.agileguitarforum.com/uploader/files/08trek72FXb.jpg

GOod lookin' bike! Congrats on the new purchase! You can always put some barends on if you find you want some different wrist/hand positions.

Man... there's nothing like a new set of wheels. Congrats.

Get rid of that seat post.

Get rid of that seat post.

Definately!!

Congrats!! It's a great bike. Got mine back in 2005 when it was a 7002FX and came in black lava color. I'll second the seat post replacement, I did a lot of bouncing with the suspension post. But no need to be changing things now, just enjoy the ride.

I have a 7.2 FX. I leave the seat post adjustment at the rigid position. It seems it is either rigid or mushy--nothing in between. But, the seat is surprisingly comfortable and the 28 mm tires cushion road shocks very well.

I just made a rear fender for mine from splitting some grey electrical conduit. I made a metal fitting to connect to the screw bosses above the rear brake on the seat stays. I made a 1/8" steel rod support for the back end of the fender and it attaches with screws near the axle. I find if I can keep water from going up my back most of the water from the front wheel splashes on the downtube and is not a big problem.

It is a fun bike to ride. Enjoy it. You will not be 300-ish a couple of years from now.

My post is in the rigid position... how do you make it springy, anyway? It's probably gonna be just dead weight.

Edit: I found the ring that adjust it.

I'll say this, I'm disappointed with the Blackburn Quadrant light, the normal price was $25, but I've done brighter/better lights DIY (they didn't look as good though). I'd expect that thing to cost maybe $10 for what you get. I'm gonna add DIY lights as well, any thoughts on where to stick 'em? Lots of options there.

http://www.blackburndesign.com/images/quadrant.jpg
Four super-bright LED's and all the light and run time you could ask for. Optically boosted center LED's light up what's ahead, and wide angle side LED's with side light pipes provide 180 degrees of visibility. You'll see the road, and drivers will see you. 110 hour runtime steady mode, 300 hour runtime flash mode. Batteries included. Water resistant. LED's: 4 White
Run Time (Steady/Flash): 110-300 hours
Batteries: 4 AA included
Part No. 112 282

Hi,

After a looong period of time during which i did not cycle - post teenage to age 43. I bought this same model bike in 2005.

This bike has got me from cycling a couple of km at the begining to 150km odd per week - plus 70km day rides..
not exactly hard core but I am working up to 100km a day. My ambition is to take up cycle touring once time/money considerations allow. Also considering 40km daily commute to work as means of spending
more time on the bike -- thats how much I love it!!.

I have added .. bottle cages *2, rear rack for panniers. Have had only one puncture in 2 years of
ownership.

What would I change? .. by next bike would have a flatter top tube - just for looks mind you. Flat top tube
bikes look sexy.

Lower gearing .. sometime even in 1:1 (28front/30rear) it can be a struggle climbing the steeper hills.

As someone else mentioned the saddle is surprisingly comfy - never had any bum ache/saddle sores - even
from day one -- however a sexy new saddle .. 'Charge saddles' have had good reviews.

I will also be going the MTB/SPD way hopefully by end of month.

Enjoy your bike.

I will also be going the MTB/SPD way hopefully by end of month.


+1 MTB shoes are easy to walk around in and SPD pedals are easy to clip in/out of. I have the m520 pedals and they are dual sided and very user friendly.

http://www.nexternal.com/icycles/images/PDM520.jpg

I got a 7.5FX a few weeks back, after the Urban Assault Vehicle got its front end rearranged. You don't need a fender for carrying stuff, but it's very useful for preventing skunk-tail if you're riding in the rain or on a wet road. I got a one of these (http://www.paragonsports.com/Paragon/Shop?DSP=40001&PCR=1:101:1014:10830&IID=6003-29118&brand=Sks&brandspage=Sks) for about 15 bucks -- it clips on so you can remove it if you don't need it.

If there is one thing that disappoints me about the 7.2 FX, it is the stock pedals. The dust cap came out of my left pedal within the first 20 miles of riding. The screws on the right pedal loosen after a few miles of riding, causing creaks and growns. I could replace them, but the bike is stored in another city and I ride it when I am there, which is less than one month per year.

A couple of weeks ago I was given an old road bike (they said 10 yrs old... thats a laugh, it is 70's or 80's style). I was going to build it back up, but the tires had major dry rot, and by the time I replaced everything I would have been in new bike $$$ territory. I may cannibalize the aluminum rack off of it temporarily, if I need it.

http://www.agileguitarforum.com/uploader/files/oldrdbike.jpg

Also, shouldn't there be lugs in these holes? I'm thinking the bike shop took them out while installing the frame pump and forgot to put them back in.
http://www.agileguitarforum.com/uploader/files/08trek72FXc.jpg

Mine dosn't have lugs in those holes. Nice bike by the way, enjoy the ride.

Same bike I bought 3 days ago :) I hope you're enjoying it as much as I am.

I know what you mean about being beat after a few miles, I'm 6'1 230lbs. I went 4mi the day after I got it and I could barely carry it up the stairs to my apartment when I got back.

I noticed I have a tendency to pedal like I did when I was a kid-- Spin like crazy for a short time to gather speed then coast. Way back when, I could put the pedals on the ground making hairpins, and it wasn't any big deal. It *kills* me now, I'll have to learn to spread the pedaling out, and relearn the appropriate amount of resistance to use. 10 yr old me would not be impressed!

Also, shouldn't there be lugs in these holes? I'm thinking the bike shop took them out while installing the frame pump and forgot to put them back in.
http://www.agileguitarforum.com/uploader/files/08trek72FXc.jpg
By lugs do you mean screws? Yes, mine came with screws in those holes. I do not know if the LBS put screws into the bosses or if they were that way from the factory. Go to this link (http://www.trekbikes.com/ca/en/bikes/2008/bike_path/fx/72fx/) and move the cursor over the bosses in the frame. You will see that screws are included in the factory picture.

Mine came with the screws on there.

Mine too

I bought one of these back in April, but I sprung for the Mocha Duo tone :)

It took me a few weeks to figure out the suspension seatpost... I didn't even realize I had one until recently. I noticed my seat had some sway in it, and thought maybe I had broken it. After messing around with it for a bit, I found the ring that adjusts the suspension (unbeknowst to me at the time), and locked it down and the seat didn't sway anymore. It was just a week or two ago that I found it it's actually a suspension seatpost :o

I also got the Quandrant... I purchased a Mars 3.0/Quadrant combo pack for 29.99. It's OK. It dimly lit up the road in the areas where the street lights were further apart (or the city had shut off every other one - to save energy I assume), but that's about it. I recently upgraded to a Dinotte 200L, which I was not impressed with initially... the light it casts barely anymore noticable than the Quadrant under the street lights... but when you get into the darker areas, it does a great job. I keep the Quadrant in my pannier just incase I need it.

Finally, I would encorage you to get a rack and trunk bag at the least. I also do not carry much to work, however I find the bag to be invaluable. The big thing is keeping all of your loose items with you. I put my badge, wallet, cellphone, keys, etc into a side zip pocket on my bag so that they don't fall out of my pockets on the way to/fom work. I also ordered a pair of Nashbar ATB panniers on sale, and just keep one installed on the left side. In it, I keep an Addias track jacket incase it gets cold or rains, pump, and the second pannier folded up incase I stop somewhere and need the extra storage.

My ride to work is only 2.5 miles, so I probably could do with out some of this stuff, but it sure makes for a nice ride.

Ahh, when I go for a 30 day checkup I'll get the bike shop to toss me a couple of extra screws then... seems like something they should have laying around, anyway.

Mesasone, where'd you find the nashbar panniers on sale? Are they still on sale? I liked the duotone, but the shop I preferred cust. service-wise didn't have 'em in stock.

Nashbar website, www.nashbar.com (http://www.nashbar.com) When I bought them, they were on sale for 74% off, so I got them for 19.99. They are on sale often for around 30 dollars, so wait for them to go on sale and do not pay more than that for them.

These are close to what I got - I don't see the ones I purchased, which aren't water proof, so maybe they stopped carrying them.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=600066&subcategory=60001004&brand=&sku=6997

I recently saw these on sale for 34.99, so I would just keep checking. Also, nashbar almost always has at least a 10% off coupon out there, sometimes 15% or 20%, so check for one of those as well.

I bought these (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=6983&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Show%20All%20Products) panniers on the cheap from them and they work out fine. Not waterproof and they aren't huge, but I put my stuff in plastic shopping bags in case and I don't carry all that much. Don't use 'em all the time but I got 'em for $16 with free shipping.

If you have trouble with the seat post slipping a little, try moving the rear reflector down to immediately above the seat post collar and tighten it. That should add just enough extra grip to keep it from slipping.

Water bottle screws are M5 metric thread screws. If you are in a hurry, almost any hardware store or Lowe's or Home Depot will have them.