Northern California - Bike Help Please...

I am looking to get back in to bicycling. I recently had heart surgery and can't stand running, but used to bike and am excitied about getting back to it. I recently got rid of a mountain bike and have narrowed my choices to a Kona Dew Deluxe or a Trek 7.3 FX.
Any help, advice, suggestions would be appreciated.

The 7.3 FX is reviewed well. Actually just gave that as a gift to my brother in IL, who is also looking to start riding a bit. He likes it, but it's so new it's hard to rate reliability or anything.

Thank you Yaduf

Congratulations on a successful surgery and an opportunity to keep on living. I commend you for wanting to ride. Whatever bike you get, also purchase a heart monitor and talk to your cardiologist about sustained (ideal) and maximum heart rates. He/she will give you the numbers. Also, start out easy. Don't know what you did in rehabilitation, so also ask about the frequency and length of each exercise on your bike. That, coupled with Dean Ornish's books, and a modified lifestyle of cooking/eating, should put you on a long road to living well.
Well done

Hey Vert!

May I recommend testriding many bikes - take your tape and notepad with, noting the critical fit measurement(s); if no else, with the pedal axle to seat top (along the seat tube+seat post centerline) set to your height (figure that dimension out - what is too much, then come back enough that your hips don't rock, then down a bit more, at least for a while), note the distance from the seat to bars.

A good shop will let you get a good ride in. I know it's tough to walk away, but, well, you can't buy a bike from every shop. You can buy some stuff you need anyway, like levers, patch kit, shoes, pump, minitool, seatbag, etc.

There are several dimensions to consider for fit; the seat goes up&down, yeah, and fore to aft a bit, but the frame won't stretch!

IMO, well after th' fit, is the build. There are tradeoffs.

Besides figuring out your cockpit dimensions, how do the bikes feel? Take your time, and, along the way, check out the shops, listen, learn, and have fun!

Testride.

Vault Guru,
Thanks for the words of encouragement. I do have a heart rate watch/monitor that I check pretty regularly. I will pace myself and build up to longer rides. I have changed my diet a lot, but even my cardiologist says sometimes you just have to try the tri-tip and eat salad the next day.

Spiduhman,
In addition to the 7.3 FX and Dew Deluxe, I have ridden a couple other trek models, a couple of the specialized globe models, a jamis, and a couple others that escape me now. All in all, it seems like the 7.3 FX may fit and ride the best for my money.

Thank you to all that replied.

After deliberation and numerous test rides, I ended up purchasing the Trek 7.3 FX. I ordered it in black, had a rear rack added to it and bought a wireless computer. I picked it up last night and got in a short five mile ride before darkness set in. Looking forward to many more miles...