Hybrid Bicycles - Trek 7.5 fx- commute bike

great commuter bike- i just took it in for a 2500 mile service (i purchased it in April).
i needed new brake pads and a new chain, other than than my lbs said the bike looked great
i had some initial concerns about the durability of the paired spoke wheels but they've held up well-
no broken spokes and no truing needed thus far.
this bike is a pleasure to ride and great for commuting. here's to next 2500!

I'm planning to buy a Trek FX 7.5 sometime before the spring. Glad to hear your positive comments.

lshaped - good to hear your positive feedback. I can see the bike lasting an insane amount of miles with the usual upkeep - tires, brake pads, etc.

gl on the next 2500!

lshaped - good to hear your positive feedback. I can see the bike lasting an insane amount of miles with the usual upkeep - tires, brake pads, etc.

gl on the next 2500!


i figure it's always helpful to give positive experiences rather than just point out the negative-
hey, i haven't seen any feedback lately from you on your new 7.7- how's it going.
i also noticed you're in times square- when i lived in CT i used to love eating at carmine's

Well can be mount front suspension fork on 7.5 (or other FX) ... did any one think about that ?!

I'm confused by this..[QUOTE]Well can be mount front suspension fork on 7.5 (or other FX) ... did any one think about that ?!/QUOTE]

I have a 7.3 and i love it.. not quite a hundred miles yet, but it has been a blast to ride!

Well can be mount front suspension fork on 7.5 (or other FX) ... did any one think about that ?!
Wat?

Well can be mount front suspension fork on 7.5 (or other FX) ... did any one think about that ?!

I do hope that English is not your native language.

The main thing I dislike about my 7.5 is that it is too 'easy' to ride. I have to ride it much faster or much further than the ATB to get the same workout. OTOH, it is very nice to have on days I am not feeling up to a hard ride.

i figure it's always helpful to give positive experiences rather than just point out the negative-
hey, i haven't seen any feedback lately from you on your new 7.7- how's it going.
i also noticed you're in times square- when i lived in CT i used to love eating at carmine's


Cool - I walk by Carmines sometimes on my way home from work.

Sad and embarassed to say this but i've only put about 80 miles on my 7.7 since august when i got the bike. i took it out on saturday but came home immediately because it was like 40 degrees out and i did not wear gloves! :roflmao2:

anyway, the bike is still fantastic. i just hope i will be able to get out more on it. things just really picked up with work and school not to mention i dont ride at night. now with the winter here, it's essentially getting really really dark and it's only 5pm. =/ i want to get ergon gc3 handgrips for it over the winter and take it out on some bike trails out in long island.

i hope others are using and enjoying their bikes far more than i am.

The main thing I dislike about my 7.5 is that it is too 'easy' to ride. I have to ride it much faster or much further than the ATB to get the same workout. OTOH, it is very nice to have on days I am not feeling up to a hard ride.


...add some weight.

waynesworld (http://www.bikeforums.net/member.php?u=38187) ofc it is not my native language...
well question was written i working rush (like now) ..... back to bike
I ride lots of time on gravel and off road (about 40%) and 60% on asphalt(to work), that is why i would like to have front suspension .... i hope speed and enjoyment of ride will stay, any suggestions ? will that strongly reduce speed and balance of bike ?

tnx ...

sry on my english....

I think the statement was "Can he mount a suspension fork on the 7.5?"

Taken in other languages, words are commonly in different locations in sentences.

Don't worry, Error, it will get better --- and keep contributing to the forum ...

Where are you located?

Thanks Error. That is perfectly understandable. I just get tired of the people who are native English speakers and still type like they aren't :)

As far as your question, I have no idea, but I don't know why not. I do know that Kona makes a version of the Dew with a front shock (Dew FS, I believe), so it seems doable.

i ride lots of time on gravel and off road (about 40%) and 60% on asphalt(to work), that is why i would like to have front suspension .... i hope speed and enjoyment of ride will stay, any suggestions ? will that strongly reduce speed and balance of bike ?



http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2788/trek970a.jpg (http://img222.imageshack.us/i/trek970a.jpg/)http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/trek970a.jpg/1/w640.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img222/trek970a.jpg/1/)

Instead of a front suspension fork try a "Thudbuster" seatpost. Less added weight and no loss of pedaling efficiency.

http://www.thudbuster.com/products.html

Tnx Wanderer :) Im form Croatia (EU) ... Slavic languages are different for sentence construction and i didnt use english for some time (I thik it is visible :) )

Well idea is to reduce vibrations and pressure on rims, frame and other mechanics of bike, os i can use him for CC with 700x35 (or any other 700x...) tires.
FX 7.6 was my first choice for new bike for some time .... now im in doubt to buy just a new frame and choose my own bike parts .... :)

KShep tnx for suggestion i will explore about Thudbuster on net ....

once more sry (smiley with red red cheeks) :)

...add some weight.

ooooo! I see that and read 'eat more pie' ;)

[B]
I ride lots of time on gravel and off road (about 40%) and 60% on asphalt(to work), that is why i would like to have front suspension .... i hope speed and enjoyment of ride will stay, any suggestions ? will that
It almost sounds like you want 2 different bikes for 2 different ride types. You cant really add a heavier suspension fork to a 7.5 without making it heavier and slower. Personally, I dont think a suspension fork does much until you are doing serious off road/MTB type stuff. It does add weight and absorb some energy though.

I have talked to a technician from Trek 6 months ago and he said the bike will accept a suspension fork and the part will cost about $250 - $300 more or less but however, a suspension fork will alter the geometry of the bike design.not recommanded,that's what the technician said.

I have talked to a technician from Trek 6 months ago and he said the bike will accept a suspension fork and the part will cost about $250 - $300 more or less but however, a suspension fork will alter the geometry of the bike design.not recommanded,that's what the technician said.

Yes, bike geometry is generally "corrected" for suspension forks. For a mixture of asphalt and road your best best would be to put Schwalbe Big Apple tyres on the bike - these are fast and bouncy. The 7.5 isn't designed for the sort of offroad that requires a suspension fork.

It almost sounds like you want 2 different bikes for 2 different ride types.

Well yes, that was idea to replace tires and have bike capable of going off road ....

KungPaoSchwinn & meanwhile tnx for your posts .... that is very important, i gues it is clear now that FX are not made to have suspension fork ...

Well than i have to try something different, buy frame and start form zero :)
Frame suggestions are welcome .... :innocent:

(sry for so many questions but im new in bike construction and have lot to learn)

Error

Error: Did you check out the Kona Dew FS? Or are Konas not available where you are?

Well yes i have just check ... nice bike I will take him as one of options for a new bike (here is winter so i have some time for exploring bike market :) )
<uh this scandium Kula supreme is realy nice frame but it is 600$ here - little too much for something I actually dont need :) >

Well yes i have just check ... nice bike I will take him as one of options for a new bike (here is winter so i have some time for exploring bike market :) )
<uh this scandium Kula supreme is realy nice frame but it is 600$ here - little too much for something I actually dont need :) >

Kula does look nice, if you want 26 inch wheels.

I just looked at the Dew FS for this year, and it has a very odd sloping top tube. I don't believe they looked like that last year.

Well don't think i will buy bike with 26" wheels, this will make me slow :)

waynesworld (and others) any suggestions for a frame ? i'm thinking about more expensive way to get bike .... :)

Thanks for sharing how the 7.5 has done so far as a commuter. I'd like to know more details and have some questions. Was it used mostly for paved roads? How did it perform in the rain? What sort of maintenance did you perform on your own, and how regular was the upkeep? What, if any, modifications were done on it to accommodate your use?

Thanks for sharing how the 7.5 has done so far as a commuter. I'd like to know more details and have some questions. Was it used mostly for paved roads? How did it perform in the rain? What sort of maintenance did you perform on your own, and how regular was the upkeep? What, if any, modifications were done on it to accommodate your use?


my commute is 21 miles each way- half of it is on limestone rail trail, the other half is pavement.
i was going to swap out the race lite tires for something with tread but i have to say the stock tires have handled well and are bulletproof. i've ridden over glass, crushed soda cans etc and no flats.
it performed well in the rain- a little slower than normal but i think it was just me trying to be careful
as for maintenance-not alot was done- every month i'd degrease it and re-lube, that's all. upkeep was minimal.

as for mods- i changed the seat immediately to a specialized avatar- the stock seat is horrendous. to much give. i also changed the stem, the seatpost and put some crank brother's candys on it. i don't care for the stock grips but i'm waiting for ergon to come out with their cork biogrips- they should be out in february and are clamped on instead of glued. i sometimes ride it in the bullhorn position which causes the stock grips to rotate around. i've tried to re-glue but no luck.

if you're thinking of getting one i'd recommend it- the 7.5 is the sweet spot for the fx line. it has all the upgrades you'd need. anything more is overkill IMO and unneccessary

Well don't think i will buy bike with 26" wheels, this will make me slow :)

waynesworld (and others) any suggestions for a frame ? i'm thinking about more expensive way to get bike .... :)

I'll look around. I've never really looked for a frame for a suspension fork, though. I'm sure someone has.

It almost sounds like you want 2 different bikes for 2 different ride types. You cant really add a heavier suspension fork to a 7.5 without making it heavier and slower. Personally, I dont think a suspension fork does much until you are doing serious off road/MTB type stuff. It does add weight and absorb some energy though.

I highly doubt the poster will ride in serious off road stuff. Not many does. And if you do, you'd likely get a proper MTB.
However in the urban riding areas such as me commuting, I find the front suspension helps with hoping on and off curbs, above ground roots (path) and the dreaded potholes. However if you can avoid such situations, then no reason for front suspension.

Well i think you are right Wunderkind i wont use him for serious off road, some gravel, forest road .... thing like that, although first idea was to try make one bike for two different ride types. (im long time on bike but only last few months i have started seriously explore bike mechanics&geometry )
But on the other hand I like to have suspension for urban (and off road ofc) ride .... im forced to go across curbs on my way to work so it means 5 days in week ...
I have almost bought 7.6 2 months ago ..... whole FX series is beautiful but don't think it would best choice for me :(

Bob, if I were you I would skip the 7.5 and go to the 7.6 FX that I just bought. I picked up the 2010 model and LOVE IT. The ISO zone, as gimiky as it sounds, really works at taking up vibrations. It's totally worth the extra money. I ended up upgrading the seat post to carbon and the shifters and brake levers to XT for an extra $250 bucks and it was money well spent the bike is a dream to ride. Just my two cents.

i don't care for the stock grips but i'm waiting for ergon to come out with their cork biogrips- they should be out in february and are clamped on instead of glued. i sometimes ride it in the bullhorn position which causes the stock grips to rotate around. i've tried to re-glue but no luck.
Thanks for your response. You've been riding 21 miles each way on the stock grips? Hasn't this been discomforting? Have you wished for drop bars? Also, is the 7.5 FX fast enough to carry the image of a 'flat-bar road bike'?

Thanks for your response. You've been riding 21 miles each way on the stock grips? Hasn't this been discomforting? Have you wished for drop bars? Also, is the 7.5 FX fast enough to carry the image of a 'flat-bar road bike'?

yes, i've been using the stock grips for my long commute- the issue is the grips keep turning themselves around despite my best attempts to have them glued into place. the ride is not uncomfortable- i have 2 hand positions i alternate between. the only time i wish i had drop bars is when riding into a heavy headwind. i have a specialized roubaix when i feel like riding a true road bike. my thought is it's the engine that really powers the bike- not the bike itself. sure weight is a factor but it's conditioning/training that ultimately determines how fast you are. i took my fx out this past weekend for a non-commuting ride. i rode in the 18-19mph range for the 20 mile ride which i think is good. my road bike normally averages closer to 20mph to give you a quick idea.

Thanks. Your posts have been helpful, and the experience you've shared will probably be useful when I look around for my second commute bike. :thumb: