Commuting - Shocks Vs. No Shocks

I am looking for a commuter to handle an 8 mile (one way) hilly commute though poorly maintained city streets. I think I have narrowed it down to the Trek 7300 (with Suspension) or Trek 7300FX(no suspension). Initially the idea of the shocks appealed to me, but I am worried about taking a hit on pedaling efficency, and speed. Any comments would be welcome. Thanks.

my vote would be no shocks. Susp seatpost fine, but no front-fork shocks, especially if you are climbing. Any time I got out of the saddle on my hybrid (trek 7500 with ruby susp fork) with shocks I felt like I was on a pogo stick, and all my effort was absorbed by the shock rather than being transmitted to the road. Also, weight of the fork sucks, and while weight isn't a big deal when you are adding 20 lbs of stuff for your commute, every little bit helps. Just my $.02

If you want a softer ride without loosing too much speed then there are always the schwalbe big apple tyres (http://www.schwalbetires.com/on_tour.php?Nickname=BIG%20APPLE&Image=TireImages/big_apple.gif) or something similar by specialized like the hemispheres. I ride over badly maintained cobbles at high speed most days and whilst there is some shaking it's acceptable and performance wise far preferable to a front shock.

I am looking for a commuter to handle an 8 mile (one way) hilly commute though poorly maintained city streets. I think I have narrowed it down to the Trek 7300 (with Suspension) or Trek 7300FX(no suspension). Initially the idea of the shocks appealed to me, but I am worried about taking a hit on pedaling efficency, and speed. Any comments would be welcome. Thanks.

This topic always comes to play whenever the cycle is hard Alu. In my opinion, the best Trek bike to handle this 8 mile commute though poorly maintained city streets is the 520. Yes, a heavy touring bike made of chromoly.

Another option to the suspension seat post would be a Brooks Champion flyer. In fact, I would get the Flyer over a cheap suspension seat post unless were're talking about a Thudbuster!

I can tell you this much, I shaved about 3-5 minutes off my 50 minute commute by dialing the shocks from the squishiest (which I had for comfort on broken city pavement) to the hardest. Go for shockless. If they can go for miles on cobblestones using high pressure narrow slicks in the TDF, slapping some fat tires on should be fine.

Another no shocks vote. They rob you of power and it's just another thing to break down.

I'd also stay away from any wheels with less than 32 spokes, go towards good kevlar lined *touring* style tires, and away from any adjustable stem (just another thing to break) I always tell folks to look for a cheaper, non suspension hybrid and be ready to buy stronger wheels/rims if the stock ones go bad.

Trek makes a fine bike, but look at Marin and Jamis as well if you have the chance. The Jamis Coda has a steel frame, no extra features you don't want and Marin makes a fine line of commuter bikes. I have a Fuji hybrid without suspention and thinner wheels-- a Sarges. But ther's also nothing wrong with the Trek 7000FX family, except I think all the stems are ajustable? (this can be fixed at the LBS-- just tell them the ajustable stem is crap and ask for a good deal on a soild one.)

Good luck

I swapped out my suspension seatpost and found that I was immediately one gear higher than previously (anywhere along a regular route) ... that thing was eating up my pedal strokes! As soon as I have the dinero I will consider losing the front suspension also ... I'm riding a low-end hybrid (Fisher, Tiburon), for a new fork.

g'luck

I will also say no shocks unless they have a lockout feature. I have only owned one bike with a shock and I will not buy another if I can avoid it. The bobbing on the street is extremely annoying. A wider tire with lower air pressure is a much better way to go if you want a softer ride. I currently run 700x38s at 70lbs on my old Schwinn Crossfit to soften the ride a bit.

use no suspension of any kind.

and dont' get a flippin hybrid!!! they don't have an aero position and are not tough!!

either be fast one a road/touring/cyclocross bike or be tough and slow one a mtb. the hybrid will be good at nothing!!

also, if you can spend more, getting some mavic city wheels or whatever they're called and a surly crossecheck frame/fork would be something to look at. but the wheels are like $360 together and the frame set would be another $400 (it includes the fork)... it would be expensive but also tough and fast.


but anyway do not go hybrid and do not get a suspension. with a hybrid you not only have weak non mtb wheels but you also have a crappy non aero seating postion. that will really eat up you speed.

Fixed steel forks vary hugely in their performance and comfort. A std hybrid fixed fork is heavy and very stiff. A touring grade fork is butted so it is lighter and springier. Avoid hi-tensile steel, go for chromoly or a reynolds steel.
I have taken a springy touring fork over many tracks and trails, with and without loads.

Trek 7300FX is an Alu frame with a Chromo frork. I'd say no to it.
A chromo frame, yes go non-suspension, Alu-go suspension.
1- Alu is worn by flexing.
2- Alu buzzes or rides stiff, unlike steel.

so out of the 2 posted, I'd go Trek 7300.

>jef.

I use a Marin Nail Trail; It's basically a hardtail aluminum MTB. I dial the shocks to their hardest setting and go. I do need to get a commuter bike though. I am thinking of building one up from scratch. :) Nothing fancy; Probably run around 1000 buxors.

Trek makes a fine bike, but look at Marin and Jamis as well if you have the chance. The Jamis Coda has a steel frame, no extra features you don't want and Marin makes a fine line of commuter bikes.

I'll second this - I have a 16 mile commute (one way), and there are a couple stretches of poorly maintained road...I have an '02 Jamis Nova (http://www.slammingrooves.com/images/bike2a.jpg), which has a steel frame (631 Reynolds, maybe?), but is still plenty light. I use 700x32 kevlar lined tires @ 75psi, and it handles the rough stretches quite well.