Hybrid Bicycles - Trek 7.3 FX vx Giant TCX 2

I'm looking for a do-it-all hybrid bike, but if I had to choose I'd prefer a faster, lighter bike rather than a heavy-duty mtn bike.

I'll be riding paved roads, dirt roads, & logging roads.

What's the big difference between these 2 bikes? One is considered a road bike, the other a cyclocross bike. Which one should I get? Thanks.

Trek 7.3 FX – Road Bike ($639)
Frame FX Alpha Black Aluminum
Fork FX Alloy w/tapered wall thickness, straight blades, Clix dropouts
Wheels
Wheels Alloy front hub, Shimano RM30 rear hub; Bontrager Nebula, alloy 32-hole rims
Tires Bontrager Race Lite Hard-Case, 700x32c
Drivetrain
Shifters Shimano EF60 trigger, 8 speed
Front Derailleur Shimano M191
Rear Derailleur Shimano Deore
Crank Shimano M361 48/38/28 w/chainguard
Cassette Shimano HG40 11-32, 8 speed
Pedals Nylon body w/alloy cage
Components
Saddle Bontrager H1
Seat Post Bontrager Nebula
Handlebars Bontrager SSR, 25mm rise
Stem Bontrager SSR, 10 degree
Headset Aheadset Slimstak w/semi-cartridge bearings, sealed
Brakeset Avid SD-3 w/Shimano EF60 levers

Giant TCX 2 – CycloCross Bike ($869)
frame ALUXX SL-Grade Aluminum
fork Alloy, OverDrive Steerer
handlebar Giant Connect, 31.8
stem Giant Connect
seatpost Giant Connect, 30.9
saddle Giant Performance Road, Men's
pedals Not Included
shifters Shimano Sora
front derailleur Shimano Sora
rear derailleur Shimano Tiagra
brakes Tektro CR-720, cyclocross specific
brake levers Shimano Sora
cassette SRAM PG 950 11x26, 9-speed
chain Shimano HG-73
cranks FSA Tempo Compact, 34/50
bb FSA Cartridge
rims Giant CR41
hubs Formula Cartridge Bearing, Shimano R2200, 32h
spokes 14g Stainless
tires Kenda Small Block Eight, 700x35 Folding 120TPI
extras Top Bar Tektro RL721 cyclocross specific brake lever

Here's a link for that Giant CX bike- http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/model/tcx.2/3889/36630/. Personally, I'd advise you to ride both and get the one that feels more fun to you. That being said, I'll throw out a couple of questions/observations.

1. If you want to use fenders or racks at any time, the Trek will be far and away easier to mount those to.
2. Do you have hills where you live? What about your fitness level? The gearing on the Trek is more forgiving for those who have hills or who aren't in the best of shape.

Here's a link for that Giant CX bike- http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/model/tcx.2/3889/36630/. Personally, I'd advise you to ride both and get the one that feels more fun to you. That being said, I'll throw out a couple of questions/observations.

1. If you want to use fenders or racks at any time, the Trek will be far and away easier to mount those to.
2. Do you have hills where you live? What about your fitness level? The gearing on the Trek is more forgiving for those who have hills or who aren't in the best of shape.

I probably wouldn't have a clue as to which one feels better since I haven't ridden a bike in about 15 years. Probably hard to tell which will feel better long-term after a short test ride.

We have lots of hills here in Oregon. I'm 39 and about average or slightly below average fitness, but I just tore some ligaments in my knee and I'm doing physical therapy. I thought I'd take up a new hobby which will strengthen my leg muscles & not be hard on my knees. No more basketball for me; it's not worth it.

I've looked at so many bikes it's all kind of confusing now. I've narrowed it down to a hybrid bike which leans towards the road side of the equation. It's just that with the Trek a couple people said it would be just fine on logging roads if I change the tires, but a couple other people said no way would they take it on a logging road, so I'm confused.

The cyclocross, on the other hand, are supposedly fine on a logging road and fast on the paved road. I just don't see the big difference between the 2 bikes if they had the same tires on for instance. Why would one bike be ok and the other not? They don't seem that different.

It's going to be easier to go faster on the Giant but it's also less of a "do-it-all" bike.

Of course, if I were going to be riding a lot of non-paved surfaces I would just prefer to have a mountain bike.

Given the additional info, I still stand behind the Trek as the one that best suits your needs for now.

You are in the rainy PNW, you're gonna want fenders. You are rehabbing a knee- the gearing on the Trek would probably be as easy or as hard as you can tolerate. You may or may not be in physical shape to fully exploit the gearing of the Giant.

That comment that some people wouldn't take the FX off of pavement? Take it with a grain of salt. The FX is more than capable of doing light off road duty. Wouldn't do any technical singletrack, but fire/logging roads should be okay.

As I haven't had the joy of riding on logging roads or the displeasure of rehabbing a knee, I'm not entirely sure that I would ride logging roads with a bad knee...

Given the additional info, I still stand behind the Trek as the one that best suits your needs for now.

You are in the rainy PNW, you're gonna want fenders. You are rehabbing a knee- the gearing on the Trek would probably be as easy or as hard as you can tolerate. You may or may not be in physical shape to fully exploit the gearing of the Giant.

That comment that some people wouldn't take the FX off of pavement? Take it with a grain of salt. The FX is more than capable of doing light off road duty. Wouldn't do any technical singletrack, but fire/logging roads should be okay.

As I haven't had the joy of riding on logging roads or the displeasure of rehabbing a knee, I'm not entirely sure that I would ride logging roads with a bad knee...

I think I'm just about sold on the FX. I don't think I'm quite ready for anything but pavement riding until my knee gets better, but hopefully in another month or 2 or 3. Now when will Trek have a sale so I can get a bargain? The store around here wants the MSRP for one. I've never paid MSRP for anything.

For the most part LBS have an attitude about getting MSRP for their bikes and have very few sales other than model year switch out. Then it isn't much of a sale so good luck with that part. Seems like the Trek 7.3 FX is a good choice.

Very soon - usually Aug-Sep-Oct - trying to move previous years inventory.

Check other Trek stores in your area, also - some do better than others.

I returned to cycling after 15 years almost 3 months ago. I am 40 and in average physical shape. I bought the Trek FX 7.2 and it was a great way to get started cycling. The reason I bought a hybrid is that wanted to ride in the park and with my kids in a more relaxed position at times.

What I learned is that I did not do as much park or off road riding as I thought I would. I did a lot more road riding and the Trek was okay for that. The bike was stolen about 3 weeks ago and I went out and tried to get a dedicated road bike- CAAD9. While at the LBS I tried out the 2011 Giant TCX 1. I found it more comfortable than the CAAD9. I use it on the road and also have used it on the same trails I used the FX on with no issues. It's much faster and easier to ride hills due to the lower weight to me.

Yes there was a big difference in price between the FX7.3 and the TCX1 but in the end I am very happy with my new purchase.

I recently looked at a Trek 7.5 FX and a Giant Rapid 2. If I where to chose between them more than likely I would opt for the Giant Rapid 2 due to the more roadie type feeling of the bike with the added advantage of a more up right riding position which may be easier on this old back.

So the more I read I don't see the point of a hybrid bike after reading about cyclocross bikes.
Apparently they are faster on the road, and they are better on the trails.

Why would I choose anything but a cyclocross for a combination of paved road/light-moderate trail riding?

If you do get the hybrid I highly recommend you get ergon grips. That was the best investment I made to my FX.

If you do get the hybrid I highly recommend you get ergon grips. That was the best investment I made to my FX.

So you've had both the hybrid I'm looking at and the cyclocross I'm looking at.

Were they equal on a trail (like a dirt road, logging road, fire road)?

Any advantages to the FX over the TCX, or is the TCX better in all categories?