mtedson
08-02-10, 08:55 PM
Thoughts? Any help would be greatly appreciated! I will be going on a couple 15 mile rides a week. Thanks!
Hybrid Bicycles - Trek FX 7.3 vs Giant Rapid 3
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xoxoxoxoLive
08-02-10, 09:15 PM
Thoughts? Any help would be greatly appreciated! I will be going on a couple 15 mile rides a week. Thanks!
What has lead you to choose between these 2 bikes, 30 miles a week is not a lot,
You might be better off starting with something like this to see if you really want to
ride. You have 90 days to return it as long as you have proof of purchase.http://www.walmart.com/ip/Schwinn-Mens-Avenue-Hybrid-Bike/8399247
But it will need adjustments right out of the store, never adjusted properly..Takes about an
hour..:) Richard
What has lead you to choose between these 2 bikes, 30 miles a week is not a lot,
You might be better off starting with something like this to see if you really want to
ride. You have 90 days to return it as long as you have proof of purchase.http://www.walmart.com/ip/Schwinn-Mens-Avenue-Hybrid-Bike/8399247
But it will need adjustments right out of the store, never adjusted properly..Takes about an
hour..:) Richard
Dodgensince74
08-02-10, 09:16 PM
those 2 bikes were the final contenders on my bike list when I was looking for my new bike. I ended up with the 7.3 but still wonder about the rapid, but I probably would have done the same if I had bought the rapid instead of the 7.3. I really liked them both and couldn't come up with anything that made one stand out as being better then the other. I ended up with the trek though because the discount I got and the after purchase sevice that was offered from the lbs that sold me my trek. Good luck
irclean
08-02-10, 09:18 PM
It depends on what kind of riding you do. The Trek has MTB gearing so it would be great for climbing, or loading up with racks and panniers and going on a day trip. The Giant has road gearing so it is built for speed. That's not to say the Trek wouldn't give the Giant a run for its money, it's just that the Giant's close gear ratios would be great for spinning and seeing how fast you can get from point A to B.
The Trek has an all-aluminum frameset which sometimes translates into a jarring ride. The Giant's chromoly fork may help to smooth things out. To me the Giant seems slightly better equipped with its double-wall rims and cartridge BB, but the bikes are quite comparable in terms of value per dollar. The acid test is going to be getting out there and test riding each bike. Other considerations should be the reputation of the LBS that you want to buy your bike from and what sort of warranty they offer. 2011 models should be coming out soon so you may just find a good deal if you shop around. Don't forget to budget some extra dough for all your accessories!
The Trek has an all-aluminum frameset which sometimes translates into a jarring ride. The Giant's chromoly fork may help to smooth things out. To me the Giant seems slightly better equipped with its double-wall rims and cartridge BB, but the bikes are quite comparable in terms of value per dollar. The acid test is going to be getting out there and test riding each bike. Other considerations should be the reputation of the LBS that you want to buy your bike from and what sort of warranty they offer. 2011 models should be coming out soon so you may just find a good deal if you shop around. Don't forget to budget some extra dough for all your accessories!
AdelaaR
08-03-10, 05:22 AM
What irclean said :)
EsoxLucius
08-03-10, 09:26 AM
I'd look into the Jamis Coda Sport as well. You can get the 2009 for $526 delivered which has better road gearing and components than the 2010. Steel is real.
irclean
08-03-10, 09:53 AM
I'd look into the Jamis Coda Sport as well. You can get the 2009 for $526 delivered which has better road gearing and components than the 2010. Steel is real.
Jamis makes some darn nice rides. And yes... steel is definitely real.
Jamis makes some darn nice rides. And yes... steel is definitely real.
Hexenmeister
08-03-10, 11:12 AM
I just bought a Giant Rapid 3, and I am very happy with it.
I wanted the road gearing for more speed, plus the flat handlebars for more maneuverability. I don't have any Trek dealers nearby so I didn't test ride any of the FX line for comparison but I did ride bikes with similar gearing and the Rapid felt "zippier" than all of them. (I originally test rode the Rapid 2 with carbon fiber fork and better components. It was really nice, but almost $400 more than the 3.)
The only problem I noticed initially is that its supposed to come with a Sora rear derailleur per Giant's website, but apparently they're now shipping them with the Shimano 2300 components instead. Nevertheless, three weeks later, everything is still shifting smoothly.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v290/brucesato/183.jpg
I thought the stock saddle was pretty bad, so I replaced it with a Specialized BG2. Since this picture I've also added the Origin 8 drop bar ends. Next upgrade will likely be clipless pedals.
I wanted the road gearing for more speed, plus the flat handlebars for more maneuverability. I don't have any Trek dealers nearby so I didn't test ride any of the FX line for comparison but I did ride bikes with similar gearing and the Rapid felt "zippier" than all of them. (I originally test rode the Rapid 2 with carbon fiber fork and better components. It was really nice, but almost $400 more than the 3.)
The only problem I noticed initially is that its supposed to come with a Sora rear derailleur per Giant's website, but apparently they're now shipping them with the Shimano 2300 components instead. Nevertheless, three weeks later, everything is still shifting smoothly.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v290/brucesato/183.jpg
I thought the stock saddle was pretty bad, so I replaced it with a Specialized BG2. Since this picture I've also added the Origin 8 drop bar ends. Next upgrade will likely be clipless pedals.