Robin48

Well, I think I am going to buy a Trek 7.6 or 7.7 tomorrow. The 7.6 is about 600 cheaper. Any opinions?

Rick@OCRR

Don't like the flat bars or the quasi-suspension, but if that's the kind of bike you're looking for, well, you could do worse!

Rick / OCRR

Robin48

Don't feel like I'm ready for the drops yet. So for now upright it is.

stapfam

That may change in a few years- or months- but this style of bike seems suitable for road riding so no problems. Looking at the two bikes-The 7.7 does have better specced parts on it and is probably a couple of lbs lighter- but $600 worth?

The bike overral- for the style it is- does seem expensive. But have you tried other bikes or even other manufacturers? Others may put me right here but there are other bikes around like the Specialised Sirrus and the Giant FCR that may do the job better.

AND--- It is the end of the season. These are 09 bikes that may be available in the end of season sale that should be starting right now. Ask the LBS about these special deals- you could save a lot of money or upgrade to a better bike for the same amount.

Pamestique 

You know, you can ride on top of drop handlebars... almost like a flat bar. In addition, if you need to be more upright, you can add a riser stem. I say this only because not limiting yourself to flat bars gives you more choices.

Of course, you know your style of riding. If you plan to do short, easy, bike path type rides, the bike is perfect. If there is any possibility you might want to do something more challenging, consider a road bike and just deal with the discomfort for the first few rides or so. But bottom line, whatever gets you out riding is best!

And just checked online - $1200 for the 7.6 - wow seems alot for a comfort bike... I am not trying to discouraging you - although it seems like I am... sorry. I just have too many friends that buy those types of bikes and within months are discouraged when they can't keep up with others.

I checked the Trek Website... for alittle more than the 7.6 you can get a Pilot 2.1. Just add a 15 degree riser so you can sit upright and you get better components (full Shimano 105 10 speed over Tiagra/Deore/Alivio 9 speed) and better wheels. You can get Shimano 105 (at least in part) on the 7.7 but pay $300 more than the Pilot. If you have to have a flat bar, buy the Pilot and change out the handlebars that way you get better components and wheels for the money.

stapfam

Pam has talked a lot of sense, and also confirmed something I was thinking. For a comfort bike- this seems expensive for a bike.

I keep relating it- But I changed to road bikes 3 years ago after 16 years of MTB's. That drop position is not an easy position to ride in till you get used to it- The others are. Took me 6 months to get used to the drop position and I still rarely use it but into the wind- downhills and if I do want an extra turn of speed and those drops work.

Robin48

The guy at the shop said a lot of the same things. I currently ride a Trek 7300 and I enjoy it very much. The 7.6 is more road bike than the 7300, so I went there for various reasons. I am a big big fella. That is why I got into cycling and I have lost weight. I rode a friends Specialized a while this morning after he went through the trouble of adjusting everything for me and it is a little tough on my lower bike. I believe with losing a few more lbs my next one will be a true road bike. I appreciate all the advice. I love this forum already.

Robin48

Picked up the 7.6 today, and I am thrilled. Nice ride, fast, and it fits me just fine.

stapfam

So wheres the ride report and pics?

We are impatient here.

Tom Bombadil

But it isn't a comfort bike.

The transition is: Comfort bike to standard hybrid to fitness hybrid to road bike.

The 7.6 and 7.7 are fitness hybrids. So is the Specialized Sirrus. And the Giant FCR series. More aggressive riding position, much lighter, much better components than a comfort bike. These are flat bar road bikes.

The Trek 7.6 & 7.7 are very nice riders. Their "suspension" is very slight. Made to absorb & reduce frame vibration. This design was first debuted on Klein road bikes several years ago. When combined with a carbon fork (as it is on these bikes) it makes for a very smooth ride on a relatively lightweight bike.

I've ridden these bikes and really liked them. Everyone I know who owns one, loves theirs.

The upgrades on the 7.7 include nicer wheels, upgraded derailleurs (to 105), crankset, shifters, pedals, carbon seatpost, stem, brakes. So you do get a lot, but I agree you pay a lot.

I do agree that you should check out the Trek Pilot if you think you may take up riding long distances on roads. It is probably the most relaxed geometry road bike still out there, so you might find it more comfortable than other road bikes. Although the riding position on the Pilot isn't that much different from the 7.7 (especially if you are riding on the flats section of the drop bars), so I don't know if there would be much of a speed difference.

The 7.7 is actually slightly better equipped (component wise) than the Pilot 2.1. For example, the 7.7 has better wheels than the 2.1.

KungPaoSchwinn

Congrad on the new bike,come join our new hybrid sub forum,many of us have FX series bikes,at the mean time, i am looking into what the $600 in differences between the 2 models.

I just checked the differences, too many to list,LOL.

Riverside_Guy

Another BFer recently got a 7.7... with a HUGE price drop (500 bucks as I recall).

Indeed, Trek calls "fx" fitness bikes. Seems kind apt... the top of that line seems to have slightly high gearing than the 7xxx "hybrid" series. Could be me, but I always thought hybrids had tires and gearing "in between" road and MTB bikes. I consider the fx to be performance oriented hybrids, while the 7xxx bikes are more comfortable having suspensions but cheaper components at each price point.

Not sure when/if I can afford to upgrade, but a 7.3 is most likely.

I was going to start a thread... the 7.5, 7.6, and 7.7 do seem to have rather large deltas, and I was very curious why. I'd normally discount things like tires, seat posts, saddles, that stuff can't seem to make such a difference. The 7.3 to 7.5 is about 280, but I figure the carbon fork is the big thing. The 5, 6 and 7 all seem to have the same frame (probably the most expensive component... I think), so where is the money going? Do things like Tiagra to 10-5 really have that much delta in $$?

Have the book out:

7.9 2620
7.7 1870
7.6 1210
7.5 920
7.3 640

KungPaoSchwinn

Every major components on the 7.7 is better than the 7.6,that adds up the $600 i believe.

Tom Bombadil

The frame would not be that much of the cost of the 7.7. A fair amount but well less than half. The wheelset on the 7.7 lists for around $300.

The frames on the 7.6 and 7.7 are slightly different than the 7.5, in that they have the vibration absorber. They also have slightly upgraded forks, along with the wheelsets, and almost every other part on the bike.

I find the 7.5 to be worth the $280 (less with discounts) difference of the 7.3. The 7.3 uses an alloy fork (big difference), uses generic wheels, fairly low end shifters & front derailleur. It is heavier too. Still a decent bike but the 7.5 is definitely better.

Two years ago the 7.6 was a great bike at a great price. Had carbon seat stays too and was available in the mid-$900's. It was a big step up from the 7.5 at that time. Somewhat less so now.

Robin48

After the 7300 the 7.6 is amazing. The first thing I noticed was hills on which I had to use the granny on the 7300, I did not have to on the 7.6. I am much faster on this bike. On the down side, the saddle on the 7.6 is going to take some getting used to.

Riverside_Guy

Oh I understand the concept of better components costing more, but what strikes me is that the differential jumps to double between the 7.6 & 7.7 as opposed to all other models (excepting the 7.9, different world there having an all carbon frame). And I think about the law of diminishing returns. I have read that going from an Alivio to a Deore is a big jump, but Deore to Deore LX not nearly as much a difference.

How much differential may be attributable to the carbon fork, not in terms of money, but functionality?

Interesting about the 7300... one of my "standards" rides is a concrete BP with a lot of frost heaves, so it's usually a very bumpy ride (too much vertical travel)... and at one point I thought it might makes sense to consider that model for a somewhat softer ride. Kinda like another conundrum... I do like to zip along but also know that part of that means laying out a bit, whereas being far more upright would be more comfortable. I had all sorts of issue with the stock saddle and got a really comfortable one... but now I realize my new saddle really is better for more upright riding... yet more upright also means even more susceptible to headwind (I'm a pretty barrel chested guy at 225) and I detest headwinds (don't mind hills near as much as there's a good sense of accomplishment at the crest).

Anyway, before I head to the shop with plastic in hand I have to assure myself my re-found love of blking (was away for close to a decade mostly due to health issues) is more sustainable than JUST this past summer.

Ha, initially I was in the granny gear for hills... but now I'm out of the saddle and solidly in the middle front chainwheel. Works great as long as I have some decent pace going into them (which for me means 10+ mph). I'm also getting to the point where on flats I can stay in the 2 gears one step below the highest one my bike can do.

Remionds me, gotta go check the tires and get in gear, would like to do 2 football games for my 'ets & 'aints... after 3 miserable weather days!