jomby

Hi, I'm new to cycling. Haven't touched a bike since I was a teenager (I'm in my early 30s now), but my wife promised me a bike for my birthday, and so I'm looking for what would be best. Here's my particular situation. I'm 6'0", 240 lbs. I'm just now recovering from herniated discs in my lower back (took almost 8 months to recover...)

What I'd use the bicycle for:
1. Riding around streets.
2. Running errands.
3. Possibly commuting.
4. Hitting some light bike trails.

Spending limit: < $300

I've read a lot online and visted numerous LBS in the area. But I'm getting conflicting opinions. The first LBS I went to told me to stay away from Hybrids. He said I was too big and they wouldn't stand up to my weight. He recommended a suspensionless MTB (as any shocks on lower end were rated for someone much lighter than me and would be worthless in no time.)

When I went to another LBS, they said that everything the other guy said was horsefeathers and that a hybrid would be exactly what I was looking for. I test rode a few, and liked the Trek 7000. So here's my questions:

1. Will a hybrid hold up my weight? Should I be worried about potholes, avoid curbs, etc. Should I resist the urge to "jump things?"
2. The 7000 has a seat post with suspension. Will that give out on me quickly?
3. I'm not at all fond of the seat (Bontrager Boulevard). It's too plush. Is there another comparable seat that works more with your sit bones that I could try to have the LBS switch out?
4. Lastly, is the frame of the 7000 good enough that I could just upgrade the components as the years go on and have a much better bike?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

shundaroni

Less than $300? Sheesh.

My first suggestion would be to up the budget. If that's not possible, don't expect to get a frame that will really be worth upgrading. The Trek 7000 looks like a fine basic bike, but I don't see much reason in upgrading the components on a low end bike, especially when worthwhile upgrades will likely end up costing more than you paid for the bike brand new. Might as well just save up and buy a good bike down the road.

You might be better off looking at the used bike market. At least there you'll get more for your money.

I came in to this whole thing planning on spending no more than $600. That magically doubled when I realized I wanted something to keep for years with plenty of potential for upgrades. I couldn't be happier with my decision, because now I feel confident that I didn't waste my money on some crapper and I'll plenty of room to grow (and shrink) with it.

1. Reconsider the budget.

2. If #1 is out of the question, buy whatever looks and feels best to you. It's all going to be essentially the same, and you really don't need to buy based on brand name. You can probably find a comparable bike at a retailer (like Dick's Sporting Goods) for less. Diamondback comes to mind.

envane

1) A hybrid is a mountain bike with slicks. A cheap hybrid will be as good as a cheap MTB. You will knock your wheels out of true quite quickly by jumping on a cheap bike, but the frame should hold up. The clydesdale forum is better suited to weight-related issues. Ask them.
2) Even if it doesn't, they suck.
3) You're right, that seat sucks for long/vigorous riding. Look a for seat sort of like what is on lower end road bikes, or flatbar road bikes.
4) No, if you ever decide to get something better, it will be a totally different style of bike.

I started out on a cheap $230 generic hybrid like the 7000. Then I figured out what I wanted, and got something better.

bkaapcke

My 6'2" 220+ pound bike buddy has been riding a trek 7200 for over 2 years and hasn't had any problems with the suspension fork. I wouldn't worry about that. bk

jaxgtr

I have a 2003 Trek 7300 and weight wise you will be fine. I started riding mine when I was 375 and the only issues I had were wheels. I ended up replacing the wheels after I kept breaking spokes but at 240, you should be ok. Just ride them until they die and then replace with a better quality wheel. Just make sure you have the LBS check the tension before you leave the shop and take it back at about 400 miles to be true and re-tensioned, this will save you headaches, trust me. I see this model does not have the suspension fork like the 7100 has, that is good. Avoid it at all cost. I replaced mine with a rigid fork. If you do any distance on that type fork, it will suck the life out of you.

Change out the suspension seat post, it sucks and will just bottom out anyway, just get a good quality alloy seat post. Saddles will take some getting used to, but generally, the stock saddles stink. Too wide and too soft, might want to look at the WTB Speed V. A good combo of firmness and comfort. I have one and it works great.

For what you are looking to do, this bike should be fine and in the future you can do some upgrades, maybe to the rapid shifters, but I would not spend a lot of money on it. I upgraded a lot of stuff on mine, but I have also ridden it some 3000 miles in the last 2 years.

If were me, I would go with the 7000 over the 7100 or the 7200 due to the fork. If you can swing the budget, I say get the 7300, a slightly better component group and it has rapid shifter versus the sram handle shifts. However if you are looking at the 7300, then look at the FX 7.2 or 7.3 as well.