Raven87

I got a chance today to ride two very nice 'hybrid' style bikes. But here is some background first...

I'm a 54 year old, 6'1, 315 lb (and dropping and yes, I'm an avid participant in both the 50+ and Clydesdale forums) male who used to ride a LOT years ago. I have rediscovered my love for cycling recently and have been riding my M500 Cannondale Mountain Bike to help in my quest to lose weight I put on over those years and to improve my all around general fitness. It's working - I've lost over 10lbs now and my stamina is steadily increasing.

However, I want a new bike that fits me better now. I bought the M500 15 years ago and although it fit fine back then, it does not fit or feel well now, partially due to my added bulk but mostly due to my age and some arthritis in the knees. Also, it is a large frame bike (21.5" I think) so the top tube length is longer, requiring me to put a LOT of weight on my hands. I know this can be compensated for with different stems, bars, etc, but hey, I want a new one. So, I've been shopping and riding new bikes.

At first I thought I wanted a comfort bike but now know that I would soon tire of that style and have decided on a hybrid. And even at that, the new bike will not be my last because I can see down the road I will probably buy a more road oriented bike at some point. But for now, it will be a hybrid.

So - I rode two different '09's today; the Cannondale Adventure 3 (priced at $599 at my LBS) and the Trek 7200 (priced at $480 at the trusty LBS). I wanted to ride a 7300 but none in stock; available at ~$600 as well I was told and they could get one in a day or two.

Rode the Trek first and loved it. It was comfortable and the slightly less upright seating versus the comfort bikes I've ridden (Specialized, Townie, Raleigh, and Jamis) was no problem at all. Both bikes had 700c tires and felt equal in that respect.

Rode the Cannondale next and was somewhat surprised by two things - the shifter for the front gears (1-2-3) and the seat. While the Trek's preload was adjusted to compensate for my size, not enough could be dialed in on the Cannondale (according the salesman after trying) to keep me from bottoming out. This in itself is not an issue because I will probably put a non-suspended post on anyways.

But the shifter thing had me puzzled. On the Trek, it shifted quickly and flawlessly in any gear. Both used grip shifters (I don't recall the exact details of the components) but when I was shifting the Cannodale for the front gears, there were 'detents' in between the gears which, if I did not shift quickly from say, 1 to 2, and go through the extra 'clicks' on the shifter itself (and you could see the gear indicator move with each 'click' between the numbers) the chain would be clicking impatiently until the derailleur was lined up completely.

My M500 has trigger shifters and I love them. Is the problem here the way the grip shifters work and the amount of movement necessary to effect a change on the front cogs?

Is this normal or was something not right on the bike? I asked the young salesman and he said it did not sound right to him and that they would look at it but I really do not know if he had all that much technical knowledge.

So - help? Is this normal and thereby nothing or is it something that can be easily corrected? Experiences with either bike?

Any and all replies will be appreciated! Thank you!