Eternal

Greetings all,
I'm new to this forum, and a returnee to cycling (haven't since childhood) and I was hoping to gather some opinions here today.
I recently visited a bike shop and although an exhilarating experience, have more questions now than I did before.
I tested a Trek 7200 hibrid there and (ladies model) and loved it. Also tried an inexpensive little cruiser.
I'm going back today to test out a less expensive Carmel hybrid and a cruiser with gears. I found that the trek bike was great, and that the gears were very useful but I really liked the comfort of the full upright position when riding the little cruiser.
Today, the shopkeeper will set up the trek with the handlebars a bit higher for me, and let me test out a cruiser with gears so I can decide which is better for me.
If money were not an issue well, I guess I would just keep looking for the perfect bike but it is an issue at present. I can get a little cruiser used or even new for far less than a hybrid to my knowledge.
Anyway, I was also looking at this Schwinn hybrid on Ebay, a new one, and wondered how different it would be from the trek bikes.
I dont have access to it to test it.
So I guess, if anyone has any input on the differences between cruisers with gears and hybrids that might be relevant to a rider, I would love to hear it.
I am looking for a bike that I love to ride so much that I will not stare longingly at others on their better bikes and my bike will not sit in my house but get out a lot.
I need an upright seated position because those other bikes hurt my back.
While I know that a single speed bike might offer a better workout, to be honest, the easiest bike to ride in the world will still be a workout for me so I'm not really concerned about that.
Maybe next year when I'm in better shape from all my riding
I'm also interested in folding bikes but every cyclist I meet seems to frown on them.
It would be much easier not just to store but to toss in the trunk to take places out of the city to ride.
I also would prefer something a little lighter for taking in the train to central park etc.
So that's my stuff in a rather large nutshell I guess.
Most appreciative to all who respond.
Thanks much,
~Eternal

tatfiend 

I would not buy a bike w/o trying it such as the Schwinn. Schwinn offers bikes from absolute junk as sold by wally world to good machines. Due to their junk bike lines few bike shops carry the brand any longer. They get tired of trying to explain the difference between an LBS Schwinn and a Walmart Schwinn, and the price difference.

If interested in a folder then check out the model carried by REI and to heck with the opinions of other bicyclists. The REI one has the 8 speed Shimano geared hub but may be out of your price range. It is a fashion thing. Such bikes are much more common in Europe.

IMO in a normal bike go for the hybrid, either derailleur or gear hub version. Usually lighter and any good LBS should be able to fit a bar that gives you the riding position that you want.

ChuteTheMall

You can mount a trunk rack on your car whenever you want to carry your bike.

Generally, lighter bikes cost more than heavier bikes, because they are worth it.

Panthers007

I chose Trek. The FX-series have very good frames. In fact they are pretty much the same frame until you get to the highest-end model - the 7.9 - which is carbon. Why you'd want a carbon-frame on a bike that is designed for (limited) off-road use on dirt and gravel is rather beyond me. Anywho - the aluminum frames on these Treks are very good indeed.

As such they lend themselves to upgrading quite readily. My FX 7.5 is virtually unrecognizable at this point. As a bike-mechanic with a near-complete set of tools - I said what the hey? - and went for it. No major problems in so doing. And everyone I've spoken to who has a Trek hybrid extolled praise for the machines. That's pretty uncommon. Limited problems, which are common through the industry (crappy wheels, cheap brakes, etc), are present. But no insurmountable problems. And they have excellent warranties.

I'm an utter cynic - and I'm impressed.

Dahon.Steve

I would go for the Trek. Since you don't have experience with bicycles, stay away from the internet because you'll need the LBS for adjustments later on.

duffer1960

I like cruisers for the easy handling. I adapted one (a ~1988 Schwinn Cruiser Supreme (1x5)) with some drop bars & different seat so it has a more-aggressive riding position. It's a diamond frame but with slack 'cruiser' angles & low bottom bracket, and it's stable & easy to ride no-hands which I like. The hybrids I've ridden are higher and more twitchy, and I don't want that.

Condorita

Even though nearly all of my rides lately have been on my Bianchi Premio, Orion, I still *heart* my Giant Cypress, Radagast the Beige-and-Black.