Miss_Pea

Buying my first hybrid after riding a 35 yr old road bike.
I am 5'2 so would require an xs or small bike, but weigh in around 160lbs
I will be using the bike primarily to commute in the city, but also to take off road on dirt/gravel paths.
I have narrowed down my selection to the 7.4 FX WSD (Trek) the Vita Elite Disk Specialized (2014) and the Giant Thrive 1.
Specializer and Trek will let me take it for a short test ride in the parking lot, but Gian will only let me try a trainer in store, not sure if this will really give me enough to make my decision. Any help on narrowing down my choice would be greatly appreciated.

ColdCase

Just buy the one that feels right to you. They are all excellent bikes, but I wouldn't buy a bike in that price range without riding it. So I'd throw the giant out. Specialized generally gives you a little more for your money, but the Trek and the other bikes are not a direct comparison. Those Vita hydraulic disc brakes would push me to the Specialized as I like how easy discs are to modulate. The specialized has much better/durable/smoother components, it should for the price difference. The Vita should be lighter too. Its the best bike in your list and worth the money IMHO.

Depending on how bumpy the paths, you may or may not want a bit of front suspension and more agressive tire tread, but I suppose you already know that. My spouse just picked up an Ariel sport disc.

MRT2

On paper, the Giant looks like the better bike. That said, you need to get the bike that speaks to you. None of your LBS is offering enough of a test ride to tell. Once around the parking lot isn't much better than 30 seconds on a trainer.

RickGr4

As I look at the spec sheets for these three bikes, I ruled the Trek out right away but it must be pointed out the Trek is a little less money. To me the Giant wins based on Tiagra shifters and 10 speeds in the back. I have come to REALLY like having a 10 rear cassette.

However, I must ask how much off road riding to you plan to do. I view these bikes as primarily road bikes. If you are serious about going off road, there may be other bikes to look at.

Wanderer

Any bike will do OK on packed gravel or packed dirt.

You almost always seem to get more for your dollar with Giant, and that Giant is a lot of nice bike for $100 less - but no test ride would be a deal breaker. Find another Giant dealer, and buy from them - then let the original dealer know! MHO. Did you speak to the owner of the Giant store? I would!

Specialized makes great bikes, but you have to buy the one that fits you the best. There's a lot to like about the Specialized Elite Disc! MHO

Toooo bad the Giant dealer doesn't want to sell bikes!

Miss_Pea

Thank you for all of the feedback
I will be doing 80% road and paved bike paths and 20% gravel paths & packed dirt (not much off road).
Put this together to help

[TABLE="width: 932"]
[TR]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]Vita Elite Disk (2014)[/TD]
[TD]Giant Thrive 0[/TD]
[TD]Giant thrive 1[/TD]
[TD]Trek 7.4 FX WSD[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Price[/TD]
[TD]929$[/TD]
[TD]1069$[/TD]
[TD]869$[/TD]
[TD]849.95$[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Frame[/TD]
[TD]Premium Aluminum[/TD]
[TD]ALUXX-Grade Aluminum[/TD]
[TD]ALUXX-Grade Aluminum[/TD]
[TD]Aluminum[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Fork[/TD]
[TD]A1 Premium Aluminum[/TD]
[TD]Giant composite, Alloy steerer[/TD]
[TD]Giant composite, Alloy steerer[/TD]
[TD]Carbon[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Tires[/TD]
[TD]Specialized Nimbus, 26TPI, wire bead, Flat Jacket protection, reflective sidewall, 700x28c[/TD]
[TD]Giant P-R3, 700x28, all conditions, puncture protect[/TD]
[TD]Giant P-R3, 700x28, all conditions[/TD]
[TD]Bontrager AW1 Hard case lite, 700x32c[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Shifters[/TD]
[TD]Shimano sora [/TD]
[TD]Shimano RS700[/TD]
[TD]R4600[/TD]
[TD]Shimano Acera M390, 9 speed[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Front derailler[/TD]
[TD]Shimano Sora 3500, top swing, dual-pull[/TD]
[TD]Shimano 105[/TD]
[TD]Shimano Tiagra[/TD]
[TD]Shimano Acera[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Rear derailler[/TD]
[TD]Shimano Tiagra[/TD]
[TD]Shimano 105[/TD]
[TD]Shimano Tiagra[/TD]
[TD]Shimano Decore[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Crank[/TD]
[TD]FSA Tempo, 9 speed compact[/TD]
[TD]Shimano RS500, 34/50[/TD]
[TD]FSA Vero, 34/50[/TD]
[TD]Shimano Acera M391, 48/36/26w[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Cassette[/TD]
[TD]Shimano HG-50, 9 speed, 11-30[/TD]
[TD]Shimano 105, 11-28, 11 speed[/TD]
[TD]Shimano Tiagra, 12-28, 10 speed[/TD]
[TD]Shimano HG20 11-32, 9 speed[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Pedals[/TD]
[TD]Nylon body, alloy cage[/TD]
[TD]Giant sport[/TD]
[TD]Giant sport[/TD]
[TD]Nylon body w/ alloy cage[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Chain[/TD]
[TD]KMC X9[/TD]
[TD]KMC X11SL[/TD]
[TD]KMC X 10SL[/TD]
[TD]KMC X9[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Saddle[/TD]
[TD]Specialized Body geometry Riva Women's, 155mm[/TD]
[TD]Liv connect, forwward[/TD]
[TD]Liv connect, forwward[/TD]
[TD]Bontrager H1 WSD[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Seatpost[/TD]
[TD]Allow, 2-bolt, micro-adjust, 12.5mm offset, 27.2[/TD]
[TD]Giant D-Fuse Composie[/TD]
[TD]Giant D-Fuse Composie[/TD]
[TD]Bontreager Nebula, 27.2mm[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Handlebar[/TD]
[TD]flat bar, 10 degree backsweep, 31.8mm[/TD]
[TD]Giant Connect XC Flat, 31.8[/TD]
[TD]Giant Connect XC Flat, 31.8[/TD]
[TD]Bontreager Elite Blendr, w/computer & light mounts, 31.8mm, 7 degree[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Stem[/TD]
[TD]forged alloy, 10 degreen rise, 31.8 clamp[/TD]
[TD]Giant Sport[/TD]
[TD]Giant Sport[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Headset[/TD]
[TD]campy style, integrated cartrigde, 15mm cone spacer[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]VP, semi-cartridge bearings, sealed[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Brakeset[/TD]
[TD]Tektro Draco 2, hydrolic disk, dual piston[/TD]
[TD]Tektro HDM-M291 Hydrolic Dism, 160mm (F) 140mm (R)[/TD]
[TD]Tektro HDM-M291 Hydrolic Dism, 160mm (F) 140mm (R)[/TD]
[TD]Tektro allow linear-pull[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Front Wheel[/TD]
[TD]Axis classic disk[/TD]
[TD]Giant P-R2, double wall, disc[/TD]
[TD]Giant P-R2, double wall, disc[/TD]
[TD]Bontraget TLR, 32 hole[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Back Wheel[/TD]
[TD]Axis classic disk[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Tubes[/TD]
[TD]Standard Presta valve[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Extras[/TD]
[TD]alloy Zee cages and a matching Mini-Wedgie seat bag[/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD] [/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

MRT2

First, you need to decide if hydraulic disc brakes are a priority for you. The Specialized and Giant have them. The Trek does not. If this is a priority, then you should eliminate the Trek from your list. If it isn't a priority, then maybe not a big deal. Still, the Giant gives you 10 speed Tiagra and hydraulic disc brakes, while the Trek gives you 9 speed Acera and linear pull brakes for the same price. Nothing wrong with Acera shifters and derailleurs per se, and I would have no problem with them, but not on an $850 bike.

Specialized is $70 more than Giant, but spec'd slightly worse. Hydraulic disc brakes, yes, but 9 speed Sora shifters rather than the 10 speed Tiagra offered on the Giant. Not a huge big deal as 9 speed is more than enough for most riders, but they are charging you more when they should be charging you less.

Wanderer

I agree with MRT2. And throwing the Thrive 0 into the mix, does not change my opinion. It's not a $200 better bike. My vote would still go to the Thrive 1. If money is no object, sure, go for the better one! Again, MHO, how bad do you want 11 spd, and 105?

But you have to get a decent test ride in to decide which Mfr fits the best! Barring the test ride, for me, Specialized wins over Trek... Hydraulic Disc brakes are light years ahead of mechanical, so the Trek loses.

I really like the Giant, in price, looks and appointments - but you gotta get a ride first.

quicktrigger

One thing has been missed by the others. The Specialized is a 2014 model, and as such should be able to be gotten at an additional discount, especially since some 2016's are beginning to role out. I certainly would not pay full price for it. I would not buy the Giant unless I could ride it PERIOD. But I would probable use it to try to negotiate the price down on the Vita IF I liked the way the bike rode. And to me, the Trek is a no go due to no disc brakes, and frankly looks like the worst value. I got caught in unexpected rain a couple weeks ago without disc brakes, and I did not like how the rim brakes faired AT ALL. Will be moving to disc by the end of the year.

If neither your Giant or Specialized dealer will budge, then I would move on to other dealers. Nice thing about the big brands, there are lots of dealers for them. No need to put up with any crap. I have 5 Specialized shops within 90 minutes of me. Check the brands website for dealers.

QT

Miss_Pea

The price for the Vita elite is the reduced price (was $1100 last yr). I am going to see if I can further negotiate down. I will be adding a rack and fenders so at the very least I will see if they can throw any of the accessories in for free. I will definitely be using the Giant to try and bring the price down of the Vita.

Thank you

RickGr4

I paid almost full price for my Giant. Normally I don't pay full price for anything but in this case I did and I really don't care. But I also made it clear to the LBS owner what my expectations were going forward in regards to service and after the sale benefits. He has lived up to our "agreement".

I would be leery of any dealer that would not let you test ride a bike. All three of the dealers I visited in my area (southern Twin Cities suburbs) were very gracious about it. As QT said, you can always move on down the road...

Personally I think the Giants stand out here unless the 2014 Specialized can be had for a noteworthy discount. When bought my new Giant I considered disc brakes to be mandatory. They are great and I am glad I did. I don't mean to disagree with MRT2 but I see some value in the 10 speed rear sprocket. The more gears you have in the back, the more you can forget about the front shifter all together.

MRT2

I think that is what I said. More gears don't necessarily mean less need to use the left shifter as the Specialized and Giant have comparable gear ranges. What more cogs gives you is the possibility of an optimal cadence on long road rides or alternately, the ability to set up your bike with a single front chainring. The way all of these hybrid bikes are set up splits the difference between a close ratio road cassette (11 - 25 or 12 - 25) and a super wide mountain cassette (11 - 34 or 11 - 36 for example)

But I digress. The 10 speed vs. 9 speed matters only if every other factor is equal. If the Trek or Specialized just fit better or if the bike shop is offering a better warranty or a lot of free extras on one of those other bikes, then 9 speed is more than enough for most riders. Worth considering that pro cyclists were using 9 speed as recently as the early 2000s. So if someone tells you 9. Speed isn't enough for a city commuter, remember it is more than Merckx, Hinault, Lemond, Indurain ever used and those guys raced up the Alps.

ColonelSanders

One thing to consider is that all those bikes except the Trek 7.4 FX, have as there lowest gear ratio, a ratio of greater than 1:1, which if you are not that athletic or strong for your weight, may mean you will struggle with various hills.

Also, does the Women specific bikes geometry suit you better than the men's bikes geometry?

Don't go with the "female specific" bike, unless it is the one that best meets your needs.

jstolo

I'm not sure where the prices above are from but the Trek 7.4 FX WSD is not $849... It's $769.99 MSRP

The Trek 7.4 FX DISC is $879.99 MSRP which gives you hydraulic disc brakes lik the others.

7.4 FX WSD - Trek Bicycle

7.4 FX Disc - Trek Bicycle

Miss_Pea

I'm from Canada so our prices are unfortunately a bit higher.

jstolo

Oops! I thought maybe your LBS was gouging you on price. Sorry about that.

Wanderer

The adage "Ride and Decide" now comes into play! One will jump out at you as the most comfortable, easiest to ride, just for you! Anything between 9 and 11 speed is similar.