jbchybridrider 

Nice bike'S

a1penguin

The fix thank is very well done too!

Ceh23

Thanks! Took it out today and what a huge difference a real bike makes.

addictedhealer

Stay posted tonight, doing handlebar and stem upgrade. Yea, I really like the color as well. In the sun its a real oranges color but almost looks red in light lighting. Next is seat post and new pedals.

jbchybridrider 

That's a very pretty bike, little miss giant

Haison

Hello everyone. First post and showing off my new bike. Went to the LBS and was looking for an FX since I had knee surgery and running is still giving me a lot of pain six months into recovery. LBS told he just ordered a new 2013 FX 7.2 that fitted my height and just riding around after I got it and it feels pretty amazing.

tfuller17

Haison - Thanks for posting this picture. I went to LBS last night to purchase a 2012 7.2 but all they had left was the blue version. They thought they had a charcol version waiting to be built but called me later to tell me they were mistaken. They mentioned the 2013 version but I wasn't sure I'd like the red accents. After seeing your picture, I think I'm going to go ahead and order this version.

Haison

I've been researching for a while on it and I was going back and forth a lot about moving up to the 7.4 but held back. The bike looks amazing in matte black and the red accents really goes well with it. The only difference that I can tell is that the seats are the SSR instead of the H1 and has gel grips instead of the regular Satellite.

addictedhealer

love the bike Haison....

KT043

Oh no! 2013 colors are starting to come out!?! I am having enough trouble with 7.4,7.5, 7.6, 8.4, or 8.5 debate with just the 2012 line up. This is only going to make it worse!

nice 7.2! Looks sweet!

Igo

You don't even know how much worse.

side_FX

Just an FYI - I read somewhere that Trek is not doing the 8.4 and 8.5 DS for 2013. If you are thinking about them, you might want to act sooner rather than later.

luxo

Igo, any more pictures of your Escape 1?

Igo

There are a half dozen throughout the forums but only 2 here it seems. I hadn't realized how much work has been done since I posted those pictures in this thread. As you can see, it now has a Topeak Rack and Trunk setup. I have a couple different trunks for the rack.
I'd have to take some new pictures to capture the Eleven81 BMX Pedals and the new Panaracer T Serv 28c tires as well. Maybe this weekend, but here's a couple for you for now.











I like this bike better than both my road bikes. It's just an absolute perfect fit and superb performer for what it is meant to do. It's seeing a lot of use.

giantcfr1

It is a sensational looking bike. For value for money, (in my opinion) no company comes close to Giant.

erg79

Cool, didn't know that the 2013 models were already coming out! I like the finish on that--matte and not glossy. Do you have a components list? Wondering if the parts differ from the 2012 model.

Igo

It's an absolute pleasure. I didn't have a clue. I felt good when I did a test ride but how can you really know. It just turned out great. I have a great road bike but this is my shorts and tennis shoe run outside and play bike like when I was a kid.
Looks nicernow with the new black and clear blinky. LOL.

luxo

And I just got the original Superflash yesterday!

I'm thinking of having my LBS order the Escape 1. How's the shifting with the SRAM X4 and Shimano M191?

brandini

HAHA yea I sometimes skip to my bike too.

Igo

It shifts easier than my Tiagra or my APEX drives. It is a more intuitive setup, shift without thought. And as a mechanic, and even with a 3 ring, it is easier to tune.

OldBridgeRider

How do you like the Panaracer T Serv 28c tires compared to the stockers? Sometimes I feel the thread on the stock Giant tires is a bit to aggressive for street riding. Don't get me wrong they are nice if I decide to go across grass or some other dirt obstacle, but for straight road use maybe not so great.

Igo

It's all about roll resistance. I was riding road bikes to work with no dirt involved. Then on weekends I was riding a 35 mile paved national recreation trail that went way out in the desert. Over time I ended up with with lights, racks and panniers on my otherwise sleek road bike. It became a really quick commuter but a really clunky racer. That bike was stolen. I replaced it with two bikes, an even sleeker racey road bike and a sturdy, duty oriented hybrid commuter. Now I zip along the 35 mile route in a few hours on the stripped down road bike and I have a truck-bike for hauling clothes and lunches back and forth to work. That "truck" bike is the Giant Escape 1. As I refined my route to work it ended up that I had a 450 foot elevation climb in 5 of 7 miles but only 100 yards of hard pack dirt in the route off of asphalt. Since I can't wear traditional bike shorts to work I put a softer aftermarket seat on the Escape/commuter. What the fat 60 psi tires did for comfort is now the seat's job.
Not having to give great consideration to "all terrain tires" because the great majority of my ride was asphalt and in good condition, I started looking at what would be the appropriate tire for smooth asphalt and a 450 foot climb without giving up the "truck" capabilities of the hybrid/commuter bike. I'd rather go more miles or make better time than get all my exercise by overcoming mechanical resistance that was part of the OEM tire design. Three things had to be considered. Heavy tread is much like rough pavement, it had to be smoothed out. I wanted a tire that had some girth to it for puncture resistance and weight carrying capability but had to be smooth enough to level out the road contact patch under the tire. I wanted less patch on the ground to further reduce roll resistance and along with smoothing out the tread you reduce patch by using a narrower tire with higher air pressure. You also speed a bike up by throwing less centrifugal force so the Panaracer tires had 4 things going for them. Immediately I improved my time to work as by GPS my average speed increased by 1.5 mph (I always ride slow to work; went from about 7 mph to 8.5 mph) by riding the same cadence but in one and 2 higher gears. Switching from a 60psi 32c tire to a 105 psi 28c tire increased the efficiency of the bike by great leaps. Smoother tread, less weight, smaller patch and less flex = MUCH less roll resistance and increased responsiveness. If you are not going to ride in the dirt and you think you can be comfortable on a stiffer tire then get rid of the roll resistance that is a byproduct of the design of dirt oriented tires.
I need to cut and past this in my tire thread I started a month ago. Think I will.

brandini

If you want another try, I have Maxxis Detonator 32s and I like them a LOT. I actually haven't been able to find them in this size anywhere, but they came stock on my Seek 3. They're a dual compound tire so the centers are sturdy and the sides are sticky, which makes for great fun.

David Bierbaum

My 1992 Specialized Crossroads, with it's new trekking bar, from a borrowed digital camera...

OldBridgeRider

Panaracer 28c T-Serv tires have been added to the top of my list for replacements.. Thanks for the write up, sounds exactly like what I want them for