CCrew

Was in the LBS yesterday. the new 7.2 has switched to the Alpha Black frame... which means the cost of entry to get that frame for mods has just lowered. 7.1 is still using the old frame.

Panthers007

Thanks! Now I'll have to update my info to include the 7.2 in the a-black camp.

hagbard

How are the prices?

CCrew

Actually, I didn't ask on the FX, sorry. I'm seriously contemplating a Valencia for a winter commuter and they've dropped from $749 to $679.

MattyA

I'm thinking the exact same thing about the Valencia. It is an FX with disc brakes I believe. I've heard from my LBS that the spec is unchanged from 2009. In which case I'll be buying one of the last '09's in my size very shortly. $679 seems to be the going price. I can't wait to put all of the stock components from my 7.5FX onto it...

CCrew

Yup, it's esentially the old FX Disc. and indeed unchanged for 2010. If you look at the geometry specs though, it has longer chainstays. That's nice if you choose to put a rack and panniers on it, as it's less likely to suffer heelstrike with panniers.

I can ride a 20" in the FX, but for some reason tho the 20" Valencia seemed a bit big. Was raining today so didn't want to test ride it but cursory fit said it was different. My junk was right on the top tube on the Valencia in 20". The 20" in the FX was almost perfect if I was shooting for road bike style sizing. I'm a big discs fan tho, so the Valencia's discs are a big draw. That and the fact that I have a set of Select Disc wheels off a Portland would strip a lot of weight.

It's also set up for a front rack, which means it'll make a sweet upright day trip/tourer.

Did you find the handlebars a bit "different" in feel? The swept back approach I found made the cockpit feel smaller, or the intent that you be more upright may have been what they had in mind.