kearnybiker

First, let me start off by saying I truly do like my bike (matte black 12 Trek FX 7.2). However, I didn't get it to cruise. I wanted to be somewhat quick. I thought I had it all figured out I wanted a hybrid because I'm a big guy (6'3 235 lbs) so I could use the bigger tires and the roads here in NJ are FAR from perfect I didn't want to bend wheels, damage components, etc.

So, 1 month later as much as I do love this bike it doesn't make it so easy to be fast. Obviously it's heavier than a road bike and the fact that I'm sitting up and not hunched over with drop bars doesn't make it easy to gain speed. So now I'm thinking about doing a drop bar conversion, but that's going to cost another $200-250 which doesn't make much sense on a new bike.

Although I am going to stick to this bike for another year or so and definitely keep it around after, I do want a road bike down the road.

Anyone buy a hybrid and kind of yearn for a road bike's speed/aerodynamics? Look forward to hearing your opinions.

Noize4

I did that and now have both. My preferred LBS carries Trek. They let me trade my hybrid in (couple weeks old) at little to no loss on a Trek road bike. IMO, totally worth the investment, and will get you way further than a drop bar conversion. Good luck.

Noize4

PS, tubes and 25mm tires will take you to 80% road bike speed, and you can maintain flat bars and some flat protection. Google Continental Gatorskin 700x25.

SlimRider

Please do not feel so all alone. This is a common mistake, which makes some cyclists become resentful towards hybrids, when really it was their fault all along, by not doing enough research before the purchase. In all fairness though, all potential purchasers of bicycles should be allowed to test bikes for at least an hour so that they can really justly assess the type of ride to anticipate in the future.

Nothing can take the place of true happiness and satisfaction. If I were you, I'd sell that Trek immediately and opt for a genuine road bike.

kearnybiker

You're right. I did test ride and really liked it. I just want a bit more now. However, I do have a decision to make.

kearnybiker

Thanks for the tips.

cashmonee

Somewhat similar thing happened to me. In March, I bought a 7.4 FX to ride around with my wife and son (in a trailer). A month or two in, I found that I was riding far more than I had originally planned, including a lot more solo riding than I had imagined. So by June, I had a road bike picked out, and my wife surprised me with it for Father's Day (a week early at that!). To make matters worse (better?) she saw how much I was enjoying the road bike, and so by the end of July she had the same exact model in the women's version.

Probably not the response you wanted, but that's my story. I would skip the drop bar conversion. I don't believe the FX works well for that personally. Then I would do one of two things depending on need. Either get rid of the FX (through exchange at LBS or sale, which could cost you), or add a road bike when you can swing it. I opted for both because I still do a lot of casual riding with the trailer that would not be much fun on a road bike.

bjjoondo 

It's so simple, everyone NEEDS "2 bikes", keep the hybrid as a back up, commuter, utility, etc. and if your road bike needs work, you have a minor accident/fall and have to await replacement parts, etc. your still able to RIDE. If you can't afford a new road bike, then look hard and long on cragislist, ect. and find a decent USED road bike! Then if you become a 100% roadie, you can sell our use the hybrid for a down payment on a NEW road bike have the USED road bike as a back up! Life is short, find a way to get what you really want and be HAPPY! JMHO, YMMV.

Mr. Hairy Legs

I had a similar experience as OP. One good thing about hybrids is that they are super easy to sell.

GeorgeBMac

+1

I have a road bike and love it. To me it's the fun little red sports car and I love to ride it.

But, it doesn't do so well in bad weather or in less than favorable conditions. It does what it does and it is very good at it. But, it's limited. So, I am looking at getting a hybrid -- not to replace it, but to supplement it. Something with fenders and a rack and bags or trunk on the back.

Conversely, I test road an FX and found it to be a little slow and slushy. It wasn't bad -- it just was not a performance bike. It felt a little like the family sedan. So, I do not plan on buying one -- but if I had one I would very definitely keep it. The FX is good, all around general purpose bike.

jbchybridrider 

I think you should do the dropbar conversion. You bought the 7.2 for the ability to ride on rough roads and you can fit wider tires for more comfort too. If you get a road bike you wont have the comfort, It'll actually have a jarring ride.
I built what I considered to me the ultimate hybrid but now after a year of ownership have adapted myself to dropbars "on my vintage roadbikes" and prefer them now. My hybrid is based on a mountain bike frame and still believe it's the ultimate all round bike I need but it'll be even better when dropbars are on it. It'll be a monster hybrid and still my best bike.

rumrunn6

yes, and I roadified mine with drops, road bike saddle, narrow high pressure tires, rack and fenders for commuting. I went the cheap route for converting but it's a great fast bike for me and very durable for commuting. that said I did get a couple road bikes after that and now have a nice one. not sure what to do witht he old hybrid or if anyone would even buy it. but if I were to commute year 'round again - it might see some service in bad weather. it's got a sweet low gear in the triple

go for the conversion - it's cheaper than selling and buying anothe rnew bike. plus it will be fun and unique!

ChrisM2097

+1

Personally, I think 3 bikes is ideal. Road, Hybrid, MTB. I don't yet have a road bike, but I'm using my weight loss goal as an excuse to buy one, when that goal is reached.

FMadridRN

LOL. I was just thinking about this. I myself just bought the same exact bike 2 weeks ago. Now I am looking to be able to go faster and found the FX lacking. It's a great bike just to ride around with. But most, if not all, of my friends have road bikes that go much faster and farther. I find myself wanting to join them but am in fear of being left behind. Im thinking of pulling the trigger myself and wanting to trade-in the Hybrid for a Road one, but then my kid, who I bought a bike for, won't have anyone to ride with on her Trek lol (she's 3 y/o). Decisions, decisions.

jbchybridrider 

In your situation two bikes is the go.

ChrisM2097

I've got the opposite problem. When I ride with my friends, I'm on what feels like a leisurely, slow ride (average moving speed of ~13mph). I usually take my FX 7.5, and make myself the 'packhorse' by bringing along the bike trunk and panniers to carry their gear, in an attempt to slow myself down, and still get a decent workout...it works to an extent, but my heart rate rarely goes above about 135 or so. The funny thing is, I'm the biggest guy in the group - 6'2", 265lb. I'm considering joining a local cycling club so that I can ride with others that keep a little higher pace (16-18mph).

If I get a road bike, I'd definitely have to join a club, or just do solo rides, if I wanted to get a decent workout.

DTSCDS

I was feeling similar feelings to the OP. I bought a FX7.3 as my first bike. Then later I got a Trek 1.2 road bike. I liked the more responsive feeling and the ability to go a little faster. However, the bigger problem is the engine moving the machine. The hybrid isn't holding you back as much as you think it is. Certainly not enough to retrofit it with drops and all the expense that will go along with that. Maybe some different bars or bar ends to give you a bit different feel.
Now I have traded the Trek roadie for an older Schwinn roadie that I like much better. So, I would assume that the road bike would negate the need/desire for the hybrid. But, what I actually find is that after I have ridden the road bike exclusively for a while the go back to ride the hybrid I remember how much I like the hybrid. The rides are quite different but I like them both in different ways.
I would vote to get a road bike (used is a good/cheaper option) but KEEP your 7.2. I think you will find that you like the variety it affords.

jbchybridrider 

There is another option. Slide your levers and grips along the bar as close to the stem as possible to see how far you can cut the bars down then after cutting them put bar ends on.

himespau 

I've converted an old mountain bike from the early 90's to drop bars after I decided I wanted more speed than just putting slick tires on it would give. I've been very happy with it as sort of an all-around do anything bike, but I took it apart to repaint it (that whole 20 year old thing had done a number on it cosmetically), and that project has stalled out as finding the time/space to finish painting has gotten to be a bear.

In the meantime, I've been looking on craigslist for an affordable road bike (since 90+% of my riding is on roads and even my off road riding doesn't need much/anything more than a 28 mm tire) to ride until I finally get around to finishing the paint/rebuild. I'd recommend riding what you have and keeping an eye on craigslist/garage sales for that perfect deal that might be cheaper than a conversion (they do come up - I just missed out on 2 in the last two weeks and I'm odd in needing a 59-63 cm bike).

ChrisM2097

And there's always these as an option...

https://www.amazon.com/Origin-Bicycle...=drop+bar+ends

treadtread

My hybrid is my commute bike, so I have no remorse at all. It has a lot of eyelets and brazeons to hold stuff. The tires are wide enough to be comfortable - I ride daily! I have thought about converting to drops, but not really sure about that yet. One of the reasons I bought a hybrid is the flat bar - I am not sure how comfortable I would be on a road bike. Another reason is that the upright position lets me look around more easily - as a commuter, that is pretty important. I doubt I'd be able to do this easily on the drops - and if I spend most of my time on the hood, there isn't a point to the road bike.

My plan is to rent one for a day first (or borrow someone's) and see how I feel about the drops.

One option to going faster - change the crankset and make it more road-bikish. If you can do it yourself, or get a friend to help you, it should be pretty cheap - decent condition second hand cranks are pretty cheap on ebay.

FrankHudson

I own a Trek 7.2, though it's an earlier 2010 model. If you want more responsive, I'd consider tires first, as it's easy to try and affordable. The original Bontragger tires on mine are not particularly light nor slick. I'm going to swap out to some lighter slicker tires yet this season. For more aero you could just try bar ends such as those suggested above. The geometry of a hybrid may not work as well with the drop style bar ends as you'd like though. As I (not as knowledgeable as others here) understand it, hybrids tend to have a longer top tube than road frames, so the position could be too stretched out. I went with a trekking/butterfly bar myself, which tends to shorten the reach to the various hand positions. However the trekking bars were a comfort thing for me mostly. Sure, eventually if you want a road bike you will get a road bike.

PatrickGSR94

I've had buyer's remorse ever since I really got back into cycling this year, and I bought my bike 6 years ago! I wasn't that much into riding back then, I just wanted to try to, with something better than the all steel big box store MTB from the early 90's that was rotting in my back yard. I didn't know what I wanted, liked, or needed back then. But I know now that I would rather have a road bike than a MTB, and going all out trying to make mine more road friendly isn't very cost effective.

GeorgeBMac

I sort of have the opposite problem -- I have road bike with drop bars and I want to get a hybrid -- but that is forcing me into a straight bar.

I road my friend's mountain bike again today and it was OK. But not my preference. I like the more forward lean I get with my hands on hoods but I never use the actual drops... I also like the ability to move my hands around a lot -- which is aided by the fact that the bars are completely uncluttered: the brake levers are at the end of the hoods and the shifters are on the downtube.

I was thinking that when/if I end up with a hybrid, I might at some add bar ends to it to simulate the flexibility of the drop bars...

PatrickGSR94

Mount bar ends on flat bars between grips and controls, and angle them forward. That puts them about the same width apart as your drop bars, and with similar hand/arm angles as being on the hoods.