jaycb74

Hi, I've been riding the Trek 7.5 for about 3 years now, great bike, really enjoyed it but beating the crap out of it and things now constantly having to be fixed. I ride quite a bit (for me), 2-3 x week, anywhere from 30-60 miles total per week and anywhere from about 1.5k to 4k total in elevation per week. Looking to upgrade to a carbon frame (my first!) and have a budget of about $2-3k. Based on the above, does anyone have any recommendations on what you think would be a good fit? I'm eyeing the 7.7fx but my local shop doesn't keep them in stock as they don't sell so no way to really test ride. Have never ridden a drop bar bike and don't want to learn now, I'm old...

Is there any consensus on the best high end hybrids in my range? Thanks for any recommendations...

Jay

ColonelSanders

Do yourself a favour and make sure this is one of the bikes you look at really closely.

So much better looking than the Trek 7.7 and better specs too.

SIRRUS EXPERT CARBON DISC

Specialized Bicycle Components

FarHorizon

Nicest one I've seen is the Raleigh Cadent i11.

practical

Here's my experience for what it's worth: I had a Nashbar Flatbar road bike. It was almost identical to the Trek 7.2 that my friend had until she got a real road bike. Nice inexpensive bikes but I thought the Nashbar and Trek were both sluggish so I got the Giant Escape 1 this year and I have been very happy with it. I rode almost 2K miles this year. I ride it pretty much like a road bike and ride with people who do ride road bikes. I put "28" tires on it. It weighs about 27 pounds and comes with a 9-speed triple. I'm sure you can find better bikes but for $650 you won't go wrong.

badger1

OP,

Given that budget, you can essentially choose to buy whatever is available (for '15). In the U.S., there are four or five candidates. They are different, with respect to tire clearance, brakes, and geometry; the only way you can know which you would prefer is to to test ride/get properly fitted -- always important, even more so if you are going to drop that kind of money. No one ... NO ONE ... on here can tell you in the abstract which is 'better' for you, though many will try.

Of these, the best overall value by far is the Giant ... but again, only if it fits/you like it -- they are all very fine bikes.

FastRoad CoMax 1 (2015) | Giant Bicycles | United States

Specialized Bicycle Components or
Specialized Bicycle Components

7.7 FX - Trek Bicycle

Quick Carbon 1 - QUICK CARBON - FITNESS - FITNESS & URBAN - BIKES - 2015

Cdtf

You all forget many bikes.

-the BMC AlpenChallenge, with or without a belt, with or without a Shimano Alfine:
alpenchallenge AC01 IGH Alfine Alfine 11 ? lifestyle ? BMC Switzerland

-Canyon Fitness bikes. 105 or Ultegra:
Canyon | Fitness | Roadlite AL 7.0

-Cube bikes:
CUBE SL ROAD
Once again, Ultegra or 105.

-Schindelhauer if you want something classy:
bikes | Schindelhauer Bikes

-Veloheld for an amazing steel bike:
veloheld.lane | veloheld

-And Simplon if you want the best hybrid money can buy:
Fahrrad Sport Inissio Tour Simplon

fietsbob

The Name 'Fitness Bike' was to apply to those Narrow racer wheel with flat bars .. In Europe the Group set for them has been offered from Campag & Shimano..

that is where those companies get the Components..

badger1

Errrm ... I could be wrong, but the OP is likely located in the U.S. The bmc aside, not one of the bikes you list is available in North America as far as I know. Again, could be wrong.

2702

BMC is like the Mercerdes Benz of bikes in price. I would just look at the 4 brands that are easily found in the States. Not being biased the Specialized Sirrus is really very good at everything. I would search for a leftover 2014 Sirrus carbon bike best looking styling that the 2015 bikes can't match.

Monstermash

He also stated he wanted a carbon frame.

badger1

+1

One of those interwebz things, I guess: answering questions someone didn't ask! You know: 'recommend me a really nice full-carbon flat-bar bike'. Response: 'buy a drop-bar road bike; buy a cyclocross bike; why do you want carbon?' ... that kind of thing.

Monstermash

Lol! It's not an interwebz thing, people don't pay attention in real life either.

Fudgeurpizzy

personally i dislike the looks of the specialized a lot. that bike is not my style and the zertz inserts lol...

i ride a trek 2014 7.7fx and love it. upgraded to the 7.7fx from a 7.3fx. people stop and check it out all the time. had some cats looking at it while scoring coffee just today.

i have upgraded mine for pure hybrid speed. just like being different toooooo.

stuff i have swapped out so far.
carbon satellite elite handlebar
stem xxx carbon
carbon stem spacers
xxx seat post
xxx paradigm saddle
br-9000 brakes
conti grand prix 4000 s II tires
bonny aeolus d3 wheels

PURE BEAST.

i like trek (:

bikejrff

I just ordered this

FastRoad CoMax 1 (2015) | Giant Bicycles | United States

$1486 + tax.

Better shifters and crankset than the Sirrus Elite Carbon. And I did not want a compact.

Monstermash

The Trek 7.7FX is a pretty nice bike but when is Trek going to get with the times and offer it with disc brakes? Also it's way over priced IMO.

side_FX

True. Why offer discs on your cheaper models, but not the top of the line? Why is the color selection on your most expensive FX model the most conservative? Why would you offer the same basic white bike on two similar price points? (7.4/7.5)

i love the FX line, but somebody in Waterloo made some pretty odd marketing choices this year if you ask me.

Monstermash

Just this year? Lol!

2702

I'm a disc brake convert 100%. At first I was being silly and worried about weight penalty, than got a disc brake bike and will never look back. Calipers just seem weird at a certain price point, don't care if its say ultergra or dura ace on it.

Monstermash

Like anything else in this sport, if you spend enough money weight isn't an issue. I had Formula Rx hydraulic disc brakes on my carbon crux flatbar and it only weighed 18.2 lbs complete with bottles, cages, Garmin GPS, and pedals. And I didn't go crazy with other components trying to be ultra lightweight.

jaycb74

Thanks everyone for the info; for my purposes it seems the 7.7fx or Specialized Sirrus is probably about right; now if I could just find a 7.7 to test ride!

badger1

On this point I would agree to an extent. It's not so much a weight/cost issue in my view, but rather that other points (fit; general preference) should prevail absent other considerations.

For example, if the OP does come down to a choice between say the Trek 7.7 and one of the carbon Sirrus bikes, he/she shouldn't make a decision predicated primarily on the presence or absence of discs -- provided his/her riding conditions don't generally present rain/mud/snow etc. Vs and modern road calipers are more than adequate for 'good' conditions road riding. Like you, I use v brakes (TRP CX9s with Avid SD7 levers), and find them excellent for my cycling.

themishmosh

I'm with you brother. Disc brakes can be finicky and noisy. I think disc pads are a big time scam. Why do they cost as much as some car brake pads??? My Avid BB7s squeel like a pig when wet and I don't think the stopping power is all that great either.

2702

Disc Brakes on top end bikes is the future, only the 7.7 FX is left out of the big 4 to not use it. Its like motorcycles with ABS, give it 5 years and every new motorcycle will have it. I consider it a luxury to have good disc brakes on a bicycle. It makes

2702

I think that bike comes with the same flatbar as on my Fastroad SLR. Giant connect XC Flat 31.8. I did not like this bar and replaced it with a 660mm length mountain bike bar. Much better control. The stock bar is just way too flat for good cornering leverage.

Titec HELLBENT ProLite XC Am MTB Riser Handlebar 660mm 31 8mm 1 5in | eBay

Lt Stonez

Not sure he can find one. 14 Sirrus modells are the last year with a Roubaix frame i belive. Dont now how '15 sirrus feels, but the '14 sirrus carbon bikes is really fast, good handling bike.
Never heard anything bad about them.