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08-27-09, 08:10 PM
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New to Bike Forums
Hello everyone,
My name is Bruce and I am new to Bike Forums. I just started riding my Trek model 7700 hybrid again in June that I purchased at the end of 2003 and it feels good to be riding a bicycle again. I take it out twice a week for a twenty mile round trip.
I think my Trek model 7700 is made well and it performs well although as another biker pointed out is does make noise in certain gears. There isn't anything I am aware that can be done to stop the noise other than shifting to another gear. The problem stems from having 9 sprockets in the back and three up front. When the bike is in certain gears the chain is not parallel to the main frame and due to its extreme angle it rubs the derailed up front and makes a lot of noise. The noise will drive you nuts so, I don't keep it those gears very long. I brought the bike for comfort and I mainly ride it on a paved path. The gearing is very low so, I only use the last 9 gears. I can climb hills easily in the last 9 gears so for me I would be better off with different gears so, I could go faster, but for now I will leave it alone.
I also have an Astra Tour DeFrance that my folks purchased new for me in December 1965 when I was 9 years old. I love the bike and I don't plan on every getting rid of it. I don't recall ever having any problems with the rear derailleur shifting. What does give trouble is the shift lever up front for the rear derailleur. Friction disks are used to maintain the position of the shift lever where ever you move it to and if the thumb knob loosens up even a little bit, the derailleur in back will make the chain jumb to a smaller sprocket because it spring loaded. I have the original friction disks so perhaps if I replaced them it wouldn't happen so often. Other than that problem I think it is fine bike and I think they used very good components on it. I never really compared it against any other bikes outside of Schwinn. I think Schwinn bikes may have a stronger frame, but then Schwinns are definitely heavier. The Astra tracks exceptionally well and I feel a lot safer riding it without any hands than I do with the Trek model 7700. The center pull brakes on the Astra provide very good stopping power, but the brakes on the Trek stop even better with less effort due to long lever arms attached to the brake pads.
My name is Bruce and I am new to Bike Forums. I just started riding my Trek model 7700 hybrid again in June that I purchased at the end of 2003 and it feels good to be riding a bicycle again. I take it out twice a week for a twenty mile round trip.
I think my Trek model 7700 is made well and it performs well although as another biker pointed out is does make noise in certain gears. There isn't anything I am aware that can be done to stop the noise other than shifting to another gear. The problem stems from having 9 sprockets in the back and three up front. When the bike is in certain gears the chain is not parallel to the main frame and due to its extreme angle it rubs the derailed up front and makes a lot of noise. The noise will drive you nuts so, I don't keep it those gears very long. I brought the bike for comfort and I mainly ride it on a paved path. The gearing is very low so, I only use the last 9 gears. I can climb hills easily in the last 9 gears so for me I would be better off with different gears so, I could go faster, but for now I will leave it alone.
I also have an Astra Tour DeFrance that my folks purchased new for me in December 1965 when I was 9 years old. I love the bike and I don't plan on every getting rid of it. I don't recall ever having any problems with the rear derailleur shifting. What does give trouble is the shift lever up front for the rear derailleur. Friction disks are used to maintain the position of the shift lever where ever you move it to and if the thumb knob loosens up even a little bit, the derailleur in back will make the chain jumb to a smaller sprocket because it spring loaded. I have the original friction disks so perhaps if I replaced them it wouldn't happen so often. Other than that problem I think it is fine bike and I think they used very good components on it. I never really compared it against any other bikes outside of Schwinn. I think Schwinn bikes may have a stronger frame, but then Schwinns are definitely heavier. The Astra tracks exceptionally well and I feel a lot safer riding it without any hands than I do with the Trek model 7700. The center pull brakes on the Astra provide very good stopping power, but the brakes on the Trek stop even better with less effort due to long lever arms attached to the brake pads.
08-27-09, 09:37 PM
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Welcome to Bike Forums, Bruce. I have a Trek 7500 FX hybrid and I like it just fine.
Putting the chain at the extreme angles is called cross-chaining and it puts a lot of stress on the chain and wears your gears out faster. Your bike chain and gears will last a lot longer if you don't cross-chain.
We have a Bicycle Mechanics forum where you can post your shifting questions.
Putting the chain at the extreme angles is called cross-chaining and it puts a lot of stress on the chain and wears your gears out faster. Your bike chain and gears will last a lot longer if you don't cross-chain.
We have a Bicycle Mechanics forum where you can post your shifting questions.
