faith&bike2live

I'm finally going to be able to upgrade from my 1993 Trek 830 (woooo for tax refunds!), and I need advice in which direction to go. All of the riding I do is on pavement or packed trail, so I don't really need suspension, fat tires, etc. I've been looking at the Trek 7.5 FX and wonder what it compares to in other brands (specifically Cannondale) in components, etc?

This bike might have to last me another 13 years like the last one, so I need to get the best I can afford. Most rides I take are between 15-30 miles, but I'd like to start taking 40+ mile rides this summer. I thought about going the road bike route, but I'm not sure that an entry-level road bike is a better idea than something like the upper-mid-level FX bike. Yep, $700 is about the top of my price range. Any advice?

mtnroads

I had a 7500FX for a couple of years and used it for training rides and city. It is very close to an all aluminum roadbike in some aspects - light, quick steering, and harsh ride. Not very good on dirt but overall a pretty good all-rounder, with a pavement bias. Also somewhat fatiguing to ride for more than an hour. I sold mine.

Have you considered getting a steel cross bike like the Volpe? - more comfortable ride and position, better for longer rides, better on dirt. They are around $900 but you could surely find a used one in your price range.

legot73

I've been looking at the 7.3 and 7.5 FX models for 2006. I think I'd be happy with the 7.3 FX, and took one for a spin. The Cannondale equivilents would be their "road warrior" line, and use road components vs. MTB components on the Trek. Check the link below:

https://www.cannondale.com/bikes/06/c...d_warrior.html

Cannondale is harder to find in my area than it used to be, and I expect them to cost much more. Trek, like Harley Davidson, is everywhere here.

I'll be following this post closely. I really like my old Trek 950's ride, but would like something lighter and more responsive. If that can be found in steel, I'd like to check it out. Who makes the Optima?

legot73

Sorry, I meant Volpe. Is that a frame builder?

bbattle

Cannondale has a Road Warrior 400 for $700msrp. It's a flat bar road bike with cross tires on it. You could swap out the tires for something better suited for pavement.
https://www.cannondale.com/bikes/06/C...del-6HR4Y.html

Trek has the Pilot, a road bike with a more relaxed geometry. The 1.0 starts at $769 but you could probably get it below $700.

Giant makes the OCR3 for $650. It's similar to the Pilot.

Specialized has the Sequoia for $770msrp. Also similar to the Pilot and OCR.

Some people find the flat handlebars limiting; there's not many possible hand positions like those on drop bars. I think the FX is fine for 20-30 miles or more. An option for flat bars is to install bar-ends to provide additonal hand positions.

bbattle

Jamis makes the Coda Sport with a steel frame. $600. 25.5lbs

Faith&bike2live, what shape are you in? Do you prefer the more upright geometry of the FX? It will be similar to the mtb. but faster and better for road/path use. The road bikes I posted earlier will be a bit faster and you'll be leaning more forward but not as much as on "race" road bikes. The FX can be fitted with a rack on the rear in case you want to do some light touring, runs to the store, or picnics. It's a very versatile bike. You can swap the flat bars for drop bars later if you like or you can add bar-ends that make the flat bar look like drop bars.

faith&bike2live

I have to get back into riding shape, but I know the process. I grew up on a 10-speed, so the switch back to a road bike wouldn't be too much of a stretch (pun intended! ha!). I could go either way on sitting style, but my main concern is quality of components. I know very little to nothing about road components. I'm just wondering if I'm giving too much up in component quality if I get an entry level road bike like the Pilot 1.0 or Trek 1000? Right now I'm leaning toward (he he) a hybrid like the FX or Road Warrior, but I'll need to ride them all of course. I'm headed to the bike shop after work, so we'll see what I can find out there, too. I'll post it and share the info.

faith&bike2live

The Bianchi Volpe is an option, boo, but Bianchi is getting harder and harder to find around here. Trek, Cannondale, and Gary Fischer are the main ones that I know of in this area. Probably Giant, too.

faith&bike2live

Well, I'm back from the shop. I remember why I really like that shop... the guy really knew his stuff. Basically, here are some comparisons for those of you that, like me, are looking for them....


Trek 7.5 FX ---> Cannondale Road Warrior 400, Specialized Cirrus or maybe Cirrus Comp
Trek Pilot 1.0 ---> Cannondale Synapse 3 or 4, Specialized Roubaix


The Road Warrior is a little different than the FX in that it has road bike gearing. Also, there might be a little component quality lost from a upper-mid level FX style to a entry-level road bike, but probably only one step. There is generally a wider range of quality in MTB or hybrid components than in road bike components. It's also possible to get the Pilot with straight bars if I wanted. I s'pose it's possible anyway, but it's possible that it can come that way. The Roubaix really intrigues me, but I'll have to search out reviews on all of them. Right now the FX is still in the lead in my mind, based on the type of riding I do (and my personality. I need variety!).

faith&bike2live

Oops... I think I meant Sequoia, not Roubaix. Although the Roubaix was pretty cool, it's above my price range.

legot73

I started looking for a comparable steel frame bike as well. In the $600 range, I'm going to try out the Jamis Coda Sport - steel lugged frame, MTB drivetrain, and 700cc wheels. There is a level above it called the Comp that upgrades components for about $800.

The Trek fx line looks like a better value for the $ to me than the Specialized Cirrus. Have you tried both of them yet and compared?

faith&bike2live

I haven't ridden anything yet, and I'm trying to avoid it until I go in to buy it in a month. I want to have it narrowed down to about 3 or 4 bikes so the ride will be the final judgement call. There's a better chance that I'll make a good decision if I can force myself to be deliberate about it.

8bitevolution

Let us know how the Jamis Coda Sport rides (and Comp for that matter if you give it a spin). Something about the Coda line just makes me swoon. I just bought a 2005 Trek 7300 (my first bike since I've been of driving age) and while I enjoy it, I'm kinda pissed that there's a shop in my town that carries Jamis and I could have gotten the bottom of the line Coda for probably the same price. They weren't listed on the Jamis site as an authorized dealer. Oh well, no sense crying over spilt milk, right?

The FX line looks sweet and I almost wish I'd gotten a 7.3 FX just because of the shifters. I'm kind of regretting the grip shifters on the 7300 but like I said, overall it's a great bike and I'm enjoying it a great deal and that's what matters.

bbattle

The fit and your comfort are the most important things about getting the right bike. If it doesn't feel right, you won't ride it, no matter how expensive it is.

There are people around here riding hybrids and FX bikes on Centuries. Mountain bike gearing is great for getting over those big hills, especially if you add a rack to haul your gear(or a small child).

My wife has a Trek 7100 hybrid and she likes it but doesn't feel the suspension seatpost or front suspension are necessary. They just add weight. Her grip shifters are okay but we're going on longer and longer rides so I'm getting her the 7.5 FX WSD. I may swap the tires for something a bit narrower for a bit more speed.

legot73

I went to check out the Jamis today. The shop only had one 2005 Sport and one 2005 Comp. The sport was 21", so it was a bit too big for me to give it a fair shake. Drive train components were average Deore, but maybe a bit low for the $600 price range (It was selling for $459 as last year model). The frame was a little heavy compared to Alum, but light for a steel bike. This would make a great commuter or all-around bike, and is worth looking at if you have a dealer nearby.

The Comp is impressive. The frame is Reynolds 520, and the bike is noticably lighter than regular chro-mo. The carbon fork probably helps the weight quite a bit, and has full bosses for front racks and XT drivetrain. The comp was exactly my size (19"), so I tried it out. It was a snowing pretty hard, so I didn't a ride in, but the fit and feel were great. This 2005 model was marked down to $729 from $825, which made it very tempting. I think that at this price it should be strongly considered over the Trek 7.5fx if you could find one.

Both had adjustable stems, hydraulic suspension seat posts, and full bosses for racks and fenders. A great fast commuting or fitness bike.

daroemer

What ever happened with your bike purchase(s)? I just "inherited" a 7.5 FX from a relative (ridden twice) and am planning on riding it for cyclocross. I've put Michelin Mud2 tires on it, and will ride a while on the straight bars until I can afford to get Shimano 105 shifters and drops, but wanted to know how you like the bike, if you ended up getting one.

DR

bbattle

My wife loves her 7.5FX; it's much faster than her 7100 hybrid. I've also recently built her a singlespeed bike using an old Peugeot mixte frame. It's more of a cruise around town bike but she sure looks cool riding it.