Trek FX 7.5 or road bike?

[Bumer]

Hello ladies and gents.

I've been lurking around without registering, and finally decided to do click-click and registered. Lots of usefull information on this forum, lots of knowledgeable folks.

So, I'm hoping to get some feedback on my un-easy decision of getting new bike.

I currently ride Trek FS Rumblefish on mountain trails. I'd like to get second bike so I could do other types of trails / rides, like compressed dust and pavements.

After extended research I set my eyes on Trek FX 7.5. On another bike forum, the question was raised - why don't I get road bike? To me FX 7.5 seems almost like a road bike: light weight, rigid carbon fork, road gearing, slim tires. It just more versatile, and has flat handlebars.

So, my main question is: should I be getting road bike instead?

Thank you very much!

[ChowChow]

Hello ladies and gents.

I've been lurking around without registering, and finally decided to do click-click and registered. Lots of usefull information on this forum, lots of knowledgeable folks.

So, I'm hoping to get some feedback on my un-easy decision of getting new bike.

I currently ride Trek FS Rumblefish on mountain trails. I'd like to get second bike so I could do other types of trails / rides, like compressed dust and pavements.

After extended research I set my eyes on Trek FX 7.5. On another bike forum, the question was raised - why don't I get road bike? To me FX 7.5 seems almost like a road bike: light weight, rigid carbon fork, road gearing, slim tires. It just more versatile, and has flat handlebars.

So, my main question is: should I be getting road bike instead?

Thank you very much!

Depends on the riding position that you prefer best. If you don't mind the drop bar, then get a road bike. If you prefer a more upright position, get the 7.5. A road bike most likely will be much faster though.

[batcat]

"trails" "compressed dust". I don't know what compressed dust is like, but I think the deciding factor would be the type of surface you ride on. The 7.5 could handle a wide variety of trails and probably "compressed dust"--if not, try a wider tire or lower pressure. It is also capable, comfortable, and fun on pavement, especially since you don't mention "speed" in your post. I would be a bit apprehensive taking a narrow-tire road bike on compressed dust or trails.

Two more thoughts. If you buy the 7.5 and really don't like it, my experience is that you can sell it very quickly at only a small loss. I had a 7.3 and loved it. My first addition was a pair of bar ends to give me another riding position.

[Dunbar]

Road bikes aren't suitable for anything but pavement. A cyclocross bike is basically a road bike the lower gearing and space for wider/knobbier tires that can handle off-road riding. If I already had a mountain bike I'd go for a road or cross bike since the 7.5FX is too similar to your mountain bike. The 7.5FX is more of a relaxed position than a road race bike. Road bikes with the FX type of position are called relaxed geometry frames. Not to be confused with racing geometries which place the rider in a more aggressive position.

[badger1]

Depends on the riding position that you prefer best. Agree.

If you don't mind the drop bar, then get a road bike. Agree.

If you prefer a more upright position, get the 7.5. Agree.

A road bike most likely will be much faster though.

Delete "much", Agree.

[a1penguin]

Have you test ridden any road bikes? A lot of your questions boil down to personal preference. Dunbar nicely summarizes what each type riding surface each type of bike can handle. In another thread, someone just purchased a road bike and really hates it. I feel bad for Adam. I'm not really excited about my hybrid and would prefer a drop bar bike.

[OKIE_55]

I'm somewhat new returning to this sport, my 7.5 suites me just fine. Right now I'm just working on getting into better shape, riding 4hrs a day now, and trying to increase my speed. I'm having a good time, and that's all that counts to me. I know I'll start losing weight, and when I do, that's when I might get a road bike. That's the plan for now. Seven months ago, if you asked me if I would be riding 40-45 miles on a bike, I'd have thought one of us was nuts, not now. 3/31/12 I went on a group trail ride and thought I wanted a road bike to keep up with most of the others, until two ladies older than I went right past me on mtn bikes about 20 miles into the ride. It was then I knew I needed to get into better shape before I moved to another bike. I've got 1982 miles on my 7.5 as of yesterday, and look forward to many more.

[digdah]

I didn't vote cause I do not know how a 7.5 rides. It is really down to the individual's taste when it comes to purchasing products. For me the drops were uncomfortable when all the way down so I picked up a hybrid.

I wonder how different this poll would be in the road bike forum.

[side_FX]

Just to make things even more confusing for you, look at the Trek DS series. The higher models are right below/above the price of the 7.5FX. Their tires are a bit wider and use a suspension fork to give you more trail options than the FX. The fork can then lockout for your road jaunts. I guess the question is do you think you'll be on the road more or trail?

[robbyrocks12345]

Road Bike, I made the same mistake.

[Bumer]

Depends on the riding position that you prefer best. If you don't mind the drop bar, then get a road bike. If you prefer a more upright position, get the 7.5. A road bike most likely will be much faster though.

The more I think about it, the less I want upright position. And since I want a bike for longer 20+ miles rides, drop bars should be more comfortable in the long run.

"trails" "compressed dust". I don't know what compressed dust is like, but I think the deciding factor would be the type of surface you ride on. The 7.5 could handle a wide variety of trails and probably "compressed dust"--if not, try a wider tire or lower pressure. It is also capable, comfortable, and fun on pavement, especially since you don't mention "speed" in your post. I would be a bit apprehensive taking a narrow-tire road bike on compressed dust or trails.

Two more thoughts. If you buy the 7.5 and really don't like it, my experience is that you can sell it very quickly at only a small loss. I had a 7.3 and loved it. My first addition was a pair of bar ends to give me another riding position.

I meant something like crushed gravel. Yeah, compressed dust does not make much sense. I've thought about buying FX now, and then selling it. For some reasons that idea did not live too long, so I will just try to make best decision now to avoid more buying and selling.

Thank you for bringing up "speed", since I did forget to mention it. I do want the bike to be fast and light. That was the reason of picking 7.5 over 7.4, because of road gearing. Same reason eventually led to question - why not just pick road bike instead?

Road bikes aren't suitable for anything but pavement. A cyclocross bike is basically a road bike the lower gearing and space for wider/knobbier tires that can handle off-road riding. If I already had a mountain bike I'd go for a road or cross bike since the 7.5FX is too similar to your mountain bike. The 7.5FX is more of a relaxed position than a road race bike. Road bikes with the FX type of position are called relaxed geometry frames. Not to be confused with racing geometries which place the rider in a more aggressive position.

Looked at cyclocross bikes, but felt no connection. I think the winner is going to be (most likely) a road bike, because I do want more aggressive position, which will alow me to ride faster.

Delete "much", Agree.

Agree!

[Bumer]

Have you test ridden any road bikes? A lot of your questions boil down to personal preference. Dunbar nicely summarizes what each type riding surface each type of bike can handle. In another thread, someone just purchased a road bike and really hates it. I feel bad for Adam. I'm not really excited about my hybrid and would prefer a drop bar bike.

Rode one briefly, but will try to do another test ride before making final decision. The biggest concern always is to get a bike, and then regret it. That's why all kinds of comments are very helpful!

I'm somewhat new returning to this sport, my 7.5 suites me just fine. Right now I'm just working on getting into better shape, riding 4hrs a day now, and trying to increase my speed. I'm having a good time, and that's all that counts to me. I know I'll start losing weight, and when I do, that's when I might get a road bike. That's the plan for now. Seven months ago, if you asked me if I would be riding 40-45 miles on a bike, I'd have thought one of us was nuts, not now. 3/31/12 I went on a group trail ride and thought I wanted a road bike to keep up with most of the others, until two ladies older than I went right past me on mtn bikes about 20 miles into the ride. It was then I knew I needed to get into better shape before I moved to another bike. I've got 1982 miles on my 7.5 as of yesterday, and look forward to many more.

1982 miles in 7 month? Wow! That's great! I do about 20 miles a week on my mountain bike, but hoping to kick the mileage up once I get another bike.

Right now, considering all pros and cons I'm leaning toward road bike. Not that there is anything wrong with FX, but I think that in the long run, road might might suit me better.

Good luck on putting many more miles on your bike, and with weight loss! I'm in the same boat, and want to loose some (more like a lot) of weight.

I didn't vote cause I do not know how a 7.5 rides. It is really down to the individual's taste when it comes to purchasing products. For me the drops were uncomfortable when all the way down so I picked up a hybrid.

I wonder how different this poll would be in the road bike forum.

I rode road bike very briefly, and I think I did like drop bars, although felt more comfortable on hybrid. I'll try to do another test before making final decision.

I's funny that you mentioned how different this poll would be in the road bike forum, because it does look little different. I did create same topic there. Majority of people are siding with picking road bike, and for good reasons.

So, I'm happy to get different opinions on the subject.

Just to make things even more confusing for you, look at the Trek DS series. The higher models are right below/above the price of the 7.5FX. Their tires are a bit wider and use a suspension fork to give you more trail options than the FX. The fork can then lockout for your road jaunts. I guess the question is do you think you'll be on the road more or trail?

If I created this topic a week earlier, you would confuse the hell out of me ))) About a week ago I was also looking at DS as well, even went to bike shop to compare FX and DS. Decided that FX would be better fit for me, since I already have mountain bike, and DS is more of mountain bike than anything else. I'm glad there is no new confusion here.

Road Bike, I made the same mistake.

Thank you! With your help and others, I will try not to make mistakes.

[Tom Bombadil]

About 3-4 years ago, I was looking at higher end fitness hybrids vs a road bike. My two finalists in the hybrid class were the Trek 7.6 FX and the Fuji Absolute 1.0 (this was after test riding about a dozen higher end hybrids from Specialized, Jamis, Giant, a Gunnar set up this way, Marin, Scott, Kona, maybe 1 or 2 others). I also rode a couple of Trek road bikes, a Giant, Raleigh, Schwinn, etc.

In the end I went with the Fuji hybrid. And I have loved it. So much more comfortable than any of the road bikes, to me.

Since you did like drop bars, I think you do owe it to yourself to test ride a couple more road bikes. Ride them a few miles, not just around the block a few times. Give yourself a chance to adjust to the different riding position and shifters.

[dpeters11]

I have a 7.5 and 2.1, the hybrid is my going to the store bike now.

[glowrocks]

I ride my 7.5 or my Cobia on the gravel roads around here (photos from recent ride: http://www.allthepages.org/archives/...dy-april-ride/) and my road bike on the paved roads. Also, fwiw, I'm leaning more and more towards using the mt bike only on mt bike trails; it's just so heavy compared to the 7.5. Otoh, given the road conditions shown above, I was more comfortable on the fat-tired Cobia.

[side_FX]

Just thinking about this again. You say you didn't feel a connection with a cross bike? I don't see a road bike or the 7.5 fx being able to handle much more than paved roads or really smooth bike paths. You might be better served with a lower level FX with slightly wider tires. The cross really seems the best one bike for all the terrain you listed, no?

[SlimRider]

Get a road bike and ride the hoods...

[Bumer]

Decided to take my time and not to rush into buying road bike.

Thank you everyone for all great advises!

P.S.: When my LBS was ordering FX for me, instead of giving them small deposit, I, being nice guy and all, paid for it upfront. And now LBS is not willing to give me my money back, and wants to apply it toward another bike. Bummer.

[Plutonix]

Road bikes aren't suitable for anything but pavement.

+1

Moreover, in many cases paved MUTs simply aren't designed to accommodate road bikes at full speed - they are typically too twisty, turns are too sharp, and too many strollers, dogs, morons and under supervised kids spread across the path. I don't find chat and "compressed dust" type trails ideal even for my 7.5FX, though it can do it.

[bikejrff]

The model year of my bikes in my signature says it all.

[kaliayev]

+1

Moreover, in many cases paved MUTs simply aren't designed to accommodate road bikes at full speed - they are typically too twisty, turns are too sharp, and too many strollers, dogs, morons and under supervised kids spread across the path. I don't find chat and "compressed dust" type trails ideal even for my 7.5FX, though it can do it.

Really. Ever hear of Paris-Roubaix?

[codwapeace]

The model year of my bikes in my signature says it all.

I don't get it? Care to explain?

[Dunbar]

I don't get it? Care to explain?

His three most recently purchased bikes are road bikes. Or at least that's how I read it.

[bikejrff]

His three most recently purchased bikes are road bikes. Or at least that's how I read it.

Bingo Dunbar.

[bikejrff]

Decided to take my time and not to rush into buying road bike.

P.S.: When my LBS was ordering FX for me, instead of giving them small deposit, I, being nice guy and all, paid for it upfront. And now LBS is not willing to give me my money back, and wants to apply it toward another bike. Bummer.

IMHO big mistake by your LBS. Bought all six of my bikes from local LBS because of excellent relationship they have earned in my dealings with them. Am in denial regarding total $$$$ spent on this "hobby/affliction." In my defense, I have ridden 25,000+ miles the past four years.