Hello everyone. I’ve been lurking for a while and have made a decision on the bike I want. Actually, I’ve narrowed it down to two very similar bikes. I’ve chosen the Trek because of a LBS here in St. Louis. They’re very close by and very friendly.

Anyway, the major brand they carry is Trek. They took the time to fit me and chose a 20” frame. I’m 6ft and about 250lbs. Based on a number of factors I chose the Trek 7x00 hybrid with the front suspension. I’ve narrowed it down to the 7300 or the 7500. The 7300 is 579.00 and the 7500 is 929.00. I don’t mind paying more for upgraded components. I’m just trying to decide if they are *that* much better. I also like the paint scheme on the 7500 better.

Here’s a link to a feature comparison between the two.
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...500,7300,empty
My usage is too ride on bike paths and trails as well as going out into the country occasionally to ride. I also like exploring the city which has some good trails but the roads are also in pretty rough shape as well as a decent of amount of brick and cobblestone roads. (St. Louis)
I’d be interested in your opinions on the relative merits and quality of equipment on these two bikes.
One other question, I plan on adding the Bontrager fenders right away and also a Topeak rack later on. Will there be any compatibility issues with them?