My biggest concern is - what if I get FX now, and regret it later?
When I was buying MTB, I was going to get hardtail, but was offered great deal on 2011 FS. And I'm glad I did... Now, looking back, when riding rocky trails, I keep thinking all the time that going for FS was absolutely right decision.
Don't know how to choose between FX and road bikes, though.
Originally Posted by
dtrain
Well, do you want flat bars and the versatility to do other trails? No one else can make this call for you. A road bike will be much better on the road than anything else - but will not offer the same versatility. A 'cross bike is another option.
I never rode road bike (other than test riding on parking lot), but I did ride hybrid. So I know how it feels (more or less). It seems that everyone is saying that drop bars are more comfortable for longer rides.
Looked at 'cross bikes, but somehow did not feel connection.
I've got a MTB, a Trek FX, and a road bike, and by far the FX gets the least use. If I wanna do "trails" I take the mountain bike. If I want to ride on the road, I of course take the road bike. The FX has been turned into the family cruiser which I pull a trailer with. It will work fine as a road bike, but it's not as good as one. Its heavier, flat bars are worse than road bars in just about every way, and at least my FX (a 7.3) is the least smooth bike I have...even with its fat 28mm tires. Rough roads are not fun on it.
Only you really know how you'll be using the bike, but since you already have a mountain bike I say go for the other end of things and get a pure road bike.
If I had hardtail mountain bike, that's definitely what I would do. But as I go on my FS bike on compressed dust / crushed gravel trails, the harder I pedal, the more I can feel rear suspension, which is not good.
Since road bike would not be able to go on such trails, that's why I was eyeing FX.
I narrowed my choices down to 7.5 because of carbon fork and road gearing.
I have a 7.5 fx and find it to be a pretty good crushed limestone trail bike and roadish bike with its 32mm tires. I bought a rivendell that does that job too so my fx is going up for sale, but I can't fault the bike. It makes a pretty comfy and relatively quick bike that also works great on a trainer. I did put some bar ends on the bike.
A road bike, like a Trek 2.1 will be quicker, but you will feel more of the road bumps compared to the FX and it just isn't the bike to take on a rougher trail.
Wow, I though that you could not put bar ends on it because of special design (or that's what I heard).

Sounds like this way it can be made more comfortable to ride longer distances.
It's a vicious circle: road bike - no trails, but great for long road rides, FX - slower, but more comfortable for shorter rides.