Hi everyone,
This is my first post here, so bear with me. I posted and then deleted this originally from road bike forum, but I was told by the LBS that the 7.3 FX is more of a straight handlebar road bike than the usual hybrid.
I haven't ridden in 25 years and I am 50 years old. I'm in good shape (5'9, 175) being that I am a fitness nut (weights, elliptical and low impact jogging for almost 30 years. I never really thought much about getting a bike until I had my daughter finally take off her training wheels off (she's 6.5). I just couldn't keep up with her anymore by just jogging. She's riding a 16", but she can pedal like mad. Anyway, now I need a bike. I live in a busy suburb just outside NYC. I would obviously be riding with her (local side streets, some sidewalks, bike paths), to the gym (1.5 miles), bike shop (2 miles), occasional short errands (1-2 miles) and fitness runs of about 1 hour. I do like speed as I have been a motorcyclist since getting rid of my 10 speed Panasonic. The streets around here have some potholes and a few are 45 mph, side-streets have potholes also. I would need to follow my daughter to school starting next Spring (she will be getting a 20" by then), but she would need to use a few sidewalks, as some of the streets are too busy and dangerous for a 6-7 year old. Sidewalks around here aren't the smoothest with roots raising quite a few.
Anyway, I went to my LBS and test rode the 20" Trek FX3 and DS3. About 30 minutes each. I was able to ride the FX with much more confidence. I know by the specs and feel that it's leaning more towards a road bike than a hybrid. The 2013 now has 9 speed vs 8 for 2012 and different gearing. I'm looking for this bike to last me a long time. What do you folks think? Appreciate your input. Here are the specs:
Frame
FX Alpha Gold Aluminum
Fork
FX Alloy w/tapered wall thickness, straight blades, CLIX dropouts
Sizes
15, 17.5, 20, 22.5, 25"
Wheels
Formula FM21 alloy front hub; Shimano RM30 alloy rear hub w/Bontrager Nebula 32-hole rims
Tires
Bontrager Race All-Weather Hard-Case, 700x32c
Shifters
Shimano EF65, E-Z Fire 9 speed
Front derailleur
Shimano Acera
Rear derailleur
Shimano Alivio
Crank
Shimano Acera M391, 48/36/26 w/chainguard
Cassette
Shimano HG31 11-32, 9 speed
Pedals
Nylon body w/alloy cage
Saddle
Bontrager H1
Seatpost
Bontrager Nebula
Handlebar
Bontrager Satellite Plus IsoZone, 31.8mm, 15mm rise
Stem
Bontrager SSR, 10 degree
Headset
Slimstak, semi-cartridge bearings, sealed
Brakeset
Tektro alloy linear-pull brakes w/Shimano EF65 levers
Grips
Bontrager Satellite IsoZone Elite, lock-on, ergonomic