I thought long and hard about the Giant Escape and Trek FX versus the Giant Roam and Trek DS. On one occasion I test rode the Escape and Roam back to back over the same course. I sought out rough areas of the road to determine differences in comfort and suspension. I determined I preferred the livelier more responsive Escape as it would benefit me more in climbing hills and it had a more agreeable cruising feel. As most all my riding is on paved roads, the Roam's softer suspension was not that much of an asset for me.

With a performance hybrid like the Trek FX or the Giant Escape, if one wanted to soften up the ride, you can reduce tire pressure and/or use larger volume tires.

I don't mean to belittle the Roam or DS with these comments as they are terrific bikes for their intended purposes.