Since I have started looking for a bike, I've gone through a couple different style of bikes, and I ultimately decided on a flat bar road bike. Within that style I was considering 3 models:


Trek Fx 7.2
Fuji Absolute 1.9
Jamis Coda Sport

I test rode a Trek Fx 7.1 and liked it, but was getting advice from this forum about the difference between the 7.1 and 7.2 and the consensus was that the 7.2 is worth the extra cash. My next step was to test drive the Fuji Absolute, but the only store locally that carries Fuji didn't have any and didn't know when they would, if at all. So that took care of the Fuji. Too bad cause I wanted to ride that bike.

That leaves the Jamis. I have to admit the Jamis Coda Sport ranks #1 with me in the looks category. That's why I wanted to ride it last, I wanted that to influence me as little as possible. Well I finally got on one yesterday, and loved it. The Trek 7.1 that I rode was a 20" I believe, and the Jamis a 21". It's been almost a week since I rode the 7.1 so couldn't remember exactly the difference in feel between the two, but I know that I enjoyed both at least equally.

Going up to the 7.2 would cost me $479 before tax, and my budget initially was $300-$400. After the research I've done, I've realized that for what I want to do (light to medium commuting, riding with my 9 y/o, and possibly some fitness riding later on) I should stretch it to $400-$500 max. But any more than that is probably not justifiable. So really that puts the Fx 7.2 out.