Well, not quite. I've had this bike for a few days since picking it up on Saturday, but I haven't been able to get off it long enough to write something about it!
That said, now that i've put several miles on it I can share some of my thoughts about the bike. Where to start? After several agonizing weeks I cut down a list of a dozen potential bikes to the 2015 Trek 7.3. It had the right features, the right looks and the right price. I was able to ride a 2014 7.3 and the 2015 7.3 before making my decision, so i'll talk a bit about some of the differences between this model and previous 7.3's. The seat has been changed to a Bontrager Nebula, a change I welcomed. This was one of the first bikes I really felt comfortable on during the test ride, and the seat is a big improvement. Maybe it just "works" better for me, but either way i'm calling it a definite improvement.
The most obvious change is the frame, the geometry is
slightly different but the main feature is the internal cable routing, which is currently standard on the new 7.3, 7.4 and 7.5 (at the time of this writing). The cable routing looks very professional, with the RD running all the way through the chainstay giving the frame a very attractive, clean look. Having ridden extensively over labor day weekend I have not heard any rattling or noise from the bike. Also related to the frame is the new "Blendr" stem attatchment system, which allows you to put various bike computers, phone cases and headlamps on the stem using two different types of adjustable mounts. Off the top of my head, I know that the Bontrager Trip Computers and Ion headlamps are compatible with it.
Another notable change is the new Alivio M4000 "Shadow" RD replacing the older Alivio M430. Shifting gears is quick and snappy, and so far i'm very impressed with the quality of the new Alivio. The cassette also seems to have undergone a minor change from the published specs on the Trek website. Worth mentioning, I spoke with someone from Trek earlier in the week who informed me that a number of early launch bikes were still shipping with the older M430 RD in order to use up existing stock, so at this time there is no solid guarentee as to which RD you'll get. I assume as we progress further into the year that will change.
Wrapping up the list of changes are the Bontrager TLR "Tubeless" rims which are now standard equipment on the 7.3/7.4. To finish my short review, here are some images i've taken over the past few days.
