JDELUNA

I am looking at a new 2008 Trek FX 7.9 that has been marked down to $1400. I currently weight 250+# and like all of you exercising to lose much more. The FX 7.9 currently has 700C wheels in 20 in the front and 24 in the rear in 2X pattern. Will these wheels be strong enough for my current weight till I lose weight ?? I will not be racing or anything just riding to lose weight, that is all. Thanks for your opinions and any info.

jaxgtr

Should be ok, but I would think about getting at least a rear with 32. the front should be fine.

Bone Head

I'm 250ish and ride 20/24 spoke Xero wheels that came stock on my Giant OCR. I had my wheels retensioned after a few hundred miles. They needed it after this "break in" period. I've had no issues with my wheels over the last 3 thousand miles or so since the "preventive maintenance."
Happy riding!!

infecto

My question is why are you buying a carbon frame for loosing weight? I equate that to throwing away $1k right there. That is personal opinion of course but I dont see the point in buying an upright carbon frame especially when you are in that weight range.

Neil_B

Why are you getting carbon fiber and racing wheels if you aren't racing? Get the 7.2 or 7.3 and save several hundred dollars.

infecto

I got my 7.3 for around $4-500.

JDELUNA

The type of person I am, I always try to purchase the top of the line model, but I always shop around for the best price. No offense to anyone, but if I purchase the lower model, I will always have in my head that I should have purchased the top of the line model and be happy.

Tom Stormcrowe

One reason I can think of, softer ride than Aluminum.

infecto

For an upright bike that is a poor reason.

infecto

Have fun riding around the block on your carbon then. Do not forget to get full spandex and an aero helmet.

rugerben

You're a nice guy.

Spiffy

It is sad when someone gets all huffy and sarcastic when others do not agree with them and want to purchase "top of the line" equipment. I guess I need to put my spandex bibs and carbon frame bike on ebay........

bautieri

You know, for that kind of money you aught to look into buying a full on road bike. You could easily score a Trek 2.1 for that price. While it's not top of the line by a far stretch it is an actual road bike that will have a couple of advantages over a hybrid. First you get the curvy handlbars, this will allow you to have multiple hand possitions which reduces fatigue on longer rides. Longer rides = weight loss. Now, if you would stand up straight and let your hands hang by your sides. Notice how your palms face towards you. Now raise your arms with your palms in the nutral possition, this is how you will grab ahold of a pair of drop bars. A traditional flat bar bike like the FX will force you to rotate your hands so they no longer hang in the nutral possition. Next, a road bike will have narrower tires which will allow you to ride faster as they have less rolling resistence than the set you will find on the FX. In all honesty the 7.9FX is one sweet ride, however I feel you would be foolish for not trying out a proper road bike especially at that price point. Don't worry about the rims being narrow, the official clyde rim is the Velocity Deep V which can be built up to almost be bomb proof. If you never road a bike with drops your first couple of rides will be wobbly but don't give up. Once you get used to it you'll be glad you did

Make sure you check all your options out, the most important thing is that you enjoy your bike and actually ride it. Take many pictures then post the bike p0rn for the rest of us to drool over.

txvintage

2. he wants it.
3. he wants it.

It won't be a good bike no matter what he buys if he has buyer's remorse before he gets out of the LBS door.

OP, buy what speaks to you. You are the one riding it.

txvintage

Rugerben, is your avatar an actual helmet? If so, where can I find one?

I've just realized I really need one, apparently

It RAWKS.

lambo_vt

+1 to this advice. Buy what you like, but if it were my money I wouldn't be looking at a $1400 hybrid.

Brando_T.

as someone who bought a $800 hybrid last year, I'd probably agree with Lambo.

I'm currently saving for a 1500+ road bike. the hybrid will always have a place in my garage as a commuter.

rugerben

txvintage-
Yes, it's an actual helmet. It was a chidren's helmet that I found n Jenson's website a few months back and I it so much that I just had to make it my avatar.
I just tried to find it again and could not.

I thought it "rawked" as well.

ang1sgt

Great Bike!

Trek will stand behind the frame for sure and they state that there are NO Weight Limits on their Production Bikes. Bontrager Rims are warrantied to the original purchaser for 5 years and they do stand behind these.

As a Shop Mechanic/Foreman that weighs in at 250 myself, I ride everything that I can swing a leg over.

Bone Head

Hey Neighbor !!! Shop around @ some of the LBS. Check Conte's @ Hilltop and 21st St in Ghent, Bike Beat Kempsville, East Coast Bicycles on Colley in Ghent, All About Bikes on Battlefield in Chesapeake, North End Cyclery off Laskin @ the Oceanfront ---- just to name a few. I like Fat Frogs in Redmill, but I don't think they are a Trek Dealer.
Good Luck !!

rugerben

txvintage, I found the helmet while I happened to be searching for some tires. It's right here at biketiresdirect.com!!
Unfortunately, I think they only make 'em for kids.

theetruscan

I think that, if you have the funds such that a $1400 hybrid won't interfere with buying a road bike later, you should do it. That being said, there's a good chance you will ride a hybrid for a bit, then start riding a road bike (or mountain bike I suppose). If $1400 is a significant chunk of your bike budget, you should either look at road bikes directly or consider that you may not stay on the hybrid.

Of course, it's your money, and if you like your ride you will ride more.

mesasone

I think you can get a much better bike for the money (or less), and you very well may regret getting a hybrid shortly after getting it. Some people like them, but many, including myself, bought one thinking it was a nice compromise and shortly discovered we wanted something else - often more of a road bike. Forum user "The Historian" rides a Trek 7.5fx and seems to like it quite a bit, so this is not universally true.

However in my case, I bought a lower-end Trek... the 7.2fx and rode it for a few months. I figured out it just wasn't want I wanted, and a size too small to boot, and ended up buying a Surly Long Haul Trucker. I love this bike, and so do several other forum members. I think you're looking at around 1100 for the bike, so you could spend the rest of that 300 dollars on a decent saddle (I put a Brooks B17 on mine and love it. So comfy!) and a set of pedals (the LHT, like many higher end bikes, does not come with pedals).

As a tourer, the LHT has a more upright geometry than other more race orientated road bikes, a stout chromoly steel frame (strong and soaks up road vibrations pretty well), and study 36 spoke wheels designed to take a load - literally.

Anyway, just thought I'd plug my bike

lutz

Have the bike shop replace the wheels with something appropriate for clydes. It will require some dealing but in the end they will agree on it.

JDELUNA

Everyone thanks for your replies. Just to let you know I do currently have a regular *Road* bike which is an older 1990 Cannondale SR900 with Dura-Ace / Campy Athena mix drive train. I hurt my back many years ago in the military so the bent down position is not really that comfortable. For the last year and half I have been biking on a Dahon Speed P8 and it feels so much better as it is more upright, but the only thing is that it is kind of slow as I am averaging about 13-14mph. That is why I am looking at a Hybrid for the upright riding position but with the skinny tires be pretty fast.