Greetings all,

I am new the bike market, with a budget of ~$2000 to get my wife and I new (to us at least) bikes. I want to start commuting to work (~6.5 miles, flat-ish) and class (~1.5 miles, big hill), and possibly general fitness on the weekend, etc. I am first in line on a 2013 Trek CrossRip Comp with ~500 miles on Craigslist. The guy selling says he is 5'10'' and it is a bit too big for him. I'm 6'0.5'', so this would hopefully fit me well.

I've read a few reviews/posts about the CrossRip saying that the components are low end compared others at the new price point, but I am wondering if the used discount would change that story. I am a biking newbie, so comparing components across bikes leaves me with hundreds of browser tabs open and little practical knowledge. Is this bike a steal at $700, basically brand new, or should I still skip it for a better value? I've heard great things about the 7.3 FX, also around $700 (new). How do these compare?

I am planning to head to the local Trek dealer in a bit to ride a few models, including this one (CL guy lives ~1 hour away), but pretty much anything will be better than my rusty old Schwinn hand-me-down Mtn bike with faulty brakes and mud tires, so I don't want to be had...

Any advice would be great.

The bike is selling for $850 brand new, so you decide if this is a good deal or not. If it was me, no and I would buy new. If you don't know much about bikes, a new bike will come with free tune-ups, the shop will size you correctly and you may even get discounts on accessories. I have heard the complaints that the Trek CR has lesser components than other builds, but rest assured the components on it are pretty good.

The 7.3 FX is a complete different style of bike. It is a great bike especially if you like that upright position. I find this style of bike preferable for commuting but that is just me. I hope you find something you like.

The comp is $1100 new, the regular crossrip is $850

I ended up going with the Crossrip Comp. I rode it at the Trek shop and fell in love. They had it on sale for ~$875+tax, so $700 (with fenders) for slightly broken in seemed reasonable.

I rode a few other models from various brands, including the highly praised 7.3FX (which my wife ended up buying new), but the Crossrip just felt right. I've been riding it around today, trying to work up to longer rides (my legs and rump need some breaking in), but I'm happy with my decision so far.

The Trek shop in my town had the regular Crossrip on sale for $800, and the Comp for $875 (I think), but still, $700 for basically brand new seemed reasonable to me. I realize that I forewent a few free tune-ups by going used, but I hope to learn to do most of that myself, so not much lost there.

base model is cantilever braked.. now.. disc version is different frame & fork.

I have the 2014 CrossRip Comp I use for commuting....it's an excellent bike. However...do yourself a favor and drop the fork an check the grease on the headset bearings...mine basically did not have any on it.

People are cottoning up to country/adventure/gravel grinder road bikes.

They have a predictable geometry, sweet handling and can be ridden both on the road and on dirtpack and gravel trails.

They're really are the workhorse of the bike world.

Everything that's old is new again.


2005 Bike Review Special | Road Bike Reviews | OutsideOnline.com

That happens to be my country/adventure bike. I have set it up as a commuter bike and its the 2006 model year. The Schwinn Super Sport DBX was a great do-everything bike.

My mistake, thanks for catching that.

To the OP congratulations on your new bike. I like that you fell in love with the bike right away, that is a great feeling to have.

Sounds like a win! You are correct, 500mi of use is still essentially brand new, so you saved a couple hundred and got free fenders. Most importantly is you love to ride it, which must mean it is a good fit for your geometry.

Now ride the crap out of it! Keep the rubber side down...