jppe

Thanks for keeping us posted and keep up with the excellent search!! Sounds like you are narrowing the choices to the style that best fits your needs which is absolutely critical. You will know the perfect deal when you find it......and you might already have!!

GrannyGear

DeeGee............Back at ya! Check your P.M.

aj in ma

Gary,
Re-read your previous post (post 16). I think you've answered all the questions you may have for yourself.
Some of us like to work on our own bikes, some of us own many bikes for many (often invalid) reasons. Some of us like to ride 20-60 miles per day. Some of us even adapt well to pain.
None of these things are what you're looking for. You seem to know exactly what you want and have found it, so do right by yourself and take the plunge. There's no way you'll regret it. If you don't buy that bike, you'll spend the rest of your biking life comparing every other bike to that one, and never be satisfied.
Give yourself a merry Chrismas.

aj

Dchiefransom

Yo DG, I see the Trek has a 36 small ring in the front, and a 12-26 cassette in the back. Do you ride many hills? If you do, what gears do you ride them in? Your mountain bike has a lot lower gearing than the one you're looking at. You might try riding it up some hills down there to see how you do on it. Does it come with a triple up front if you want one? A cassette swap at the time you buy it shouldn't add much to the cost.
BTW, here are some nice road bikes that won't hurt your back OR your neck.

BJ Ondo

DG glad to see your not letting the "rodies" pressure you into buying into something you'll be really unhappy with!! It seems that sometimes, they act like, "WE have to suffer, so YOU should too" and becuase WE like it, YOU should too!

I don't give rat's ass if they can pass me up a hill on their cool, mega bucks rodie! LOL, I was on a bike path on Thrusday and some good lookin young thing in the brightest, muti-colored riding tightes and a trick looking road bike passed me with ease. Still just down the path, was a 200 yard long spot, where the asphalt had gotten bad and was crumbling, she had to come to a full stop to "assess" the surface, I just geared up and "FLEW" right by, singing, "On Your Left" with my mega heavy, totally uncool comfort bike!

Yep, she caught me again but , the path turned to dirt, she had to turn around and I just keep on ride'in so there's advantages to all the differnt types of bicycles on the market and the "Comfort's and Hybrid's" have a place, even if we are looked down upon by the hardcore rodies! Get what YOU want and have FUN, while the others "ride in pain" so they can ride with the cool crowd, JMHO.

TrekDen

Hey Gary, take a look at the next model up (7.7FX), it's something I would consider before making a final decsion. I know it's more expensive, but there are some things worth saving for. If you plan on extending your ride times, that carbon monostay will make a diference. Plus there are a few other nice upgrades on it for the money. After all is said, and done, it's still your choice you have to be happy with. So whatever your choice, just be happy, and ride it.
Good Luck,
Den

badger1

Hey, DG -- you had the courtesy to chime on my thread (switch ...?), so I'll add my 2cents here. As you noted, we're going through a very similiar process at the moment, engaged in the same search. I've tried many drop-bar roadies -- same reaction (?): love the speed, the open-road handling, the ride; don't get on so well with the hoods/drops brake/shift position -- I feel a little insecure in traffic, and start to get niggling aches/pains. Road-based (NOT mountain based) hybrids (really, a road bike with flat bars and v or disc brakes): love the speed, the open-road AND 'traffic' handling, love having the brake/shift position maximize 'heads up', don't get the aches/pains; DO miss the multiple hand positions of drop bars BUT a good set of bar ends (i.e. Cane Creek Ergo) on flats can take care of a lot of that. I'm starting to lean toward the Giant FCRs, which really do parallel the new Trek 7.6/7.7 you are considering-- both great brands, imho. Giant for me because (a) I've been very happy with my Giant mtbs (b) my fave lbs sells Giant (c) the new FCRs come with a SRAM drivetrain, which is great for me because (arthritis in base of thumbs) I can't use trigger shift/need grip shift. Otherwise, very similiar: FCR 2 = 7.6; FCR 1 = 7.7 (both add carbon in rear triangle), all with carbon forks (the biggie). I say go for it! IF, and when, you decide you want or (better?) realistically need a full-on roadie, do that then. Final thought: I'd stay away from the 7500 (now 7.5)FX. I bought one last year, returned it in three days: it's mountain-based with mountain gearing, and (most important) has a straight-blade aluminum fork (still does) which I found a virtual jack-hammer; also, the 7.6/7.7 have completely new hydroformed frames designed specifically for the series. End of sermon. Cheers!

BK Xray

Digital Gee, have you considered a recumbent? You take the whole comfort thing to a new level. I could almost immediately ride twice as far due to complete lack of pain. My legs eventually got tired, but the rest of me felt as comfortable as if I had been sitting in a chair at home.

FoX11

you're rather clever, well done.

p.s. i'm 16, you guys are more entertaining then people my age.

wagathon

That frame's angles are pretty sweet--like a vintage trek of the late 70s and the 80s--with the long chain stay and wheelbase and the slack head and seatpost angles. About the only difference is that the bottom bracket heights on the new bikes are about 5" more off the ground.

I'd be interested myself if it came with a steel frame, triple cranks, narrower tires, and drop handlebars. But then, it would be a Trek 520.

cheeseflavor

Gary,

Did you ever take a Specialized Sequoia for a ride? They're not that expensive - $800 will get you a good bike - and they're comfortable, probably more so than the Roubaix.

Steve

Digital Gee

Steve, nope, I haven't found a local dealer yet, and my search has been temporarily suspended due to other unexpected expenses. That said, I'll keep my eye open and surely give it a try!

JupiterGuy

I haven't been in the forum for a while... too busy at work and riding when I find any available free time. But I wanted to take a few minutes to respond to this thread and let you know that I picked up my new 7.7 FX today from the LBS. Sweet!

I traded up from a 7500 after deciding that my back and knees were doing okay and could handle the 7.7 FX with no shocks. By the way, after taking the new bike home and getting it setup with the bike computer etc, I went for my shake down cruise and ended up going by the LBS to have them make a few minor adjustments - and my old 7500 was already sold!

First impressions of the 7.7 FX:

1) Noticeably lighter and quicker than what I had been used to.
2) It looks and feels great. I really like the paint, graphics, and the look and feel of the carbon parts.
3) It takes the little bumps that are on the bike paths and sidewalks that I usually ride on just as well as the 7500 with shocks did.
4) The components respond well - smooth shifting and good braking.