I am 59, 5'7", and and just getting back into bicycling after a 25 year hiatus. I live in Los Angeles, and plan to use the bike for recreational riding on the many beautiful pathsin the city. I have been looking at a Trek 7.2 fx, a 7.3 and a Specialized Sirrus. The Sirrus is a bright green and it's probably not this year's model. The Sirrus is 400, the 7.2 439 and the 7.3 595. The 7.3 definitely feels very responsive and has great grips and internal cabling. The Sirrus made no real impression on me and I liked the 7.2 a lot. So, it looks like it's between the 7.2 and the 7.3. The price of the 7.3 is pretty good. I don't want to have to upgrade bikes and a few months.

What do people think? Thanks for any advice!

You don't want to be suffering buyer's remorse, so go with the bike that is getting you excited, which sounds like the 7.3FX.

It is undeniably a good bike and will serve you very well.

Colonel thank you !

Always pick the bike that excites you and exceeds your expectations. In a few years you wont remember the few hundred dollars unless you didnt spend it on what you really wanted.

Think about cyclocross bikes as well. Its hard to outgrow a cyclocross bike on paths.

I think the health benefits of being excited to ride will easily offset $160.

Get the one you like and have fun.

Spend the extra money and get the one that gives you the tingles. If you are going to rack up a lot of mileage, get some bar ends for a little extra comfort.

When you were in your 30's what kind of bike did you ride?

That's what I think too. The worst outcome would be, a year from now, to look at your bike and think "I wish I would have gotten the other one." Buy nice or buy twice.

I agree with all the above. If you bought the 7.2 you'd probably be spending an extra $50 on better grips.

Go with what you like the best, which is usually, but not always the more expensive one. At the risk of muddying the waters, I would point out the Specialized Sirrus Sport which on paper looks to be as good or better a bike than the Trek 7.3, is currently on sale for $475. Also check out the Jamis Coda Sport and Coda Comp, both of which are steel frames rather than aluminum. All things being equal (and they are not always equal), I would take a quality steel frame over an aluminum frame for hybrid and road bikes.

I purchased a 7.3 for my first bike after a long hiatus and it's a terrific bike. That being said, after two months, I really wanted a road bike. Now I have two bikes, and the 7.3 mostly sits.

That is something to consider, but it is hard to tell someone they need to spend $1200 or more for a first new bike.

It was a Trek. Metallic grey. Cannot remember model. :-/
Loved it

Boy ain't that the the truth

Kids, thanks for all the advice. I purchased the 7.3. The Specialized looks a bit clunky, although I concede that is only aesthetics. Plus, the Trek has metal pedals. I also dig the flat black.

Good call. I bought an FX 7.4 and loved it...