I have been doing lots of research. A newbie, 45 yrs old, with some intermittent lower back pain (I have a few bad discs). I will be mostly on the road, but could hit a dirt road or shoulder now and then. I have now narrowed it down to the following choices (and am willing to spend $1,000 to 2,000 if needed):



Trek 7.5FX or Pilot 2.0, 2.1, or 5.0

Specialized TriCross Comp Triple or Sirrus Pro or Limited or Sequoia Elite

Cannondale Road Warrior 800



Looking to have comfortable riding position but ability to climb hills on roads and keep up with others but also like the idea of a 28 or 32 tire for stability on shoulder or dirt road should I find myself in such a place, or Rails-to-Trails,



Advice? Send it fast, since I plan to buy something this week. Thanks!

xxx

Specialized Tricross Comp. 32c tires are excellent for dirt roads. If you want to go faster, just switch to skinnier tires. The semi-compact geometry gives you a more upright riding position, and should help ease the back pain. I use mine for everything: road rides, commuting, rail trails, a bit of singletrack.

All the bikes are good choices. Test ride as many of the choices as you can and the choose the one that feels the most comfortable. Or that you like riding the best.

I like to wait a day or two after test rides to decide. Then the newness factor wears off a little and I can compare the rides mentally.

I bought a Trek 7.3 FX and put on an adjustable stem to raise the handlebars for comfort. This is my errand, commuting, and touring bike.

I opted for the 7.5 , comes with skinny tires , very light and fast. I can purchased treaded wider tires for offroad . Great bike.

I am torn between Trek FX 7.5 Livestrong, Specialized Sirrus (one of the high end in the line, maybee even carbon frame?) or Specialized TriCross Comp Triple. Would consider Trek Pilot with carbon frame too. Need more help to decide. WHat about adding Origin-8 drop bar ends to a Trek 7.5 or Sirrus???

if your back can handle it, get a bike with drops. if not, get a flat bar bike with bar ends.

I put 2" rise handle bars on mine. It creates less strain on a bum wrist.

thanks for the advice
it is a big decison, and not cheap
i like the idea of a 28 or 32 tire
that size won't fit in the fork of a sequoia elite
not sure about a 32 on a trek fx
sems a specialized tricross comp triple will meet my needs
can get 28 tire instead of 32 or both but...
will it be too heavy to enjoy with a 25 or 23 should i decide to get that size tire?
am i making any sense with my posts here?
i am so veyr confused and eager to get biking...

I love my pilot. I even use it to race in triathalons, and finish near the top of the pack.

You can't go wrong with the 7.5fx IMO. I don't like the decals or color of the livestong. The color of mine is a silver/blue. You will probably find most everyone that likes their bike will promote it over another. Ride them both and take the plunge.

Judging by what YOU have stated,back probs., being new ,dirt history, dirt future..Where's the choice?
Specialized Tricross pretty much defines your requirements. The others are road bikes,OK they would work but comin' -off a mountain bike I guess you would "feel" the cross really well. Ok let's hear the debates....

Judging by what YOU have stated,back probs., being new ,dirt history, dirt future..Where's the choice?
Specialized Tricross pretty much defines your requirements. The others are road bikes,OK they would work but comin' -off a mountain bike I guess you would "feel" the cross really well. It has a triple. Ok let's hear the debates....

I am a mountain biker and got a road bike last year. Your worry about the tyre size need not be a problem. I went from wide knobblies with suspension to 26 tyres and found just a bit of a problem and that was in the wheels. They were radial spoked and were a bit harsh. Got a new set of wheels that had the spokes crossed x2 and wnt to a 23 tyre. That is comfort. Just stay off the radial spoked wheels and the tyre size is immaterial.

If you asked me for a choice of bike to go for- and I researched the options pretty well- I would go for the speccy Sirrus. A good road bike with straight bars. I went for a road bike but If you have a back problem- and coming off a mountain bike- I would stay off the drop bars.

thanks
i am not coming of a mountain bike
i am coming back to riding but have not been on a bike in 20 years or more
the spec sirrus seems nice
many people tell me i will want drop bars sooner than later
that's why i am looking at the options
clearly there are more options to use wider tires on flat bar bikes
that is the confusion for me
if i could put 28 or 32 on a sequoia elite it might be nice for me and cheaper than a tricross
also, should i go for carbon and spend more to have less weight?
there are just so many options and questions
see also my thread "compact?"

archermd, from what I have read of your posts, I would be concerned about getting a bike with drops out of the gate. A straight bar allows you a more upright position, quite a bit easier on the back. If you decide you want the drops down the road you can always switch out, but that can be pricey as you need to change most if not all the equipment on the handlebars.

The Sequoia has narrow tires that would not allow as many options of surfaces, it is a great bike, don't get me wrong. If you like the Specialized bikes have you checked out the Sirrus Sport?

I ride the Livestrong 7.5 FX and love it. As you have probably read on these posts, though, it is important that you get a bike that feels good under you. And I am not talking about a quick ride around the parking lot of the LBS, I am talking about a 10-15 min ride. I hope this helps.

One thing about buying your first bike is that it will not be your last. The first bike is so that you can find out what you really want in a bike so the second one is better.---- and the 3rd and the 4th ad infinitum.

I would not go for the top of the range initially but do not go cheap unless that is all you can afford. In the sirrus range for example- go for one that has the gears you want- if hilly then go for a triple crankset and if flat go for a double. Ask advice back here on the particular model when you decide to see if we can suggest better or recommend it. As to the drop bar as your first bike, If you feel confident enough go for it. If you are certain that road riding is what you are going to do then a road bike is better. If a bit more casual and with a few trails then the "Hybrid" flat bar bikes will be better,. Just don't get an MTB unless you are going offroad. On tyres- A wider tyre will be better for comfort but I ride 23's on the road bike on soft surface mups with no problems. I just stay away from the muddy bits.

look at recumburents?

The Sequoia comes standard with 25c tires. My GF has an XS frame, and I'm not sure 28c will fit in there. Forget about 32c...larger frame sizes may be different. Ask your LBS if they'll swap out tires. It is a good all-round bike and may fit the bill.

I have a 2005 Specialized Sequoia Elite size 58. I have a second set of wheels with Specialized Borrough CX --32s. They fit with room to spare. Have to remove a front brake shoe or deflate the front tire to remove front wheel though. I use them for trails, night rides with lights, and winter riding. Its an excellent set up--very versatile. The Borroughs are a little harder to propel--just a little--compared to Specialized All Condition 25s. If you go that route, I would recommend that you consider selecting a slightly easier cassette--perhaps a 12-28 instead of an 11-25.

Regarding drops verses flat bar. I too considered the merits of both. If you're going to ride in the city or other location where you may need to hit the brakes hard--e.g. short site lines at corners, and your rides will be 15 miles or less, then I would recommend going with a Sirrus--if it fits you. It has the cantilever brakes which stop better than the road calipers. Re: fit, I found that the Sirrus has a shorter top bar for its size, typical of hybrids, and would recommend that you be careful and test ride one size up.

One last thing to consider--when I first got back into biking, I thought a 15 mile ride was long. Within the first 4 months riding a Sequoia--I became comfortatable with 45 mile rides. That bike is that easy to ride and comfortable!

Good Luck!

Many people never want drop bars. Many others have drop bars, get tired of them and switch to flat or some other kind of bars.

Given lower back pain, you might be better off with a slightly more upright position than a dedicated road bike would put you into. On the other hand, too upright isn't good either - it actually stresses the spine as you ride over bumps. But none of these bikes are going to put you into that sort of position - you'd need a beach cruiser for that.

I've the '06 Tricross Comp for ~3.5 weeks now, and really enjoy/like it's ride. My first 'real' bike - able to go about anywhere I have craving for, w/o need to change tires, etc. For me, its great.