Connie

Hello,

I am new at this bike thing and I need a little advise on which bike to buy. I narrowed my selection down between a Specialized Crossroads Sport and a TREK 7100 or 7200 (I can't see the difference between those two except $100), but the salesman was trying real hard to sell the 7200 model this morning. The price for the Specialized is $300 and the TREK's are from $349 to $429. I plan on mainly sticking to the rails to trails and very little road riding. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Connie

envane

First of all, the Specialized and Trek have different geometries. The Trek is upright, the Spec is VERY upright. Did you test ride them? Which one felt better? That is the most important metric.

The differences btw the 7100 and 7200 are, for you, irrelevent. If you want a Trek, get the cheeper one.

Connie

I did test ride both bikes, but the specialized one was a 16" and the TREK was a 14" so the TREK felt a little small and my knees seemed too close. I will try another dealer and test ride a 16" TREK 7100 before I make my final decision. Which do you feel is a better bike overall? Thanks Connie

st0ut

Connie Fit is THE most important thing on a bike.
the second is the relationship you have with your LBS.
You LBS should ask. what type of riding do you do... how far and how hard.
then show you a range of bikes that would fit that need.

my wife has a 7100 wsd she loves it. it fits her.. but we will not be getting another as i have a new relationship with a different LBS. a non trek dealer.

I have had 2 treks but recently switched to a Fuji.

Either of these bikes will perform what you want to a T.

bab2000

Fit is most important and confidence in selling LBS is another.

Both bikes appear to be identical. The Specialized at $300 is a good price, if a 2007 model with 8 gear rear cassette, even better.

My wife selected a Medium frame, Blue 2007 Womens model last May, for her Mother's Day present. Rode over 500 miles last summer and several times this spring, starting in February, until her recent surgery. She loves her bike. ( She is 5'10' and is very confident on her bike).

Make certain you have bike adjusted for proper leg extension, more so, than ability to sit on seat and place feet on ground. The more upright you ride, I believe this is important, as she had knee issue on other bikes she test rode.

I am sure you will be happy with either model. Just wanted to share how happy my dear wife is with her bike.

All the best, and post pictures here when you bring home. I am partial to the Silver 08 model, but if you are getting a 07 that could explain the price difference.

jg300da

Connie,
I recently narrowed my search down to the exact two bikes, and I can offer some observations. Both bikes are in the same price range plus or minus $20 at around $349.00. The Specialized Crossroads is a more upright ride with a softer seat and modified handgrips. The most comfortable ride of all the hybrids we tested. The Trek 7100 was by far the most popular of the hybrid models with the same sprung seat post and front fork. The color options were nicer on the Trek if that's important to you. Both bikes share the same tire/wheel size and manufacturer as well as gear/crank components, so there's not much difference there. Test ride them both before you choose. We chose the Trek and we're very happy with the choice.
One note; several LBS that we visited all agreed that Specialized was much harder to deal with for replacement parts and warranty issues. Not sure how much truth there is to that but we were told that on more than one occassion.

SonataInFSharp

I own a Trek 7100.

My wife owns a Specialized Crossroads.

I don't ride her bike much since it fits her and not me (obviously), but I have played with it a little.

The Specialized, IMHO, is a much, much, much better bike, it cost less, and I am really jealous (and very few things make me jealous) that it's hers and not mine.

Connie

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP! I have not had any luck with my LBS that carries the TREK, but the one who carries the Specialized was extremely helpful. After I read all of your comments, I located a LBS in Altoona, PA that carries the TREK and I am going over on Saturday. I will post a picture and/or let you all know my final choice. Again, I can't thank you all enough for your help.

The only downfall with the Specialized Crossroad that I noticed is the color scheme because I do think TREK has nicer colors with the flowers and all! It must be a girl thing.....

BAB200 - It is a 2008 model. I can choose silver or Champagne.

bab2000

I think the Silver is a good look.

Included picture of wifes ride, with the standard garage door back drop...