Could use a little advice with choosing a bike. Here's the story: Surgery for a torn ACL/PCL/Meniscus has put an end to my running days ( Even typing that makes me a little sad). In it's place, cycling will become my primary form of cardio. My current bikes are a couple of early 90's chromoly Trek hybrids (750/790) that I use for commuting and pleasure riding. As much as I love these old steel machines, I would really like to invest in something lighter and more efficient (by efficient I guess I mean faster) for fitness training. I'm not very fluent in current bike design,function or manufacturers, but here is my basic criteria: No MTB, road/racer ( had enough of 10 speed ergonomics when I was a teenager) or carbon layup of any type. I'm thinking aluminum hybrid, cyclocross, or fitness, but I really have no clue about the latter two and what the differences are. I'd like to keep the price tag under 1k, and I would be open to a higher end used bike that fit in line with my price limit. I have checked out the
Trek FX models at my LBS, but the sales guys all seem to be high school kids which gives me a little cause for concern with recommendations. This is also why I have turned to BF for advice.

Any help will be appreciated.

Welcome! Point your browser over to the BF Hybrid forum, there is a ton of information on there. Trex FX models are a popular choice, but there are plenty of other great bikes in your price range!

I think the OP needs to be a little more open minded. 10 speed ergonomics as a teen on a Schwinn Varsity and a well fitted modern bike of any frame material are night and day.

But that's just my opinion.

I imagine you are correct, there probably is a world of difference between what I road many moons ago and what is available today. Having said that, the shear design of a road bike lends itself to that " hunched over" position, the very thing I would like to avoid.

I agree.

If your looking at a newer hybrid you may as well save some money have your old bike tuned up and slightly narrower tires put on it. You will get more excerise riding a 24lb hybrid 25 miles than you will riding a 19lb one.

I think you need to shop around and look at some more bikes. where are you in Pa? Aviod Bikeline and that other shop near Paoli that only sell one brand. There is no need to ride a "10spd" hunched over and chances are as a kid your bike was too big and you unknowingly were riding in the 'drops' all of the time rather than the tops of the bars.


My road bikes are all set up to get me more upright because of a back problema dn carpeltunnel. On the hoods (brakelevers) or the tops of the bars I am not bent over much more than someone on a hybrid, but I still have 5 or so hand positions.

'09 K2 w/ mostly '89 era Campi Chorus. I didn't bother to cut the fork and used an MTB type stem to give me a bit more rise.



'90 Bianchi Proto, I used a hybrid type stem to give me the height since the previous owner trimmed the fork real short.