So I was looking at a few bikes (relatively new to biking and all the parts and stuff leave me generally clueless to quality) and they all seem similar to me with my basic research I've attempted on my own...but I'm not really sure! Is there any sort of ranking or anything or is one of these things not like the other? Money is an object! So I would probably lean away from the Treck and towards one of the others if all else is essentially equal. Of course there is also testing them by riding them once I figure this out!

Fuji ABSOLUTE 2.1 - STEP OVER - $479
https://www.fujibikes.com/bike/details/absolute_21

Treck - 7.2 FX - $549.99
https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...ness/fx/7_2_fx

Cannondale- QUICK 6 - $510
https://www.cannondale.com/2013/bikes...ick-sl/quick-6

Giant- ESCAPE 2 - $500
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/...specifications

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thank You

My first post ever, how thrilling.

Welcome to the Forums.

Now down to business. Since we kinda have an idea of your budget, how about your intended use for the bike? Fitness, transportation, fun? Going to be riding on roads only or wanting to do a little dirt/gravel riding as well?

Hi,

Basically fitness and fun. I will be mainly on roads, but possibly slight gravel on a bike path. As far as a little dirt I'm not sure exactly what that means unless its equal to the little gravel then maybe if theres dirt on the road! Haha, but nothing like mountain biking or anything of that nature.

Sorry for the delay I was walking my dog.

Thanks!

On paper, I really like the Giant Escape line. However, the geometry is just a bit 'off' for me, which I discovered after getting my hands on one at the LBS.

If all of the bikes that you listed are available locally to you, I'd suggest taking each for a test spin. That should help you narrow down the list a bit. You might also want to poke around in the Hybrid forum, as most of these models are talked about quite frequently.

Okay, I will check things out over there tomorrow as it's so late where I am now.

Thank you for your opinion and help!

^ Yup. Ride as many candidates as you can. The one that feels most comfortable to you - and the one where the bike shop takes the time to listen, adjust things, and help - that's probably the one to get. These are all pretty close pricewise.

I've only seen the Giant Escape in person, while at a shop on other business (waiting) and I commented to the bike store how well equipped it was at its price point. I just recommended it to a friend for his college graduate daughter to try.

Buy from the dealer you like the best or is the closest those are a 6 of one half a dozen of the other. The shop that clicks with you gets the sale IMHO

You got local Dealers for all those ?. go do some test rides..

+1) shop for the Dealer you like, then select a bike they sell..