mr,grumpy 

What are you all running for pedals on your FXs? I am thinking flats of some kind. "touring" pedals. Maybe some big, fat Welgos?

Scooty Puff Jr

They’re Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires, 700/28, running 100 psi rear and 90 front, they’re a bit heavy but they are worth the puncture protection, I have 2500 miles on them and no flats, riding road shoulders and paved trails. I like them a lot, they’re quiet but for some they can be a pain to mount if you don’t know the “trick”. I will probably go to 25’s when these need replacing, it rains here a lot during the summer and I thought 28’s would be better in the rain, but now I don’t think there would be much difference.

sh00k

gorgeous, one-of-a-kind "fx" happy trails to you!

Cuyuna

I use Shimano A530's. I prefer to be clipped in on the road, but like the option of unclipping and going with flats if the need arises.

TakingMyTime

Just as a heads up to anyone buying an FX... the stock pedals seem to go bad quite a lot. The bearings on mine were shot after about 400 miles. And from what I read in this forum and thread, others seem to have the same problem. I would definitely build in the cost of a new set of pedals when purchasing one of these bikes.

Scooty Puff Jr

Most new bicycles no matter who makes them or what the cost either come with cheap pedals or no pedals at all. The same goes with the seats too, both pedals and seats are probably the most “upgraded” components on all bikes, I almost always donate my pedals and seats to the local bike co-op.

My preference for pedals are the Shimano Deore XT PD-T780 or the newer style PD-T8000 pedals, they cost around $80 but they are close to bullet proof as you can get. I have a set that I’ve had for 4 years with close to 20,000 hard miles on them and they’re still spinning like new.

Scooty Puff Jr

Thanks ! When I first saw the frame, I was like “no way”, then after seeing it came with the matching fork, I thought, “well this isn’t so bad”. Now I’m glad I accepted the new frame, the gloss paint is just so much easier to clean than the original frame with the matte black finish.

Jarrettsin

Those are nice pedals, have you looked at the rest of the Deore XT T8000 series

cb5107

Thought I answered but don't see my response. These are Ergon GP5 grips from Amazon. Easy to find and fairly popular.

https://www.amazon.com/Ergon-GR9576-.../dp/B00PUGAFFY

MidSouthBiker

I just saw a new 2018 FX LTD pop up on Trekbikes website?

Anyone have any experience with it yet?

How does it compare to a FX3?

https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/b...colorCode=blue

badger1

It is an FX3 (non-disc) for all functional purposes. You would simply be paying a $100 or so for the retro design touches (frame colours; graphics; silver components; tires; etc.). I like them; they've done a really nice job with the retro-Trek theme.

MidSouthBiker

Thanks, badger1. That is what I was thinking. I noticed the difference in tires, 35c vs32c. But I did not see the weight for the LTD, like the 26.15 lbs for the FX3.

V8Interceptor

How's the FX as a gravel bike? I'm thinking about getting a FX S 5, and would like to use it on fire roads.

MidSouthBiker

My local Trek dealer is running a Black Friday sale of 15% off bikes, so I stopped in to inquire about a FX 3 or the new LTD FX. They did not have either models, and they called their other nearby stores, but no luck. They said the LTD probably won't be available until early January. Of course the Black Friday sale will we expired by then. Oh well!

sh00k

The margins on these bikes are huge so, if you are very serious about getting the fx 3 or the ltd, either 1) ask the shop for an "IOU" / "Rain check" for the black friday rate on the bike in january or 2) haggle with then in january (again, during slow season). 15% is not mission impossible to haggle for, depending on where you live, that's just a little more than tax on the bike. good luck!

Scooty Puff Jr

I have a FXS6 and I wouldn't ride it very far off any paved trails or roads.

Cuyuna

Me neither. For one thing, the older model FXs6 (until this year) came with 700x25 tires. Great road tires, but pretty much only road. Those two (5 and 6) also used the Domane frame, which makes a pretty good gravel bike. I note that the current year 2018 FXs5 and FXs6 not only have a completely different frame with FX geometry (no Domane), they also come with 700x32c tires, which will likely make it a better (not necessarily great) off road bike. I had a Trek Crossrip with those tires....wasn't a fan of its off-road capability. I suppose I could put bigger tires on my 2017 FXs6, but it is such a blast to ride on the pavement that, if I'm going off road, I'll take something that's designed for it (Farley).

rumrunn6

"off-road" is a spectrum. when I hear forest roads, I think of MA forest roads which are sandy & really hard to ride even w 45 mm tires. a fat bike would rule & maybe even a standard MTB w 26" wheels & 2"+ wide tires aired down. NH forest roads are not as sandy, & tend to be real bumpy w rocks & tree roots hidden by leaves; more of a MTB type ride. don't know where V8Interceptor is located or what his/her forest roads look like. if they are hard packed dirt, stone dust or modest gravel, a Trek FX MIGHT be OK w 45mm tires, but they don't come with those. & squeezing fenders on w the bigger tires is a bear

interesting tho, that the FX line is used for such a wide range of surfaces. many ppl use them as a straight bar road bikes. I don't cuz I have a road bike w 25mm tires. I've been pushing the envelope w my FX & cheap older hybrid bike & settling for what mine can handle

this is fine even w just a 35mm tire


lots of unpaved rail trails to have fun with but I wouldn't call them "forest roads"


but this forest road was barely navigable w 45 mm tires


but I knew this one would be off limits w/o a MTB of some kind or a fat bike (doesn't look much different but it was)


but give me a hard flat unpaved surface w less than 3" of snow & I can ride my FX 7.0 Alpha all day





sometimes I'm disappointed & start day dreaming about other types of bikes. those 27.5 MTBs sound like a lot of fun, 29ers of course & man so many old school rigid 26" wheeled MTBs can be had for cheap. but not in the mood to buy & set up another bike right now. maybe next year

Scooty Puff Jr

Yup, IMO believe the Domane based FXS series bikes are much better than the new ones out now. They are such great bikes on the road, thats why I do what you do and ride my Surly when hitting some dirt.

Lt Stonez

Totally agree Scotty am super happy with my flatbar roadbike, I mean, the frame is the heart of the bike, and the Roubaix frame on my Sirrus won the Paris-Roubaix 5 times and the last one in 2014(I have a 14’). When i try others bikes, and goes back to my Sirrus, its like jumping back to a sportscar. Yes, its stiff,the comfort could have been better, but it is a roadbike. I did not get that fealing when I tried a 17’ with a more modern hybrid frame and 32mm tyres. I use my bike for training and keeping my self in shape, if I wanted a bike fore just cycling around I maybe would have cousen another bike, a more relaxed hybrid style bike.

Cuyuna

Roubaix is a great frame. I would have been happy with a Sirrus, but LBS didn't have one in my size and I stumbled across a great deal on my FXs6 with Domane frame. It is a very quick and lively bike. After I switched my Trip 300 with HRM over to the FX, I was shocked to see my higher speeds over my usual courses, and the amount of time that I spent with my heart rate well over my predicted maximum. What I really noticed was the higher speeds I could navigate corners. It's a fun bike. I was surprised to find a bike I enjoyed more than my Farley EX8. I will say, the Ergon SFC3 Comp gel made a big difference in ride comfort.

V8Interceptor

Thanks for the replies. Looks like I need to look at the Crockett & Domane Gravel bike for some fire road riding.

Cuyuna

I like the look of those. I'm doing a lot of road-riding this winter and find that my road shoes are pretty cold. On our singletrack with my Farley EX8 with flats (Chesters), I've switched over to some 5.10 Freerider EPS High for winter...nice and toasty down to about 20 F, and down to about 0 F if I slip in some of those charcoal footwarmer soles. Those XT pedals on my FXs6 will give a good option, having pins on one side for the Freeriders and SPDs on the other when it's warm enough for my clipless road shoes.

Do those Shimano pedals self-align at all? That is...do they orient themselves to one side or the other naturally facing up?

Scooty Puff Jr

Huh Truthfully I’ve never really noticed what way the pedal orients itself when dismounted, I know that I never have an issue mounting into them. I have them on my FXS6 and my Surly, I rarely ride without my bike shoes, but the flat side is nice for a quick beer run or trip around the block.

ColonelSanders

What was your previous bike that you were using over these courses?