steve_cay

There is but only one set of rules!

The sacred text can be found her:

Velominati ? The Rules

steve_cay

My primary concern would be that the tires (and possibly the wheels) are just not befitting of off-roading. They are skinny, and lacking in thread (the way they should be for road use). I do some steep assents on gravely slopes in first gear with my DS, where I had to practice a smooth pedal power distribution. If I just mashed down, the uneven torque would overpower the rear wheel just spinning it out ... a lesser tire would not stand a chance getting up! Let alone keeping me upright around a bend with little traction!

Then would come the fork ... The FX is a tight bike where you feel everything in the road. In conjunction with the tires, I would be worried that this will just rattle everything (including my wrists) apart. It would also result in poor tire contact, and was the fork even designed to withstand the punishment?

Finally (and I have no factual basis for this), but I doubt the FX frame is as strong as the DS, which many claim is based on a mountain bike frame. The engineers designed it for lightness, and nowhere in Trek's blurbs do they describe the FX as a trail bike. In conjunction with the greater impacts and vibrations it will receive, because of above points, can it handle it?

I never took an FX "as far as I could" off-road, so will be happy to resign to any owner who wants to say that it works well off-road, but from my limited time on an FX ... The difference between the DS is immediately obvious, and the FX should not be pushed harder than well groomed hard packed smooth park trails.

ColonelSanders

LOL Thanks.

Also thanks for your thoughts on the FX.

madurotiger

Just ordered the Crosstrail Sport Disc in Black/Charcoal/Red. I'm excited about it. I'll post pics at some point in the near future.

Thanks everyone.

Wanderer

And, don't forget a first ride report................. Congrats on the new bike. I predict you will love it! It's a fantastic do it all bike.

badger1

Good! Now, get out and get that bike dirty -- wear it out! And if you don't provide pics we'll never forgive you!

madurotiger

I won't let you down. I'll snap a selfie as a I smoke a roadie.

steve_cay

Congratulations, I am sure you will be happy that you upgraded to the "sport disc"!

But now, after following that purchasing saga, what shall we do for entertainment?

P.S. Just found a "last years stock" Giant Rove 2 (woman version of Roam 2) for my wife, for only US$460 (and a bonus $50 in store credit on accessories) ... has hydraulic discs, lockout front fork, and all! Going now to pick it up for mothers-day surprise!

That makes two "previous year stock" bargains I have scored, along with my Trek DS 8.4!

ColonelSanders

That is an incredible deal.