Riverside_Guy

Something is definitely wrong... Panther's post which was blank when I made my last post is now filled in... and KShep's post is blank (as I post). His post WAS made, I have his text in the e-mail notice, but it's blank here.

Panthers007

This post? #173. It's here. And those handlebars are a trip!

sh00k

Have I lost my mind? Probably...

I took a half hour ride this past saturday morning - on the coldest day in NYC so far this year. It was only a 4 mile ride or so but it was about 11 degrees when I left the apartment - around 8:30AM...

I did surprisingly well - the cold didn't bother me too bad. I was wearing 4 layers up top, 3 layers of pants/thermals l0l.

Anyway, I forgot how fast the bike really is. I cant wait until the spring/summer!@#$

Riverside_Guy

Brrrrrrrrrr. Greenway?

sh00k

l0l, no sir, i actually had to run an errand. i went from 42nd and 9th to 42nd and 1st and back. i would have taken the 7 train but it was out of comission this past weekend. i also didnt want to wait for the bus in the freezing temps so instead i decided to ride in the freezing temps haha.

I was fine though. got some stares like 'what the hell is this dude doing' but i dont care - i enjoyed the ride thoroughly.

mymxv

I guess I can start posting to this tread, now that I have a Trek 7.7 FX. Wow, 8 pages long.

surgtech1956

Very nice looking bike. Love the white. I'm thinking about a Trek FX myself.

sh00k

mymxv - congrats on the new ride! now it's time to post pictures of it!

MorganRaider

Post away and congratulations on a great find ! Do you know what year it is ? Does it have a carbon fork ? Here's my '10 7.7FX. I love it.



I swapped out the stock stem for a more comfortable 17 deg rise.

mymxv

I could not find my digital camera, so these shoots were from my Iphone. The guy I bought it from said it was purchased in 2007. But doing some research, I believe its a 2006 because it had the Bontrager Race Lite Crank instead of the 105 crank.

https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2006/archive/77fx

I love the feel of the carbon fork and stay. There is a real noticeble different on the ride quaility.

I'd changed out the pedals to dual platform/clipless and the grips to ergo type. Add a kickstand too.

trekky7.7

I got my 7.7fx last week, its the 2010 model. I have been cycling it about 20km a day since then on my commute to work. I must say I was a little disapointed with it initially but I'm starting to warm to it now. The bike looks amazing, so much so I carry 2 locks! My disapointment is with the speed, it seems once I get up to a steady crusing speed of about 15km/h it gets very hard to push it any faster. I think maybe I'm just a bit paranoid that some part of the drivetrain is not configured correctly like crank tightened too hard or something? I'm hoping maybe the bike will loosen up after a few more km? I'm comparing all this against my old hybrid, a Ridgeback(English bike company) Cyclone, which I have been using for the last four years. It was only a third of the price of my Trek when I bought it orginally but I think its actually faster once I get up to a cruising speed.

Besides the speed issue, which may just be in my head, nearly everything else about this bike is impressive. Other observations so far are

- The acceleration from a dead stop is amazing.
- The saddle is comfortable and suits me.
- The brakes are good so far but they do look a little cheap so not sure how well they will hold up
- The overrall the ride is very comfortable so it seems the carbon fork and isozone thing works. In fact a friend had a quick spin on my bike and commented afterwards that "It doesnt feel like you are riding a bike at all!!"
- I don't like the way the rear shifters are designed for a 9 speed cassette but its actually a 10 speed cassette. Its only a small thing but you would imagine Shimano must have specific shifters for a 10 speed cassette?
- Gear shifting is seemless and very smooth, this is where I think the extra money spent realy shows. My old hybrid had some low end shimano groupset but the 105 groupset on the trek is a massive step up for me and I have really noticed it.
- I asked the LBS to fit mudguards and rack as well. It does take away from the look of the bike a little but function over fashion is more important I'm afraid. I havent cycled with a pannier bag yet but I'll report back when I do.

I'll post up some pics soon once I find my camera

Riverside_Guy

Congrats on yer Trek!

Many factors go into speed, the 7.7 is higher geared than my bike AND it's tire width seems closer to road than mine. All of which seems to point to a more "road" focus than a lower geared bike with wider tires. Head or tail winds (at least for me) also play a BIG role... I can go one direction and barely average 12, while on the way back it's more like 15 average. Are you on the largest front chainring?

trekky7.7

Yeah most of the time I'm on the large 50t chainring. Its kind of hard to explain but it sometimes feels likes once I hit a certain speed I am not getting any extra speed when I increase the intesity of my pedalling. Again I reckon maybe it just something I need to get used to with a new bike. I'm going to go for a longer cycling this weekend up some steep mountain roads and I'll see how it goes.

urbanlegend

do you have a speedometer on the bike? maybe it's perception...

trekky7.7

No don't have speedometer on it yet but I have one on my old bike which I havent used in ages. I reckon I'll cycle into work on my old bike someday next week and note my speeds and times, then fit the speedometer to my trek and see what the difference is

Riverside_Guy

Perception has to be way off, 15km/h is 9.3m/h, very slow. Get speedo installed!

trekky7.7

MorganRaider what wireless computer are you using on your bike? I want to get one but any I've seen that are reasonably priced have big receivers that are cable tied to the forks thus not making use of the insert that comes pre-installed on the bontrager forks?

Riverside_Guy

FWIW, got a PlanetBike headlight (Beamer 3) and am very happy, so cruised their other products. Interesting computers, they show up to 5 data points at the same time (but no cadence if you're looking for that). They have wired and wireless, although I''d always go wired.

trekky7.7

Yeah not interested in Cadence, I'll probably just pick up some cheapo computer next time I'm in the LBS. Anyway some pics for those who are interested, with and without my pannier bag attached

sh00k

first, congrats on the bike! secondly, yeah man, the acceleration is ridiculous. ride the high gear up front and really step on it, and you'll easily be doing 18mph within a few seconds. >

looking for a cheapo bike computer? i'd be hard to beat this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-SW654-...5420372&sr=8-1

I have bought/used two of these. One on my old trek 7.2 and one on my 7.7. it does the job. the price went up though. i paid $13.99 or so for mine on amazon, it's now at $19.99. still way cheaper than $100 options, for me at least.

As for speed and maintaining it, i've found that hard to do. i can easily get to 22-23mph but i have to really keep peddaling hard to keep it up. this is where bikes with drop bars have the advantage. i can keep it at a steady 15mph with "less" peddaling.

the accelleration of a really light bike is simply amazing also, because of the carbon fork/isozone monostay, you can ride over imperfect surfaces and it feels like you're riding on something smoother. i've described it in the past by saying it really feels like you're riding on glass. larger holes/bumps you feel but to a lesser extent. not to make an unrelatable example, but riding this thing feels like you're driving a mercedes. LOLOL. you truly get what you pay for but to some people it isn't really worth it.

Exit3

Love the 7.7. I was wondering....anyone research any weight restrictions? I wonder if that fork, wheels, etc. could hold 250 pounds day in, dayout? Would going for a lesser model such as 7.3 or 7.5 be better in terms of strength and more weight loss friendly since it's a heavier bike?

MorganRaider

It's a CATEYE V2C - has both speed and cadence. along with distance. I use cadence >= 80 RPM primarily to ride so I am not stomping the big gears and trashing my knees. In other words, if I start dropping below 80, I go to an easier gear no matter if it's wind, hill, fatigue.

godeacs

According to Trek, like all their hybrids, it accomodates weights up to 300 lbs.

lolguy

I was close to 250 in January when I received my new 09 7.7FX and have had no problem whatsoever in the last 5 or so months. 800 miles later, it rides better than day one and I've become much more comfortable on it (I came from a 2001 Trek 7500FX, a chromoly frame with good componentry). I use a Cateye Strada Wireless and Garmin Forerunner 305, and between the two I have as much data as I could want (though cadence would be a nice little addition). It is a very responsive ride and the earlier comments about it being so have to be WAY off. I average 16.5 mph for rides of anywhere from 12 to 20 miles on a route with lots of slow downs and tight turns.

It's a great bike.

Riverside_Guy

Curious if you thin the "more comfortable" comes from the carbon fork and iso-zone damper kind of "loosening up" and absorbing vibrations "better?"

ShOOK, guess you hung onto the bike like I suggested last fall! I still get distracted whenever I see a white Trak rolling down the Greenway "thinking "is that a 7.7 and could that guy be da shOOk?". Twice I HAVE spotted a 7.9 on the mid-level "promenade" part from 102 to the tennis courts at 120th.

You might consider one of the Times-Up moonlight rides in CP... they can be kinda cool. Next two are 6/26 and 7/2. They run 10PM to after midnight... very nice runs, very social.