Hello everyone!! This is my first post here and unfortunately I'm already asking for advice. First, a little about me. I really haven't had much more than a passing interest in bikes over the years, having only casually ridden them over the years. I have always gotten my bike at Walmart because I didn't realise until about 3 days ago that I was totally missing out on "real bikes". I would like to think I have gone through my last Next or Roadmaster bike and instead am going to buy a used bike off Craigslist. I stumbled across a 2006 Trek 7500 FX a couple days ago for $250. I have decided on a hybrid because although most of my riding will be on concrete I'm sure I'll decide to hit up some gravel roads from time to time and I'm thinking a road bike shouldn't be used for anything but solid asphalt. I have included a picture of the bike in question and would love some input on it. The person selling it mentions that it has "Rolf Vector rims" and it's 22.5 inches and lightly used.

Thanks for all your help!

If the bike is in good condition, shifts well and the wheels are true then $250 is a good deal. If the paint is all scratched up or it needs a tune-up I'd offer $50 less. Take it for a 10-15 minute test ride and shift through all the gears and check for wheel trueness.

The components spec pretty much identical to the 2011 Trek 7.5FX which retailed for $939. Those Rolf Vector Comp wheels have good reviews on roadbikereview.com.

According to bikepedia.com, there's a 7500 and a 7.5FX, but no 7500 FX!

You know, I actually looked that up and I think I found on a post here somewhere about them changing the name so it wouldn't be confused with another bike. All in all though I have no idea, lol. Thanks for the info Dunbar, I'm so used to getting those cheapie bikes that I'm not sure exactly what I'm paying for so another opinion is always welcome. I haven't ever gone to a bike shop, what is normally included in the tune-up? I'm assuming there aren't any liquids to check or filters to change?

I think the 7500FX was the predecessor to 7.5FX (and others in the current FX line.) I've seen them on Craigslist before. At some point Trek made the FX the "flat bar" hybrid and the 7000 series their 700c tire comfort bike line with higher bars and a suspension fork.

Tune-ups run $50-80 and mainly involve getting the shifters and deraileurs adjusted properly. They'll also lubricate the chain and adjust the brakes.

I'm in Madison where Trek is headquartered and I own a 7500. The 7000 and the FX series are definitely two different lines, and they have both been available at the same time, in fact I deliberately chose a 7500 over the FX 7.5 because it was a better fit for my type of riding. The FX line is Trek's "speed hybrid" and the 7000 is more of a "bike path" hybrid.

Well, I guess bikepedia doesn't know everything; I own a Trek 7500 FX.