Well, I ended up with the 2013 Trek 7.3 FX!
10-10-12, 11:02 AM
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Well, I ended up with the 2013 Trek 7.3 FX!
Hi,
Well I test rode the 7.4 FX and could not tell that much of a difference, so I bought the 7.3. LBS put tire pressure at about 80 and the bike felt a little rigid. I may have to drop it down a bit (I weigh 175lbs), but it handles great. After about an hour, I feel like I've continued biking the past 25 years, LOL. I added the bottle holder, bike lock cable (12 gauge), small under seat bag, Giro Indicator helmet and I took off those cheap/ugly wheel reflectors. Pic attached!
Question: LBD said to keep the left side shifting gears on two and only use 1 and 3 in extreme circumstances. Going down a steep hill or up a steep hill. He said to make sure the right shifting gears were not at the other extreme. Example, 3 on left shifter and 1-5 on right or 1 on left and 5-9 on right shifter, would make chain crooked and cause rubbing on the derailer. Does this sound right?
Well I test rode the 7.4 FX and could not tell that much of a difference, so I bought the 7.3. LBS put tire pressure at about 80 and the bike felt a little rigid. I may have to drop it down a bit (I weigh 175lbs), but it handles great. After about an hour, I feel like I've continued biking the past 25 years, LOL. I added the bottle holder, bike lock cable (12 gauge), small under seat bag, Giro Indicator helmet and I took off those cheap/ugly wheel reflectors. Pic attached!
Question: LBD said to keep the left side shifting gears on two and only use 1 and 3 in extreme circumstances. Going down a steep hill or up a steep hill. He said to make sure the right shifting gears were not at the other extreme. Example, 3 on left shifter and 1-5 on right or 1 on left and 5-9 on right shifter, would make chain crooked and cause rubbing on the derailer. Does this sound right?
Last edited by Trek13; 10-10-12 at 11:59 AM. Reason: Forgot the helmet!
10-10-12, 11:12 AM
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Question: LBD said to keep the left side shifting gears on two and only use 1 and 3 in extreme circumstances. Going down a steep hill or up a steep hill. He said to make sure the right shifting gears were not at the other extreme. Example, 3 on left shifter and 1-5 on right or 1 on left and 5-9 on right shifter, would make chain crooked and cause rubbing on the derailer. Does this sound right?
10-10-12, 11:20 AM
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Cross chaining puts stress on the drive train and could potentially cause the chain to come off at the worst possible moment
10-10-12, 11:27 AM
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Congrats on the new bike!!
Soon you'll get a feel for which numbers on the right shifter correspond to easy pedaling and which correspond to harder pedaling. Stay in the center front ring most of the time and if you switch to the smaller (easier) front ring, stick to the the easier gears on the right shifter. If you switch to the larger (harder) front ring, stick to the harder gears on the right shifter.
Soon you'll get a feel for which numbers on the right shifter correspond to easy pedaling and which correspond to harder pedaling. Stay in the center front ring most of the time and if you switch to the smaller (easier) front ring, stick to the the easier gears on the right shifter. If you switch to the larger (harder) front ring, stick to the harder gears on the right shifter.
Last edited by corwin1968; 10-10-12 at 11:31 AM.
10-10-12, 12:02 PM
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Thanks for the replies. So even though the bike has "27" speeds, only about 17 or so are usable?
10-10-12, 12:04 PM
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10-10-12, 12:05 PM
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Congrats on the new bike!!
Soon you'll get a feel for which numbers on the right shifter correspond to easy pedaling and which correspond to harder pedaling. Stay in the center front ring most of the time and if you switch to the smaller (easier) front ring, stick to the the easier gears on the right shifter. If you switch to the larger (harder) front ring, stick to the harder gears on the right shifter.
Soon you'll get a feel for which numbers on the right shifter correspond to easy pedaling and which correspond to harder pedaling. Stay in the center front ring most of the time and if you switch to the smaller (easier) front ring, stick to the the easier gears on the right shifter. If you switch to the larger (harder) front ring, stick to the harder gears on the right shifter.
10-10-12, 12:08 PM
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That's often true and you'll probably find that some are essentially duplicates. For me, I typically ride on all (or most of) the rear gears on the middle chainring and then figure each gear on the smaller ring is about two gears easier than the corresponding one on the middle (and each gear on the big ring is about two gears harder than that on the middle). So if you go to the easiest gear on the middle (biggest gear on the back), then go one gear harder while switching to the smallest on the front you'll find yourself in the next easiest gear. So that means you have something like 13 or so actually usable gears the way I do it with the least amount of shifting in the front. Don't know if that's best or not, but it works for me.
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10-10-12, 01:26 PM
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Hi,
Well I test rode the 7.4 FX and could not tell that much of a difference, so I bought the 7.3. LBS put tire pressure at about 80 and the bike felt a little rigid. I may have to drop it down a bit (I weigh 175lbs), but it handles great. After about an hour, I feel like I've continued biking the past 25 years, LOL. I added the bottle holder, bike lock cable (12 gauge), small under seat bag, Giro Indicator helmet and I took off those cheap/ugly wheel reflectors. Pic attached!
Question: LBD said to keep the left side shifting gears on two and only use 1 and 3 in extreme circumstances. Going down a steep hill or up a steep hill. He said to make sure the right shifting gears were not at the other extreme. Example, 3 on left shifter and 1-5 on right or 1 on left and 5-9 on right shifter, would make chain crooked and cause rubbing on the derailer. Does this sound right?
Well I test rode the 7.4 FX and could not tell that much of a difference, so I bought the 7.3. LBS put tire pressure at about 80 and the bike felt a little rigid. I may have to drop it down a bit (I weigh 175lbs), but it handles great. After about an hour, I feel like I've continued biking the past 25 years, LOL. I added the bottle holder, bike lock cable (12 gauge), small under seat bag, Giro Indicator helmet and I took off those cheap/ugly wheel reflectors. Pic attached!
Question: LBD said to keep the left side shifting gears on two and only use 1 and 3 in extreme circumstances. Going down a steep hill or up a steep hill. He said to make sure the right shifting gears were not at the other extreme. Example, 3 on left shifter and 1-5 on right or 1 on left and 5-9 on right shifter, would make chain crooked and cause rubbing on the derailer. Does this sound right?
Congratulations, good luck, and happy riding!
I see others have already responded vis-a-vis cross chaining.
Best regards
10-10-12, 01:29 PM
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That's often true and you'll probably find that some are essentially duplicates. For me, I typically ride on all (or most of) the rear gears on the middle chainring and then figure each gear on the smaller ring is about two gears easier than the corresponding one on the middle (and each gear on the big ring is about two gears harder than that on the middle). So if you go to the easiest gear on the middle (biggest gear on the back), then go one gear harder while switching to the smallest on the front you'll find yourself in the next easiest gear. So that means you have something like 13 or so actually usable gears the way I do it with the least amount of shifting in the front. Don't know if that's best or not, but it works for me.
Best regards
10-10-12, 03:47 PM
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Congrats - i have a 7.3 and ride in the middle front gear and 5-7 rear. Starting off in 5th is ok for me and then as i get speed, shift up. I only use the large front gear when i know i don't have to stop for a while and can cruse along. Enjoy your ride.
10-10-12, 04:24 PM
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and put it in 3 front and 7 or 8 rear and I was flying! LOL.
10-10-12, 05:04 PM
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CONGRATULATIONS! You will enjoy that bike more and more with each time you ride it.
10-10-12, 05:06 PM
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I have a trek 7.2fx from 2008 or so. It's so weird to see one set up for a normal person (evidently I'm a T-Rex or something as not only do I have the bars in the highest position I have the seat a good few cm above that).
10-10-12, 05:53 PM
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Yes, my 20" fit my 5'9" height, 32" inseam perfectly after LBS raised the seat about 2.5 to 3" from it's minimum. I touch down with both tip toes (barely) and have a slight bend in my knees when biking. The handlebars are just slightly higher (1/2-1" at most) than the seat which makes it comfy for me.
Last edited by Trek13; 10-10-12 at 06:01 PM.
10-10-12, 08:28 PM
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Hi,
Well I test rode the 7.4 FX and could not tell that much of a difference, so I bought the 7.3. LBS put tire pressure at about 80 and the bike felt a little rigid. I may have to drop it down a bit (I weigh 175lbs), but it handles great. After about an hour, I feel like I've continued biking the past 25 years, LOL. I added the bottle holder, bike lock cable (12 gauge), small under seat bag, Giro Indicator helmet and I took off those cheap/ugly wheel reflectors. Pic attached!
Question: LBD said to keep the left side shifting gears on two and only use 1 and 3 in extreme circumstances. Going down a steep hill or up a steep hill. He said to make sure the right shifting gears were not at the other extreme. Example, 3 on left shifter and 1-5 on right or 1 on left and 5-9 on right shifter, would make chain crooked and cause rubbing on the derailer. Does this sound right?
Well I test rode the 7.4 FX and could not tell that much of a difference, so I bought the 7.3. LBS put tire pressure at about 80 and the bike felt a little rigid. I may have to drop it down a bit (I weigh 175lbs), but it handles great. After about an hour, I feel like I've continued biking the past 25 years, LOL. I added the bottle holder, bike lock cable (12 gauge), small under seat bag, Giro Indicator helmet and I took off those cheap/ugly wheel reflectors. Pic attached!
Question: LBD said to keep the left side shifting gears on two and only use 1 and 3 in extreme circumstances. Going down a steep hill or up a steep hill. He said to make sure the right shifting gears were not at the other extreme. Example, 3 on left shifter and 1-5 on right or 1 on left and 5-9 on right shifter, would make chain crooked and cause rubbing on the derailer. Does this sound right?
Congrats! Did you try a Trek DS while you we're researching bikes?
Just curious because I am still comparing bikes.
10-11-12, 07:07 AM
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Yes, I did. I found the front end suspension to be a little disconnected compared to the fixed front end of the FX. Also the FX was a bit faster and easier to maneuver. If you are ever going to ride on loose gravel or worse, don't get an FX though. Go with the DS or Giant Roam.
Last edited by Trek13; 10-11-12 at 12:00 PM. Reason: typo
10-11-12, 10:22 AM
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That's often true and you'll probably find that some are essentially duplicates. For me, I typically ride on all (or most of) the rear gears on the middle chainring and then figure each gear on the smaller ring is about two gears easier than the corresponding one on the middle (and each gear on the big ring is about two gears harder than that on the middle). So if you go to the easiest gear on the middle (biggest gear on the back), then go one gear harder while switching to the smallest on the front you'll find yourself in the next easiest gear. So that means you have something like 13 or so actually usable gears the way I do it with the least amount of shifting in the front. Don't know if that's best or not, but it works for me.
Different strokes for different folks, I suppose.
