Getting punctures or not getting them are pure luck or lack of it lol All my tires are PUNCTURE PROOF, when I'm not using my bikes lol Puncture resistant means that there is more rubber, or other type of compound in the tire. I never seen tire that can withstand a piece of almost invisible piece of metal wire or glass going thru it... Yup...the small, tiny pieces will get you...not a big, and easy to spot chunks of garbage lol

Just purchased the Trek 7.2 FX 2014 today (Dark Metallic Blue)! I am extremely proud to be a hybrid owner and ecstatic that my first hybrid is the 7.2 FX. The wait was definitely worth it and I got a great deal! The guidance I received on this thread was invaluable! Thank you all.

I was sized by three different LBSs and only one of the them said that 20 in. "might" fit me better, so I decided to go with the 22.5 in. frame.

I will definitely invest in a bike computer. I have noticed they provide varying levels of information depending on their price. Is a basic bike computer ok or do I really need one which measures my cadence? Also, are gloves a good investment?

I can't wait to go on my first inaugural longer ride later this week! Many happy miles ahead hopefully!

Cadence will help teach you what proper cadence is, and invaluable in my way of thinking. If you can still find a Cateye Strada wired computer with cadence, it's a sure winner,and battery lasts forever............... maybe ebay or amazon

As a tinkerer at heart, I just love the idea of having cadence on a bike computer, as it gives me one more thing to focus on, however it is a genuinely useful thing to measure, as your cadence is one of the best indicators of whether or not you are currently in the right gear.

Also heard plenty of good things about Cateye's wireless computers.

Unfortunately I know next to nothing about gloves, but will likely get some myself early next year.

As I live in a moderate temperature zone, I will be getting the sorts of gloves that don't cover the fingertips.

Unless I discover better options in the meantime, I'm probably going to go with something like the below glove, which also comes with gel inside the glove to protect against vibrations, seems very well stitched and is washable.

AXIOM Zone DLX Gel Men's

I was where you are at a few months ago. I was torn between an Escape 1 and a Trek FX4. I got the Escape. I rode both and I liked them equally. The Escape was cheaper. I'll add that I had plans to upgrade the entire bike so....I went with the cheaper option.

The Trek may have 1 level up on the Shimano tree but I don't think you'll be able to notice. My husband rides a bone stock FX4 and it takes back to back rides for me to tell that my XT/XTR shifter and FD/RD work better. I'm quite pleased with my choice and I liked the color of the Giant more. I got a white one with red accents.

I don't think you can go wrong either way.

I went with the Trek 7.2 FX (2014) and I love it! I had the most pleasurable test riding experience with it out of all the others! I also got the color I wanted and a great deal, so all's well that ends well.

Now that I have been able to ride my new hybrid a bit, I'm definitely interested in purchasing a bike computer. I've just been using MapMyRide so far and really like it. What are some opinions on MapMyRide vs. bike computers. Do they do the same thing? Should they be used together?

New user here so HI!

I'm in the same predicament right now.
I've got it narrowed down to the FX 7.2 and the Escape 2.
I hope to ride them today or tomorrow but really can't decide between the two based on what I've read.
As much as I love disc brakes, I don't see a need for them here and would really rather have the bike as light and simple as possible.
It's basically going to be a fitness bike for me and allow for a more upright seated position.

I hear alot of talk about how fast the 7.2 feels and that the Giant may be a little heavier and not as sprightly.

Man I can't decide!!!!!!!!

I got a basic Schwinn bike computer at Walmart. It tells me the time (which I like), and my speed (which I bought it for). It also tracks miles (I've gone over 1,000 since I got it in May), as well as trip mileage (which I never use). It also gives you your average speed and maximum speed (32 mph for me). It was inexpensive, simple to install and accurate. I would recommend gloves for any rides over 10 miles. Same with bike shorts. These items won't eliminate hand and butt fatigue and soreness, but they will help a lot. I would also STRONGLY recommend a mirror. I have the type that attaches to the end of the flatbar. I didn't use mirrors until this year and now I wouldn't ride without one. Try toe clips. They have ones that come with straps and ones that don't. The strapless toe clips are inexpensive and take no getting used to. They really help to improve your pedaling over the simple platform. Another advantage of the strapless toe clip is that they accommodate most any shoe you like to wear. I use toe straps. I have also used clipless pedals and they were good, but I didn't notice any significant improvement in my pedaling with the clipless vs. the toe straps. Plus, I have shoes for my toe straps that are very comfortable and easy to walk in - unlike the clipless shoes. BTW, I got the Escape 1 but the Trek is also a good bike. Have fun!

After testing them all I went with the Escape 2. It had the most enjoyable ride for me. I enjoyed the FX 7.2 but saw no compelling difference to justify the price difference. I almost got the Escape 3 but the fork and component set swayed me towards the 2. I also prefered the color options for it.
Now I have to wait for it to get the LBS!!! I hate waiting!!!

Congrats!!!

Congrats! You made a good choice. Lots of happy Giant Escape owners here. Post of pic of the bike when you get it. Don't forget safety gear. Gloves, in addition to helmets, are safety gear. Gloves prevent road damage to palms as well as extra cushioning for comfort. And they soak up sweat.