Hey all...

I'm getting back into riding after far too long away from my joy. Living in Florida where riding is akin to a deathwish will do that to you.

Anyway, when I was in shape I would ride 500+ miles a week road (Northern Virginia). I road and still have a heavily upgraded Bridgestone RB-2. However, I now live on Martha's Vineyard where I am going to be moving between roads, dirt roads and trails with regularity and when you couple that with my increased weight of 250 (dropping) the RB-2 wouldn't last long. However, even at 4% body fat I was over 200lbs...so I'll never be exactly petite (I'm a shade over 6' and have a 29" inseam and tree stumps for legs).

So, for the past few months I've been riding a circa 1994ish Fuji Supreme hybrid which has 36 hole wheels and 700x38 tires. Needless to say I'm not leaving a trail of smoke behind me, but it has also taken everything I've thrown at it. While I'll never have the time to do 500 a week...I'm back on a reasonable 100 a week pace and would like a bit of an upgrade...something that might allow me from time to time to go longer distances and maybe average more than a pokey 12 - 14 mph.

I've read many good things about the Treks and hybrids, but some are directed more at the cross between road and city and some others are a bit too much towards just being road bikes with upright bars and slightly wider tires.

Is the Trek up for the abuse I'm going to put it through. Will its wheels hold? I'm assuming that the strength of wheels has improved to compensate for less spokes over the past 20 years.

Obviously, I'm going to take whatever I'm looking at for a decent ride, but I've always found that it can be weeks before you really bond with a bike.

if not the Trek 7.3+ what would you all recommend?

At my weight (down to about 315), and riding mostly gravel and crushed stone, I chose to upgrade the wheels on my Trek 7.3 FX, because I am often 7 miles or more from the nearest road when riding my favorite rail trails.

I expect to go back to the stock wheels by the time I am at your weight. I believe the wheels will hold, especially since I get out of the saddle for any bumps or potholes that I see early enough to respond. In the Clydesdale forums are several people at over 200 pounds that ride fewer than 32 spokes per wheel, so it depends on your comfort level. The bottom line, is ride the heck out of the bike for as long as the wheels last, which may be a long time.

I have never cycled there, but Martha's Vineyard looked like a wonderful place to ride based on the one time I did get out there. I'll have to try it some time!

I do not have the pleasure of knowing what 'dirt roads and trails' in Marta's Vineyard entails -- I guess you have decided suspension forks are not what you want.

I love my Trek 7. Something frame. I have been steady building my idea of the perfect south Florida urban hybrid. The Trek frame and the handle bars are about the only factory parts left.

I'd say a trek 7.3 would make an excellent starting point. You can change the other parts based on your needs.

The roads on Martha's Vineyard go from smooth pavement down to choppy dirt roads that you would only bring a 4-Wheel Drive down. There's also a very nice path system, but if you're riding a lot you're going to end up on the dirt roads, the fire roads (fire breaks with a rough dirt road where loose sand 6 inches deep in spots is the enemy and then hiking trails that, well, can be a bit rough.

I could ride all roads and the bike path and do it well on my road bike, but when you live here and want to vary things up...well, you get a little dirty.

I don't think I need suspension.

I guess what bothers me is that Trek calls the 7 series a cross road/city bike. I'm kind of wanting a cross road/trail bike that has a little "comfort." I should note I also have a nice Diamondback Mountain Bike for times when I decide to try and break my collarbone again

Thank you!

Martha's Vineyard is a great place to ride. I'd suggest September/August as the tourist traffic has died down. If you come send me a PM and we'll take a spin.

What wheels did you use to upgrade your bike?

You may want to look at the DS line, has a suspension that can be locked out. More towards the mountain bike continuum than the FX series. I think the FX is more suited to road and smooth trails with occasional dirt roads whereas the DS can handle more of the type of trails you'll be riding.
See this thread:https://www.bikeforums.net/hybrid-bic...-opinions.html
as well others here

To follow up on saeyedoc's comment, it does seem your main choice is whether or not to go with a front suspension (e.g., the DS line) or not (e.g., the FX line). If you do go with the FX line, I would suggest moving up to the 7.4. I've had my 7.3 for about a year now, and the only thing I don't like about it is the aluminum fork -- straight-blade aluminum forks pretty much send every vibration and shock right up to the handlebars. The 7.4 gives you the carbon fork, which is more forgiving (although not as forgiving as a front suspension).

Ironically, the steel forks on the lower-end FX bikes are more forgiving that the aluminum on the 7.3 -- however, you pay the penalty of weight. If you have the money, I'd use that weight to "buy" a lock-out suspension, as saeyedoc suggests.

Thank you...I've never ridden anything but steel...so I'll have to give both a shot. Over the number of years I keep a bike and the miles I ride price (within reason) isn't a big issue.

Thank you for making my decision harder! (just kidding). I guess I'll just have to go through the pain of testing more bikes.

The steel fork on my Fuji Absolute 2.1 does a really nice job of dampening the vibration. The weight difference on a bike like this to me is a non-issue when simply talking about the weight difference of the forks. The bike is still very agile on the steel fork and 700x32 tires. I ride mostly pavement, but will do some riding on paths through the woods and crushed stone. No issues at all.

I'm about 215#, and was a little uncertain about going with a carbon fork (probably just because I was a noob getting back into riding and was a little uneducated about these things). Bottom line, I like the steel fork.

The usefulness of a carbon fork to "damp" vibrations on an aluminium hybrid bike is overstated. I rode both and felt no added comfort from the carbon fork, the only difference is weight. Steel, on the other hand, makes more of a difference. Personally I enjoy the liveliness of a full aluminium bike, but I wouldn't want to take it out on rough trails.

Just because it says "steel" doesn't necessarily mean it's heavy.... Heavy is relative to quality.

So, I'm going to test ride a DS...probably an 8.5. What other bikes would you consider comparable. I don't have to have Trek, but in the 7.3 class they're probably best of breed. Is it the same for the DS style?

Specialized Crosstrail Sport Disc. All of these bikes are very similar and it largely comes down to personal preference for style and comfort.

I have a 2015 Trek 7.3. I'm 255. No issues with wheels or anything else for that matter. Great bike plus for the $ it's nicer than you would expect. I like the internal cable routing on the 7.3 for 2015 and the Blendr stem attachments. Gives it a clean look.

I had a 2014 8.3 DS and the small travel fork just adds weight (IMO). It will take some of the bumps out of the ride. I like the FX because it rolls nice and is a bit lighter. You can always add dual purpose tires and I think you would be super happy with that set-up.

IMO rather than look at hybrids, maybe consider a gravel grinder. It isn't that the 7.3 is a bad bike but for what you are trying to do, a gravel bike seems ideal.

Moreover, for what you are looking to do, an old steel hybrid with fat tires and 36 spoke wheels seems better suited for your terrain than a new or newish aluminum Trek 7.3, with aluminum fork. A little heavier, for sure, but not by much, and more comfortable and with the fat tires, better suited for dirt roads and trails. A person looking for a new bike that can transition from dirt, to gravel to roads might look at a dual sport bike like the Giant Roam or Trek DS series, but if I already had an older steel hybrid with 35 to 40 mm tires, I would just stick that.

Yep. Most of my bikes are steel (good steel). The aluminum frames are uncomfortable after the first thirty or so miles. But, this is the hybrid forum... and unless you go custom-build, most of the hybrid frames are aluminum, so it's moot.

*edit to add*
Not that any one metal is better than another... tubing diameter and thickness being the real difference in how a bike rides/feels. If I were building a hybrid for myself, I'd use a steel frame (Kona Rove, Surly Straggler or Cross Check, Salsa Casseroll, Soma Doublecross, etc.). The only ready-made steel hybrid that I know of is Jamis Coda.

Well, I have a Fuji Supreme with 700x38s that isn't bad, but needs some upgrading (it's 20+ years old). I'm going to look at the DS series...I think you're right. One of the problems I have with my current bike is hitting pockets of sand. I'm just worried the DS is going to feel like a tank. But, the only way to tell is to get my overly large buttocks on top of one and make the pedals spin for awhile.

I recently bought my son an Islabikes Beinn and if they made that for adults I'd consider it. Seems like he does okay on the roads and has far better traction in the sand/trails.

a fat bike like the Surly Pugsley would be great in sand, not so good on pavement. There is no perfect bike for everything. It might be worth putting a few bucks into updating your Fuji, within reason.

Otherwise, I think something like a Surlly Cross Ckeck or Straggler might be worth a test ride. Also, Salsa Vaya or Fargo. Trek makes the cross rip, Giant the Any Road, and Specialized the. AWOL.

Well a suspension fork isn't going to help you with sand. In my opinion, any of the bikes mentioned here would be great. Once you get north of 500$ from a reputable brand it's hard to buy a bad bike.

Just to be clear, when it comes to riding through dirt, or sand, or gravel, all the suspension fork is going to do is make the ride more comfortable. It's not going to make it any easier to push the bike through that terrain. You can ride a hybrid bike with a rigid fork through gravel and dirt if the tires are the right size, you'll just be a lot bumpier doing it. So wether or not you think you should go with a rigid fork or a suspension fork depends entirely on how much time you plan to spend in those conditions.

Oh, I agree...I don't need a suspension fork. What I need is those special wheels and tires that transform from 700x23 to 700x45 on command. I'm going to have to find the nicest wider tire bike for road/path use.

Cyclo cross or gravel bike. Road bike geometry and drop bars with clearance for wide tires. You can go from 700 x 25 slicks to 700 x 42 knobbies as quickly as you can change a tire, or anything in between. (something like Schwalbe Marathon Plus or Panaracer Pasela TG in 700 x 32 might be a nice compromise for a mix of pavement and dirt/gravel roads.

I found a set of wheels on Ebay with Chukker rims, 36 spokes and Deore hubs. They were from seller velomine, but I don't see any available from him, or others on Ebay right now.

I also went with wider tires, which may be helpful to you with the condition of the dirt roads are what it sounds like. I am running 35 mm Clemente X'Plor USH tires. I was running 40 mm Kenda Happy Mediums (120 tpi version) that barely fit the frame (had to deflate the rear to mount or remove the rear wheel), but the extra width might be better if you ride through sand with a little added stability. Both sets of tires seemed to handle the occasional loose stuff I encounter acceptably, and still roll pretty well on pavement.

After a lot of research and a "gift" from my wife I was going to upgrade my new purchase to either the 7.5 or 8.5 and potentially even the .7. However, I really need to ride both for a couple of miles to determine which is right for me (and sized right).

However, I'm about to give up on Trek. I have now gone to three dealers including one that Trek's site indicates as a "best". None of them stock any of the high-end Treks meaning anything over a x.3. They will order a bike with a deposit (non-refundable) and none of them allow for test rides. Well, that's not totally true...one said I would be allowed to ride a lesser model around the parking lot (the lot holds 15 cars).

So, where does one go to look at a Trek bike and get a test ride? I live on Martha's Vineyard, but am willing to travel up to Boston (3 hour drive and a $100 ferry ride) if necessary. Anyone got a recommendation?