I've had my hybrid just over a month.. already want a road bike!

[sarahspins]

Any advice? I really like my hybrid (trek 7.2fx), I do enjoy riding it (a lot!)... and I put a lot of thought into what I wanted before I bought it, and I even tried a couple of road bikes when I went to my LBS, and wasn't super comfortable on them then (having not been on a bike much in the past 10 years) and I was worried a road bike may limit my ability to ride with my family if they wanted to all go on a ride at barks, bike paths, etc.. but now that I've been riding for 5 weeks I'm thinking that I might like a road bike better for longer distances (anything over about 15 miles, which I've only done twice on my hybrid). My major gripes with my hybrid are the lack of different hand positions (didn't initially think this would be as big of an issue as it is) and the more upright position contributes a LOT to wind resistance.. which is bad since we had a 15-30mph prevailing wind where I am... both of which are things I think a road bike would fix, plus I would probably be able to go faster/further in the time I have available to ride.

I see the advantage to having more than one bike... I'd probably keep my hybrid no matter what.

Is it crazy to consider another bike so soon? Should I wait longer and possibly save up more? If I bought now it would have to be used... but I'm the impatient type. The advantage I see to buying used now, is that I would have one to ride now, and figure out what I like/dislike about it, and I could still save and buy something better later, and just resell whatever I bought used for close to what I paid (I hope). It sounds reasonable in my head, anyways.

[MartianDestiny]

Maybe it's a little crazy to consider another bike so soon, but you are in good company :p

There are pitfalls to buying used, but if you are experienced enough to know what you are looking for (fit, drivetrain wear, major frame issues) most of them can be avoided, especially if you can stay local (craigslist). Since this will be your first road bike these will be harder to avoid. Do you have an experienced friend that could help you with fit and condition on a used bike?

The best (read safest) option would be to wait, save up, and get something new that you know fits, has a warranty, and likely shop service behind it. You have to decide what's right for you though.

[Zen]

You could put these (http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/062409_rescued_dogs_arrive_in_dc) on or i could sell you my 15" 7.5 for $850 plus $75 shipping:D

[Biciclista]

not sure where you are, but craigslist has endless offerings.
No one here will probably tell you NOT to get a new bike. Live and learn.
But yeah, considering you HAVE a bike, ride it! You might be a lot happier if you save some $$ so you can buy a really nice bike say, this fall, instead of ending up with two bikes you don't like and wanting a 3rd.

ps WELCOME TO TEAM ESTROGEN!

[mayanorange]

The 7.2 is a skinny tire bike, right? You might be able to switch the stem and get away with drop bars and be pretty close to a 'sport' road bike fit. Others who are more familiar with that bike might know if it's really possible, but thought I'd throw the idea out there.

[Cataboo]

She should put 50 rescue puppies on?

You can switch out the handlebar type if you want... mustache bars, trekking bars, things to give you more positions - and you can try switching it to road bike bars.

I'd say go test ride some road bikes and see how you like them now.

[Lori81295]

I bought a 7.2 fx last June. By October, I had a road bike. I love it. It is hard for me to get back on the fx.

[wackyjacky1]

I hated the flat bars that came on my 7.2FX.
Moustache Bars + Bar-End Shifters = :) :) :)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc71/wackyjacky1/bike.jpg

[lo123]

You're not alone. I've had my hybrid (though a Cyclocross geared bike--Specialized TriCross) for a few months and already want a 'real' road bike. I've put skinny road tires on and that helped quite a bit. I'd suggest trying new bars on your bike to see if that helps.

Meanwhile, save up for a road bike. Me, I'm saving up for something like a Specialized Ruby or similar. Maybe around bonus time next year :)

[indysteel]

Saraspins: Your experience mirrors my own. I had a Trek FX for about a month before I decided to buy a roadbike. I never road the FX again. There was nothing wrong with the bike; I just much preferred my roadbike for the kind of riding that I do.

That was in 2006. I'm now riding a custom road bike that I bought this past March. A friend of mine has the FX. I still have my first road bike. I'm thinking about changing her into a singlespeed.

[sarahspins]

The 7.2 is a skinny tire bike, right?

Yes, it is... I thought about switching the stem and putting different bars on, but that seemed complicated? I also read that I'd most likely need to switch all kinds of stuff (brakes levers/shifters and possibly the entire groupset) out to put drop bars on my hybrid.. so I wasn't sure if that route was even a realistic one or not.

wackyjacky1 - your moustache bars and bar end shifters look nice. What was involved in changing your bars and shifters out? Did you do it yourself or have it done at a LBS?

[uforgot]

If you have the stock 7.2fx tires on, they are 32c tires, not skinny tires. I started with that same bike, sold it when I got a road bike and regretted it, so I got another 7.2fx. It's my commuter-go get groceries bike-around the neighborhood bike. I don't think it's really conducive to drop bars as you would have to change out so much, and having a hybrid is really kind of handy.

Check on craigslist for bikes. You can go test ride some and get an idea of fit. Having a couple of bikes is really okay. Heck, some of us have 3 or 4 or 5 or 6...:D

[wackyjacky1]

wackyjacky1 - your moustache bars and bar end shifters look nice. What was involved in changing your bars and shifters out? Did you do it yourself or have it done at a LBS?
Had it done at the LBS where I bought my bike. I shopped around for the parts (handlebars, brake levers, bar-end shifters) and once I had gathered everything, I brought them to the shop and they put it on for me.

I definitely daydream about acquiring a sweet road bike, but at the moment I just can't justify the cost based on my current skill/fitness level. I'll get there someday, but in the meantime I adore my 7.2FX; it's my "everything" bike. But those flat bars had to go -- they were h#ll on my hands and wrists!

[sarahspins]

Well I've been poking around (yay google), and it seems that even with paying my LBS to do the installing, if I gather all the parts, it looks like it will be pretty reasonable to get more comfortable bars on my bike... much less than spending money now on a used road bike, and I can still save for a road bike if that is the direction I see myself going in later :)

[Zen]

Having a couple of bikes is really okay. Heck, some of us have 3 or 4 or 5 or 6...:D

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/FiveBikes.jpg
:o I have sold one since this, though :)

[PamNY]

Zen, you are one heck of a role model.

[Zen]

That can be taken two ways, you know :D

[TrekTheKaty]

I want to go to Zen's house :D

[Cataboo]

it does appear to be a short person bike paradise.

[sarahspins]

Great, now I need 5 ;)

Kidding.. hopefully swapping out bars will help me a lot :)

[Cataboo]

*cough* I need 4. Zen's aurora is convincing me I need a 5th though

[Geonz]

Okay, I'm also a five-bike woman (and, um, that's the starting lineup), but it took more than a few months - my addiction's been around for a few years ;)

Still, "skinny tired" is relative. Going from 32 to 28 makes a *big* difference. I have 25's on my 7500FX - it really is basically a road bike with flat bars - but you'll want to make sure you can get those tires on the rims if you try that. (The 25's from my Xtracycle did not fit on the Gazelle wheel so I did my long tour two weeks ago with a 35 in front -- but a commuting 35 and I ended up liking it a *lot*... I get nervous on downhills but with htat fat thing in front 33 mph felt more like 20.)

I guess the question is: what is it about the road bike that you want? If it needs to be lighter *and* more aerodynamic (or more hand position options) *and* with skinnier tyres... yea, I'd say it's saving up and shopping time.

[sarahspins]

I guess the question is: what is it about the road bike that you want? If it needs to be lighter *and* more aerodynamic (or more hand position options) *and* with skinnier tyres... yea, I'd say it's saving up and shopping time.

Mostly is the extra hand positions with drop bars... being more aerodynamic and faster would be nice too, but it's not the big thing for me right now... I don't think I ride fast enough (yet) for any of that to matter a whole lot.. but I'll get there :)

[Cataboo]

Look on soma's website... Soma has a few different shapes/types of handlebars that will work with mountain bike shifters... I think the sparrow is one and like the urban pursuit is another. The website descriptions specifically say that they worked with mountain bike shifters (which I think is what your fx has)

If you get those type of bars, you don't have to change your brake levers & shifters and it won't be very expensive, you'll have a few different handlebar positions as well.

You can also look into butterfly or trekking handlebars, which again add positions... and don't need different shifters.

[sarahspins]

Hmmm... the sparrow looks interesting, the urban persuit says it won't work with MTB shifters/brakes though..nothing else I'm seeing on the soma website that looks promising says it will work either.

I have a stupid question though... would you use grips on the sparrow or tape it? Is that just preference? I'd probably want to tape it if my intent is to give myself more hand positions, right?

[Cataboo]

You'd want to tape it. The sparrow's a modified mustache bar. Maybe check veloorange.com for their handlebar options. I know I'd been looking into a few different ones that take mountain bike shifters, because I'd bought a set of mustache bars & been pissed that the mountain bike shifters wouldn't fit on them.

I'd been looking for alternate handlebars for my commuter - but at the end of it all, I cheaped out and just put bar ends on it to give the bike another handlebar position.

These are some trekking type bars that I put on a friend's mountain bike because she wanted the option of being more upright & more hand positions:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ImmunoGirl/Juliesgoatbike#5343952083765056450

We wrapped her bars & put grips on the end. but that's personal preference. I'd just wrap the soma sparrows if you get them.

But that style of trekking handlebar rotates - so you can put those C's on the end in various different positions - Helfzig (i think... I am probably mispelling her name) has a thread on here where she put some on her bike and she put the C ends towards her on the bike... But if you put those ends so they point away from you - they give you a hand position that lets you reach forward a bit and be more aerodynamic.

You can also grip anywhere on those bars you feel like.

[sarahspins]

I think I may go with the sparrow bars since it seems the most cost-effective option... if that doesn't do enough for me I may look into other things :)

[Cataboo]

Let me know how you like them. It may convince me I need to spend the $30 or whatever to stick them on my commuter.

[sarahspins]

Hehe.. well it's more like $40 with shipping, but yeah, I'll definitely update when they're here.. hopefully next week :D

[Loraura]

Clamp on bull horns help with the hand positioning, and even a little with wind resistance as you stretch further out if they are angled outward.

I replaced my flat bar handlebars on my Giant FCR with some stoker bars. Getting the brifters on was a feat, but it was very functional.

YOu can see it hanging upside down in this pic (the red Giant):

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w105/Loraura/img1243821696627.jpg

That kept me happy for a good while. I ended up buying a drop bar road bike after about a year.

[Miranda]

Here is an idea for you when / if you decided to buy used... or in general for the roadie...

Contact a local bike club. Preferably one NOT associated / sponsored through a lbs (biased opinion)...

Ask whose the best fitter in your area... sworn by all members of the club, who resolved pain issues riding, etc. Seek that person out for your correct frame size, and ideal geometry.

Research and ask around about what your needs are. Maybe there might even be a way to post a "wanted ad" with the local club? Peeps a lot of times want to upgrade and need $ to fund new.

Hopefully a bike from a local who dearly loved it would be in good shape, honest seller etc.

I could have very easily sold my too big of old road bike to my best GF. Who is also my size. She didn't think riding it too big would be that big of a deal since she wasn't going to ride as long as me etc. No way could I do that to another biker. I hope my thoughts are shared in the world for someone like yourself buying.

Btw... I *almost* bought that Trek FX. Actually, a couple pals kept pushing and pushing it on me. Something was not right. 20+yr vacation from riding a bike for me. When I finally found a drop bar road bike to ride... I felt just like a kid again on my old steele 10speed. THAT was what a bike was suppose to feel like to ME.

Good Luck... OH, and yea... you can never have too many bikes:cool: (being a TE member that is:p)!

[sarahspins]

Here is an idea for you when / if you decided to buy used... or in general for the roadie...

Contact a local bike club. Preferably one NOT associated / sponsored through a lbs (biased opinion)...

Thanks.. I have actually found one near me (I've been seeing cyclists pass right by my house for ages on the weekend.. always wondered what they were up to, and now I know!) and hopefully that would be a good lead to a used road bike if I do end up buying used.

I did try a couple of road bikes before I bought my 7.2fx and none of them felt right - they all felt "weird" for lack of a better term, but I do find myself wondering now if some of that wasn't just inexperience.. I'm not exactly unhappy with my bike, it just has a few things that I think could be tweaked - much like going through a few saddles to find the one that was "it" for me, I don't think it's unreasonable to try different handlebars too.

[TxDoc]

Is it crazy to consider another bike so soon? Should I wait longer and possibly save up more? If I bought now it would have to be used... but I'm the impatient type. The advantage I see to buying used now, is that I would have one to ride now, and figure out what I like/dislike about it, and I could still save and buy something better later, and just resell whatever I bought used for close to what I paid (I hope). It sounds reasonable in my head, anyways.

I guess you already know that no one here will talk you out of buying a bicycle, right? :D
Anyway - actually buying a used bicycle is often a better deal than buying a new one. It's like buying a used car, you get 'more car' for the same money: for the price of a new toyota you can buy a used jaguar. So if you buy used you can actually afford a better bicycle than you could afford new.
The downside is that sometimes you do not know what happened to that bicycle: we don't have carfax reports on bikes ;) so you would not know if the bike has been crashed - unless the damage is evident. Thankfully, most sellers will be honest and tell you if they have crashed the frame - or at least I would and hope others do too.
Anyway, my advice would be go visit bike shops and test ride road bikes. Don;t worry about their price right now - you are test-riding to learn what fits you, so feel free to test-ride bicycles that are out of the price range (when new). I would be straightforward with the shops you visit, and tell them that you are trying to figure out what bicycle fits you best - but you are not planning to buy in the immediate future. You can also ash the shops about used bikes - some shops take trade in's, others sponsor clubs and teams and could know if a member is selling a bike.
So really the short answer is: test ride many different road bikes, and find the kind that is a good fit for you. Once you know what to look for (and which size), then you can safely buy even on ebay or craigslist.
Good luck!

[MsBelle]

I too had a Trek hybrid and longed for a roadbike after about three months into my hybrid. Mine was a 7.6 FX. Anyway.... I was able to get a great price on a new 5.1 Madone WSD last May ('08 model) because the paint had been chipped on her in two places in the LBS and they marked her down. I dabbed a little fingernail polish on the two places and rode happily everafter. This was "THE" bike!!! Lighter, faster, more gears for hills! Get you a roadbike when you can... you'll be amazed at the difference.

[Running Mommy]

lots of good advice, just going to add a couple of things..

Save up and wait until you can afford something that is not considered entry level. You will not regret it. Sometimes patience really is a virtue.

Be careful about buying misc parts here and there unless you REALLY know what you are buying.
We get people in here all the time with their "scores" that end up to... well... not be. Not compatible, wrong size, speed- whatever. We see it all the time.

[txred9876]

Mostly is the extra hand positions with drop bars... being more aerodynamic and faster would be nice too, but it's not the big thing for me right now... I don't think I ride fast enough (yet) for any of that to matter a whole lot.. but I'll get there :)

I just went from a nice hybrid to a really nice road bike for some of the same reasons you mention. I am not skinny but getting in much better shape these days. I am going quite a bit faster just moving from one bike to the other. I love my new bike. I found a lbs that does their layaway a little strange.....25% down and three more monthly payments and you walk out the door ....for just the 25%. ride and play or something like that they call it.

I looked for used but got a nice 08 for a really good price and it was brand new.

Tina

[sarahspins]

Save up and wait until you can afford something that is not considered entry level. You will not regret it. Sometimes patience really is a virtue.

I think this is my plan.. if I am looking to buy, it probably won't be until spring at the earliest because it will take me that long to save up enough.


Be careful about buying misc parts here and there unless you REALLY know what you are buying.
We get people in here all the time with their "scores" that end up to... well... not be. Not compatible, wrong size, speed- whatever. We see it all the time.

Oh, I agree.. and I am worried about getting the "right" parts if I do anything significant. The bars I've ordered (Soma Sparrow) should work with the MTB shifters/brakes that are already on my bike, and the stem is the same size too, so it should just be a matter of switching out the bars. At most, I see myself possibly swapping out the stem if I feel like I need more/less reach with the new bars... but that I won't really know until they're here.

[PscyclePath]

Sarah:

Just be careful... You bring one bike home, and fall in love with it, and the next thing you know, it gets lonely. So you bring home a companion to keep it company...

Now, you're in for it... It doesn't matter whether you anthromorphosize your bikes as male, female, or maybe one of each. They are bike-sexual, and they'll start to multiply until they fill the space you have to stash them in.

As Zen and others have noted, don't say you weren't warned :D

[Kano]

Hmm, PsyclePath, so THAT's how we suddenly have three little bikes in the garage besides our grown-up ones -- DH's and mine are reproducing!

Karen in

[sarahspins]

Bars are here!

After a few test rides up and down my driveway and along the road in front of my house, I'm 99% sure I have the brakes/shifters where I want, so I went ahead and taped them up.. I will really get to test them out when DH gets home from work, but they already feel WAY better, both being narrower and putting my hands at a much more comfortable angle :D

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2462/3698612789_9900fedef2.jpg

My only disappointment is that my light blue tape is much lighter than I expected (I was expecting more of a medium-light blue, not pastel blue)... but tape is (relatively) cheap, I can replace it later if I want (and maybe do a better job of taping the bars, too!) :p

The tape isn't adhesive so I can pull it back gently and still get to the screws to tweak the angle of the brakes and shifters a bit if I need to... they are as far "up" the handlebars as they will go, since once the curve starts on the bars, they won't go any further.

[sarahspins]

Well I'm not sure anyone REALLY cares, but my 7.6 mile test ride was a success... MUCH more comfortable overall, and is it my imagination that it feels like I'm working slightly different muscle groups now? I felt it in my triceps/upper arms and more in my quads than usual... not in a bad way, just in a "hey, we're getting more of a workout now" way :) Could that be because I'm in a bit more "forward" in position now? The reach is fine and I'm not uncomfortable at all (my hands and upper body are lower, of course).. and I got no numbness in my hands, though I did get a cramp in my left thenar muscle (palm), but that tends to give me trouble from time to time anyways (I nearly sliced through that muscle completely with an ice skate 15 years ago, and it's never been the same since) so I'm not sure I'd call it a problem just yet. It could be a glove issue.. I dunno. It didn't happen until about a mile from home. I'm not too worried about it just yet.. I'll take a cramp I can feel over numb hands!

[Cataboo]

Sarah - yes, if you're leaned over more, you use a slightly different set of muscles than you do upright...

The sparrows look really neat - let me know in a month or so how you like 'em and maybe I'll stop being cheap :)

[sarahspins]

I will! After just a couple of days I'm amazed at the difference.. NO hand cramp yesterday, much much much more comfortable than the stock bars.. just hope it stays that way.. or continues to feel even better :)

I think I ride a little faster now too, but that could be my imagination since my average isn't really up that much :rolleyes:

[Cataboo]

If it feels like you're faster, I'm sure you are... Just if you go faster, then you get tired a little bit more, which slows you down a bit to compensate till you adjust. Or something like that.

You sort of did the same thing as aerobars - I'm definitely faster & more efficient if I'm on aerobars, just certain parts of me & the saddle don't tend to get along when I lean that far forward. Part of it's the aerodynamics and I think part is which set of muscles you start using.

I was riding my surly the other day and think I really wanted to change the handlebars for something, or I at least need to change the stem. They're not happying. I've got it set up with 8 speed mountain bike components, but I now have bar end shifters, so I could put mustache style bars on (the ones I originally bought for it that didn't fit mtb shifters) and bar end shifters and convert it to a 9 speed...

[Zen]

Sarah, do you have any photos of those bars from a different angle? I can't tell a whole lot from that one shot.
I'm considering different bars for my 7.6 as well but I have no desire for a "real" road bike.

[sarahspins]

I'll take some.. give me a few :D

[sarahspins]

Top view:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2611/3705760856_477df4bbb8.jpg

Front view:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2579/3705760980_bf1db71219.jpg

Front/semi-overhead:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2602/3705761098_682c035a3c.jpg

front/side:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2460/3704952931_f5c117aceb.jpg

[Cataboo]

Nice bokeh on that camera.

YOu can use those handlebars flipped over to give more of a riser (if Zen wanted that)

[Zen]

Hmmm.
That's very interesting.

Is that not a WSD bike?
What year is it?
Is that the original saddle?
I'm just being nosy now. Mine looks like this-

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/Trek76fxwsd_white.jpg

[sarahspins]

No, it's not a WSD.. I didn't like any of the WSD versions I tried for some reason.. they all just felt "off" so mine is a 17.5" 2009 7.2FX (http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/bike_path/fx/72fx/)

And it's definitely not the original saddle :) That's a Selle SMP Strike Lady TRK in brown. The Bontrager Nebula that was on there stock was majorly uncomfortable. I really like the SMP (it's the 4th saddle I've had on there.. I went through two other Selle Italia saddles before the SMP) and the only one I've actually had on there for more than a week - and I think this one is there to stay, though at some point I may upgrade to one of the expensive SMP models.... perhaps if/when I upgrade my bike or if I manage to wear this one out before that happens.

Anyways though, if you search google images and even flickr you can see quite a few different bikes with those bars set up as risers... but I wanted them as drops :)

[kerryhb]

Your post could have been written by me! I bought a Trek 7.3 FX last July for the exact same reasons you did. Within a month or so, I felt like I might have made a mistake...I wanted a road bike too. I have had the same struggle with my hands, but I have been able to get comfortable enough to get up to 50-mile rides. I was on vacation in Austin a couple of weeks ago and rented a Specialized Roubaix for the day and fell in love with it...what a difference! It was suggested to me to change out the bars but I haven't pursued it yet. After seeing your photos, I think it's worth a try though!:)

[Cataboo]

I've been eyeing this post on craigslist - trek fx with cracked frame, so all the components.

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/bik/1255961606.html

And pondering what I could do with those pieces.

Then I remember I have 4 bikes.

[sarahspins]

I think swapping out bars is definitely worth a try!

The bars ($32) and tape ($12) are cheap enough, even once you tack on shipping... and since these bars will fit MTB components I didn't have to change anything but the bar itself.. and I am totally happy with it so far :D

Oh, and Zen, if you're wondering what all the nonsense is under my saddle, I have a profile aqua rack on there.. since I only have one mount for a water bottle cage on my frame.. and I can't get by with just one bottle :)

[Zen]

Does that aqua rack get in the way of your butt?

[sarahspins]

Nope :D the bottles are angled out and back quite a bit, plus you can lower it on the seatpost if you want (it's harder to reach if you do that though.. mine is up as high as it can go without smashing my saddle bag). I can *almost* get bottles in and out just by feel now, but normally what happens is that I just swap one out in the front cage if I have to stop.

I don't think to date, that I've actually used more than a bottle and a half on any ride, but it's reassuring to know that I've got some extra fluids with me, just in case I need it :)

[Zen]

I've been eyeing this post on craigslist - trek fx with cracked frame, so all the components.


I can't figure why that wouldn't be under warranty?

[Cataboo]

I can't figure why that wouldn't be under warranty?

I guess it depends on how the crack was acquired?

[wackyjacky1]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2460/3704952931_f5c117aceb.jpg

Wow, those look super sweet!!! Love 'em. :)

[sarahspins]

Wow, those look super sweet!!! Love 'em. :)

Thanks! And you rock for inspiring me to give this a try :D

[wackyjacky1]

Aw, shucks. :o

[mayanorange]

Looks great Sarah! Which bars did you end up getting? You guys are getting me thinking about switching out my bars on my mixte.

[e.e.cummings]

I have a reverse situation - I have a road bike and now I am shopping for a hybrid (so I will take your comment about your bike as a recommendation seeing you are happy with its a far as hybrids go).

My road bike (a Giant Avail, which love) is fine for riding with my family. I love how light it is, the shifting is great, I can get a good speed. But I am finding that we want to do a few family weekends on some hardened old rail trails and I need a hybrid for that. My road bike will still be my first love in town.

Go to your LBS and tell them what you are thinking. Even if you cannot afford it right now, if they are good, they will want you to come back when you make your decision. They might let you test a road bike even if you are not immediately buying. You will probably get a better deal in the fall and it will give you a chance to save a few dollars beforehand.

You are not crazy to want another bike so soon. I bought my bike in April and I was already thinking about getting a hybrid as soon as we started planning our summer. We have a trail to the north, Le Petit Train du Nord (200 km) which I am dying to try, but it is better to have a hybrid.