Trek FX Livestrong

[GingerbreadGirl]

What do you think of those?

I was never into paved road cycling until recently, and I'm still riding my giant mtb. I see myself on a hybrid; I think I'll mainly be riding the many bike paths around here. I've eyed the trek fx series but I'm too newb to really know what I want yet. And the budget is not big either.

[indysteel]

The FX line is very nice. A lot of us, me included, own one or have owned one. I, personally, transitioned pretty quickly from it to a road bike and I haven't ridden it much since then, but it was a good bike. If money is an issue, you might keep an eye on Craigslist for a used one. I'd sell you mine, but i've used it as a parts bike for my mountain bike!

[GingerbreadGirl]

I could probably pick up a Livestrong without being to worried about money, but the truth is I really have my eye on the 7.6, which (correct me if I'm wrong) seems to be skewed more towards a roadie? It's twice as much but looks like maybe the upgrades would be worth it?

My future plans include joining a recreational group nearby. They ride from 15-30 mi rides a few times a week, mostly on our local bike paths and state parks, and occasional roads. I want something geared more for the road than what I currently have, but don't want drops, aggressive geometry, or very skinny slicks. It will be a recreational bike, but I still want something decent.

[indysteel]

I'd encourage you to at least try a range of bikes. For one thing, not all road bikes are all that aggressive. For another, some "road bikes" are designed as cross or touring bikes, so they accommodate fatter tires and fenders. While flat bar road bikes work great for some people, I prefer drop bars for more hand options. I also like being able to use the drops when it's windy. A lot of people think a hybrid is substantially more comfortable and stable than a road bike, but I don't necessarily agree. Your weight is often more balanced on a road bike, which can lead not only to more comfort, but also to better handling. Just my two cents....:)

[beccaB]

The bike store people told me my 7.7 is essentially a road bike with straight handlebars. I have done 12 centuries on it and on my 7.3. I am totally comfortable on it. The 7.3 has 6000 miles on it and the 7.7 has 3500!

[GingerbreadGirl]

LBS has a nifty purple/black 7.2. I petted it.

I have never been on a "real" roadbike; in my mind they seem... wobbly. At least with me on it. I like to think i would be content with path riding and a hybrid (I have access to some awesome paths within a 30 min drive- Cape Cod Canal, Myles Standish, East Bay, etc.) So that part of me says, get a really nice hybrid that you won't need to upgrade.

But... I admit I look enviously at our local competative club, they are very large and active. And I kinda petted the Lexa S at the LBS also (so preeetttttyyyy). So I could be kidding myself, a hybrid might just be a gateway drug for me lol. It's just that road bikes seem so serious and I'm so inexperienced.

How would you say the 7.2 compares to a road bike? I think I'd like to try out a Specialized also... Vita Elite, maybe.

[indysteel]

The bike store people told me my 7.7 is essentially a road bike with straight handlebars. I have done 12 centuries on it and on my 7.3. I am totally comfortable on it. The 7.3 has 6000 miles on it and the 7.7 has 3500!

I think you can say that about the entire FX line, and any number of other flat bar bikes. I think the term "road bike," is a bit vague anyway. Any bike you ride on the road is essentially a road bike. It's a matter of finding which features and geometries work best for you.

[Crankin]

My friend, bought a Vita Sport, had it for a little less than 2 years, and just bought a Specialized Ruby Elite. She said she would never buy a road bike, use clip less pedals, or climb big hills.
Yeah, right. She's totally addicted. And while she is not super fast, she is dedicated.

[indysteel]

How would you say the 7.2 compares to a road bike? I think I'd like to try out a Specialized also... Vita Elite, maybe.

I'd again preface my answer with the caveat that the term "road bike" is pretty generic, but generally speaking, I'd say the 7.2 will be a little heavier than some (but not all) road bikes. It also has wider gearing than you'll find on the average road bike. By wider, I mean that it has easier gears with bigger jumps between them (because the rear cassette is a 11-32). Obviously, the bars are flat, not drop, and the tires are wider (although this can be changed to some degree).

It's a perfectly fine bike for what you have in mind. As Becca demonstrates, a flat-bar bike, like the FX, can easily be ridden on the road over long distances. That said, I would again encourage you to test ride different types of bikes. You might be surprised at how un-wobbly road bikes are.

[Catrin]

....It's a perfectly fine bike for what you have in mind. As Becca demonstrates, a flat-bar bike, like the FX, can easily be ridden on the road over long distances. That said, I would again encourage you to test ride different types of bikes. You might be surprised at how un-wobbly road bikes are.

What Indy said. There are women who buy and FX and just ride the dickens out of it for years, there are others who outgrow it pretty quickly. My first bike was 7.6 FX WSD and for several reasons only had it for about 7 months, rode it for about 5 of those months.

Test ride, test ride, and then test ride some more :) You may find yourself falling in love with a different type of bike than you anticipated purchasing - and as others have said - road bikes are not automatically wobbly. A bike that fits you properly is a dream to ride, regardless of the type of bike :)

[GingerbreadGirl]

Well someone 10 mins away from me is selling her used Giant FCR; I'm going to go look at it tomorrow.

If I join this recreational club, I'll be gaining more experience on the road; then I'll know if it's really for me.

I'm going to start a new thread about the FCR, if anyone has any thoughts on it. Thx for the advice!