Have we outgrown our Trek FX 7.5's???

First, let me introduce myself. I'm a longtime, 54 yr old "TE lurker" from the rainy Pacific NW. (We live out in the country on chipseal roads.) I've really enjoyed all the info you ladies bring to this forum. You've put me (and then my husband) in padded bike shorts, clipless pedals and bike computers, etc. We are fairly fit (my husband still coaches high school sports and I joined a gym a few years ago to learn to sweat and build a bit a strength).

We started about 5 yrs ago with comfort bikes and quickly outgrew them (where's the comfort). We moved to the FX's spring of 07. We love them, but we are outgrowing the local bike paths and venturing out on the local highways. We have increased our time on the bikes and distance.

We ride a lot together, usually 15 to 50 miles, average 30 miles. In the summer DH likes to take off on his own (teacher) and go much harder without me. Our last ride of 30 miles with a couple of hills I averaged 12 mph working pretty hard and was ready to get off the bike when we got home (mostly seat pain at mile 15). We would like to try organized rides (and I've fantasized a bit about the 2 day Seattle to Portland). We know we don't have the right bikes for that, so.....

With a budget of $1500.00 ea. or less, we have looked at a several bikes with alum. and carbon forks. 105 components. My husband has ridden a Trek Pilot 2.1, Specialized Secteur and Giant Devy. He really likes the Specialized, plus the LBS is really into fit. I have sat on the Giant Avail 1 and Cannondale Femine 5. (Since I'm in denial, I don't dare ride one yet!) Okay, the big question(s), how much more comfortable will "real road bikes" be? I really can't comprehend riding 100 miles without major hurting after about mile 75. (Sore seat and tired legs). Since we already have carbon forks/alum., will the chip seal fill about the same with road bikes. How much faster/farther/longer should I anticipate going? And of course, what about steel? Don't want to keep upgrading every couple of years, however, I realize a couple of you have done that once or twice!!!!! Any recommendations.

Sorry for the rambling. I guess I've put a few years worth of posting all into one!!!! I know many of you ladies have gone through the same thing with your hybrid bikes.

Oh, and Zen, your picture reminds me of my mother many years ago. (Really!!!) I can't help but laugh everytime I see it!!! So funny.

Thanks all.

Kit

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Originally Posted by smittykitty

Oh, and Zen, your picture reminds me of my mother many years ago. (Really!!!) I can't help but laugh everytime I see it!!! So funny.

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:D
Did she play the accordion too?


Aluminum can be a real bone shaker on a chip seal road. I don't blame you a bit for wanting something else.

I have no recommendation and everything you hear will be tinged with personal preference. Mine? Steel!

Oh my God! I think she did play the accordian, now that you mention it!

I will be 50 in June. My husband, who has been an avid recreational cyclist since his 20s, purchased a road bike for me on our last anniversary.
We had the same price range in mind. He chose to go with Tiagra components and the carbon frame for comfort over 105s and aluminum.
I have a Synapse Feminine 5. I thank him every time I hit a rough stretch of road.
I am riding 3-4 times per week, 20-50 miles a ride. I am working towards a century by my birthday. I will go for my first metric this weekend. My max distance so far is 57 miles.
I do not feel at all slighted by the lower grade components. On the other hand, I adore my carbon frame.
I have no plans to tour on this bike.
From your focus on the pain you are currently experiencing, I would consider carbon over aluminum. I would also look at the Synapse over the CAAD9. You seem to have a need for more comfort which is not what you will get with a CAAD9. The Synapse comes in both carbon and aluminum and it has a more comfortable geometry.

We just ordered a CAAD9 5 for our 17 year old son this afternoon. He has an interest in racing. This frame is supposed to be a great cheap racer.

Hi Kit - welcome to non-lurk mode. :)

From reading through your post, sounds as if you have 3 major complaints with your current bike - leg soreness, seat pain, and road vibration.

Regarding the leg soreness, have you had any kind of bike fitting done? I would expect some leg soreness after a ride that was a lot longer or harder than your usual rides, but I wouldn't expect it to happen all the time. If it does, it leads me to believe that there may be some fit issue you'd need to address - saddle too high or too low, too far forward or back in relation to the cranks, etc.

As to seat pain fit your fit/position can cause issues there too, as can having a saddle that just isn't right for you. I personally had to go through 6 different saddles before I found "the one."

If you do decide to get a new bike, it will still be important to ensure you have a good fit and the right saddle, otherwise you may still experience issues.

As for the road vibration...I don't think the different geometry of a road bike alone will help with that, but material will. What I'm not sure of is, for vibration-damping purposes, would it feel smoother to ride an aluminum frame with all contact points (seatpost, saddle shell, bars, or even cranks) made of carbon? Or smoother to ride a carbon frame with alloy bars, seatpost, etc.? I know a couple weeks ago I was riding my bike (carbon frame & fork, carbon seatpost, alloy bars and alloy cranks) on a rough chipseal surface and my hands & feet were almost going numb from the buzz - they were touching alloy, not carbon. My butt on its carbon seatpost & saddle shell didn't feel it at all. So maybe you'd be happy sticking with aluminum w/carbon fork, but upgrading your seatpost & bars to carbon versions. I'll be interested to hear what other folks here have to say on that.

I've also heard that the type of tires you roll, along with what pressure you pump them to will make a difference in how chip seal will feel - but I don't have enough experience with different options to make a good recommendation here.

I ride a 7.3FX for 70-100 miles and I don't have a problem with discomfort, if everything is adjusted. I haven't ever ridden a road bike so my opinion that it looks uncomfortable is unfounded.

I have a brooks saddle, which is well broken in (~8000 miles on it) and a special handlebar. My bike is WSD and I have a longer stem which brings the handlebar up even more, which is better on my wrists.

I know that if I bought a new bike again, it wouldn't fit perfectly, I'd spend a lot of miles adjusting it like I did my 7.3FX.

That's not to say you shouldn't get a road bike, I just wanted to tell you that if it is discomfort, a new bike alone might not be the answer, or you might be able to fix the problems by making some adjustments to your bike.

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Originally Posted by malaholic

I've also heard that the type of tires you roll, along with what pressure you pump them to will make a difference in how chip seal will feel - but I don't have enough experience with different options to make a good recommendation here.

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This!

I also live out in the country in the PNW and ride quite a bit of chipseal and unpaved roads (much to my annoyance!). I'm pretty tolerant of the terrain changes as a person, and I happen to ride Ti, so it's not such a big deal for me. I have started inflating my tires (23mm 650's) to a slightly lower pressure than I used to when we lived in NC and rode better quality roads (to 100 psi instead of 110/120 psi).

My H, on the other hand, has former injury issues with his wrists, so he can't handle heavy vibration at all. He's gone through upwards of 12 bikes trying to find the perfect combination (no joke!) and so far, keeps returning to one of his first bikes. So far, he's tried Al, steel, carbon, carbon/steel, Ti, al/carbon and numereous geometries and wheel/tire types. His favorite to this day is his aluminum frame Specialized Tricross that also has a carbon fork. This amuses me some since his very first bike was an aluminum Trek 1200 and he said that bike beat him to death. This one is the same combination of materials, but the geometry is totally different. He also never runs any tire smaller than a 25mm and he doesn't inflate them to 'max' unless we are going to be on SMOOTH road (which pretty much doesn't happen anymore). He also has some crazy super gel crap under the bar tape on his handlebars - but he likes it. I have no padding in my gloves or on my bars, so his bars weird me out, but to each his own.

Anyway, my point is that if you get the wheels/tires right and the fit right - frame materials may not matter as much.

I think one of the biggest adjustments will be going from a flat bar to a road bike is the braking. In my case I find I just cannot adjust to the large levers and it hasn't helped that I cannot pull the brakes very well. I have put extra lever on the top of my handlebars on my road bike and I only use them. I just don't feel safe without being able to get at least 2 fingers around the lever.

So make sure you are happy with the road bike bars, otherwise if you haven't got them already, bar ends add extra handholds to a flat bar. Also NZ is mainly chip seal. A carbon fork is a great addition, however a carbon frame is give or take (there's no great difference). Also weight of bike is a big thing. Some AL bikes are the same weight as a carbon. However my AL bike was around the 16kg mark and my carbon the 10kg. I gained 6km/hr speed wise on the carbon (I wasn't such a bad rider after all)!

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Originally Posted by Kiwi Stoker

Also weight of bike is a big thing. Some AL bikes are the same weight as a carbon. However my AL bike was around the 16kg mark and my carbon the 10kg. I gained 6km/hr speed wise on the carbon (I wasn't such a bad rider after all)!

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I've noted that my all-steel-frame LHT is lighter than my AL Trek 7.6 with the carbon fork. Just saying ;)

Welcome Kit! I was sort of where you are now a few years ago. When I got back into biking, I started with a mountain bike and then moved on to a Trek FX 7500 (earlier version of what you have now). I was happy with that for a few years but ... as I got better and started riding more event rides and with other people, I wanted to go farther and faster. So, the FX is now my "beater" bike and my pride and joy is a Trek 5200 (new version would be the Madonne 5.2). Having a better machine really does improve your comfort and the joy of riding. BTW, I am in my mid-40s.

I know you don't want to spend that much (my bike is all carbon with Ultegra components). My DP recently got back into biking and graduated from a bike similar to the FX to a Trek 2.1 WSD. She loves, loves, loves it. The fork and seatpost are carbon so comfort is improved and she spent around $1500 for everything: bike, helmet, shoes, water bottles.... (her bike riding days had long been dormant). Another important step - she got fitted for it. So, is it worth it? That's an individual choice, but for many, the answer is yes! Whatever gets you out on a bike the most and keeps you smiling. :)

Left field suggestion - have you thought about getting a tandem??? It evens out different levels of fitness/strength, but it's much more than that. It's a really lovely feeling of teamwork. Of course, then there will be the straight bar/drop bar decision. But I just thought I would make the suggestion as my husband & I have really enjoyed our tandem - & it certainly seems to bring out the best in other people. We can also go further on our tandem - I guess it's much lighter than 2 bikes & much much more aerodynamic . .

I'd have to say go check out some high quality steel framed bikes at local shops. They ride like butter and they cost less overall so you can afford to get some nice components on there too. If you are concerned about the weight have the shop weigh them and compare to some of the lower end carbon frames. I say lower end carbon frame bikes because in the price range you are looking you can get a carbon ride but the components you get will be lower end which cancels out the weight difference in the frame. I have carbon, steel and aluminum bikes and my steel bike is my favorite so far as ride is concerned. The steel bikes come with carbon forks, seat posts and all that too so I'd suggest you give them a look. Best of luck. :)

After a bunch of trial rides, I settled on a Specialized tri-cross Sport (triple). It's billed a cyclocross bike, but I'm seeing a couple around here decked out for touring---and I picked it because I wanted the best of a road bike and a mtn, but didn't want a heavy hybrid.
It has more of a road bike geometry than mtn, with some of the comfort features of a hybrid. Aluminum frame, carbon fork & seat post.

The PR campaign says "POINT THE TRICROSS down anything from a gravel strewn fireroad to a pothole packed bike path or maybe even a chunk of smooth singletrack, and you'll realize that its numbness-killing chassis, predictable geometry and robust wheelset will help you redefine what's possible on two (skinny) tires"---and so far I think it's wonderful.

If you can find one in the right size, give it a whirl. I paid about 25% off retail for a small-ish frame, which makes me think not too many sport riders know about it.