newbie shopping for hybrid

Hi everyone!
I stumbled across the forum today and have really enjoyed reading all of the helpful advice I've found so far. I hope you don't mind entertaining another "help a n00b buy a bike" thread...

I did a fair amount of biking around town when I was in college at the University of Wisconsin (in Madison, a nice, bike-friendly city :)). I was riding a cheap-ish sporting goods store mountain bike that I bought in 8th grade. Yikes. I doubt it was anywhere near the right fit for me, as anytime I rode the thing carrying any little bit of weight in a backpack or messenger bag I felt like I couldn't breathe. :eek: I do have a history of some orthopedic problems (chronic yet unpredictable knee, back, and hip pain, and scoliosis, probably all stemming from having one leg that is significantly longer than the other), so I'm definitely looking for a GOOD fit this time.

Anyway, I just moved from Madison to Tucson, AZ (also lots of bike lanes--yay!) for grad school and sold my old bike to a friend before I left.
I'd love to get into road bikes but don't feel quite confident enough in my riding skills to do the super-skinny tires and drop bars yet. Cyclocross is budgetarily WAY out of the question. I don't really see a need to have a mountain bike again, since my riding will probably be exclusively on paths and paved city streets.

So that leaves hybrids, eh? I visited a couple local bike shops yesterday and rode a few. I was very taken with the Bianchi Cortina, but my boyfriend has had no small share of problems with a kind of bottom-of-the-line Marin hybrid that he got a couple years ago... different brand and all that, but his negative experience buying from the "cheap" end of the spectrum of a "good brand" gives me pause. The bike shop guy also suggested the KHS Urban-X, but didn't have one in stock.

I'm drawn to the Trek WSD models, especially since I have small hands and am more on the leggy/short torso side. The 7.2 FX caught my eye online (I definitely prefer the look of a straight top tube to the staggered tube or curvy business), but I haven't had a chance to make it to any Trek stores yet to ride any. That one's also more expensive than the two I mentioned before.

I guess what's scariest to me is I know NOTHING about components. I know Bianchi is a respected name in bicycling, but for all I know the derailleurs on the Cortina could be made of tin foil and chewing gum.

Are there any good resources online anyone can suggest for educating myself on bicycle components? Can anyone help me out and tell me how things compare on the Bianchi, KHS, and Trek models I've linked above? Would anyone care to suggest another bike in the $500-or-less ballpark? Is anyone still reading this really long post? :rolleyes:

Many thanks! I look forward to any and all opinions, and to reading lots of posts on this awesome forum for a long time to come!

You will get many profound and experienced suggestions here. I'm just a newbie with a new Trek 7.6 FX and love it very much. It's incredibly lightweight for the price.

I always trot out the Kona Dew and all the variations in the Dew line. Excellent hybrid, bombproof frame (as my LBS calls it) and the bottom of the line has decent components that can easily be upgraded later. http://www.konaworld.com/09_dew_u.cfm I rode mine on some long rides, commutes, and in a triathlon.

For your LLD, consider some custom cranks. A couple folks here on TE have cranks made by this guy: http://www.hscycle.com/Pages/cantsandwedges.html

I've had two 7.2fx and they were terrific bikes. The tires would do well on road and gravel and it was an easy bike to ride. They call it a fitness bike instead of a hybrid because it doesn't have suspension and is more on the road bike side only with straight bars. I gave my last one up to help finance my Surly which does all my Trek did and more. As an entry level bike, I think it's a terrific choice. Just a piece of advice, if you aren't going mountain biking, don't get the front suspension if you look at other bikes. It just adds weight and you don't need it.

Have fun and welcome!

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Originally Posted by pardes

You will get many profound and experienced suggestions here. I'm just a newbie with a new Trek 7.6 FX and love it very much. It's incredibly lightweight for the price.

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I'm glad to hear you love your Trek. And there certainly seems to be no shortage of friendly and helpful people around here!

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

I always trot out the Kona Dew and all the variations in the Dew line. Excellent hybrid, bombproof frame (as my LBS calls it) and the bottom of the line has decent components that can easily be upgraded later. http://www.konaworld.com/09_dew_u.cfm I rode mine on some long rides, commutes, and in a triathlon.

For your LLD, consider some custom cranks. A couple folks here on TE have cranks made by this guy: http://www.hscycle.com/Pages/cantsandwedges.html

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I hadn't heard of Kona before... I'll definitely take a look, thanks for the suggestion, and the link to the cranks! I normally wear a lifted shoe, but if I start getting into longer-distance riding, I would definitely consider getting some custom cranks.

Hey! Yet another opportunity to show off and recommend my favorite bike :D
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...1372copy-1.jpg

@ uforgot and Zen:
Glad to hear more positive feedback about Trek. I think I have a soft spot for them because they're a Wisconsin company. Though, Zen, I can't exactly tell what model you have from the pic... looks like a beauty, though. ;)

EDIT: I posted a reply earlier to Pardes and KnottedYet, but it said it had to be approved by a mod and hasn't shown up yet... but this one posted right away...?

I have an older Trek 7100 fx (more similar to current 7.2fx) and I love it. I use it for commuting (30 km/day), it has a rack and fenders, but I've changed the tires for narrow slicks (very similar to my road bike) because I have no need for wider ones. I love that the wheels are 700. The componentry on that bike is much better than many bikes of similar price.

That's a 2007 FX7.2

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Originally Posted by Zen

That's a 2007 FX7.2

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Ah, this year's is a very different color (light blue) which is probably why I didn't recognize it. I think I like yours better. :P

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Originally Posted by Grog

I have an older Trek 7100 fx (more similar to current 7.2fx) and I love it. I use it for commuting (30 km/day), it has a rack and fenders, but I've changed the tires for narrow slicks (very similar to my road bike) because I have no need for wider ones. I love that the wheels are 700. The componentry on that bike is much better than many bikes of similar price.

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My goodness, so much praise for Trek! I think I'll have to make a visit to my local Trek dealer tomorrow and check this stuff out for myself.

Thanks for all the opinions so far, everyone!

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Originally Posted by badgercat

Ah, this year's is a very different color (light blue) which is probably why I didn't recognize it. I think I like yours better. :P

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Yes, this year's model is the same color as my road bike.
A good color for a road bike but it didn't do anything for me on the FX.

Then the LBS had their spring clearance sale.

This bike had been hiding out in a box in the back room.
when I saw it out on the floor it spoke to me.

It said
"psst! Hey baby, over here!
Look at me, all sleek and black with a little hot pink thrown in for sex appeal...
I can take you places you've never been before.
Come on, you know you want me"

She was right and we're very happy together :D

If you look at the Geometry of the Trek 7.2s for 2008, you will find that the WSD and the men's are the same. When I purchased mine in Oct. I pointed it out to the salesperson. He was pretty surprised. The 7.3s and up do have a difference, it was just the 7.2. I had a 7.2fx wsd like Zen's which I sold, and regretted (black with pink writing, very pretty) and in Oct. I purchased the men's 7.2fx which rides exactly like the wsd one did! It was in a mocha duotone which I loved. I didn't care for the women's baby blue. It's on the trek website. It's a brown.

Try riding both kinds and see what you think.

Another vote for Trek. I have the same style/year as Zen but non-WSD

I just bought a 2009 Trek...I am loving it so far:

Attachment 6757

I agree- Trek and Kona both make excellent hybrids that are well thought out, better made than most Walmart-type bikes, yet still pretty affordable. :)

Well... I went to my local Trek store today, and fell in love. I wound up getting the 7.2FX WSD with a 17" frame and the standard top tube. Haven't had much of a chance to ride it yet beyond the many parking-lot-laps I did before I bought it (it's 5pm here and it's still 100F outside...no thanks!), but my boyfriend and I might go for a spin on some roads early tomorrow morning. If we do, I'll let you know how it goes, and maybe take some pictures of my new wheels. My boyfriend just ordered a new Cannondale cyclocross bike, a gift from his lawyer-dad (while SOME of us pay for grad school and bicycles ourselves...:cool:). It won't be in until next week, though, so I can hog the "shiny new bicycle" glory for myself for a few days. :D

THANK YOU to everyone for your opinions and advice and making me feel welcome!

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Originally Posted by BleeckerSt_Girl

I agree- Trek and Kona both make excellent hybrids that are well thought out, better made than most Walmart-type bikes, yet still pretty affordable. :)

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Huh? Have you looked at hybrids? These are not just one step above Wal-Mart bikes. The Trek 7.9fx is a carbon bike with Shimano 105 and Ultegra. Costs about $2500. You can get a verrrrrrrry nice hybrid and even the bottom ones start at $500, still outfitted with Shimano. Pretty close to prices on road bikes you can get from Trek and Specialized.

Better made than MOST Wal-Mart bikes???? Wow, that statement is so wrong...

Congrats on your 7.2FX WSD. That's what I have, and I love it. (Hated the handlebars, though; they killed my wrists. Swapped 'em out for moustache bars.)

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Originally Posted by uforgot

Huh? Have you looked at hybrids? These are not just one step above Wal-Mart bikes. The Trek 7.9fx is a carbon bike with Shimano 105 and Ultegra. Costs about $2500. You can get a verrrrrrrry nice hybrid and even the bottom ones start at $500, still outfitted with Shimano. Pretty close to prices on road bikes you can get from Trek and Specialized.

Better made than MOST Wal-Mart bikes???? Wow, that statement is so wrong...

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Put on some soothing music. :confused:
The original poster asked if anyone could recommend any hybrids in the $500 range.
So, Trek makes these hybrids, some of which start around $350, I see them in stores, and yes they are definitely an improvement and better made from the typical $300 Walmart bike, which is what I said:
http://www.google.com/products?num=2...num=4&ct=title
http://revolutioncycles.com/itemlist.cfm?pageId=91
I wasn't referring to a top of the line $2500 carbon Trek when I said they were "better made than most Walmart-type bikes, yet still pretty affordable". :eek: However I am not thoroughly familiar with all the bikes Walmart might sell, so I wouldn't want to make a sweeping statement condemning all of them sight unseen. The word "most' will suffice.

Badgercat has apparently bought a 7.2FX Trek which retails for I think about $450-500 perhaps?
A smart choice for her riding plans, and I'm sure she'll LOVE this great bike! :p
BadgerC- we want PICTURES! :)

P.S. WackyJacky- that Brooks saddle looks beautiful on your bike!

BleeckerSt_Girl, as far as pics goes, my boyfriend and I are going to do a 20-ish mile ride tomorrow morning on some streets and a bike path by a river, so I'll try to remember to snap a few shots of it in some scenic situations tomorrow. He suggested we go hiking tomorrow since both of his bikes currently have the wheels off, and his preferred bike has a thrown spoke, and I told him I would not stand for buying a bike and then spending the following day hiking, so he could either suck it up or spend the day alone :cool:!

wackyjacky, your mods look really nice! The brown saddle especially seems to complement the blue. The handlebars are a little bit of a concern for me too--my old mtb had totally straight across bars and when I was just cruising down the street I would often wind up kind of setting my hands on top of the bars in a more neutral position... not the safest habit, I know. So we'll see how this goes. I may also wind up swapping out the bars in the future. So far my only "mods" have been a bottle cage and a kick-stand (my boyfriend always jokes about not having a kickstand being the ultimate performance enhancement, but I'll take that expense for not knocking over my bike every time I try to open the gate to my apartment complex. :p).

And an aside about storage...I live in grad student apartments on campus, and the rules are kind of stringent--including no bikes in the apartments. I figured it'd be safe enough locked to our racks, since they're inside the gated complex that you normally need to swipe an ID and punch in a PIN to get into. Then, I was wandering around this afternoon and saw some rooms labeled "BIKE" and asked at the office... they're locked rooms with a bike rack inside (could probably fit 8 bikes) that any resident can use, but not everyone thinks to ask about since there are so many racks outside, and the first one I checked only had 3 bikes in it! Guess where I put my new baby immediately! Plus it'll be protected from the HOT Arizona sun, and the torrential downpours during monsoon season. I'm so pleased that I can keep her inside... I'm all about sharing, but I hope not TOO many other people figure out the bike room thing, because I'd sure like to keep that spot for the year. ;)

So, I took my new bike for a 20 mile spin yesterday morning! It wasn't 20 miles all at once by any means--we stopped a few times for bathroom breaks, snacks, and water, so the adventure wound up taking over 3 hours. We mostly were on paved roads and a paved path... though the path did have a significant stretch (probably not a mile, but it felt long enough) that was unpaved, kind of sandy and gravelly, and pretty uneven. I freaked out a bit at that point since this is my first bike with skinny-ish tires, but she performed admirably! I bounced clear off my seat once, but for the most part was able to pretty easily navigate around or gingerly over the bumps and never lost control.

I was drained last night, but I feel pretty good today! A little tense in the upper back/shoulders (though that's really not unusual for me) and my sit-bones aren't feeling toooo bad. I'm actually surprised how well that region is feeling, considering I don't have any bike shorts yet and was just wearing regular ol' cotton panties and light cotton shorts. My right wrist is sore (the only thing that was really bothering me DURING the ride, besides my saddle-parts at the very end, were my arms--soreness in my wrists, and just arm fatigue overall.) I'm not sure if I was gripping too hard, if it's a positioning thing, or what... I guess I'll have to spend some more time riding before I figure that one out.

Anyway, on to the pictures! I have a few...

Here's my bike parked near one of the overpasses over the river, which, as you may have noticed, doesn't have much water in it. :p
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z.../IMG_2743r.jpg

My bike and my boyfriend's mtb that he's had since he was like... 10 years old. Boy, is he excited to get his cyclo-cross bike.
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z.../IMG_2744r.jpg

The next 4 don't have my bike in them, they're just for fun!
Many of the bridges along the path had fun little mosaics and such at the ends... here's one featuring a Joni Mitchell quote:
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z...IMG_2745cr.jpg

I still get really excited whenever I see a lizard outside... I think it'll take me a while to get that lizards are just what they have here, instead of squirrels and chipmunks like I'm used to in the midwest...
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z.../IMG_2746r.jpg

Playing around with the macro settings on my camera in the trees... I really like the effect of the sunlight through the leaves. :D
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z.../IMG_2747r.jpg

Finally, here's a woman who rides... horses! :p It was fun to see someone out in the riverbed giving her horse some good exercise.
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z.../IMG_2749r.jpg

We joked about taking a Chicago hold-up style picture at the end, but I was far too wiped out to think of anything but getting lunch at that point.

So... there ya go!

Fantastic!!!

Oh my, it is obvious that you are going to have WAY too much fun on your new sky-blue bike. Thank you for posting such great pictures.

The tires you think are 'skinny' are actually pretty hefty and sturdy- don't worry about a little gravel and pebbles. ;) That's one of the nice things about hybrids.
(Just avoid glass and sharp metal -no matter what kind of tires you have)

Congratulations! :p :p :p

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Originally Posted by BleeckerSt_Girl

Fantastic!!!

Oh my, it is obvious that you are going to have WAY too much fun on your new sky-blue bike. Thank you for posting such great pictures.

The tires you think are 'skinny' are actually pretty hefty and sturdy- don't worry about a little gravel and pebbles. ;) That's one of the nice things about hybrids.
(Just avoid glass and sharp metal -no matter what kind of tires you have)

Congratulations! :p :p :p

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Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed the pics.

I know they're not really skinny, I'm just used to very fat and knobby so it's pretty new for me. I was more worried about my own control than how the bike would hold up. ;)

Side note--when I first saw your post, I read it as "grass" instead of "glass," and wondered if I had been taking huge risks with my life in the backyard and neighborhood park as a kid. :cool:

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Originally Posted by badgercat

Side note--when I first saw your post, I read it as "grass" instead of "glass," and wondered if I had been taking huge risks with my life in the backyard and neighborhood park as a kid. :cool:

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That is too funny. :D :D

Of course one of the 'real' hazards of riding on grass in the park is that you could dangerously skid out on a hidden patch of dog poo! :eek: (eeeeeewwwww.......)

Thanks for sharing the pictures - I always enjoy seeing pictures of people's bikes AND where they ride:)

And what's up with no bikes in the apartments? Glad you found an inside bike storage place - but that seems really strange to me. I guess it's because of grease on carpet? Seems like they could still address that if needed (you stain the carpet, you pay to replace it).

Anyhow - congratulations!!!!

CA

PS- WackyJacky - I LOVE how you have your bike set up. VERY cool!!!

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Originally Posted by wackyjacky1

(Hated the handlebars, though; they killed my wrists. Swapped 'em out for moustache bars.)

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Looks like you hated the dreaded stock Bontrager saddle too ;)
Is that a Brooks?

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Originally Posted by Zen

Looks like you hated the dreaded stock Bontrager saddle too ;)
Is that a Brooks?

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Yup, it's a Brooks (B68). Best bicycle-related investment I've ever made. My tokhes loves that thing!

badgercat, love the pics!

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Originally Posted by badgercat

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed the pics.

I know they're not really skinny, I'm just used to very fat and knobby so it's pretty new for me. I was more worried about my own control than how the bike would hold up. ;)

Side note--when I first saw your post, I read it as "grass" instead of "glass," and wondered if I had been taking huge risks with my life in the backyard and neighborhood park as a kid. :cool:

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Hey, since you do live in the Southwest, you should be careful of GOATHEADS in your tires! Stay away from the vegetation! Don't ask me how I know.

Karen

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Originally Posted by Tuckervill

Hey, since you do live in the Southwest, you should be careful of GOATHEADS in your tires! Stay away from the vegetation! Don't ask me how I know.

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I had no idea what those were, so I wikipedia'd them... lo and behold, when my parents and I drove down here to move me out here, we got a bunch of those things stuck in our shoes when we cut across a big, dry grassy area at a rest stop! I can't remember what state that was in, even, but I think it might have been Oklahoma.