My new Trek 7.6 fx wsd . . . already problems

I have really small hands. I know I was able to change gears on the left hand side of the handlebars of the Trek 7.6 FX WSD when I test rode the bike. If I remember, I think I had difficulty with it, but thought that that was how it was supposed to be. I realize I never should have accepted that. The Ruby is so easy to change gears!

I took the bike out for its first ride this morning and I couldn't reach far enough at all to change the gear on the left hand side of the handle bars. So it's another trip to the LBS which is 35 miles away. I hope they can fix the problem; it's a pretty spendy bicycle. The LBS special ordered it for me so I felt I had to buy the bike. Fortunately, the bikes are returnable for store credit. If it can't be adjusted, I will have to find something else.

All this drama is because our bikes were stolen and we bought new bikes before our old ones were recovered.

PS: Just for laughs I will tell you the wonderful solution my SO came up with. I can get off the bike and change the sprocket when I need to!

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Originally Posted by kajero

PS: Just for laughs I will tell you the wonderful solution my SO came up with. I can get off the bike and change the sprocket when I need to!

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That's how they did it before ol' Tullio invented the derailleur. My step-grandfather used to tell about touring the Alps that way. :eek:


Hope you find a better solution...

Deep breath....most brake/shifter levers can be adjusted to accommodate a shorter reach. Did you call the shop and ask if they can walk you through the adjustment over the phone? Or have you pulled up the manual for the shifters online to see if there are instructions?

after the first 100 miles on the new trek, I had to take it in to get the brakes and gears shortened and eased for my small tired arthritic hands. My hands are much happier now. Don't know if your bike store is like mine but mine came with a 6 month free fit adjustment and two free tune ups and/or mechanical adjustments other than fit.

It can be made right.

good luck with it.

From the specs it looks like you have Deore trigger shifters? Is that correct? I don't see any adjustment in Shimano's technical documents. Would just re-positioning it help? Or turning the handlebars ... is the handlebar position otherwise comfortable, or do they feel like the angle is different from the bike you test rode?

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

From the specs it looks like you have Deore trigger shifters? Is that correct? I don't see any adjustment in Shimano's technical documents. Would just re-positioning it help? Or turning the handlebars ... is the handlebar position otherwise comfortable, or do they feel like the angle is different from the bike you test rode?

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On my mtb I was able to move my shifters closer to the grips and twist them up so it was closer to my thumb, not sure if you can do something similar.

If there is no way to adjust them and repositioning doesn't help, I would hope that the LBS would be willing to swap out the shifter for a model that works for the OP.

We took the bike to the LBS. He is changing out the shifters to Tiagra (?) not sure if this is the name. He has to do a bunch of other stuff to make it work. I don't know when I can pick it up. The LBS is really trying to make it right. This change will cost around $130. I told him after this I don't want to put any more money into the bike. I just don't want to get stuck with a bike I can't ride. :-

Tiagra instead of Deore? That doesn't make sense to me. And that price is ridiculous :|

Why didn't they just install a shorter stem so that you have no issues regarding reach?

Brigada,

Can you explain a little bit more regarding the Tiagra vs the Deore? I would really like to tell the LBS something about that if what you say is true. I am so frustrated at this time. I paid a lot for that bike. I don't feel I should have to keep paying for "upgrades" if that is not what they really are. It seems every improvement is costing me something.

The problem is I can't push the left thumb shifter far enough back to change anything. I run out of "stretch" on my hand. They did try changing the position of the shifter several times but nothing worked. I don't have any problems with the right hand. I was pretty stupid on the test ride. The gears shift the opposite of the road bike. I couldn't figure out how to change from one sprocket to the other so I let the dealer do it. DUMB! :(

The shorter stem has already been done. He had to do that because of the reach. It was just too far for me. At least he didn't charge me for that.

Thanks

Kathy

I would've thought that was a downgrade, too.

Did you try a bike with the shifters you're getting? Are you sure they will work for you? What about grip shifters, since it doesn't sound like you need a lot of precision with this bike? That would take a bit of labor, though.


Not all shops will take unused parts in trade for replacements - smaller shops will often have to eat the cost if they do this, since they may not be able to resell the parts - but I think it's a sign that the shop doesn't care much about their customers when they don't offer *some* kind of trade in credit.

If being a down grade is the choice, then how much should I expect to be charged?

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Originally Posted by brigada

Tiagra instead of Deore? That doesn't make sense to me. And that price is ridiculous :|

Why didn't they just install a shorter stem so that you have no issues regarding reach?

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There are flat-bar shifters that are also Tiagra. Weird, I know.

And yes, I think it's a downgrade. You'll pay for the labor, but I think they should at least give you something for the parts, or give you the parts so you can put them on eBay or something.

It's not so much the question of which is better in an abstract sense, if the Tiagra shifters will really work for you and the Deore ones won't. $130 seems to be a decent retail price for the SL-4603 shifter set, just from a little googling. What would get my hackles up a little bit is them not taking your OEM shifters in trade ... but only somewhat, since as I said it's not universal that shops will do that. I had to eat the cost of a crankset to get the size I needed on my new Synapse, so it does happen. (But at least I knew in advance when I ordered the bike that I was also going to order and pay for the crankset.)

More importantly, I'm not hearing you say you're sure the Tiagra shifters will work for you. Did you try a bike that has those shifters?

I second the gripshifter suggestion. No reaching, no thumb strength involved.

He asked about grip shifters, but he said it would be REALLY expensive. I just didn't want to put even more money into the bike that I don't know would work.

I did try the Tiagra shifters. They seemed to work. Mind you, they were on a different bike.

Di2 thumb shifters!!

I hope this works out for you. I know my lbs encouraged me while I was test riding a multitude of bikes to shift gears on each bike to see if it would work for me or not - now I know why.

Looks like SRAM is the only one who makes 10-speed grip shifters, and they are about $90 more than the shifters you're looking at, plus there would be a little bit more labor ... but wouldn't that be worth it for shifters that you don't have to worry about reaching? SRAM shifters are compatible with Shimano derailleurs AFAIK, my hybrid has 8-speed SRAM grip shifters and Shimano derailleurs.

He just called and said the bike was done. Unfortunately we won't be able to pick it up until Thursday. I will let you know how I come out.

The shifters, if they are easy to use, work better for me. I broke my hand two years ago :( in three places and twisting a handle bar is harder than trigger shifters. I love the way I can shift of my Ruby. That's was what I was hoping for.

:) The LBS credited the parts that were taken off the bike. He discounted the labor 50% and the new parts 10%. The new shifters are designed perfectly for my tiny hands and are so easy to use. I rode the Trek FX 7.6 WSD for about a half hour after we got her home. We christened her "Violet," as she is almost completely purple. She rides very differently from my 44 Ruby Elite. Although the Trek FX 7.6 is a size small, it seems huge next to the Ruby. I assume it is because it is a very different type of bicycle. I am excited because I can use a trunk bag now. I've never wanted to use a trunk bag on the Ruby; I was told it could be hard on the carbon frame. I wish I could have gotten Violet sooner. There is a 25 mile this weekend and it would have been fun to ride it then. For now, I will stick with the ruby.

I am really going to need to practice with Violet so I can climb hills as successfully as I do with the Ruby. The gears feel so different. The stock seat on the Ruby has been wonderful for me. I can already tell the stock seat on Violet is not comfortable. Before I give up, I am going to move the seat back a bit and up a little. I guess it was too much to think I could be lucky enough to have two stock saddles that worked. I have thought about buying another seat like what is on the Ruby, but don't know if a road bike saddle works on a hybrid bicycle. I really don't want to go through of the work of taking off the Ruby's seat and putting it on Violet to test it out. But if I must, I must. Any thoughts???

I can't wait to go on some of the trails that are the crushed limestone. I will feel much more confident with a hybrid bike. I had wider treaded tires installed on the hybrid. They aren't that much bigger than the original tires, but enough to add the self-confidence I need. Remember, I am the one who crashed my Giant twice!

I really understand why one needs to name their bikes. We have five bicycles in the garage now (he has two, I have three). It's hard to talk to know which one we are talking about if we didn't name them! And they are locked up and the garage door is closed! :D

Glad that you are starting to like your new bike!

If you are lucky enough to find the Ruby stock seat to be wonderful for you, definitely try that saddle on your hybrid bike if moving the seat around is not helping. Can your bike shop that you bought the bike from do a basic fit for you for free?

Yep, I am going to call them and see if they can do it soon.

So glad they're treating you right and the bike is working out!

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Originally Posted by kajero

I have thought about buying another seat like what is on the Ruby, but don't know if a road bike saddle works on a hybrid bicycle. I really don't want to go through of the work of taking off the Ruby's seat and putting it on Violet to test it out. But if I must, I must. Any thoughts???

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I've never been so happy about a parts swap as I was the day I took the Jett off my roadie and put it onto the hybrid ... it probably depends on the shape of your sitbones, but for myself, the Jett works quite a bit better on the hybrid than it did on the roadie.

I know what your mean about the hybrid feeling bigger. When I got my cruiser it felt bigger to me too. I've since attributed it to the fact that I sit more upright on the cruiser.

My 44 cm Jamis Coda (flat bar road bike, similar to FX) felt bigger than my 48 cm Kuota road bike.
My custom road bike feels MUCH bigger than my Kuota, until I am actually sitting on the saddle and riding. After 2 years, I still have to remember to push myself way up as I get on the bike and start, or I hit my azz on the nose of the saddle, catch my shorts, and generally do something really spazzy.This bike is more upright and I guess that's the difference. Some have told me I got used to the wrong geometry, and for me, change in something I have to get used to physically is very difficult.

After all this discussion I felt I should post a photo of my new hybrid Trek FX 7.6 WSD (2014). I've named her "Violet" because she is entirely purple. What's hard to believe purple is my second favorite color! Here she is:

What gives though? I thought a hybrid was supposed to slower than my Ruby carbon road bike. I can ride Violet just as fast (which is still slower than my friends). The hills were just as easy. I am not sure because it was such a short ride but a few of the hills seemed easier to climb.

Errant thought. Two years ago 5 miles sounded like a horrific challenge to ride. Now it seems like nothing. I don't even like going for rides less than 15 miles!

Sweet bike!

I know my old 7.5FX felt like it could fly compared to my roadie, not sure why.

Kajero, I'm glad everything got sorted out in the end and that it all works as intended now :)

How much do these FX models go for, anyway? I'm no fan of Trek for the most part but I am intrigued now :)

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Originally Posted by brigada

How much do these FX models go for, anyway? I'm no fan of Trek for the most part but I am intrigued now :)

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I have to do all my filing tomorrow and scan receipts and other information into the computer. I will make sure to look and let you know. I am pretty sure I put quite a bit into upgrades. I really don't know anything about components but figured all was well for the price. I also read as many reviews as I could find.

After the customizations were made, I find I really like it very much! It rides really smooth and I love the new trigger shifters. There is no comparison to the old accident prone Giant hybrid I sold!

The worst part of buying the Trek is now I have to figure out if I want to ride the road bike or the hybrid when I go riding. :D

Now that I have three bicycles. I have changed my signature. ;)

Kajero - I sold my 7.5 to a good friend who rides thousands and thousands of miles a year. She does RAGBRI, Ride the Rockies, etc. Once she dialed in the 7.5 she switched to it exclusively; said it was far more comfortable and just as fast as her roadie.

Enjoy your new ride!!

So glad you got the 7.6 dialed in, Kajero. Violet is a beauty and I bet very fun to ride. I've learned to love a more upright position on the bike lately, especially since the further bent over I am, the more it tweaks my pain from my pelvic fracture in 2005. I never have any problems with it in a more upright position, so I ride my MTB more than my roadie (even though I love both). I'm even thinking of putting on a more upright stem so I can bring the bars a little higher. I don't care what anyone thinks! :D I love having a rack and being able to carry more stuff too.