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

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 on or i could sell you my 15" 7.5 for $850 plus $75 shipping

[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.

[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...

[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!

[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 =

[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.

[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?
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!

[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.