Quote Originally Posted by Crankin View Post
You're looking at a variety of bikes that are really different. A Townie is a cruiser and any of the FX hybrids are more like road bikes. I'm hearing some wavering in what you are really looking for; is it a cruiser type bike that would be ok for riding with your kids or into town if it's flat or a bike you can ride for road rides for fitness and ride with your kids?
If you want to work on the climbing skills, get the FX or something else like it. I think you'd be frustrated with bikes that are more of the "comfort" variety.
Crankin, thanks for this input - I didn't realize until you said this that I am a bit confused about what I want. My goal was a bike to ride with kids mostly around town (which is a lot of short steep hills) or on flat packed dirt trails - the easy ones. But the former biker in me is of course wanting to improve on hills, so yeah, I don't think I want just a cruiser comfort type of bike. Also I am thin-boned and lightweight so I'd like a bike that handles well because I've never been gifted at just muscling through with an uncomfortable or awkward bike.

Ny biker, the height of the FX handlebar was fine, but the angle of my hands on the straight bar is very uncomfortable on my wrists, even though it's a women's width bar. So I don't need to go more upright, but do want the handlebar angled towards me instead of flat so my shoulders and wrists will be more comfortable. Does that make sense?

Also, I am thinking that I'll be ok with the FX 7.1 instead of a higher end model if I get the Trek because I'm not going to try to do serious long distances or start racing or anything - is that faulty thinking?

Thanks,
Sadie