you girls have done it now

[light_sabe_r]

thanks, I found another one that carries kona. It's supposed to rain this week, so instead of riding during my lunch break I might sneak away to check out some bikes.
anyone know anything about jamis bikes? I found a shop that carries them and some look interesting. I will check out mountain bikes too, prefer hardtail.
vickie

My first bike was a jamis tangier hybrid! It was great for me, but then again I grew out of it very quickly. In 9months I was ready for a Road bike.

I love that Tangier though and I still carry a torch for it even though it hasn't been ridden since Last year

[Geonz]

I luv my trek hybrid I have my older Giant Nutra hybrid that will handle any terrain I want (packed gravelly stuff and roads), and it's a lot like the Trek hybrids.
However... I'd at least *try* the next bikes up. Friend of mine was looking at the 7100 and I talked her into trying I think the 7500 or maybe 7300 ... anyway, it was I think aluminum instead of steel and made a huge difference in how easy it was to shove along. (I have a 7500FX but that runs >600 ... but it's worth considering how important this relationship is and amortizing increased expense over time! I mean, what if next year you want to upgrade again?)

[fastdogs]

Today I tried a Giant Cypress and a Fuji crosstown 3.0. Unfortunately, they only had the women's style in my size, and I just feel too closed in on those. I liked the Giant better, but still not as well as I liked the Trek 7000. Of course, I only rode the trek on the trainer in the store. But it felt right- like when I get on my downtube bike, I just feel like riding. I'm not sure if what I like is just what I'm used to, though, I don't have enough experience to know. I felt like both the giant and the fuji were too upright. The shop gives you one year of free tune ups, and you can buy a lifetime program for $69.00.
None of the shops that carry trek have carried the 7000 up here, just the 7100 and up. I've been going round and round with this- I've looked at the comparison of the 7000, 7100, and 7200, but is the difference enough to warrant going up to a 7200 from a 7000?
I can get the 7000 from the bike shop about an hour away (rte 66 bikes), they've got it in stock, in my size. I need to find out what service they provide after the sale.
The place that has the 7200 in stock in my size, is the one that does a fitting before purchase, and provides free maintenance for lifetime after (you pay for parts, not labor), plus 10% off stuff in the store. I need to actually take the 7200 out and ride it though. If I get it, there won't be enough left to buy fenders and have them put on, so that will have to wait. I still need to ride the kona, and could check out the bikes at an REI in town.
The shop I went to today also carries recumbents and the rans crank forward bikes, but I resisted giving them a try.

[elk]

you could always sell your walmart bikes on craig's list to pay for the upgrade and fenders....

e

[uforgot]

Hi Vickie:
First of all you WERE pedaling and working twice as much! I think we discussed it a little bit. Loved your bike though! So pretty and handy.
2nd, Rte 66 Bikes, Dan gives you one tune-up within 30 days after the sale, although he is a little lenient with that. I came back late a couple of times. If you want to know more about him or the shop you can ask me or Pyannyplayer. We both know him and do business there. I like that I can email and say "Hey Dan, have you got such and such?, or I walk in and he calls me by name, and he's always willing to help.
Have you considered the Trek fx? It doesn't have the front suspension, and unless you are going out to Lions Club Park to ride, you really don't need it. It (the suspension) also makes you ride harder and slower. I have one, (7.2 fx) and I don't have school on Friday. I could bring it to Rolla on Friday if you are there and let you try it out.

Edit: I went to the Trek website and noticed that the new 7000 does not have suspension! the 7100 and above do. You need to decide if you want that or not. Like I said, suspension just adds weight and you don't need it for roads or even the Katy Trail!

[fastdogs]

craig's list is a good idea, I've already taken photos of them, just need to list them still.
Doesn't the FX have pretty slick tires? that and the higher price is the only thing that concerned me- I seem to really like the treks I've looked at. I had warned the guy at rte 66 that I might be back for that bike saturday.
Today I test ride some mountain bikes at the Jamis place.
vickie

[uforgot]

No, the fx has the puncture resistant 700 X 35c. They have treads, but not huge like mountain bike tires. They are actually a perfect commuting tire.

I looked at the specs for the 7100, and the tires are the 700 X 35 also. Bontrager Select invert.

[fastdogs]

ok, I went back to ghisallo's at lunchtime and bought my trek 7200. It was the one i'd test ridden, so was already adjusted for me. They took it to check it over and put on the water bottle cage and kickstand. That was all the shopping I did for it, for now- water bottle cage, kickstand, and a cable to lock it up (don't plan to be leaving it anywhere, but wanted to have one on it just in case).
The only bike rack I had is an old one stored in the barn for several years, and the guy came out and put it on my car for me- it was kind of scary because I worried that the straps were dry rotted. We couldn't get them as tight as I would like, but when we got done it seemed secure. I drove back to work inthe rain and parked it. But I couldn't stand the thought of it out there getting rained on, and even though we're in compound patrolled by security, I worried I'd go out and it would be gone. So I talked the admin into letting me pull into the enclosed loading dock so it stayed dry all afternoon.
When I got home I took it off and had to ride it. I've got a quarter mile walking trail around the perimeter of my property, so I rode. It's mostly flat, but has a short steep drop off what used to be a pond bank. It was great to be able to ride up that little steep hill. At the third lap (in the rain, tires getting dirty) I thought, "are these handlebars a little crooked?". The fourth lap, I'd just rolled down the steep drop and almost crashed when my handle bars turned but the wheel didn't. I had to walk it back to the house, the handlebars were too loose. I got an allen wrench and tightened them, but could still turn them. I had to get my husband to really crank the allen wrench to get them solid. Now, I'm a bit scared for that to happen out on the road, but I'll do a couple of laps tomorrow (dark now) and see if they stay tight. It's sitting inside, out of the rain. I got the new hitch mount bike rack I'd ordered, so if I have to take it back to the shop I can take my truck with a hitch rack and not have to use that old trunk mount bike rack again.
vickie