you girls have done it now

[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]

today I rode a Jamis Ranger 2.0 mountain bike, a Trek 3900 mountain bike, and the Trek 7200. I liked the mountain bikes ok, the Jamis would have to have an adjustable stem put on it, the handlebar position just wasnt comfortable for me, and it wasn't at all adjustable. I liked the trigger shifters. The 3900 mountain bike, despite it's too blue color, was very nice. But I think I smiled the whole time I was riding the Trek 7200. I don't know why, I'm not sure that the ride was that much better than the 3900 (I'm more familiar with mountain bike-type-bikes), but I really enjoyed it.
vickie

[elk]

vickie

i think you already know what you want!!

[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

[sandra]

Congratulations! I'm glad you did it! You know we want pictures!

[elk]

Oh ouch...I hope that didn't make you lose faith in your new ride!!!
You probably want to take it back to the shop and a) tell them what happened. b) have them make sure it's tight now.

And don't let it dampen your enthusiasm!!!
I'm happy for you that you got your bike!!

[blueskies]

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.

Oh Vickie, if the cyclocross girls read this, there gonna come looking for you!!!

You're going to have so much fun on this bike, I can tell already. Congrats!!!

[fastdogs]

thanks everyone for all the support in my brief bike hunt. I am in love with this bike. I brought it to work (on my new hitch mount bike rack), with plastic bags over it because it was raining all day. At lunchtime I took it to the bike shop; before I took it in I rode in light rain for 20 minutes, but the handlebars did not budge, of course. I left it there for the afternoon to get checked out anyway. AFter work (I snuck out early because the rain had stopped ) I went to the bike shop and picked it up. The bike shop is out by chesterfield airport, and is very flat. There's lots of wide two lane roads and bike lanes, so I rode for 30 minutes. It was so much fun, that bike can really fly. I could have kept going, but had a little boy to pick up. I need to put my cycle computer on it. I don't have fenders, but didn't get splashed today much without them.
vickie