My new Trek 7.6 fx wsd . . . already problems

[kajero]

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

[OakLeaf]

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?

[DebW]

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

[kajero]

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.

[Skippyak]

Di2 thumb shifters!!

[OakLeaf]

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.

[kajero]

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.

[Raddogz]

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.

[kajero]

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!

[TigerMom]

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?

[kajero]

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

[OakLeaf]

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

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'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.