Yet another newb thread :)

CAsper120

Hello
Another newb knocking at the door with some questions.
I am really wanting to get into cycling for fitness reasons plus I love to be outdoors alas here is my dilema:
After much research this week after visiting my LBS I have narrowed my choices down to two bikes.
The Trek SU100 http://www2.trekbikes.com/bikes/bik...id=1033000&f=23
or The Trek 7.2 FX http://www2.trekbikes.com/bikes/bik...id=1323010&f=26

The majority of my riding will be country roads (I am up to app. 7 miles on my wifes old Trek MTB 2-3 times a week).
Now from all I can tell these two bikes are pretty much the same as far as equipment goes.Biggest difference I can see is the wheel size and forks are made of different material.

They both SRP at the same BUT ( here's the catch)I can get the SU100 for $100.00 cheaper because it is on special right now. The 7.2 would cost me 409.00.
Keeping in mind that eventually joining a riding club intrigues me and I plan to get up to 20-25 miles 3 times a week is there THAT big a difference in a 26" wheel and a 700 (27" ?) wheel.
Should I dish out the extra $ and get the FX or just go ahead and jump on what seems like a deal?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

dwr1961

Hey, Friend - Welcome to cycling... And welcome to one of the most intriguing parts of the sport - Comparing and shopping for bikes and gear!

I started out much as you did - about seven years ago - riding an older bike for fitness and on a short daily commute to work. My first long rides - as I thought of them then - took about an hour and covered less than 15 miles. With a few months of training I was able to complete a century - which I thought almost impossible when I first began riding.

I think both the bikes you've picked would suit your current purpose just fine. They'll bth be comfortable and relatively efficient over the distances you've mentioned. The key in making your choice as far as I can see is to ask yourself what you plan to do after you've reached the current goals you have set for yourself.

If you plan to continue increasing your mileage on the road over time you may want the rig with the road (700c) wheels. Larger diameter wheels do "roll better" and accomodate lighter and more pavement-specific tires. Over a distance they make a significant difference and offer higher speed given the same level of effort over the 26' "mountain bike wheel/tire combination - even when the MTB's are 'slicks'. You'll appreciate them especially as you go beyond that 25 mile goal...

The other side of the coin is that MTB wheels and tires give you the flexibility of riding either on pavement or off-road. There is a wide selection of tire types that will allow you to customize to suit any kind of terrain. If you might do any kind off path or trail riding you should think hard about this option.

In summary - the road tires will make more difference than you might think - particularly as riding mileage increases - but the 26's will do an adequate job on the road (with slicks) and give you the option to do some off-roading.

Keep up the research - I wish you the best!

cheapie

very good questions and i would totally agree with the above poster, esp in regards to getting the bigger wheels if you're going to be doing very much road riding. you made the first step correctly which is going to your LBS and looking instead of just searching the web and getting other people's opinions.

RickF

The 700x35 tires on the 7.2 FX are still wide enough to allow light off-road use. They are not for stump jumping and rough trails, but they are fine for crushed stone, grass, or dirt trails that are in good shape. Unless you plan to do serious off-road riding, I would go for the 7.2 FX or the Specialized Sirrus. Eventually, you are going to want a Specialized Sequoia, Specialized Roubaix, or Trek Pilot, and after that . . .

CAsper120

Thank you all that replied to my thread.
I am so indecisive I will probably mull over this until the bike that is on special is gone. lol But I still do not know.. as RickF stated eventually I am going to want to upgrade so my checkbook/brain (read wife) is saying go for the deal but my heart is telling me FX because I am thinking the larger tires and more performance oriented bike will warrant longer use time.
My initial budget was app. $300.00 and I went in my LBS actually looking a MTB.
I recently sold all of my gaming gear ( gamecube ,PS2 ,etc..) as a self commital to get in shape and get active and that is where my budget is coming in.
The gentleman that helped me at my LBS showed me the hybrid and I know that is the type of bike I want to get started with.
If anyone has any other options other than the two bikes stated please let me know
Thanks again

S. Thomas

Out of pure curiosity, why did you rule out the Trek 7100 and 7200 models, priced at roughly $319 and $409 respectively?

They both have front suspension and seat suspension, and because of this may be better suited to your country roads. They're also very comfortable without sacrificing very much speed.

Further, in all honesty, if you plan on going down light trails other than grass, you're going to find that you're flatting far more than normal, and the "squirrely" nature of the FX series, much less the Sirrus, will make any real mountain biking very difficult. While the extra width in the tire's footpath is nice for stability, I don't know how far it would get you in real-world off-roading. Since the 7.2FX does have the hardcase reinforcement, while the SU100 does not, it might be wiser to use it offroad. I have no input on the Sirrus, but from what I've seen in past years, they seem to lean more on the road bike side than the mountain bike side.

That said, if you plan on picking up speed and doing longer distances on the road, the 7.2FX will be the fastest of the bunch, and it does have seat suspension. The Sirrus is also pretty fast and lighter than the 7.2FX from what I understand.

Just keep in mind that you'll eventually have to decide which camp you favor - mountain or road, and in the end, you'll probably end up with a "pure" bike - either the full-blown road bike or the full-blown mountain. The hybrid isn't really a jack-of-all-trades, more of a squishy road bike.

Sorry for the novel, but I hope you can wade through it to get at my point, whatever it was.

Good luck!!!