Trek 7100

L-M

How's it going,

Looking to buy a starter bike, something Hybrid, and this Trek 7100 stood out to me. I can get it for €385 including a water bottle.

What's that like for value for money? Are they any good?

Complete newbie to the cycling scene, so ye may have to bear with me

Thanks in advance...

pburns

Ohh...that won't go down well round these parts! They'll recommend a dropbar lightweight with carbon trimmings for 60km 'spins' up the Dublin mountains...

Depends what you want it for - is it mainly on-road? I have a Trek 7.5 which would be considered a hybrid by most but more towards the 'flat-bar racer' end of the scale. It's a bit beyond the budget you outline but there are other versions in the 7.* range. Quality seems excellent - about 300 miles of abuse in the last 5 weeks on some very rough tarmac and gears etc. are still really slick - not like bikes I've had previously.

I'd say avoid any type of suspension at all costs if you're going to be using it mainly on-road - adds unecessary weight and complication.

The Specialized Sirrus range might be worth looking at - they start around €360 but the Sirrus Elite at around €600 would be a good pick - one of the cheapest bikes of it's type with a carbon fork which will absorb some of the bumps a bit better than an alu one...

jwshooter

i have a trek 7.1 fx its a 22.5" and a grand bike i mostly use it on back roads and some forest roads around blackstairs mts.
the tyres are more road than off road so i may take care on loose ground.

i think i payed 420 for mine two years ago .

just done a 4 mile sprint on it around the hill.
as a starter bike what can i say its trouble free and able to take a bit of hardship.

i asked joe holly about them his reply was there good enough for a lad called armstrong there good enough for you.

enough said.

blorg

Depends on what you want it for really. I had a Trek 7200 FX and 7300 FX (similar to what you are considering) and a Specialized Sirrus and was very happy with all of them. Very good for commuting or moderate distances. Good starter bikes.

As pburns says avoid all suspension on a hybrid. You don't need it for the road or indeed even for modest off-road like fireroads. If you need suspension because you are going _seriously_ off road you really should be looking at a mountain bike. I wouldn't take a hybrid with a suspension fork on the sort of trail where you actually need the suspension.

Contrary to what pburns suggests hybrids are often recommended around here, they are an excellent choice for most people and particularly people starting out, just not for racing or long distances- in that case a road bike ("racer") is indeed a better bet.

I rode hybrids myself for ten years before I got a road bike and did long distances on them- but having tried both a drop bar bike is honestly better for the longer stuff.

boniver

I'd go for the 7.1FX instead of the 7100. Can't really see the benefit of front suspension on a hybrid at that price level - there may be marginal comfort advantages but they will be outweighed by a more sluggish feeling bike. The 7.1FX is a little cheaper as well.

biomed32

i have recently gotten into cycling as a result of a charity bike ride in march, there is a place in Lucan called Stagg cycles and found the shop very helpful in terms of information and bike repairs, i personally spent 300 euro last summer on a reflex bike and has served me well to date

pburns

blorg wrote: »

Contrary to what pburns suggests hybrids are often recommended around here, they are an excellent choice for most people and particularly people starting out, just not for racing or long distances- in that case a road bike ("racer") is indeed a better bet.

I rode hybrids myself for ten years before I got a road bike and did long distances on them- but having tried both a drop bar bike is honestly better for the longer stuff.

The more I cycle, the more i see your point about the advantages of road-bikes (i.e. dropbars). The longest run I've done is about 25 miles and that was no problem but yesterday, facing into almost constant head/cross-winds during a 12 mile spin 'around the block' I could have done with a less upright riding position. There seems to be a rite of passage for many people. Start off with little clue and buying a moutain bike, then getting a hybrid before finally moving to a 'road' bike.

Maybe I should have bought a proper racer but I see the 7.5 as a stepping stone that got me back into cycling and even if I icrease miles etc. I'm not interested in doing the Wicklow 4000 or whatever but maybe in a year or two I could justify a good alu framed road-bike with carbon trimmings...

blorg

I think a hybrid is a very good choice for someone starting off cycling and not planning on doing crazy distances. You will get a far more decent hybrid for €385 than you will a road bike. It will be flexible and take a rack, full mudguards and wider tyres for comfort or a bit of light off-road.

Road bike sizing is also very critical- get the wrong size and you could be in for major problems.

I progressed from a hybrid to a flat-bar road bike type hybrid and ended up sticking drops on that- so eased me in to getting a proper road bike somewhat gently.

If you just want a short commute/shopping/the occasional 10-40km spin then a hybrid is probably the best choice.

25 miles/40km is perfectly doable on a hybrid although it is probably around that sort of distance that you would start getting real benefit from a road bike.