Advice on Bike Brand

Riskymove

Hi all,

I am getting my first bike since being a teenager!!

I am planning on using it for cycles around where I live building up to a commute to work (12 miles or so)

I have chosen the shop I want to use which is a proper bike store rather than a warehouse. The choice is basically between:

Giant FCR
Trek 7.2FX
Specialized Sirrus


Any experience/advice about pros/cons of each? Is there any big difference?


Thanks

Risky

horizon26

My advice would be the giant ,is the commute 12 each way?If so a road bike might be a better option.Bought a hybrid last March after a few short months found the hybrid too upright.On a windy day the bike was a pain there is also only one hand position.Road bikes are better and faster once you get used to them.

copacetic

all 3 of those bikes are well regarded and the brands are generally seen as reliable, try them out and go for the one you like most.

kavanagh_h

I bought the trek 7.5 fx last year and my sister bought he newer version this year. We are both very happy with them. My boyfriend had his new giant hybrid stolen in town a few months ago and got a trek hybrid. Hes very happy with it too. I got the aero bars as extra for the choice of positions cause i get sore wrists over long distances. Note both are thief magnets so be sure to get a good lock.

pburns

kavanagh_h wrote: »

I bought the trek 7.5 fx last year and my sister bought he newer version this year. We are both very happy with them. My boyfriend had his new giant hybrid stolen in town a few months ago and got a trek hybrid. Hes very happy with it too. I got the aero bars as extra for the choice of positions cause i get sore wrists over long distances. Note both are thief magnets so be sure to get a good lock.

Yeah, I got a Trek 7.5FX and am very happy with the quality. Roads around my way are rough enough but everything is as slick as the day it left the shop (granted only about 300 miles ago!)

What aero bars did you get? My bike shop talked me out of them, probably because he had none suitable in stock. The grips are bulky at the ends so presumably it requires entirely new grips to be fitted?

kavanagh_h

pburns wrote: »

What aero bars did you get? My bike shop talked me out of them, probably because he had none suitable in stock. The grips are bulky at the ends so presumably it requires entirely new grips to be fitted?

They say Century Profile design on them. My dad has a bike shop in sutton and he picked them up for me. They are just screw onto the middle of the bars. Can't imagine why they would tell you that! I think you are talking about the bull bar extentions. Isn't that what they're called?

72hundred

Aero bars on a hybrid? Like TT / Triathlon bars?!!?

kavanagh_h

72hundred wrote: »

Aero bars on a hybrid? Like TT / Triathlon bars?!!?

Why not!!!!! Its great for changing position. Better than the bar extentions

kavanagh_h

72hundred wrote: »

Aero bars on a hybrid? Like TT / Triathlon bars?!!?

Check out this website. looks like they are triathlon bars! Thats a surprise! http://www.all3sports.com/product_info.php?pName=profile-design-century&jsenabled=1&osCsid=d193ef49c0cd2c5e75bb5d42b14ba092

Gavin

kavanagh_h wrote: »

Why not!!!!! Its great for changing position. Better than the bar extentions

Well, you don't have access to brakes.

kavanagh_h

Gavin wrote: »

Well, you don't have access to brakes.

no but you don't have with any of those bars. Its not a big deal on straight country roads or main roads if you are sensible. If there is likely to be a dog in gateways you don't use them

Lumen

Solution: Buy flat bar hybrid.
Problem: Need more hand positions.
Solution: Fit aerobars.
Problem; No access to brakes.
Solution: Fit auxiliary brake levers to aerobars.
Problem: Too much drag from upright position and brake levers everywhere.
Solution: Fit rear disc wheel and front trispoke.
Problem: Cross-winds.
Solution: Buy road bike for when it's windy.

kavanagh_h

)

pburns

Lumen wrote: »

Solution: Buy flat bar hybrid.
Problem: Need more hand positions.
Solution: Fit aerobars.
Problem; No access to brakes.
Solution: Fit auxiliary brake levers to aerobars.
Problem: Too much drag from upright position and brake levers everywhere.
Solution: Fit rear disc wheel and front trispoke.
Problem: Cross-winds.
Solution: Buy road bike for when it's windy.

Lumen, I'm beginning to think the same. Can't justify a road bike right now but maybe in a year or two when/if I'm fit enough to it do justice. You kinda have to figure it out yourself sometimes:D

I was thinking of fitting MTB style bull-horns(?) in the meantime but not sure this would be much of an advantage aerodynamically - a little more sloped but frontal area not decreased.

neilled

Lumen wrote: »

Solution: Buy flat bar hybrid.
Problem: Need more hand positions.
Solution: Fit aerobars.
Problem; No access to brakes.
Solution: Fit auxiliary brake levers to aerobars.
Problem: Too much drag from upright position and brake levers everywhere.
Solution: Fit rear disc wheel and front trispoke.
Problem: Cross-winds.
Solution: Buy road bike for when it's windy.

Or just change the bars

madson

I have the Giant FCR and really like it, only problem i've had was getting numerous punctures but have changed the tryes to GP4000's and have had none since.