Bike choice advice

Big Tone

I'm in a Bike to Work scheme so I can make considerable saving but there is one bike in particular that has caught my eye

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/town/fitness/fx/7_5_fx#

Its a bit on the expensive side (nearly all of the €1,000 used) it's a very light carbon hybrid bike.

I'm not into serious road cycling like you guys here, out in every kind of weather, just something to cycle to work, evening and weekend cycling during the summer basically.

What do you guys think of this bike, it it worth getting this hybrid (the guy in the bike shop tells me its v fast and will keep up with a road bike) or is this guy trying to sell me a pup. I must admit it looks good and is very light. Luckily its available in 25" frame due to my height.

ThisRegard

It's not actually a carbon, just the fork is, the frame is aluminium. I have last years model and while it's quick enough compared to similar bikes, there's no competition to a road bike when you take aero etc into account. It's a tough yoke all the same but I do think it's very expensive this year, it was only about €750 or less last year but a lot of Trek products have increased ridiculously this year. Taking all that into account I would think there's better value out there.

Lemag

Big Tone wrote: »

I'm in a Bike to Work scheme

Is your company using a third party to administer the scheme? Has your employer placed any restrictions on where you can get the bike from?

Big Tone wrote: »

(the guy in the bike shop tells me its v fast and will keep up with a road bike)

Which shop and which sales assistant. Unless you misinterpreted what he said then what he told you is a load of BS.

Big Tone

Lemag wrote: »

Is your company using a third party to administer the scheme? Has your employer placed any restrictions on where you can get the bike from?


Which shop and which sales assistant. Unless you misinterpreted what he said then what he told you is a load of BS.

It's through biketowork.ie so yes it is restricted


I wouldn't like to reveal that, suffice to say it's on the northside of Cork city.

Big Tone

ThisRegard wrote: »

It's not actually a carbon, just the fork is, the frame is aluminium. I have last years model and while it's quick enough compared to similar bikes, there's no competition to a road bike when you take aero etc into account. It's a tough yoke all the same but I do think it's very expensive this year, it was only about €750 or less last year but a lot of Trek products have increased ridiculously this year. Taking all that into account I would think there's better value out there.

Yes the bike shop assistant did mention a carbon fork come to think of it.

It would cost €935 for the bike...and it doesn't even have mudguards!

Big Tone

The reviews are favourable towards the bike overall...


http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/town/fitness/fx/7_5_fx#/us/en/model/reviews?url=us/en/bikes/town/fitness/fx/7_5_fx

Lemag

Big Tone wrote: »

It's through biketowork.ie so yes it is restricted

Most of the bikes out there are probably equipped with Shimano parts. It'd be a good idea for you to take a look at their site to familiarise yourself with the hierarchy of their components. This should give you an idea of what would be better value. Decide also on what your intended purpose for it is.

Big Tone wrote: »

I wouldn't like to reveal that, suffice to say it's on the northside of Cork city.

There's nothing wrong with naming and shaming if were subjected to bad customer service.

twinsen

This trek is a very good bike, i did about 5-6k last year on 2009 version. I would recommend to anyone. Never had any issues with it. Its very comfortable, comparing to my other road bike, tires are 32 so you don't need to worry about potholes.

coolbeans

Out of interest why are you considering a hybrid instead of a proper drop bar road bike? There's no way I'd spend a grand on a flat bar bike like that. You'd be better off getting a drop bar bike with a relaxed seating position as it will give you far more options. If you get into cycling more seriously you'll find yourself having to buy another bike as drops are generally considered the way to go for road cycling.
If one the other hand you decide you hate cycling and put it up for sale you'll lose your shirt on the flat bar as nobody really wants to spend big money on one when you could have a decent drop bar bike for similar money.
You may have some reluctance to take the drop bar route but the right bike really is far superior to what you're considering in almost every way including comfort. I'd suggest something like a Specialized Secteur, a Kona Zing, a Giant Defy or any other road bike with a tall headtube for that extra bit of comfort.

Big Tone

I only want a bike to keep fit/commute not race around the roads.

Ryder

Big Tone wrote: »

I only want a bike to keep fit/commute not race around the roads.

Nothing wrong with the bike youve chosen in that case. Most of the cyclists here are road cyclists, so the advice can be skewed (well meant of course)

Trek have a great reputation and Im sure the bike youve chosen will serve you well. Have a look on the trek website to familiarise yourself with the components etc. Over a typical commute ie anything under say 20k of city riding, a hybrid would keep up with a road bike. The upright position, carbon fork and wider tyres will be more comfortable, and well suited to a wekend or evening potter (if thats all you intend to do)

Cost wise...it is expensive, but all bikes have gone up in value, esp with the B2W scheme. Suggest shopping around cork to compare prices

Big Tone

Thanks Ryder. Pity the prices went up as soon as the BTW scheme came in, it's obviously symtomatic of the hangover from Rip Off The (re)Public.

Like I said I'm not looking to burn rubber, cheers guys.

petethedrummer

Ryder wrote: »

Nothing wrong with the bike youve chosen in that case. Most of the cyclists here are road cyclists, so the advice can be skewed (well meant of course)

Most aren't road racers. I've raced f- all but do an enourmous amount of cycling. I'd never want a flat bar again for keep fit purposes. I gave my hybrid to my brother who isn't into cycling much but now wants a road bike for longer spins.

I think coolbeans is spot on in his assesment of buying an expensive hybrid.

Ryder

petethedrummer wrote: »

Most aren't road racers. I've raced f- all but do an enourmous amount of cycling. I'd never want a flat bar again for keep fit purposes. I gave my hybrid to my brother who isn't into cycling much but now wants a road bike for longer spins.

I think coolbeans is spot on in his assesment of buying an expensive hybrid.

I agree with you. Ive owned a hybrid too and wouldnt go back to one now. Coolbeans is spot on, but the OP wants a hybrid

Hybrids are a completly rational choice, and I can see how they would appeal to someone just wanting to get around. In any case, if the OP gets hooked he/she can upgrade like most of us here

Side Show Bob

coolbeans wrote: »

Out of interest why are you considering a hybrid instead of a proper drop bar road bike?

You'd be better off getting a drop bar bike with a relaxed seating position as it will give you far more options.

If one the other hand you decide you hate cycling and put it up for sale you'll lose your shirt on the flat bar

as nobody really wants to spend big money on one when you could have a decent drop bar bike for similar money.

Giant Defy or any other road bike with a tall headtube for that extra bit of comfort.

18 months ago I bought a straight bar bike (Giant Rapid 3) for the simple spins around town and spins with the kids, absolutly everything coolbeans says here it true and some of the best advise that I have ever seen on here, I tried to sell it but could not get back near what I paid for it.

So I did this with it, and its really good now

wannabe7a

Side Show Bob wrote: »

18 months ago I bought a straight bar bike (Giant Rapid 3) for the simple spins around town and spins with the kids, absolutly everything coolbeans says here it true and some of the best advise that I have ever seen on here, I tried to sell it but could not get back near what I paid for it.

So I did this with it, and its really good now

Great one: a hybrid with drops. How much does it cost to put drops on by a bike shop?
Will that be similar enough as a road bike? Or is a road bike far more superior?

blorg

It is very expensive (cost me in the region of €250-300) and with most hybrids you don't end up with something like a road bike, no. You could end up with something good for touring, but it would be a very roundabout and expensive way of getting there, unless you had the bike already.

The Giant Rapid would be closer to a road bike to start with, than most hybrids, but I believe the geometry may be slightly different to the Defy.