Trek 7700
Guy Mercier
is the Trek 7700 a good bike ??
Luigi de Guzman
think]
"Guy Mercier" <guy.m...@videotron.ca> wrote in message
news:uDPO8.24881$Mf2.1...@weber.videotron.net...
> Hi !
>
> is the Trek 7700 a good bike ??
does it fit you and how much are you going to pay for it? why are you
considering it? where are you going to ride it?
The Trek 7700 is a high-end hybrid, which in my opinion, is neither fish nor
fowl. If you're going to pay that much for a bicycle--a shop near me lists
them at US$1,000--then you had better think hard about how and where you
would intend to ride.
If you intend to ride on pavement all the time, of want to go fast, or want
to go great distances, you might get a better deal for your money with a
real road bike. Fit it well, and those drop bars are your best friends:
they let you get down and aero into the wind, they give you places for your
hands to rest, and they keep your wrists facing in, which is more natural.
They also look sexy.
Or get a touring bike or light-tourer if you want to use the bike to carry
loads and/or commute; this will let you put racks, fenders, lights, etc on
the bike, and vastly increase its utility as transportation. (If you want
pure utility, and care little about cost or weight, go to your local
used-bike-man and buy a Raleigh three-speed: these are indestructible, and
should run you a tenth of the cost of the Trek 7700. A Flying Pigeon would
run you a tenth of THAT. *grin*)
If you intend to ride on unpaved surfaces--soft mud or hard rocks, or
stumps, say--get yourself a real mountain bike, with wheels and frame that
will take the pounding.
If this is your first bike, or first serious bike, then go for something a
bit lower-end in the hybrid market. The money you save can go to other
necessary accessories: helmet, water bottles, lights, pumps, basic tools.
If you're upgrading from a hybrid, think what rides you enjoyed best, and
then buy the bike that would make those rides more enjoyable.
If you ask me, I'd go for the road bike or the tourer, depending on what was
availble at my price point. Upright positioning and soft saddles do not
make for comfort, necessarily, during long, long days in the saddle; Long
and low is not necessarily a position that recalls the black legend of the
spanish inquisition.
-Luigi
Mike Jacoubowsky
suspension fork & seatpost, and an ultralight model (basically a road bike
with flat bars) called the 7700FX. Both are nice bikes for the right
person, but to answer the question for *you*, we need to know what type of
riding you plan to do, and what draws you to the bike in the first place.
--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
"Guy Mercier" <guy.m...@videotron.ca> wrote in message
news:uDPO8.24881$Mf2.1...@weber.videotron.net...
Guy Mercier
miles a day and plan to go on long trips.
I want a tough,light and fast bike.
The y told me at my bike shop I coudn't buy the 7700fx anymore and it would
be replaced by the 2300. Is the 7700 much heavier than the 7700fx ??
What other bike is as good as the Trek in the same price range ??
Thanks
Mike Jacoubowsky" <mik...@pacbell.net> a écrit dans le message de news:
MUUO8.254$wa6.12...@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com...
Oliver E. Seikel
3000 miles a year, in the US and Europe on custom hybrids and I love them.
When touring, I never know what kind of road conditions I am going to
encounter, good paved, poor paved, dirt, gravel, questionable forest roads
etc. Thus the hybrid, with Avocet 700x38 (I amy change to 700x35) Cross K
tires is an ideal bike. That is how my "touring" bike is configured, a
Waterford Adventure Cycle with straight handlebars and S&S couplings. I
have an holder Klein Adept which I have lightened up, removed the back rack,
minimal tool kit, 700x28 tires etc and I use it for faster fun riding --
last year I did a hilly century in 7:20 elapsed time which is not too bad
for an old goat in his mid sixties.
But for all purpose riding, I will keep the bigger softer tires because I
don't want to be restricted by the road surfaces.
--
Cordially
Oliver
"When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the
human race."
HG Wells
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"Guy Mercier" <guy.m...@videotron.ca> wrote in message
news:uDPO8.24881$Mf2.1...@weber.videotron.net...
Farrell Kane
> I am looking for a good Hybrid bike. I do a lot of cycling, at least 40
> miles a day and plan to go on long trips.
>
> I want a tough,light and fast bike.
>
> The y told me at my bike shop I coudn't buy the 7700fx anymore and it
would
> be replaced by the 2300. Is the 7700 much heavier than the 7700fx ??
>
> What other bike is as good as the Trek in the same price range ??
>
>
> Thanks
exactly - i am looking for sme info
because i am older and dont want to bend over on droped handle bars
and yer am looking for the same kind of bike that you are
so i hope that tere are a few answers to your post
fjk
Luigi de Guzman
more comfortable than flat bars at distances over 40 miles.
That's a big proviso, though: SET UP RIGHT. Do NOT feel compelled to put
the drops too far and down and out of reach; you're concerned with general
comfort, not aerodynamic sacrifice. Properly fitted, you should be able to
reach the drops without feeling unduly bent over.
I spend about 90% of my time on the brake hoods, anyway. I only go to the
drops when the wind's building walls against me, or when I really feel the
need to go fast.
For the same money as that high-end hybrid, you could get a Trek 520, which
would suit your long-distance ambitions better, or you could get a proper
road bike, which would feel better at speed.....
-Luigi
either be hot or be cold--!
TomD
> I am looking for a good Hybrid bike. I do a lot of cycling, at least 40
> miles a day and plan to go on long trips.
>
> I want a tough,light and fast bike.
>
> The y told me at my bike shop I coudn't buy the 7700fx anymore and it would
> be replaced by the 2300.
This sounds odd. Isn't the 2300 a high-end "race rocket"? Hardly seems
like a replacement for the 7700fx.
I think the 7700fx uses the same frame as Trek's cyclocross bike, the
XO1. If you want a hybrid like the 7700fx, maybe an XO1 could be set
up with straight bars.
> Is the 7700 much heavier than the 7700fx ??
Don't know. If Mike J. doesn't reply, you could check Trek's website.
>
> What other bike is as good as the Trek in the same price range ??
I briefly looked at hybrids last year (before deciding on a bike with
drop bars). Cannondale also makes deluxe hybrids. I think they're
currently called "Silk Warrior" and/or "Road Warrior" (terminology has
changed since last year). Some of their models look really high-end,
with Shimano 105 and Ultegra components, lockout suspension forks and
quoted weights just above 20lb. I imagine the price could get pretty
high on these, but there's probably a model "roughly similar" to the
Treks.
nO0b
>I am looking for a good Hybrid bike. I do a lot of cycling, at least 40
>miles a day and plan to go on long trips.
>
>I want a tough,light and fast bike.
>
>What other bike is as good as the Trek in the same price range ??
i would not want to do 40+ miles a day on a hybrid...let alone an aluminum
hardtail w/ a cro-mo fork.. the problem w/ that bike will probably be hand
numbness/wrist fatigue caused by the semi-straight bar with exactly ONE place to
put your hands...
for the same money (i think), check out the Novara Randonee at:
http://www.rei.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=11895325&prmenbr=8000&cgrfnbr=4500922
it's a nice smooth STEEL frame that's going to be a lot kinder to your body than
aluminum...there's probably not one person in this group (regardless of age)
that would not prefer to ride the randonee on a 40+ mile trip.
Rich Clark
"nO0b" <nO0b@spam_less.com> wrote in message
news:gb9qgu4c7sskc60be...@4ax.com...
> for the same money (i think), check out the Novara Randonee at:
>
>
http://www.rei.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=11895325&prmenb
r=8000&cgrfnbr=4500922
>
> it's a nice smooth STEEL frame that's going to be a lot kinder to your
body than
> aluminum...there's probably not one person in this group (regardless of
age)
> that would not prefer to ride the randonee on a 40+ mile trip.
As a Randonee owner, I agree with that, and also with the point that drop
bars set at the proper height don't necessarily require any more
back-bending than flat bars, but do offer more hand positions and more ways
to reconfigure your posture during a ride. This alone can make a drop-bar
touring bike more comfortable for long rides than an otherwise similar flat
bar bike.
Touring bikes like the Randonee (also see the Fuji Touring, the Jamis
Aurora, the Trek 520, and particularly the Bianchi Volpe), as well as some
cylcocross bikes (see the Surly Crosscheck), when properly set up and
fitted, can be ideal for both commuting and for extended road rides, as well
as for touring. The trick is not to let the shop set them up with too-low
handlebars, the way racing bikes are often set up. With the bar tops level
with the saddle, these long-wheelbase steel bikes with wide tires are
comfortable for most riders in ways hybrids rarely are.
I still recommend hybrids as excellent entry-level bikes for returning
riders who plan to stay on roads, smooth paths, level trails, etc. A bike
like Trek's 7300 is great for a 10-20 mile ride, and very
confidence-inspiring for unconfident riders. But I think that far more often
than not an expensive hybrid compromises on everything but price, which is
not usually a good buying strategy, IMO. $350-400 is a good budget for a
hybrid. In a year, when you're ready to choose the bike you really want, you
can easily sell the hybrid for $150-200, or keep it as the perfect
backup/beater bike.
RichC
RichC
Mike Jacoubowsky
First of all, as others have noted, you might want to look into a road bike
with drop bars. My guess is that you're avoiding them because you think
they're going to be less comfortable due to the riding position, but
frequently (especially for rides over 20-30 miles) the opposite is the case.
Trouble is, darned few people have had experiences with road bikes that
properly fit them, most often riding something where the stem was too long,
or too low, or both.
The big advantage a drop-bar bike has over a hybrid is the ability to move
your hands around (instead of putting all the pressure on one place), as
well as achieve a better balance of weight and remove a lot of saddle
soreness be removing weight from your tail end.
The hybrid's advantages will come from having wider tires for a more
comfortable over rougher terrain, as well as better handling when things get
rough (choppy dirt roads, potholes, etc). And there will be some people for
whom an extremely upright riding position is a requirement, due to
flexibility issues in their back etc.
Regarding your other questions, the 7700FX will continue in the line for
2003 (it is *not* being replaced by the 2300, which is an ultralight
aluminum road bike, about as far removed from a hybrid as you can get).
Availability is a big issue though, as TREK sold out their production some
time ago in many (but not all) sizes. It is, as someone else noted, the
same frame as TREK uses on the X0-1 cross bike (which is also in as tight a
supply situation as the 7700FX).
The standard 7700 model, with suspension fork and seatpost, is probably not
what you want for longer rides on the road. Why carry all that extra
weight, not to mention less snappy handling, if you don't need it?
Could be that you've already looked into all of these things and decided
that the hybrid's still the right choice for you, and it just might be. I'm
always amazed at the number of people I see on organized centuries
(particularly metric centuries, 62 miles) seeming to do quite well on
hybrids.
--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
"Guy Mercier" <guy.m...@videotron.ca> wrote in message
news:745P8.3012$IY2.2...@wagner.videotron.net...
Ray C
This is a great thread. I bought a Giant Cypress DX hybrid and really
like it but, I've come to realize that drop bars are a good thing. As
others have said, straight bars get a little tiring. Installing end
bars helped but, drop bars are definately the way to go if you plan to
ride for more than an hour or so
I don't regret buying the hybrid at all. Right now, it's setup
with fenders and a rear rack and it's perfect for riding around
town to do errands after work. In the past couple weeks, I've had
the opportunity to ride some high-end road bikes and they are indeed
a different animal. Light, quick, nimble... The gearing is different
in that the front gears have a higher top end and the rear cluster
does not have a huge gap between the granny-gear and the next gear
down from it. I found that maintaining my cadence on a good road
bike is easier than on my hybrid. Of course, this may not be true
of all hybrids and to put things in perspective, the road bike my
friend lent me is about a $1500 setup. (Unfortunately, I do not
have shoes for the clipless pedals... -Arghhhh!!!)
It seems to me that road bikes and hybrids have different purposes.
There's no way really know exactly what you like until you experience
them both. In my particular case, I'll probably stick with my hybrid
for a while and do some longer rides (I'm very comfortable with 25 miles
right now and am ready to take a longer trip of say 50 miles). For now,
I have a lot to learn about road bikes and cycling in-general. Maybe
in the future, both a hybrid and road bike will serve my purposes.
Time will tell...
Regards
Ray
Art
I've owned a Trek 7700 for about six weeks now. I think it's the best
bike for me. It soaks up bumps and potholes with ease, which my 53
year old butt appreciates. True, it's not as fast as the road
rockets, but so what? If I wanted to go somewhere fast, I'd jump in
my car. When I want to ride through a new neighborhood or a soft
shady trail, I'll jump on the bike. I've had road bikes since I was
16, now I just want to enjoy a slow roll. I realize that not everyone
will agree with me, but I think there's plenty of room on the road for
all riders.
nO0b
> I'm
>always amazed at the number of people I see on organized centuries
>(particularly metric centuries, 62 miles) seeming to do quite well on
>hybrids.
how many miles at once though?
no way those guys/girls arent way sore after 62 miles with one hand
position...at least i cant see how...unless they've stopped 3 or 4 times for
rest/lunch/dinner.
scottw44
308 pounds in May 2000 and bought a heavy steel Trek Hybrid.
I got up to rides of about 40 miles and in October of that year, purchased a
Specialized Crossroads pro while weighing about 261. I really wanted a road
bike, but I was still too heavy.
I ride the hybrid from October 2000 to July 2001. I regularly took weekend
rides of 50-60 miles and started riding with guys on road bikes. It was
then I realized that at my current weight of 175, that I could look at
roadbikes.
While the hybrid was great for rides under 30 miles, I really felt it in my
hands on longer rides, as well as my back from sitting upright into the
Florida wind.
In May 2001, I ordered a Torelli Countach. The weekend before it's arrival
I retired my hybrid with my first Metric. This may, 10 months later, I did
my a full century on my Torelli into some heavy headwinds. Not a weekend
goes by where I don't ride 120-150 miles. I love riding a road bike.
Meanwhile I have a very pricey hybrid sitting in the garage. I never
imagined being on a roadbike and bought more hybrid than I needed as I
assumed it would be my last bike. I would have been better buying a lite
hybrid, no suspension, less fancy spec and saving a few hundred dollars. My
Torelli will click 7500 miles this weekend and I have long forgotten about
hand numbness and back pain on longer rides.
These are my experiences...your mileage may vary.
scott (bummed as morning lightning has ruined my ride)
--
reply to:
"nO0b" <nO0b@spam_less.com> wrote in message
news:e0itguo9bgd7uq6tp...@4ax.com...
WLS
guy.m...@videotron.ca says...
> Hi !
>
> is the Trek 7700 a good bike ??
>
>
>
Guy:
I've had my 7700 since April and have put a little over 500 very happy
miles on it. My riding time is limited - else I would've had more miles
on it.
If I want to ride the road - I ride the road. If I want to ride the trail
- I ride the trail. The bike suits me fine in either condition.
BUT BE FORWARNED (cue Twilight Zone theme music) You're entering an area
that is neither day or night, neither roadie or stinkie . . . you've
entered . . . THE HYBRID ZONE!!!
Personally, I agree with Oliver - don't buy the neither fish or fowl
line. Even Mike J. (whose opinions I respect) is "amazed" to see so many
hybrid riders seeming to do quite well on organized centuries. See -
there you go - threre's this preconceived notion that hybrids aren't cut
out for long rides. I'm more of the belief that whether or not a rider
does well on a century is more up to the rider than the bike.
The 7700 is a great bike to ride out to the trailhead and then ride on
the trail itself. I'm talking rail-trails and other non-technical trails
here. If you're going to ride the road it does well there also. However,
I've found that the 7700 lets me go faster than my old comfort bike - so
there are times when I start pushing 20mph and above that I wish I had
drops. As far as hand positions - the little bar-ends on the 7700 allow
you to change hand position.
Let me know if I can help you further.
-Bill
--
To reply via email: pull out all the stops
"And it's tutti all the way folks" - P. Schickele
WLS
scot...@spam.spam says...
> As some of you know, I started cycling again in 2000 to lose weight. I was
> 308 pounds in May 2000 and bought a heavy steel Trek Hybrid.
>
I was 280+ last year and am now at 214. Although my hybrid is only a few
months old, I always look at road bikes (for when I get to 180) but
lately am having some reservations. . .
I started to ride from work out to the trailhead at lunchtime (rather
than drive to the trailhead). It's only a lttle over two miles away - but
here's the rub:
I've got to make a left turn across four lanes of new concrete where the
speed limit has just gone from 35mph to 25mph but everyone is still going
about 45-50 mph since they've just exited I-79. Next I've got a diagonal
rail crossing. After that the road widens to six lanes as I reach the
entrance/exit ramps for I-79 and pass underneath the interstate. Two
problems at this point; - you've got to watch the 2-1/2" wide (and deep)
gaps between the concrete pads - and the light to dark transition as you
pass underneath the interstate (hoping that you're seen) - not to
mention the entrance/exit traffic. After that you get the payoff as
everthing turns dramatically rural and you've got a nice 1-mile
downhill.
I'm not whining here- there are commuters that face worse conditions
twice (or more) a day. What I'm getting at is that the more I ride the
road, the more I read this newsgroup, the more I look into my children's
young faces - the more I come to realize that I'm safer staying on the
trail. Call me a chicken if you want - but just look at all the posts
where riders are getting killed or having other various close encounters
with cars and trucks. Every week/day there's a new one.
'guess I'm a wimp!
Scott Lindstrom
>
>
> 'guess I'm a wimp!
>
I don't think you're a wimp, I think you are realistic.
I am also far more comfortable on the bike path near
my house than the car commuter through-fares. It's not
that I feel in danger, particularly, on the road, and
when I'm off a bikepath I'm not afraid to take the lane,
but the bike path is so much quieter. I'm likely to see
people I know there, and I can stop and chat if I
want. There's a serenity on the bikepath that is absent
on the road. I wish all the people locked in their
steel cages could experience it.
Scott
--
Scott S. Lindstrom | A lawyer can be disbarred; Can
sco...@ssec.wisc.edu | a meteorologist be disgusted?
http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/~scottl/homepage1.html
nO0b
> As far as hand positions - the little bar-ends on the 7700 allow
>you to change hand position.
ok, so that's two... a road bike w/ergo bars probably give you at least 8
distinctly different ways of shifting hand positions. drop bars are the only way
to fly if distance is your game...well distance that doesnt involve a lot of
stopping.
WLS
nO0b@spam_less.com says...
Sounds like you should put those old dual-postition touring levers on and
you'll have the best of both worlds ;-)
My riding time "windows" are about two hours max. I have no problems
planting my hands on the bars for that stretch of time. Seldom do I use
the bar ends. I may get some numbness but it is usually relieved when I
rest the upper portion of my palms on the grips and just hold the bar
loosely.
My last club ride was about 26 miles long and I was the only hybrid in
the group (naturally). I know it's not a great distance but with all the
south western PA hills around here my concern was with my burning quads
and much less my hand position!
Bill S.