Help me choose what bike to buy

[Eric]

Hi everybody!  Thanks in advance for your help.  I'm taking the plunge and buying a new bike.  It's my main mode of transportation and I'm always on my bike as a full time commuter, errand runner, and shopper.  I ride ~85-90 miles a week and that has the possibility to double as my company is looking at moving locations.  My old mountain bike just isn't really cutting it anymore.  As such, I've been researching bikes for a few weeks now, looking at BikesDirect, Nashbar, the websites for all of my local bike shops (of which there are a lot), and their corresponding manufacturer sites.  But, I don't really have a lot of experience here, so I'm feeling a little lost/overwhelmed.  That's where you fine folks come in.  :)

It's my understanding that bike fit is the most important thing.  Because of that, and after reading varying reviews of the "off brand" bikes I was looking at online, and realizing that I might not have the skill or tools to put one together, I think I've ruled out buying online.

My main focus has been the Trek FX series flat bar road bikes.  My local shop has them on sale right now, the 7.3 FX for $600 and the 7.4 FX for $740 and I've been waffling back and forth over whether the 7.4 would be worth the extra money for the carbon fork and slight component upgrades.  I was planning on test riding this weekend and likely coming home with one of them if I liked the fit and ride.

Then last night I found a Fuji for $500 that seems like a screaming deal.  It's a 2013 Absolute 1.4 that to me, compares vary favorably to the FX 7.4 as both have a carbon fork and mostly Shimano Acera components with Shimano Deore rear derailleur.  It's an "online" purchase, but gets shipped to my local store where they assemble it for free and I get it in a couple of weeks.  Would you consider this Absolute 1.4 as comparable to the FX 7.4?

That's where I'm at.  The new plan is to go ride a similar Fuji at their shop this weekend and see how I like it.  Then ride the Trek and see how I like that.  And then make a decision.  But I'm obviously leaning towards the Fuji at the moment based on price/value.

Am I on the right track?  Any opinions on these bikes?  Is there something else you like better?

[Ben.alexander]

With that style of bike, you won't notice a ton of difference between component classes (most of the difference there is weight anyway) or fork material (again, small weight differences on a heavy bike). $140 difference for a slightly better fork and second-from-the-bottom parts isn't worth it.

If you're riding it every day year-round, you will end up replacing lots of the components, anyway.  This thing is going to end up with salty slush on it, might get hit by a car, and might very well end it's time with you by getting stolen.  Don't be drawn in by the allure of the carbon!  If you decide later that your hybrid is too slow, you can Craigslist an old racing bike with the $140 you saved.

[Eric]

With that style of bike, you won't notice a ton of difference between component classes (most of the difference there is weight anyway) or fork material (again, small weight differences on a heavy bike). $140 difference for a slightly better fork and second-from-the-bottom parts isn't worth it.

If you're riding it every day year-round, you will end up replacing lots of the components, anyway.  This thing is going to end up with salty slush on it, might get hit by a car, and might very well end it's time with you by getting stolen.  Don't be drawn in by the allure of the carbon!  If you decide later that your hybrid is too slow, you can Craigslist an old racing bike with the $140 you saved.

Thanks Ben.  I should note that I'm in Silicon Valley, so while I'll get wet, I won't get any salty slush by riding year round.  I only have to worry about basic road grime.  That's kind of how I was leaning too (towards the non-carbon fork 7.3 vs carbon fork 7.4) until I found the Fuji.  The allure of carbon is strong though.  (Well at least for the fork, I'm not really willing to shell out for a frame)

[Thegoblinchief]

I have a 7500 FX, but riding that back to back with a lower level bike, there's little difference between the Deore group set and Acera.

I'd go with the Fuji, personally. No matter what the brand, most frames are built by the same people in Taiwan anyways.

Is your used bike market so bad that you can't find anything, though? I recently got a 1 year old Giant for less than half retail. In many respects, it was a better deal than my 10 year old Trek.

[Eric]

Thanks TGC.  My used market is reasonably competitive, so I haven't seen anything like 1/2 off retail for a 1 year old bike yet.  I'll keep looking but I'm also kind of sick of riding a crappy bike and want something that doesn't need maintenance every week.  Does that sound anti-mustachian?  :)

[Thegoblinchief]

Thanks TGC.  My used market is reasonably competitive, so I haven't seen anything like 1/2 off retail for a 1 year old bike yet.  I'll keep looking but I'm also kind of sick of riding a crappy bike and want something that doesn't need maintenance every week.  Does that sound anti-mustachian?  :)

No, not in my book. I was just pointing it out. But $500 for a "daily driver" is still incredibly cheap in the long run.

Maintenance every week, however, is part of the bargain with biking all the time. If nothing else, you have to pump the tires.

Two other bikes to look at, depending on prices, would be the Specialized Cirrus (Sirrus?) and Giant Escape. Interesting thing about the Specialized model is that it does offer a chromoly option. Some people like that, because if the frame gets bent/warped/cracked in a crash steel can be repaired, whereas aluminum cannot.

[Eric]

Maintenance every week, however, is part of the bargain with biking all the time. If nothing else, you have to pump the tires.

Oh for sure.  I even clean and re-lube my chain every couple/three weeks.  I'm not even counting that.  But my derailleurs suck at the moment, my brakes keep getting loose, my wheels don't want to stay true, and [insert more complaining, grumbling, & bitching here].

I haven't looked at the Sirrus yet, so I'll look at that.  I do like the Giant Escapes, but they seem to run a little pricier around here. (compared to the Treks at least, and definitely more than that Fuji)

I definitely don't have a problem paying $5-700 for something I'm going to ride this much.  The good part is no matter what I end up with, it's going to feel super fast compared to the Trek 820 mountain bike I'm on right now.

[Conjou]

I have a Trek base model commuter hybrid bike that among all my bikes (Kona mtb, Surly fat bike) is the most reliable workhorse in the stable. I ride it everyday for my 18 mile round trip commute until I switch for the snow season for the last 9 years and it hasn't needed anything other than new brake pads, tires, and one chain. I am a big fan of Trek bikes--even this supposedly low end model is outstanding.

Good luck with the purchase of the new pony.

[Eric]

Thanks Conjou.  The plan is to go test ride a few tomorrow and see what happens.  I'll keep you all updated.  I'm sure you're on pins and needles here.  ;)

[avonlea]

Thanks Conjou.  The plan is to go test ride a few tomorrow and see what happens.  I'll keep you all updated.  I'm sure you're on pins and needles here.  ;)

Have fun, Eric!

[Eric]

I rode the Fuji first, liked it but didn't love it.  Then the Trek 7.3.  Super smooth ride and it fits me well and it's so fast that it's like being shot out of a cannon.  So that's what I got.  Black with green accents.  I cannot wait to go to work tomorrow!  I can't even remember the last time I thought that!  :)

Thanks for the help and ideas everyone.  I'm sure this bike will last me until FIRE.

[GuitarStv]

The Trek 7.3 looks like a solid bike, I'm sure that she'll be a great commuter!

[Conjou]

Just curious-- how's the Trek holding up for you, Eric?

[Jeremy E.]

I bought my previous bike off bikesdirect, I think cyclocross motobecane bikes are the way to go for commuting. As far as putting it together, it comes fully assembled except the handlebars, front tire and pedals. After putting mine together I did take it to my local bike shop for a tune-up and fitting, as I could tell the wheels needed trueing and I didn't want to do it myself, and didn't want to learn how to do a proper fit myself. It was $120 to get the tune up and fitting, they trued the wheels, adjusted the cantilever brakes/derailures shifters etc. and fit the bike to me. This worked well for me. Maybe you should wait and see if you'll have to increase your commute, and then if you do and it seems to be too much, consider an electric bike, I just got one and I LOVE IT(I splurged and bought a Haibike Xduro RX 29 for $3,000 for my 17 mile each way commute, then sold my car.)