Should I get a Trek Fx or a Road Bike?

[pink-o]

Hi, everyone!

I've pretty well grown past my Trek 7200 hybrid commute bike. It's great for climbing SF hills, what with 27 gears, but I'm looking for more speed and fitness now. I'm thinking of trading up for a Trek FX, but I notice that a lot of people who get those eventually trade them in for a full-on road bike. Should I just skip a step and get a road bike?

Ultimately, I'll still be mostly commuting with the bike, not entering races. But I'm also finding I like the hand position I use in spinning class, where you have your hands together in the center of the handlebars. I think that's easier to do with drop handlebars than with flat--but I'm also a little paranoid to be so far from the brakes! I had a bad accident a few years ago, and I'm also a middle-aged woman without that 20-year-old reaction time, so I need to know I can stop quickly enough.

So: bottom line. I need a bike that has enough gears to get up some righteous hills. I want more speed and less lumbering, but I also want some stability and security. I like the idea of drop handlebars, but I'm not sure I feel good in that position. Will the FX fulfill what I'm looking for?

[Kolesar]

1. Have a bike shop swap the suspension fork for a rigid fork

Suspension consumes energy and costs speed. Buy tires that are not knobby: I like the Panaracer Pasela and Pasela TG. Buy them in a "slightly narrower" width.

I did a fork swap: the new fork was a Kona for $60.00. New tires would be $50/set. Just a thought

[happyslug]

2. You just may want to change the handlebars, The one I use you may like

They are from Nashbar for $22.99

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/CatalogSearchResultView?storeId=10053&catalogId=10052&langId=-1&pageSize=30&beginIndex=0&searchType=resultSet&sortBy=iphrase%2Brelevance%2F%2F0&cn1=&searchTerm=Handlebars

This is a flat handlebar, flat in the sense it does NOT drop like Drop handlebars, it is on one level but curves almost back to the center of the frame, The front part of the bar goes where a normal handlebar goes, you then install the Brakes at the "end" of the Bars which is in the middle near the center. I retain close control of the bike AND still have my hands on the Brakes if needed,

[wtmusic]

3. With the FX you'll still be in a more or less upright position

so I'm not sure you'll see much benefit in the speed dept.

Are you wearing bike-specific clothes (bike shorts, jersey, shoes with cleats)? You will find that this makes a tremendous difference in speed, and that riding becomes a different experience (for the better). I know several people that commute and bring a change of clothes in a backpack.

You'll also find that there's a lot of riding to be done that fits between racing and commuting - check out a local club in your area. Most sponsor weekend rides for a variety of different levels that get out of the city and away from stoplights. It's great exercise and a great social outlet.

Having your hands in the center of the handlebars is not a great idea for city riding. Most riding on drop handlebars occurs with your hands on the "hoods", which is right over the brake levers, and getting to them is very fast. Re: the gearing, you may want to have your local bike shop install a triple crank, which gives you three speeds in front and can help with extreme hills.

I've bought 5 different types of Treks in as many years, and I love them all.