Keep trek 7.3fx or Upgrade to 7.7fx carbon ?

[phib]

New here so gentle !!! AN know very little about road bikes / hybrids.

Had a 7.3fx for a few years and also a really nice Cannondale rush Team mountain bike ( large size comfortable).

Started to do a fair bit more road work, probably doing 20-25 miles three times a week and want to keep doing that.

The issue is that the 7.3fx is probably too small for me (17.5 inch frame and I am 5,11) and its not that quick ( may be the rider !!) but gearing seem to top out too easily.

Don't want a road bike as I have a bad back and drops kill me.

So basically I want a bit more speed, ability to ride a bit further, a degree of comfort.

I therefore ended up thinking a road bike with flat bars would be a good idea hence the trek 7.7 which iss the domane frame with flat bars. without discs ( ca get on with discs)

So the questions are its a fair bit of money to spend will I notice the difference ? and will it be quicker and more comfortable if I get the right size ?

Or wont I notice any difference ?

Any advice would be great

Thanks

Phib

[bakerstreet]

If you wanna cycle on the road, then buy a full on road bike. Simples

I know that may seem blunt, but this has cone up several times on this forum and I personally don't think hybrids make an awful lot of sense if you plan to be only cycling on the road.

[phib]

Thanks for the reply but as I said I have a bad back and cant ride a road bike no matter what I do with the position hence the road bike with flat bars.

I would prefer a road bike but it just wont work

Thanks

Phib

[bakerstreet]

phib said:

Thanks for the reply but as I said I have a bad back and cant ride a road bike no matter what I do with the position hence the road bike with flat bars.

I would prefer a road bike but it just wont work

Thanks

Phib

You have more positions to put your hands on a drop barred road bike than a hybrid. Surely that must help the back issue.

[anonymous-user]

If you really are running out of gears, you are riding at near on 30 mph which is very impressive for a hybrid given the lack of aero
http://www.bikecalc.com/speed_at_cadence

Truth is you are unlikely to notice a real difference between the 7.3 and the 7.7 but I think you should buy one anyway! Lighter, deeper profile wheels and faster rolling tyres will help the 7.3 feel quicker and you can try shedding some weight here and there, carbon bars, carbon seat post etc for relatively minor outlay but the biggest is is still the aero position or lack of on a hybrid.

They look quite relaxed in terms of geo, sloping top tubes and long head tubes, try to find a frame that has a horizontal top tube and shorter headtubes, you will at least be in a slightly more tucked position without impacting on your back to much.

I would recommend a bike fit too, road bikes can be good for people with bad backs as they take a lot of pressure from the loewr back as you sit quite upright on a hybrid. I know a few peopel who were admaant they couldnt ride a road bike due to a medical issue, tried it and then found that it wasnt a problem.

[phib]

Thanks for replies,I really want a road bike .... and may have to go and try one again... tried 3 so far without success.

Te 7.7fx is £1,300, so its not that expensive (for a carbon frame) but its not that cheap either so.

Really want to get the right bike as I am really enjoying my cycling.

Play lots of polo so have an issue with Sacroiliac joint (no I am not a posh tt before anyone asks just love polo !!) and road bikes just seem to pull on it

Can get up to 30ish but that is down hill !!!

Thanks

Phib

[Birdthom]

What are the 3 road bikes you have tried so far out of interest? If you've only tried fairly traditional long & low bikes so far then seek out one of the more upright 'sportive' designs which are everywhere nowadays - Specialized Allez or cannondale synapse are two examples available in that price bracket, but most manufacturers have them in their ranges.

[phib]

I tried a trek madone and domane and one cannondale can't remeber the style.

What would you suggest ?

Off to pedalling on Saturday

Thanks

Phib

[Birdthom]

I'm no expert on this sort of thing as I usually look for the exact opposite to you, but it sounds like you need something with the tallest head tube you can find. This article should give you a few pointers:

http://road.cc/content/buyers-guide/117268-buyers-...

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Maybe try one with one of those stems that allows you to adjust the length and height. Like this:



As above I'd be surprised if you can't get comfortable on a road bike, and you'll have significantly more hand positions to vary your position as conditions / your back dictates.

[dreamer75]

I also have back issues and the road bike position is worse for it - after lots of discussions with sports physio it's to do with being low and stretched out - sit up and beg is better. She did explain why so I can sympathise! Moving your hands around or trying drop bars etc doesn't really help.

I mountain bike but am toying with road biking now - over the last year I've changed my mtb position to be gradually a bit lower and more stretched and the core strength building has helped my back take it. Not sure it's up to road bikes yet though!

Can't help with the bike dilemma but just thoug I'd add support about the road position and backs!

[phib]

Thanks for all the advice and the fact its not just me !!

The article was really helpful and I will try another couple this weekend.

Re the adjustable riser if that's what its called, they are great for me, have one on my fx at the moment

Thanks

Phib

[Rocksteadyeddie]

dreamer75 said:

I also have back issues and the road bike position is worse for it - after lots of discussions with sports physio it's to do with being low and stretched out - sit up and beg is better. She did explain why so I can sympathise! Moving your hands around or trying drop bars etc doesn't really help.

I mountain bike but am toying with road biking now - over the last year I've changed my mtb position to be gradually a bit lower and more stretched and the core strength building has helped my back take it. Not sure it's up to road bikes yet though!

Can't help with the bike dilemma but just thoug I'd add support about the road position and backs!

Why did you (or the shop) set your road bike up in a position that was lower and longer than what you were used to / could cope with? You can (within the constraints of the frame) set a road bike up any way that you want to. As you are finding you can tailor the position over time as your fitness builds and your lower back/core strengthens. A good bike fit guy will help you. The type of bike really is not the point, it's all about how you have it set up.

[Magic919]

Have a look at the Whyte Montpellier too. I bought once as an upgrade from the aluminium FX7.7. I've still got the FX, but I prefer the Whyte. The Whyte went carbon the year after I bought one.

[dreamer75]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

Why did you (or the shop) set your road bike up in a position that was lower and longer than what you were used to / could cope with? You can (within the constraints of the frame) set a road bike up any way that you want to. As you are finding you can tailor the position over time as your fitness builds and your lower back/core strengthens. A good bike fit guy will help you. The type of bike really is not the point, it's all about how you have it set up.

Is don't have a road bike, I'm going ona very long conversation with an experienced sports physio. Typically a road bike position is longer and lower - think shopper bike vs road bike for the extreme. Sit up and beg vs long and low. Even a spinning bike would have been too low for me at some points of my bad back history.

Back now has screws holding it together and my core is getting stronger so maybe I would be ok now to look at road bikes; I can certainly spin, and my mtb position has come down.

I'm just saying that backs can be painful in lots of ways in lots of places with lots of causes, and the general low and long road position (yes generalisation here) can exacerbate some. So don't force yourself into a position that's going to cause pain.

[dreamer75]

Ps I use a riser like the one you have posted on my mtb which helped get me more upright than the frame would usually allow. It's a trek fuel ex8 and my position is def. more upright as a result and more comfortable for me. Definitely worth looking at and experimenting like rocksteadyeddie says. The shop may loan you something to try.