Trek 7500 Hybrid

[eddiemee]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has, or has any opinions about, the Trek 7500: http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/bike_path/hybrid/7500e/

I've been to a few local bike shops and this has been highly recommended by the staff. I currently ride a hardtail, commuting about 100 miles a week on A and B roads. It's fine but I've upped my mileage a bit since I moved house and could probably do with something a little bit faster. That said I don't want to sacrifice too much stability since I ride year round regardless of the weather and the state of the roads on some parts of my route is woeful. Hence I don't want to go for a road bike.

I like the look of this bike and it's got all the components I want (disc brakes, front shocks). Planning on taking it for a test ride on Saturday, but I'd welcome any comments that people might have about it.

Also, any comments on the difference in performance/maintenance requirements of cable vs hydraulic disc brakes? This bike has hydraulic action, the guys in the shop told me it was better in terms of performance, slightly more trouble to maintain, but not unduly so. Is this about right?

Thanks in advance,

Ed

 

[HLaB]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has, or has any opinions about, the Trek 7500: http://www.trekbikes...h/hybrid/7500e/

I've been to a few local bike shops and this has been highly recommended by the staff. I currently ride a hardtail, commuting about 100 miles a week on A and B roads. It's fine but I've upped my mileage a bit since I moved house and could probably do with something a little bit faster. That said I don't want to sacrifice too much stability since I ride year round regardless of the weather and the state of the roads on some parts of my route is woeful. Hence I don't want to go for a road bike.

I like the look of this bike and it's got all the components I want (disc brakes, front shocks). Planning on taking it for a test ride on Saturday, but I'd welcome any comments that people might have about it.

Also, any comments on the difference in performance/maintenance requirements of cable vs hydraulic disc brakes? This bike has hydraulic action, the guys in the shop told me it was better in terms of performance, slightly more trouble to maintain, but not unduly so. Is this about right?

Thanks in advance,

Ed

tbh it looks a bit of a weighty beast; I wouldn't want to be lugging it around for 20 miles a day 5 times a week (100miles?). Unless you want to seriously go off road I'd ditch the suspension forks; its your choice however if you are comfortable go for it. You might also want to check out cyclocross bikes as an alternative; they are a bit more robust than a road bike but share some of the advantages, speed, more hand positions, etc

In terms disc brakes I don't know much about them but it sounds like your lbs advised you right, perhaps other on here will give you a more qualified opinion.

Good luck and whatever you go for enjoy!

 

[Banjo]

I have had a Trek Valencia Hybrid bike for about 18 months and done over 4000 miles on it.Its been very reliable and nice to ride Can take panniers and mudguards if you want them.

The Valencia is more road orientated than the 7500, it doesnt have any suspension and has cable discs.Also a bit cheaper.

If your buying it primarilly for on road or path commuting then I would think twice about the 7500, the extra weight of the suspension forks and hydraulic brakes plus the heavy tyres are unneccesary.

Trek Valencia

My Valencia on holiday last year.

 

[2Loose]

I like hydraulic brakes personally, but I agree about the suspension adding unnecessary weight. Suspension along with 38mm treaded tyres will also increase rolling resistance on the road, so it won't be as fast as something like the Valencia or the Trek FX series (which are well worth a look) over the same distance.

 

[eddiemee]

Thanks for the comments all. I'll have a look at the other bikes you recommended as well. Hopefully they'll have some of them at the lbs for me to test.

I realise the shocks will add weight, but on some parts of my route the road is full of holes, where the adjacent 'slabs' of surface have shifted over the years, leaving 1-2cm crevices. Even with the front shocks I have at the moment it really jars going over these, so I imagine it would be even worse with fixed forks.


I can feel my debit card trembling in my wallet at the thought of a visit to the lbs tomorrow

 

[Mike!]

eddie, only you know the state of your route but as has been said (as you realise) shocks are usually a bit of an overkill on the road.

I recently tested the Trek 7.5FX and although it felt very comfortable in the shop on a test ride it felt very skittish, the front end just didn't feel stable at all. The shop said it's probably down to the short top tube - suits some but clearly not me!

Some of the roads on my commute are pretty rough and full of holes / broken surfaces, however i'd say the bike i ended up buying (Specialized Sirrus Comp with carbon forks) is smoother on these surfaces than my old MTB with front shocks. It's also certainly a whole lot faster and easier on the road!

I too had my heart set on disc brakes when i started looking (mainly down to horrible canti brakes i had previously), however i was persuaded by an independant mechanic and three shops that they are a bit of an overkill. Since having my sirrus i have no complaints with the V Brakes (got it this week and have had 3 wet rides already!!)

Enjoy the testing and let us know what you get!

 

[eddiemee]

Well I went in to two lbs this morning and had a good look at 4 bikes. I have to say the Trek 7500 really didn't suit my body shape. There's nothing wrong with the bike, just didn't feel right and even with various size frames and saddle heights I just couldn't get comfortable.

So in the end I went for a Specialised Rockhopper.

Feel free to point to my OP and remind me that I was thinking about getting something a bit faster than my current hardtail and that this almost certainly isn't it. But I took it out for a 5 mile test ride up hills and over bumps and it felt GOOD, nice and stable and the stopping power of the brakes (it was wet) seemed better than what I could get out an old set of V-brakes, even with brand new pads and clean rims. Those two factors to me were more important than weight/speed so I went for it. Maybe in a couple of years when my legs get older I'll look at something a bit faster but for the time being I'll stick to hardtails.

Thanks to everyone for their advice. I'm off out to the garage to put a blanket over my new toy bike so it doesn't get cold.

Cheers,

Ed

 

[Banjo]

Enjoy the new bike, I cant believe its in the garage allready I mean would you put a new born baby out in a cold dark garage on its own?

My new Scott spent its first week in the bedroom until Mrs Banjo exiled it to the shed Never did get the oil stains off the sheets.