Touring Vs Hybrid Vs Cyclocross

07-26-2004, 03:57 PM

I ride a mix of paved and dirt roads.
I have a road bike, but it doesn't cut it on some loose gravel/dirt roads I
like to ride.

I am trying to decide whether to get something like a Trek 7700 FX, a Touring
bike like a Trek 520, or a cyclocross bike. Ride now I am riding a Specialized
Stumpjumper with 1.25" tires, It works OK, but the bike is a 91.

I tried a 7700 FX, I got on a 17" bike and the sale "kid" said I needed a 20".
I'm 5'8" 30 in inseam. Due to the weird geometry of the crossbar, it felt about
where it should be to the crotch. On my 17" inch specialized it seems like I
use a lot of seatpost..doesn't it seem like you shouldn't have more than about
6" coming out of the frame? I'm still wide open to all three 3 styles of bikes.
Any advice would be helpful. Remember I do have a road bike too, this is a
secondary bike.

Thanks!

07-26-2004, 04:14 PM

On 26 Jul 2004 23:57:25 GMT, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Fx199) wrote:

>I ride a mix of paved and dirt roads.
>I have a road bike, but it doesn't cut it on some loose gravel/dirt roads I
>like to ride.
>
>I am trying to decide whether to get something like a Trek 7700 FX, a Touring
>bike like a Trek 520, or a cyclocross bike. Ride now I am riding a Specialized
>Stumpjumper with 1.25" tires, It works OK, but the bike is a 91.
>
>I tried a 7700 FX, I got on a 17" bike and the sale "kid" said I needed a 20".
>I'm 5'8" 30 in inseam. Due to the weird geometry of the crossbar, it felt about
>where it should be to the crotch. On my 17" inch specialized it seems like I
>use a lot of seatpost..doesn't it seem like you shouldn't have more than about
>6" coming out of the frame? I'm still wide open to all three 3 styles of bikes.
>Any advice would be helpful. Remember I do have a road bike too, this is a
>secondary bike.
>
>Thanks!

I'm 5'9 with 31" inseam and ride the 7500FX. It seems to fit me
nicely, although my brother watching me ride it says it looks too
small for me. I also tried the medium(?) Giant Cypress SX and it felt
too small, almost like a toy. Why not try the 20, get a friend to take
a picture of you riding each, and then decide? Let us know.

OTOH, you might also try out the 1200C road bike. I think that or the
1800C will be my next purchase, but I'll swap out the seat post for a
non-suspension type. (One really should have two bikes, IMO, in case
one has to be in the shop, etc. That way you won't miss a day riding.)

Remember, you should try out bikes that you even might not want to
purchase...try several types, high end, even and take your time. You
can often be surprised and end up buying outside your preconceptions.

-B

07-26-2004, 04:14 PM

On 26 Jul 2004 23:57:25 GMT, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Fx199) wrote:

>I ride a mix of paved and dirt roads.
>I have a road bike, but it doesn't cut it on some loose gravel/dirt roads I
>like to ride.
>
>I am trying to decide whether to get something like a Trek 7700 FX, a Touring
>bike like a Trek 520, or a cyclocross bike. Ride now I am riding a Specialized
>Stumpjumper with 1.25" tires, It works OK, but the bike is a 91.
>
>I tried a 7700 FX, I got on a 17" bike and the sale "kid" said I needed a 20".
>I'm 5'8" 30 in inseam. Due to the weird geometry of the crossbar, it felt about
>where it should be to the crotch. On my 17" inch specialized it seems like I
>use a lot of seatpost..doesn't it seem like you shouldn't have more than about
>6" coming out of the frame? I'm still wide open to all three 3 styles of bikes.
>Any advice would be helpful. Remember I do have a road bike too, this is a
>secondary bike.
>
>Thanks!

I'm 5'9 with 31" inseam and ride the 7500FX. It seems to fit me
nicely, although my brother watching me ride it says it looks too
small for me. I also tried the medium(?) Giant Cypress SX and it felt
too small, almost like a toy. Why not try the 20, get a friend to take
a picture of you riding each, and then decide? Let us know.

OTOH, you might also try out the 1200C road bike. I think that or the
1800C will be my next purchase, but I'll swap out the seat post for a
non-suspension type. (One really should have two bikes, IMO, in case
one has to be in the shop, etc. That way you won't miss a day riding.)

Remember, you should try out bikes that you even might not want to
purchase...try several types, high end, even and take your time. You
can often be surprised and end up buying outside your preconceptions.

-B

07-26-2004, 04:14 PM

On 26 Jul 2004 23:57:25 GMT, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Fx199) wrote:

>I ride a mix of paved and dirt roads.
>I have a road bike, but it doesn't cut it on some loose gravel/dirt roads I
>like to ride.
>
>I am trying to decide whether to get something like a Trek 7700 FX, a Touring
>bike like a Trek 520, or a cyclocross bike. Ride now I am riding a Specialized
>Stumpjumper with 1.25" tires, It works OK, but the bike is a 91.
>
>I tried a 7700 FX, I got on a 17" bike and the sale "kid" said I needed a 20".
>I'm 5'8" 30 in inseam. Due to the weird geometry of the crossbar, it felt about
>where it should be to the crotch. On my 17" inch specialized it seems like I
>use a lot of seatpost..doesn't it seem like you shouldn't have more than about
>6" coming out of the frame? I'm still wide open to all three 3 styles of bikes.
>Any advice would be helpful. Remember I do have a road bike too, this is a
>secondary bike.
>
>Thanks!

I'm 5'9 with 31" inseam and ride the 7500FX. It seems to fit me
nicely, although my brother watching me ride it says it looks too
small for me. I also tried the medium(?) Giant Cypress SX and it felt
too small, almost like a toy. Why not try the 20, get a friend to take
a picture of you riding each, and then decide? Let us know.

OTOH, you might also try out the 1200C road bike. I think that or the
1800C will be my next purchase, but I'll swap out the seat post for a
non-suspension type. (One really should have two bikes, IMO, in case
one has to be in the shop, etc. That way you won't miss a day riding.)

Remember, you should try out bikes that you even might not want to
purchase...try several types, high end, even and take your time. You
can often be surprised and end up buying outside your preconceptions.

-B

07-26-2004, 04:14 PM

On 26 Jul 2004 23:57:25 GMT, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Fx199) wrote:

>I ride a mix of paved and dirt roads.
>I have a road bike, but it doesn't cut it on some loose gravel/dirt roads I
>like to ride.
>
>I am trying to decide whether to get something like a Trek 7700 FX, a Touring
>bike like a Trek 520, or a cyclocross bike. Ride now I am riding a Specialized
>Stumpjumper with 1.25" tires, It works OK, but the bike is a 91.
>
>I tried a 7700 FX, I got on a 17" bike and the sale "kid" said I needed a 20".
>I'm 5'8" 30 in inseam. Due to the weird geometry of the crossbar, it felt about
>where it should be to the crotch. On my 17" inch specialized it seems like I
>use a lot of seatpost..doesn't it seem like you shouldn't have more than about
>6" coming out of the frame? I'm still wide open to all three 3 styles of bikes.
>Any advice would be helpful. Remember I do have a road bike too, this is a
>secondary bike.
>
>Thanks!

I'm 5'9 with 31" inseam and ride the 7500FX. It seems to fit me
nicely, although my brother watching me ride it says it looks too
small for me. I also tried the medium(?) Giant Cypress SX and it felt
too small, almost like a toy. Why not try the 20, get a friend to take
a picture of you riding each, and then decide? Let us know.

OTOH, you might also try out the 1200C road bike. I think that or the
1800C will be my next purchase, but I'll swap out the seat post for a
non-suspension type. (One really should have two bikes, IMO, in case
one has to be in the shop, etc. That way you won't miss a day riding.)

Remember, you should try out bikes that you even might not want to
purchase...try several types, high end, even and take your time. You
can often be surprised and end up buying outside your preconceptions.

-B

07-26-2004, 04:14 PM

On 26 Jul 2004 23:57:25 GMT, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Fx199) wrote:

>I ride a mix of paved and dirt roads.
>I have a road bike, but it doesn't cut it on some loose gravel/dirt roads I
>like to ride.
>
>I am trying to decide whether to get something like a Trek 7700 FX, a Touring
>bike like a Trek 520, or a cyclocross bike. Ride now I am riding a Specialized
>Stumpjumper with 1.25" tires, It works OK, but the bike is a 91.
>
>I tried a 7700 FX, I got on a 17" bike and the sale "kid" said I needed a 20".
>I'm 5'8" 30 in inseam. Due to the weird geometry of the crossbar, it felt about
>where it should be to the crotch. On my 17" inch specialized it seems like I
>use a lot of seatpost..doesn't it seem like you shouldn't have more than about
>6" coming out of the frame? I'm still wide open to all three 3 styles of bikes.
>Any advice would be helpful. Remember I do have a road bike too, this is a
>secondary bike.
>
>Thanks!

I'm 5'9 with 31" inseam and ride the 7500FX. It seems to fit me
nicely, although my brother watching me ride it says it looks too
small for me. I also tried the medium(?) Giant Cypress SX and it felt
too small, almost like a toy. Why not try the 20, get a friend to take
a picture of you riding each, and then decide? Let us know.

OTOH, you might also try out the 1200C road bike. I think that or the
1800C will be my next purchase, but I'll swap out the seat post for a
non-suspension type. (One really should have two bikes, IMO, in case
one has to be in the shop, etc. That way you won't miss a day riding.)

Remember, you should try out bikes that you even might not want to
purchase...try several types, high end, even and take your time. You
can often be surprised and end up buying outside your preconceptions.

-B

07-26-2004, 05:35 PM

Fx199 <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> I ride a mix of paved and dirt roads.
> I have a road bike, but it doesn't cut it on some loose gravel/dirt roads
I
> like to ride.
>
> I am trying to decide whether to get something like a Trek 7700 FX, a
Touring
> bike like a Trek 520, or a cyclocross bike. Ride now I am riding a
Specialized
> Stumpjumper with 1.25" tires, It works OK, but the bike is a 91.
>
> I tried a 7700 FX, I got on a 17" bike and the sale "kid" said I needed a
20".
> I'm 5'8" 30 in inseam. Due to the weird geometry of the crossbar, it felt
about
> where it should be to the crotch. On my 17" inch specialized it seems like
I
> use a lot of seatpost..doesn't it seem like you shouldn't have more than
about
> 6" coming out of the frame? I'm still wide open to all three 3 styles of
bikes.
> Any advice would be helpful. Remember I do have a road bike too, this is a
> secondary bike.
>
> Thanks!

My riding pattern is similar to yours and I had been asking myself the same
question. Here are the bikes that I looked at this spring:

Surly Crosscheck (Tire width: 32mm)
Fuji World (30mm)
Fuji Touring (30mm)
Cannondale Cyclocross (30mm)
Cannondale T2000 (37mm)
Cannondale T800 (35mm)
Lightspeed BlueRidge (32mm)
Jamis Nova (28mm)
Jamis Aurora (30mm)
Gary Fischer Utopia (35mm)
Gary Fischer Dual Sport 129 (42mm)
Gary Fischer Dual Sport 229 (42mm)
Devinci Caribou (28mm)
Devinci Destination (28mm)
Devinci performance hybrids (32mm)
Norco perfomance hybrids
Lemond BigSky (28mm)

I ended up buying a 2004 Gary Fischer Utopia. It takes me on paved roads,
gravel roads, bike paths, and light forest-trails.

07-26-2004, 05:35 PM

Fx199 <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> I ride a mix of paved and dirt roads.
> I have a road bike, but it doesn't cut it on some loose gravel/dirt roads
I
> like to ride.
>
> I am trying to decide whether to get something like a Trek 7700 FX, a
Touring
> bike like a Trek 520, or a cyclocross bike. Ride now I am riding a
Specialized
> Stumpjumper with 1.25" tires, It works OK, but the bike is a 91.
>
> I tried a 7700 FX, I got on a 17" bike and the sale "kid" said I needed a
20".
> I'm 5'8" 30 in inseam. Due to the weird geometry of the crossbar, it felt
about
> where it should be to the crotch. On my 17" inch specialized it seems like
I
> use a lot of seatpost..doesn't it seem like you shouldn't have more than
about
> 6" coming out of the frame? I'm still wide open to all three 3 styles of
bikes.
> Any advice would be helpful. Remember I do have a road bike too, this is a
> secondary bike.
>
> Thanks!

My riding pattern is similar to yours and I had been asking myself the same
question. Here are the bikes that I looked at this spring:

Surly Crosscheck (Tire width: 32mm)
Fuji World (30mm)
Fuji Touring (30mm)
Cannondale Cyclocross (30mm)
Cannondale T2000 (37mm)
Cannondale T800 (35mm)
Lightspeed BlueRidge (32mm)
Jamis Nova (28mm)
Jamis Aurora (30mm)
Gary Fischer Utopia (35mm)
Gary Fischer Dual Sport 129 (42mm)
Gary Fischer Dual Sport 229 (42mm)
Devinci Caribou (28mm)
Devinci Destination (28mm)
Devinci performance hybrids (32mm)
Norco perfomance hybrids
Lemond BigSky (28mm)

I ended up buying a 2004 Gary Fischer Utopia. It takes me on paved roads,
gravel roads, bike paths, and light forest-trails.

07-26-2004, 05:35 PM

Fx199 <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> I ride a mix of paved and dirt roads.
> I have a road bike, but it doesn't cut it on some loose gravel/dirt roads
I
> like to ride.
>
> I am trying to decide whether to get something like a Trek 7700 FX, a
Touring
> bike like a Trek 520, or a cyclocross bike. Ride now I am riding a
Specialized
> Stumpjumper with 1.25" tires, It works OK, but the bike is a 91.
>
> I tried a 7700 FX, I got on a 17" bike and the sale "kid" said I needed a
20".
> I'm 5'8" 30 in inseam. Due to the weird geometry of the crossbar, it felt
about
> where it should be to the crotch. On my 17" inch specialized it seems like
I
> use a lot of seatpost..doesn't it seem like you shouldn't have more than
about
> 6" coming out of the frame? I'm still wide open to all three 3 styles of
bikes.
> Any advice would be helpful. Remember I do have a road bike too, this is a
> secondary bike.
>
> Thanks!

My riding pattern is similar to yours and I had been asking myself the same
question. Here are the bikes that I looked at this spring:

Surly Crosscheck (Tire width: 32mm)
Fuji World (30mm)
Fuji Touring (30mm)
Cannondale Cyclocross (30mm)
Cannondale T2000 (37mm)
Cannondale T800 (35mm)
Lightspeed BlueRidge (32mm)
Jamis Nova (28mm)
Jamis Aurora (30mm)
Gary Fischer Utopia (35mm)
Gary Fischer Dual Sport 129 (42mm)
Gary Fischer Dual Sport 229 (42mm)
Devinci Caribou (28mm)
Devinci Destination (28mm)
Devinci performance hybrids (32mm)
Norco perfomance hybrids
Lemond BigSky (28mm)

I ended up buying a 2004 Gary Fischer Utopia. It takes me on paved roads,
gravel roads, bike paths, and light forest-trails.

07-26-2004, 05:35 PM

Fx199 <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> I ride a mix of paved and dirt roads.
> I have a road bike, but it doesn't cut it on some loose gravel/dirt roads
I
> like to ride.
>
> I am trying to decide whether to get something like a Trek 7700 FX, a
Touring
> bike like a Trek 520, or a cyclocross bike. Ride now I am riding a
Specialized
> Stumpjumper with 1.25" tires, It works OK, but the bike is a 91.
>
> I tried a 7700 FX, I got on a 17" bike and the sale "kid" said I needed a
20".
> I'm 5'8" 30 in inseam. Due to the weird geometry of the crossbar, it felt
about
> where it should be to the crotch. On my 17" inch specialized it seems like
I
> use a lot of seatpost..doesn't it seem like you shouldn't have more than
about
> 6" coming out of the frame? I'm still wide open to all three 3 styles of
bikes.
> Any advice would be helpful. Remember I do have a road bike too, this is a
> secondary bike.
>
> Thanks!

My riding pattern is similar to yours and I had been asking myself the same
question. Here are the bikes that I looked at this spring:

Surly Crosscheck (Tire width: 32mm)
Fuji World (30mm)
Fuji Touring (30mm)
Cannondale Cyclocross (30mm)
Cannondale T2000 (37mm)
Cannondale T800 (35mm)
Lightspeed BlueRidge (32mm)
Jamis Nova (28mm)
Jamis Aurora (30mm)
Gary Fischer Utopia (35mm)
Gary Fischer Dual Sport 129 (42mm)
Gary Fischer Dual Sport 229 (42mm)
Devinci Caribou (28mm)
Devinci Destination (28mm)
Devinci performance hybrids (32mm)
Norco perfomance hybrids
Lemond BigSky (28mm)

I ended up buying a 2004 Gary Fischer Utopia. It takes me on paved roads,
gravel roads, bike paths, and light forest-trails.