New Hybrid such as Trek...

[C&CO]

Hello

I know these "new to sport - need help" posts probably get old here, but how do you folks feel about the Trek 7100? My spouse and I are looking into getting out and hitting some roads and light hard trails. I was told by many friends and the LBS that a Hybrid is what we need.

The shop has Treks, and the 7100 looks to fit the profile. Does anyone have any advice for us regarding this or any other such bike? Does height affect bike choice? (I am 5' 11" and my wife is 5' 3".)

Thank you friends

 

[gclark8]

Size is everything, its like new shoes or a new bra, it must fit!

Then its style, sounds like the hybrid is the go, there are two types, a cheaper MTB based ones with 26" wheels and dearer road bike based ones with fancy running gear. See as many as you can.

Giant FCR, Scott Sub, Felt SR, Trek, Specialised... etc..

 

[RickF]

The one downside to the Trek 7100 (and 7200) is that the suspension on the fork is not adjustable. That is fine if your body weight matches the pre-set tension on the fork. If you are heavy enough that you bottom out the fork, the suspension does not help you. In that case, you are better off with the 7000 (which does not have a suspension fork and is therefore lighter and less expensive than the 7100) or the 7300, which has an adjustable suspension.

 

[Little Jackie]

Hello

I know these "new to sport - need help" posts probably get old here, but how do you folks feel about the Trek 7100? My spouse and I are looking into getting out and hitting some roads and light hard trails. I was told by many friends and the LBS that a Hybrid is what we need.

The shop has Treks, and the 7100 looks to fit the profile. Does anyone have any advice for us regarding this or any other such bike? Does height affect bike choice? (I am 5' 11" and my wife is 5' 3".)

Thank you friends

I have seen too many ladies (5' 3") fitted by bike shops riding 17" which are to big and do not promote optimum riding. Make sure you buy 14-15"

 

[RickF]

The correct frame size depends on more than just height. How much of the height is legs, how much is torso, and how long are the arms are all important. My wife is 5'5", and a 17.5" (44.5 cm) Trek 7200 (same frame as the 7100 but with slightly better components) fits her well.

 

[RickF]

I am 6'0" and have short legs (30" inseam) and a long torso. I have a 18.5" Specialized Crossroades Elite, a bike very similar to the Trek 7300. I could have actually used a longer top tube, but I was limited by my short legs. Someone my same height but with longer legs and shorter torso might be better off with a different size frame.

Frame sizes, by convention, are the length of the seat tube; however, that is the least meaningful measurement. The important measurements are effective top tube length (center of seat tube to center of head tube) and standover height. These values are different for different models of frames of the same size.