I'm the happy owner of a new Trek 7.2 FX hybrid bike! I still love my Brompton foldie, but I've been itching for something with a little more oomph that I can take on longer bike rides across the bridge to Sausalito or for other short country rides.
Part of the challenge was finding a local shop that I liked that had bikes at a price point I could live with, and could care for the bike if something went wrong. Luckily I have a lot to choose from in my area. After visiting a few, I finally found Avenue Cyclery, one of the oldest bike shops in the city, opened in 1973. Located in Stanyan and Waller in the Upper-Haight, it's a small shop, but well stocked with a range of bikes from kid's trikes to comfort to mountain and sleek racers.
After trying out a couple of hybrids, I really enjoyed riding around on the Trek 7.2 FX. Honestly, after leaving the shop on a trial ride, I wanted to just keep going all over the city because it was so comfortable. It was surprisingly light because of the aluminum frame, but didn't feel too flimsy. For an under $500 bike, that all seemed pretty great.
The Sweet Home agrees, awarding the Trek 7.2 as "the best hybrid-commute bike" in their extensive review. (See the specs below for details on the bike.)
I tried out my new Trek yesterday with a fun Beignets + Bike Tour of SF with some friends around the city. It performed great, handling hills, dirt tracks, sand, and bumps like a champ. There were definitely a couple parts of the ride that would have been a serious effort on my Brompton that were just fun on the Trek. After a few hours on the seat, I didn't feel as anxious to get off as I would be on my Brompton. That said, a seat and handlegrip upgrade would be first on my list if I were doing a longer, harder ride.
Here's the Trek, meeting up with my reliable old Brompton for the first time. I think they are going to get along just great.
Really happy with my new baby so far. I can't wait to take it across the Golden Gate Bridge!
Trek 7.2 FX Specs
| Specification | Description |
|---|---|
| Frame | Trek Alpha Silver aluminum |
| Fork | High-tensile steel |
| Rims/Wheels | Bontrager AT-750 |
| Hubs | Formula aluminum |
| Tires | Bontrager H2 Hardcase Lite, 700 x 35c |
| Crankset | SR SunTour |
| Chainrings | 48/38/28 |
| Front Derailleur | Shimano |
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano Acera |
| Rear Cogs | Shimano, 8-speed: 11-32 |
| Shifters | Shimano EF51 |
| Handlebars | Bontrager Low riser |
| Tape/Grips | Bontrager Satellite |
| Stem | Bontrager SSR |
| Brake Levers | Shimano EF51 |
| Brakes | Tektro linear-pull |
| Pedals | Nylon platform |
| Saddle | Bontrager SSR |
| Seatpost | Bontrager SSR |