Update request :)

Have a chance to try any new ones out yet?

Monster,
You could spend many hours at RoadBikeReview. Go down to Product Review and choose the type of bike you're interested in, or you can search for particular manufacturers or models, old and new. There are also reviews of components and accessories.

For example, I have a 2003 Trek 520, which is reviewed here.
I read these reviews before I bought the bike, and agree with most of them (I've changed the seat - sorry, saddle - for a Brooks B17, and I would like to change the gearing).

*sigh* no, the bike shop I went to still don't have that in my size in stock for me to try (I'm 5'4"-hardly a weird size!)and I haven't had time to visit others yet (end-of-school-year start-of-pool-year craziness right now). Craigs list scared me. Full of all sorts of phrases that I either didn't understand or made me worry about the roadworthiness. But I'm dreaming.... Good job I'm not in a hurry, although I really hate my old bike (well sorta hate it). I weighed it -it's 49 pounds! :lol:

Thanks HLJ. Our pool is supposed to have wireless this year, so I may surf while the kids swim...

Monster, I keep forgetting to bring my camera in to work, but I will post a pic in the bikes thread when I do of my rig. Turns out I have the Trek 4500, a step up from the link I previously posted. $495 for an '07, or last year's model is on sale for $395.

LR, that's a really nice bike, and especially for the price. It looks like a mountain bike, but it was hard to tell from that link.

Hi Monster - Labrat & HLJ are right- Trek have a great range of bikes - hard to choose from so many - I have a 7.1 FX hybrid (pictured in my profile photo) - costs here about UK pds 270. The 4500 here costs UK pds 400, so I guess in US the $ price of the 7.1 FX will be a good deal cheaper than the 4500. I think you could probably get a 7.3FX disc brake version for the same price as the 4500. I like the hybrid because it gives you better on-road performance - and disc brakes are better for off-road as they don't get clogged with mud as easy as rim brakes.

Hey, posted a pic of my rig in the BIKES! thread if you are interested.

Thanks. I'm having no luck with the local bike shops. They all suck. I'm very tempted just to get a low-end all-aluminum Schwinn from Target and be done with it, but you're doing a really good job on selling me Trek! Where do you all buy from? On-line or your local bike stores?

The link in post #19 is to the store where I bought mine, World of Bikes here in Iowa City. My house is on the way to IC from your place, and we have a spare bed if you wanna go for a road trip to bike shop :). This is actually a serious offer, BTW.

Also, the TREK website should have links to local dealers in your area...if you don't have time to visit lovely Iowa.

Monster, I've bought all of my bikes at bike shops. I went to a local (non-chain) shop when I bought my Trek 520, because I thought that they would help me with sizing, but I realized later that I bought one that's a little big, so I was a little disappointed there.

They were good for a service issue. One day I had my rear wheel off and was pumping up the tire after patching the tube. The wheel was sitting on a bench and I was using a floor pump. Just as I was on the final down-stroke (when my head was nearest the wheel) the tire exploded. I was working in a small utility room with concrete walls and the explosion was incredibly loud. I just kind of staggered around for a few seconds. When I finally recovered I inspected the tire, which was destroyed, and saw that the wheel rim was also shredded. I was amazed. I took the wheel back to the dealer (the service manager said that he had never heard of that happening before) and they built a new wheel for me at no charge. If I had purchased on line I probably would have been out $100 dollars or more for the wheel and tire.

thanks both. will start with the Trek website.

Hey, I've got one of those!

Monstro-I've bought bikes both ways. If you are not really sure of yourself on sizing and repairs go with a shop.

Griff, is your 520 stock? I've changed the seat and pedals on mine, and added a naviiON computer (discussed here). I also have a tail trunk, which I use all the time.

I still want to add an adjustable stem and maybe to change to lower gearing.

I've changed pedals, tires, and seat. I have a cheap trunk as well. I customized mine with some deep pavement scratches last summer and updated my wrist at the same time. Pete has a newer 520 which came with a Trek rack and I bought her a proprietary trunk that locks in place.

I looked into doing that. The shops I talked to said that the only lower gearing they could do would add two teeth, and that I wouldn't notice it much, if at all. Maybe the difference would be more pronounced if you aren't hauling 50-100lbs of extra shit with you.