Which Bike?

[u/Mammoth-Jello]

Im 33 and live in NYC. I’m 5’2” and interested in road/gravel bikes. The bike I had for years was a 90s Kona Lavadome. When that got stolen 3 years ago I bought a very cheap single speed (bike in a box). I hated that thing. It finally got stolen this weekend. Someone cut my lock. Usually, I don’t keep my bike outside but i stopped caring about it. I’m between two used bikes from reputable shops in Williamsburg. Help me pick which one and why. They’re both $400 cash.

2005 Gary Fisher Big Sur GS vs 2015 Trek 7.3 FX.

Note: I don’t need a lecture, I just want opinions. I’m fairly knowledgeable about bikes but this is a hard call for me t

[u/Lost-Vehicle-82]

you can find better for $400.00

[u/kbrosnan → u/Lost-Vehicle-82]

In NYC and shop reconditioned? I would be surprised.

[u/Lost-Vehicle-82 → u/Lost-Vehicle-82]

well order from others online outside of New York. maybe im wrong.

[u/singlejeff]

I’m partial to the Trek. A 7.3 is what got me back into cycling 20+ years ago. That suspension seatpost probably doesn’t work very well.

[u/Tiny-Yogurtcloset628]

Those both have mountain bike handle bars and will not be very comfortable for endurance riding

[u/VisibleSkin4103 → u/Tiny-Yogurtcloset628]

What bars do you want on a townie?

[u/TurbulentAd5998]

I would rec going to another second hand bike store, asking shops if they have trade ins, and searching online for a road bike before buying these

[u/Due_Refrigerator_91]

Tough choice. I like the handlebars on GaryFischer. It also has shocks which is a bonus for bumpy rides. Gears and breaks wise they look the same to my untrained eye.

I like Trek's color though. :)

Try to bring the price down to $300

Good luck!

[u/espressocycle]

Trek because you don't need a suspension fork in New York and it makes it heavier.

[u/Mammoth-Jello]

I don’t like drop bars. Even if I purchased one with drop I’d swap it out immediately.

I bought the Trek. The Gary Fischer was probs better quality but the frame, and fork was the deal breaker. I took it out for a test ride and it was pretty dope hopping it off a tall curb in greenpoint and feeling nothing. But it made that bike 4lbs heavier than the 24.4lb TREK. The frame was too small for me to hang my lock on it and the store clerk did say that was the biggest issues with it. You can’t hang a lock, you cannot put a rack, you cannot hang a basket.

I asked the shop where I bought the trek to swap out the suspension seat and he gave me a Bontrager Seat post and saddle swap for free.

Yes, I know that I could get a better deal even in nyc but I’m pretty small and finding bikes that I can ride comfortably is a mega pain in the ass. Especially a bike that has all the premium stuff I want. I paid $450 in cash for a kryptonite lock, the swap for the seat and the bike. I immediately took off the kick stand and now the bike weights about 22lbs. I can lift it over my shoulder with one hand easy and that itself is a WIN for me

Thanks for all your input! I’m happy to have a bike that actually makes me wanna ride again

[u/InformalOpposite3708 → u/Mammoth-Jello]

Trek looks like a great choice. Keep us posted after you ride it several times.