For a more in-depth review of this bike with more photos, check out my extended review of the 2006 Trek 7.5 FX Disc on Reviewfoo.

Lately I’ve been getting back into biking for many reasons, including the health benefits (I can certainly use the exercise), fun, and of course it’s not a bad idea given the price of gas. I’ve been riding a bike I bought quite a long time ago, a Mongoose mountain bike. I’d never really felt all that comfortable on that bike (turns out it was too big for me), I could never seem to get the shifting aligned correctly so gears 4 & 5 never really “caught”, I accidentally overtightened the front brake and stripped the screw in the caliper, and I felt like I was putting money into a bike I would never be happy with, etc. I think the last straw for me was riding it to “Bike to Work” day– it was just way too bulky (for me) to climb steep hills. It was simply just not the bike for the type of riding I like to do.

Basically I wanted to get a new bike which was meant for riding in an urban environment which was light and fast, yet was not a road bike and didn’t have a super uncomfortable position. It also needed to be fun to ride, or I wouldn’t hop on it much. Turns out, a few bike manufactures have been making hybrid bikes for the past few years which combine parts of mountain bikes and road bikes and was exactly what I was looking for! After spending a few evenings researching what I wanted, it finally came down to the Trek 7.5 FX Disc.

Here’s an overview of the bike compliments of its marketing literature:

You get the best of both worlds with Trek’s 7.5 FX Disc, plus unmatched stopping power. The Alpha SL Aluminum frame is light and fast, yet sturdy and durable. Avid disc brakes easily check your speed, even on rainy commutes. Bontrager SSR wheels with Bontrager Race Lite Hardcase tires are equally at home on roads, paths, and trails. Plus, a 27-speed drivetrain gives you a wide range of gears to choose from.

My local Bicycle Village (a Colorado local chain) had them in stock and had a Grand Opening sale going on, so I picked one up on Saturday. They also do free adjustments and tune-ups for the life of the bike, so all in all I feel like I got a good deal (about $150 below MSRP).

I took it out for a quick ride on Saturday evening after I finished installing a few accessories. I was planning on only riding it about 4 miles or so, but I enjoyed it so much I ended-up riding for almost 13 instead. I’m really amazed by how fast this bike is.. it’s definitely a road bike in mountain bike clothing. I ended-up averaging a little bit above my normal cruising speed on my old bike while going uphill, and the trip back downhill (keep in mind it was just a very low, steady climb/descent) took almost time at all. My average MPH for the trip was almost 4 MPH above what I last did on my mountain bike, and I think this will only improve as I strengthen the muscles used in the riding position I have on this bike. Last night I took a ride on my old bike and realized how heavy and clunky it was compared to my new bike.

If you’re looking for something light and fast but not quite a road bike either, I’d highly recommend giving the Trek FX series a look!