Snappy Trek Hybrid

[Rod Smith]

Rare but it happens. Might be covered under warranty.

[Amalitza]

I’ll guess bad luck.

I have a 7.5fx I bought in 2008 (I think). I don’t commute on it, and I’m not a particularly large person, but it’s been ridden a fair amount, was my only bike until last year, does grocery duty, I’ve crashed a couple times, etc etc.

I’ve not managed to break anything yet. Only things I’ve replaced were due to wear (chain, cassette, brake pads…) or preference (pedals, saddle). Never even had a flat. (knock wood)

I mean, unless you just want an excuse to hurry up and get your new bike, in which case, yeah, those FXs are junk, you better trade up to something new, pronto. :p

[KLizotte]

Your problems seem odd. The trek should definitely be able to handle a 165 lb guy doing normal things on it (I’m presuming you’re not going down mountain trails on it). I have a Trek hybrid (different model) that has splatted 2-3 times, has 4K miles on it, and keeps on trucking; it seems fairly indestructible. I’d bring it to the LBS where you bought it to see if they have any answers. Breaking a seat post seems really odd (and scary!).

[ebubar]

Shop is replacing it under warranty. Might have nailed down the source of some issues though.
Apparently there was a GM at the store when I bought my bike who is
no longer with the company due to “shady practices” with bike sales.

He sold my wife a bike (brand new) with a patched tire (replaced free of charge). Makes me wonder
what other shoddy practices were done with bike sales during his time there. Luckily the shop seems
very accommodating and willing to make things right!

Enjoy your rides. I’m sidelined until my new stem arrives (bike looks so sad without a stem/seat).

[ShawnoftheDread]

@ebubar 54743 wrote:

I chose to ride home standing up, through the downpour (like a boss…or like an idiot?)

Like a boss. Riding in bad weather is always badass. It’s Rule #9. With a broken bike, even more so.

[Rod Smith]

Who wants to sit on a wet saddle anyway? What size seatpost do you need? I have a few in a couple of different sizes that I’m not using. Will deliver to Takoma Park if it will get you riding again sooner.

[Dickie]

Sounds like you found the source of the problem. If the manager was taking short-cuts more likely than not your bike might have been assembled in haste and some key items might have been missed. It is not uncommon for boxed bikes to require plenty of re-assembly and adjustments before they ever get in the hands of the buyer. Bearings and fasteners can be over torqued at the factory, frames can be mis-aligned, and wheels out of true with poor spoke tension. A good bicycle shop will spend the time to check and correct all these items before handing the bike over or putting it on the shop floor. Your Trek is a well proven and long lasting model, I know plenty of folks that ride them and have had very few issues. Hopefully you have discovered and now corrected the issues, but since the bike store is now under new and better management it might be a good idea to have them give the bike a good going over just to be sure.

[ebubar]

@Rod Smith 54874 wrote:

Who wants to sit on a wet saddle anyway? What size seatpost do you need? I have a few in a couple of different sizes that I’m not using. Will deliver to Takoma Park if it will get you riding again sooner.

You folks are soooo nice! I need to figure out my seat post size. I actually don’t remember what it is…
I’ll call the shop and let you know. I’m close enough to Metro that I can get around to anywhere to meetup and do a covert seatpost exchange.

Of course, I may be able to use this excuse to get my new bike ordered…N+1 looks pretty justifiable now…

“Hey honey, i’m riding this bike too much. It can’t handle me and my superfit glutes, so I NEED to get another one to spread the wealth of my hardcore biking prowess.”

[DismalScientist]

The seatpost is probably 27.2mm. (It is the top of the post that broke, correct?) I’m surprised that they just didn’t hand you a new seatpost for you or them to install. It sounds like any easy fix.

Actually, I broke a 1 year old post new where it went in the frame. I had to wait to order it, but it was an obsolete size. 27.2 is very common now.

[mello yello]

The Trek should support your weight… but if things are snapping I’d have a wheel builder take a look at your wheels to make sure they’re properly tensioned and assembled.
I’ve never broken a seatpost, it sounds like a defect to me… which shouldn’t happen.

On the other hand…

My Bianchi Volpe has served me very well (of course, I bought it without the brifters working and converted it to fixed… so that may not be the best resume). I love the geometry, and all the bosses and rack attachments… which is why I chose a very similar (ss specific) frame to replace it with. It’s only sort of a ‘cross bike… it’s also quite the tourer – there are three water bottle cage bosses, one underneath. It fits 32’s and fenders easily with the canti’s. There’s even bosses for a front rack halfway up the fork.

If you want the Volpe frame(+) to build up I’m in the process of cleaning it up to put it on CL. 58cm.

[ebubar]

Yup. Top of the post broke (where the allen bolt clamps down the seat rail connector…i’m just making up terminology now!).

I think its 27.2 (that number sounds familiar actually). They didn’t have any in stock at the moment, so they needed to put in
the warranty claim and said it’d be a week to get the post in. I was a bit surprised that they didn’t have one in, as the trek FX line
is pretty popular and I figured parts would be bountiful, but oh well.

Will update once I confirm that the size is right.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@mello yello 54959 wrote:

If you want the Volpe frame(+) to build up I’m in the process of cleaning it up to put it on CL. 58cm.

Why you gotta be so tall? In fact, half this forum is too tall. Stop it.

[ebubar]

@mello yello 54959 wrote:

The Trek should support your weight… but if things are snapping I’d have a wheel builder take a look at your wheels to make sure they’re properly tensioned and assembled.
I’ve never broken a seatpost, it sounds like a defect to me… which shouldn’t happen.

On the other hand…

My Bianchi Volpe has served me very well (of course, I bought it without the brifters working and converted it to fixed… so that may not be the best resume). I love the geometry, and all the bosses and rack attachments… which is why I chose a very similar (ss specific) frame to replace it with. It’s only sort of a ‘cross bike… it’s also quite the tourer – there are three water bottle cage bosses, one underneath. It fits 32’s and fenders easily with the canti’s. There’s even bosses for a front rack halfway up the fork.

If you want the Volpe frame(+) to build up I’m in the process of cleaning it up to put it on CL. 58cm.

Thanks for the offer. Too tall though. I’m a humble 53 cm. *tear*

[consularrider]

@ebubar 54961 wrote:

Yup. Top of the post broke (where the allen bolt clamps down the seat rail connector…i’m just making up terminology now!).

I think its 27.2 (that number sounds familiar actually). They didn’t have any in stock at the moment, so they needed to put in
the warranty claim and said it’d be a week to get the post in. I was a bit surprised that they didn’t have one in, as the trek FX line
is pretty popular and I figured parts would be bountiful, but oh well.

Will update once I confirm that the size is right.

Did you take the seat post out? Most of them have the size embossed near the bottom of the stem.

[ebubar]

@consularrider 54965 wrote:

Did you take the seat post out? Most of them have the size embossed near the bottom of the stem.

Bike shop took it out and have the stem. I have the bike. If I was crazy i’d ride seatless :p.

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