trek 7.5 fx disc

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Trek 7.5 FX Disc review

A great all-rounder for the city with style and practicality.

Robert Smith

cara coolbaugh

Trek's 7.5 FX Disc offers dependable handling, great stopping power from its disc brakes, a well-thought-out spec and a touch of panache.

Behind their Tour de France road frame glamour, Trek have been quietly building up a roster of individual, elegant and well-considered urban bikes.

We loved the cyclo-cross-derived Portland last year, and the stylish, single-chainring Soho (complete with coffee flask) caught our eye too. The 7.5 FX Disc is one in a range of flat bar city bikes, and includes both front and rear rack mounts should the daily ride to work extend to a weekend tour or more.

Trek's 7.5 FX shares its frame with several others in the range, including the non-disc version that goes for £50 less. It boasts an elegant profile, with a curved, tapering down-tube and a pearlescent, silvery finish. Both the frame and the straight bladed fork feature rack and mudguard mounts - a practical touch we welcome on city bikes. The rack bosses at the stays are even spaced out for running a hydraulic disc calliper.

Unfortunately, Avid's chunky mechanical BB5s get in the way, so you'll need a specialist rack such as Topeak's Super Tourist DX F/Disk (www.extrauk.co.uk, £33) or Madison's Ridge (www.ultimatepursuits.co.uk, £24.99). It's a shame the mount isn't tucked away between the stays, which would allow you to run a conventional rack. Tyre clearances are very generous - the frame and fork can accommodate a cyclo-cross tyre for some fireroad action. We ran our favourite summer road and dirt tyres, Halo 38c Twin Rails (www. ison-distribution.com, £12.99), with lots of room to spare.

We're big fans of the Avid mechanical disc brakes on the Trek, and while the BB5s aren't quite as adjustable as the BB7s - only one pad can be brought in and out - performance is superb, both in the wet and dry. They're easy to set up and low in maintenance. All this means loads of confidence to ride whatever the weather, and a saving on rim wear too.

There's a triple up front to extend your horizons out of the city, with a tight 11/26 cluster at the back underlining the Trek's road credentials. If you do end up touring, we'd recommend upping it to an 11/32 or so. Deore shifters are simple and reliable, teamed with a Deore front mech and a Tiagra mech at the back.

Elsewhere, Bontrager parts provide matching finishing kit with a gentle riser bar, a relatively long stem, ergo-shaped grips and a comfortable perch.

Trek have a range of 700c disc wheels courtesy of Bontrager. The 7.5 comes with 32-spoke rims built up with plain gauge spokes. Shimano hubs are easy to service with their cup and cone bearings, though these lack the protective rubber sleeve of higher-end mountain bike ones. We've found the 32c Racelites to be comfortable tyres in the past, with decent puncture resistance, but have noticed they lack grip in the wet. The 32-spoke three-cross spoke pattern should ensure they're up to some load-carrying too, which makes them a versatile set of wheels.

The 7.5 FX Disc 's ride position is ideal for all-day outings in comfort, with the fork steerer left generously long. Ride it back-to-back with a lighter machine such as the Genesis Day 03 and you notice the heft, but you also notice you have 250 quid still in your bank account.

Disc brakes provide superb stopping power, even if they're partly to blame for that extra weight. Given the lack of carbon, 32mm tyres go some way to smoothing out the ride, although the straight bladed fork still feels stiff. Steering is slower than some but all the more stable and confident for it - this bike feels like it will safely get you around come sunshine or snowfall, with or without panniers.

It's versatile too, and with those clearances would be perfect for riding a weekend Sustrans route, such as the W2W or Hadrian's Wall.

The Trek is a rounded machine, even if it feels slower than lighter, racier flat-bar bikes. It scores highly both in the practicality and looks departments. Its handling is well balanced, the all-weather braking is superb and it's suited to weekend mixed-surface tours too. Add plenty of panache and it's a great formula.

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Trek 7.5 FX Disc review

• by Cyclesgo

Trek’s 7.5 FX Disc offers dependable handling, great stopping power from its disc brakes, a well-thought-out spec and a touch of panache. Behind their Tour de France road frame glamour, Trek have been quietly building up a roster of individual, elegant and well-considered urban bikes. We loved the cyclo-cross-derived Portland last year, and the stylish, single-chainring Soho (complete with coffee flask) caught our eye too. The 7.5 FX Disc is one in a range of flat bar city bikes, and includes both front and rear rack mounts should the daily ride to work extend to a weekend tour or more.

Trek’s 7.5 FX shares its frame with several others in the range, including the non-disc version that goes for £50 less. It boasts an elegant profile, with a curved, tapering down-tube and a pearlescent, silvery finish. Both the frame and the straight bladed fork feature rack and mudguard mounts – a practical touch we welcome on city bikes. The Canyon Endurace CF rack bosses at the stays are even spaced out for running a hydraulic disc calliper.

Unfortunately, Avid’s chunky mechanical BB5s get in the way, so you’ll need a specialist rack such as Topeak’s Super Tourist DX F/Disk (www.extrauk.co.uk, £33) or Madison’s Ridge (www.ultimatepursuits.co.uk, £24.99). It’s a shame the mount isn’t tucked away between the stays, which would allow you to run a conventional rack. Tyre clearances are very generous – the frame and fork can accommodate a cyclo-cross tyre for some fireroad action. We ran our favourite summer road and dirt tyres, Halo 38c Twin Rails (www. ison-distribution.com, £12.99), with lots of room to spare.

We’re big fans of the Avid mechanical disc brakes on the Trek, and while the BB5s aren’t quite as adjustable as the BB7s – only one pad can be brought in and out – performance is superb, both in the wet and dry. They’re easy to set up and low in maintenance. All this means loads of confidence to ride whatever the weather, and a saving on rim wear too.

There’s a triple up front to extend your horizons out of the city, with a tight 11/26 cluster at the back underlining the Trek’s road credentials. If you do end up touring, we’d recommend upping it to an 11/32 or so. Deore shifters are simple and reliable, teamed with a Deore front mech and a Tiagra mech at the back. Elsewhere, Bontrager parts provide matching finishing kit with a gentle riser bar, a relatively long stem, ergo-shaped grips and a comfortable perch.

Trek have a range of 700c disc wheels courtesy of Bontrager. The 7.5 comes with 32-spoke rims built up with plain gauge spokes. Shimano hubs are easy to service with their cup and cone bearings, though these lack the protective rubber sleeve of higher-end mountain bike ones. We’ve found the 32c Racelites to be comfortable tyres in the CUBE AGREE C:62 past, with decent puncture resistance, but have noticed they lack grip in the wet. The 32-spoke three-cross spoke pattern should ensure they’re up to some load-carrying too, which makes them a versatile set of wheels.

The 7.5 FX Disc ‘s ride position is ideal for all-day outings in comfort, with the fork steerer left generously long. Ride it back-to-back with a lighter machine such as the Genesis Day 03 and you notice the heft, but you also notice you have 250 quid still in your bank account. Disc brakes provide superb stopping power, even if they’re partly to blame for that extra weight. Given the lack of carbon, 32mm tyres go some way to smoothing out the ride, although the straight bladed fork still feels stiff. Steering is slower than some but all the more stable and confident for it – this bike feels like it will safely get you around come sunshine or snowfall, with or without panniers. It’s versatile too, and with those clearances would be perfect for riding a weekend Sustrans route, such as the W2W or Hadrian’s Wall. The Trek is a rounded machine, even if it feels slower than lighter, racier flat-bar bikes. It scores highly both in the practicality and looks departments. Its handling is well balanced, the all-weather braking is superb and it’s suited to weekend mixed-surface tours too. Add plenty of panache and it’s a great formula.

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Trek 7.5 FX WSD Hybrid Bike

• USER REVIEWS

Quite light and so easy to change gears... I use the bike for training and a short trip 2-5km to the shops. It's a great first bike, I love it!

I noticed a few people have complained about the uncomfortable seat, but I didn't have any issues here.

Awesome bike, wish it came in white when I first bought it!

The WSD seat is super comfy for long rides, although for touring days on end, chamois bike pants are needed. The carbon fiber fork is light and the bike's total weight is very light.

The Avid brake pads are terrible. It is as if the rubber compound on the brakes is rubbing off and gets flicked onto the frame and clothes. The situation is worse when it is wet as the rubber dust mixes with water and creates a staining black paste. I would recommend this bike to others except with the condition that they replace the brake pads before they ride it to protect their frame and clothes from damage.

I have been stoked with my Trek 7.5FX WSD, it's a great bike to ride for commuting and short cycle touring trips.

Everything about it.

No weaknesses

Super bike. Great ride and great handleing

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Shooter Files by f.d. walker

Street Photography Tips, Interaction, Travel, Guides

Apr 24 2017

City Street Guides by f.d. walker: A Street Photography Guide to Moscow, Russia

*A series of guides on shooting Street Photography in cities around the world. Find the best spots to shoot, things to capture, street walks, street tips, safety concerns, and more for cities around the world. I have personally researched, explored and shot Street Photography in every city that I create a guide for. So you can be ready to capture the streets as soon as you step outside with your camera!

At over 12 million people, Moscow is the largest city in Russia and second largest in Europe by population ( Istanbul is #1). An urban, cosmopolitan metropolis with more than enough glitz and glam to cater to the elite, but without losing its fair share of Soviet era roughness around the edges. It can be fast paced, brash, busy, and trendy like other big cities, but it has its blend of West meets Russia atmosphere and beauty that provides plenty of unique interest. The Red Square is as famous as it gets, but there’s so much more to this city, including the most beautiful subway system you’ve ever seen. It would take years to capture all of Moscow, but that means you have an endless amount of areas to discover.

So here’s a Street Photography guide so you can be ready to capture all that Moscow has to offer before you even arrive!

• Patriarch’s Pond
• Old Arbat Street
• Maroseyka Street
• Tverskoy Boulevard

Top 5 Street Spots:

1. red square.

The Red Square is the most famous square in not just Russia, but all of Eastern Europe. The name actually doesn’t come from the color of the bricks or communism, but from the name in Russian, Krásnaya, once meaning “beautiful” before its meaning changed to “red.” This large plaza is what you see on the cover of guide books and magazines for Moscow, with St. Basil’s Cathedral being the center piece next to Lenin’s Mausoleum surrounded by the Kremlin Wall. Of course, the Red Square attracts hordes of tourist due to the main attractions, but all that activity around an interesting atmosphere does provide street photo opportunities. It’s also the central square connecting to the city’s major streets, providing a good starting point to explore outward.

You’ll also find the popular pedestrian only Nikolskaya Street connecting the Red Square to Lubyanka Square. This line of expensive shops includes plenty of activity, while also leading you to another popular square. Filled with history rivaling any city, the Red Square and surrounding areas are the heart and soul of Russia.

2. Patriarch’s Ponds

Patriarch’s Ponds is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Moscow. Despite the name being plural, there’s only one large pond, but it’s worth a visit with your camera. It’s a popular spot for locals and expats to come relax or take a stroll around the pond. You get an interesting mix of young and old too, from young love to “babushkas” feeding pigeons. It’s a very peaceful park atmosphere in one of the nicer areas within the city center, while bringing enough activity for street photography. 

The pond is shallow and in the winter becomes a popular spot for ice-skating too. The area is also well-known for the location in the famous Russian novel, The Master and Margarita. 

3. Old Arbat (Stary Arbat)

Old Arbat is the most famous pedestrian street in Moscow, and dating back to the 15th century, also one of its oldest. Originally, it was an area of trade, but soon became the most prestigious residential area in Moscow. During the 18th century, Arbat started attracting the city’s scholars and artists, including Alexander Pushkin. Cafes lined the streets and impressive homes filled the neighborhood. Since then, New Arbat street was created as a highway in the area, while Old Arbat was paved for a 1km pedestrian only walkway.

Due to the historic buildings, famous artists that lived here, and the bohemian atmosphere, Old Arbat has become a big attraction for tourists today. Now, there’s a mix of cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, street performers, street merchants and other attractions for visitors, and some locals, to come enjoy. It can get really busy here and there’s usually something interesting going on so it’s a good street to come walk with your camera for guaranteed life.

4. Gorky Park

One of the most famous places in Moscow is Gorky Park. The official name is Maxim Gorky’s Central Park of Culture & Leisure, which gives you an idea of what goes on here. When built, it was the first of its kind in the Soviet Union. Divided into two parts, it stretches along Moscow River. One end contains fair rides, foods stands, tennis courts, a sports club, a lake for boat rides, and more. This end brings more active life due to its number of attractions, while the other end is more relaxed, where you’ll find gardens, trees, older buildings, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Gorky Park attracts mostly locals so it’s a good spot to capture the non-tourist side of Moscow life. Muscovites come here to escape the city and unwind in a picturesque setting. The park remains alive outside of the warmer months too, especially when the lake turns into the city’s largest outdoor skating rink. I’d recommend taking the metro out here to spend at least half a day exploring the massive park’s life with your camera.

5. Maroseyka Street

Maroseyka Street is a popular area not too far from the Red Square. The long, winding street turns into Pokrovka and is lined with restaurants, cafes, bars and places to stay. It’s actually where I like to stay when I’m in Moscow due to its location and solid street photography opportunities itself. You have Kitay-gorod station near and if you keep walking southwest, you’ll get to the Red Square. But if you walk northwest, as it changes to Pokrovka, you can find a long street of activity for photography with its own interesting atmosphere.

6. Tverskoy Boulevard

Tverskoy Boulevard is the oldest and longest boulevard in Moscow, beginning at the end of Nikitsky Boulevard, and finishing at Pushkin Square, a spot to come for activity itself. The boulevard is made up of two avenues, with pedestrian walkways in-between. You’ll find grass, shrubbery, trees, benches and more walking it’s almost kilometer length. Many people come here to enjoy some relaxation, walk their dog, or just to use it to walk wherever they’re going. Its center location also provides a nice place to walk with your camera near plenty of other spots you’ll want to check out anyway.

Sample Street Walk:

For a full day of Street Photography, covering some of the best spots, you can follow this sample street walk for Moscow:

• Start your morning walking around the Red Square (1), while exploring the surrounding area, including Nikolskaya Street
• Then walk northwest to Patriarch’s Ponds (2) and slowly walk the pond and surrounding area with your camera
• Next, walk east to the Pushkin Monument and stroll down Tverskoy Boulevard (6)
• Once Tverskoy Boulevard (6) ends, it will turn into Nikitsky Boulevard. Follow this down until you get to the start of Old Arbat Street (3), across from Arbatskaya station
• After you’re done walking down Old Arbat Street (3) for more street photography, spend some time checking out Moscow’s beautiful metro stations
• To finish off the day with more street photography, get off the metro near Red Square (1) again, Maroseyka Street (5) or wherever you’re staying for the night.

3 Things I’ll Remember about Shooting in Moscow:

1. museum metro.

The Moscow metro system was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union and today includes 203 stations across 340km of routes. The elaborate system has some of the deepest stations in the world too, with escalators that seem to go on forever. None of this is what makes it so special, though. Many of its stations feel like stepping inside a museum, making it without a doubt the most interesting and beautiful metro system I’ve been in.

When built, Stalin wanted to make the metro stations “palaces for the people” with marble, chandeliers, and grand architecture. The best part is the variety of architecture and styles used, making many of the stations a completely different experience visually. You could easily spend a whole day traveling the stations and there are even tours available for people who wish to do just that. My advice, though, would be just to buy a ticket and hop on and off at different stations, while exploring different lines. The museum-like surrounding mixed with the crowds of characters can make for a great photography experience.

Since there are so many stations, here are some of my favorites to check out:

• Novoslobodskaya
• Mayakovskaya
• Elektrozavodskaya
• Komsomolskaya
• Ploschad Revolyutsii
• Dostoyevskaya
• Prospekt Mira

2. Moscow is Big

It’s no secret that Moscow is a big city, but it can feel even bigger with how spread out much of it is. This is especially true if you compare it to cities outside of Asia. If I compared it to cities in Europe, I’d probably say only Istanbul would warrant more time to really discover the depths of this city. Most only explore around the Red Square and surrounding area, but that is such a small part of the city. Although, that central area does give you plenty to see on its own.

Fortunately, I had a good friend living in the city to show me around, but it opened up my eyes even more to how much there is to discover in Moscow. It’s a big city with a variety of atmosphere that can take you from “east” to “west” and trendy to rugged depending on where you go. I’d imagine you’d have to live here a while to really know the city.

3. Cosmopolitan Mix of East meets West

Modern skyscrapers mixed with amazing architecture, a world-class metro system with museum-like beauty, trendy fashion and chic clubs, Moscow is a rich mix of Russian culture and history in a more western cosmopolitan package. There is a push to keep the Russian culture, while also pushing forward with a modern metropolis the whole world will envy. This comes with an impressive skyline, that continues to grow, and endless modernities, but with soviet nostalgia and atmosphere mixed in for good measure.

Mixed in with this grand western cosmopolitan atmosphere, is a strong national pride in Russia. This includes their famous leader, Vladimir Putin. Maybe no other place will you see a country’s leader more often. All over, from the pricey tourist shops to the underground walkway stalls, you’ll find goods with Putin’s likeness covering them. From t-shirts to magnets to Matryoshka dolls. There’s a strong national pride that can be seen around the city, which also extends to their leader. Moscow is many things. It’s East meets West, modernizations meets Soviet era, and a whole lot more.

What To Do For a Street Photography Break?:

Eat at a stolovaya.

Stolovayas are Russian cafeterias that became popular in the Soviet days. You grab a tray and walk down the line of freshly prepared local dishes, and select whatever you want from the chefs. They’re usually inexpensive and a much better value than restaurants, while giving you the opportunity to try from a wide selection of everyday Russian food. They’re also very tasty. I always include some borsch on my tray and go from there. The places themselves are all over Moscow and usually come with Soviet-era aesthetics to complete the experience.

Street Safety Score: 7

*As always, no place is completely safe! So when I talk about safety, I’m speaking in general comparison to other places. Always take precaution, be smart, observe your surroundings and trust your instincts anywhere you go!

Being the 2nd largest city in Europe with over 12 million people, you’re going to have your dangerous areas, but for the most part, it feels safe walking around. Russia is statistically higher in crime compared to most of Europe, but this generally doesn’t apply to tourists and visitors. Around the Red Square and surrounding city center, you should feel completely safe walking around. Pick pocketing can happen, but no more than other touristic places. I always explore Moscow freely without coming across too much to worry about. It’s a spread out city, though, so of course it matters where you are. Just use basic street smarts, know where you are and Moscow shouldn’t give you a problem. 

People’s Reaction Score: 7

Moscow is fast paced, big city life, which usually means people aren’t too concerned with you, or your camera. I don’t find people notice or pay much attention to me when I’m out taking photos in Moscow. For the most part, people just go about their day. You shouldn’t get too many looks or concern. But it can depend on the area you are in. The more you stick out, the more you might get noticed with suspicions. I’ve never had any problems in Moscow, or Russia, but just be careful who you’re taking a photo of if you get out of the city center. Other than that, it’s about average for reactions. 

Street Tips:

Learn the alphabet .

Much of Moscow, including the metro system, doesn’t use english. The Russian alphabet uses letters from the Cyrillic script, which if you aren’t familiar with it and don’t know the sounds, can be hard to decipher the words. This is most important for street names and metro stops when trying to get around. It can save confusion and make it easier getting around if you learn the basic alphabet. At the very least then, you can sound out the words to see which are similar in the english conversion, which can help matching them to maps. When out shooting street photography, getting around is as important as anything. So save yourself some time and frustration by learning the Russian Alphabet.

Use the metro

While Saint-Petersburg feels very walkable for a city its size, Moscow can feel very spread out, even for its bigger size. Outside of the Red Square area, you can have plenty of walking before getting anywhere very interesting, so you’ll need to take the metro a lot if you really want to explore the city. Maps are deceiving here too, it will always be further than it looks.

Another reason it’s less walkable than Saint-Petersburg is its completely different set-up. Moscow’s streets are mostly contstructed in rings with narrow, winding streets in-between. This is common with medieval city cities that used to be confined by walls, but you usually don’t have it in a city this massive. Saint-Petersburg has a more grid-like pattern that also uses the canals to help you know your way around. When it comes to navigating on foot in Moscow, it can be more difficult, so bring a map and take the metro when needed. It’s why Moscow’s metro carries more passengers per day than the London and Paris subways combined.

Explore other areas if you have time

Moscow is really big. While most people stay around the Red Square within the Boulevard Ring, there’s so much more to the city. I covered some other spots outside of this circle, but if you really want to see the city, you’ll need time. If you do have time, some other areas I’d check out first are Zamoskvarechye, along some of the south and western Moscow.

Inspiration:

For some more inspiration, you can look through the Street Photography of Moscow photographer Artem Zhitenev  and check out 33 of my photos taken in Moscow .

Conclusion:

Moscow’s name brings a certain mystique, but once you’re there it might bring a different atmosphere than you expect. It’s big and sprawling, but beautiful in many ways. It can feel like a European capital on a grand scale, but you can definitely find its Russian side in there.

The urban sprawl of Moscow can be intimidating, but give it enough time and you’ll be rewarded with plenty to discover. All with the world’s best metro system to take you around.

I hope this guide can help you start to experience some of what Moscow contains. So grab your camera and capture all that Moscow has to offer for Street Photography!

If you still have any questions about shooting in Moscow, feel free to comment below or email me!

(I want to make these guides as valuable as possible for all of you so add any ideas on improvements, including addition requests, in the comment section!)

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2007 Trek 7.5 FX

A 700c aluminum frame fitness bike with mid-range components and rim brakes. Compare the full range

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A bike with lower gearing will be easier to ride up steep hills, while a higher top end means it will pedal faster down hills.

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Last updated June 29 Not listed for 2,494 days