best bike

The two main drawbacks to the 7000 are the front suspension fork not
being good with a lowrider rack, and that flat bars aren't the best for
long distance. A set of trekking bars would be a great choice and let
you use your current controls. They're quite goofy looking, but make up
for it in comfort, wrap them in cork tape instead of trying to use mtb
grips: If you can get along with just a rear rack and want to do it on
a budget, the 7000 should deliver.

http://tinyurl.com/yq6eq

Yes you can put drops on it, but it's economically a little silly in my
opinion.

For a new bike, how about something like a specialized Sequoia that has
an mtb inspired compact frame? Easy to mount. I don't know if it has
provisions for rack mounting, but it's shaped the way you want.:

http://tinyurl.com/hyhev

It looks to be a very sensible setup with high drops and a good
standover clearance.

Dear Python473:
Hi! There are one or two members of the Trek 7000 family that do not
have suspension front forks. I would look into the SU100, SU200
(depending on your disk brake preferences) and I THINK the 7200fx. If
you're thinking of touring, look for one with the "lowrider rack' holes
in the middle of the front fork -- so you could put a rack on the front
if you'd want, in that easier to balance lower position. Suspension
forks add weight, but eat up energy -- if it's ROUGH terrain, that'd be
something to consider, but I don't think you're touring in the dirt.
Otherwise, depending on your price range, Rivendell
(www.rivbike.com) and Waterford Precision Bicycles both make "mixtie"
frames with expeciially low-slanting top-tube bars. They're production
frames -- it'd be your parts specification that's custom. The Rivendell
offerings have an additional bit of oddity -- they use an unusual,
wide, but politically controversial (in this particular context) tire
size.
Have you looked at the Bianchi Avenue?

Robert Leone [email hidden]

Quoted message said:

I know these are questions probably asked at least a million times, but
here goes:
1. Has anybody ever used a trek 7000 series for touring? I like the
geometry since at my age I'm having a harder and harder time swinging
my leg over the bar. I am looking at the the trek 520, but that bar is
just not appealing at all. I do want a good study bike. I don't want a
custom built bike - just something off the floor.
2. If not the 7000 series, do you have some other suggestion? It does
not have to be a trek. Right now I have a old bike with 1 1/4 tires
which I really like since I want to do rail trails, roads, etc. Some
long distance stuff - cross state, across country perhaps.
3. Can the trek 7000 be modified for drop bars? Actually, I like riding
with drop bars. It's just getting on the bike that's the problem. I'm
thinking that some of you probably have toured with "butterfly" bars (I
guess that's the term). I definitely do not like straight mountain bike
bars! Were the butterfly bars okay for touring?
Sorry to be so vague on all of this. Thanks!!

Quoted message said:

Have you looked at the Bianchi Avenue?

Nice. That looks to be a perfect city commuter for those wanting little
bling for the thieves and a sweet cromo frame, and priced so that theft
doesn't totally leave you gutted. Shame about the single wall rims, but
with 36 spokes should be fine if you avoid the bigger potholes. :P I'd
almost be tempted to buy one to ride into the ground as a utility bike,
then build up a little fancier with some of the parts in the garage. 😄