Overview

After leaving my old Trek 7200 out for a New England winter, I bought myself a used 720 off of Ebay a few years ago. I paid around 180 dollars with shipping; which for the newer 720 models is a good buy. A recent browse through ebay shows that the last few models for sale have ended with bidding around 180-220, shipping included.

Durability: A big + for the Trek 720

I've had this bike for around 2 years now and it rides flawlessly. I don't bike with frequency, but I venture outdoors a few times a month. I've hit a tree or two along the way while also having an intimate moment with a guardrail at about 20 miles an hour; so it's taken some punishment and has shown enviable resilience.

Specs

***The Trek 720 (Hybrid)***

> made with a Cro-Moly (steel) frame.

> 700/38c wheel size

> invert tires

> suntour(TM)cassette(suntour no longer in the bike parts business)

> alloy rims

> quick release seats and wheels for hassle-free adjusting(perfect for a cycling ignoramus like myself)

> modern Shimano cantilever braking system (wire comes in from side of break inside of through middle)

> Silver colored frame

> Shimano Rear Derailleur



My Amateurian Experience

Personally I've found this bike to ride quite nicely after a slight fine-tuning of the gears (basically my trial and error attempts with a screwdriver). It rides quite smoothly on pavement but I seem to get passed by road bikers feeling a little more breeze more as I did with my old Trek 7200. If my memory suits me, the wheels of the 720 are slightly wider than the 7200. I think the 720 wheel has a width of 38mm. I've found the bike, like other hybrids labeled "all terrain" struggle mightily on sand and mud. The tires are unable to grip soft surfaces and the bike usually gives out to the side causing some frustration.

It's a bike for middle-class middle people and everything middle

I recommend this bike to non-competitive riders. Naturally, a hybrid bicycle makes tradeoffs so that one can forego buying both a mountain bike and a road bike. It is the optimal choice a suburban commuter or in places with a mix of both off-road and pavement cycling options. One day I plan to take a bike trip around New England, so I want to have the versatility of both road and trail. It's impossible to bring two bikes along, so a hybrid should do just the trick for me!




Recommended: Yes