Seven Years Of Commuting With My Trek Hybrid 7100

     As usual when I walk into a place of business I do not seem like anyone that someone would wait on. I had a 1974 Schwinn Le Tour. It was and is a great bicycle. Still cooking after all these years. It is the only bike I would probably ever need. Pretty original. Rims and all. Just not so pretty anymore. So I decided that I need another bike. 
     The salesperson asked if I would be racing or mountain biking. I said I just want something that I can ride to commute around town and back and forth to work. With the pleura of categories of bicycles available now I told him I do not know. So we landed on a hybrid. By this time the salesperson decided that I was their to buy something right then and there. Right or wrong. But I was going to leave with something. 
     Without wasting much time I was between the FX series and the hybrid series. I was told that the FX series was for fitness. The hybrid series was for casual riders to go to the coffee shop and such. Well I wasn't thinking about fitness or the coffee shop. Just a way to get around. Even though there were no other customers around, I sensed that the salesperson was growing tired of me. 
     So should I get the basic one or the one with shocks? Which ever one you want was the answer. Did you want pedals? Well that would make it easier to ride I think. You need reflectors and a rack. I always like reflectors and a nice rack. Do you want bags to carry things on your rack. Well yes I suppose. So I got the detachable grocery bags. All set. Do you think that someone could help me get it into my truck. Well the porter is at lunch. Do not worry, I can manage. 
     After 8 years the Trek 7100 hybrid has turned out to be a wonderful bicycle. I have switched tires many times and am rolling on the original tires. One cable broke a couple of years ago. I took it to the shop. I was told that I should replace all the cables. Get a new crank and derailleurs. Replace the chain. Replace the handlebar grips. Get new rear sprockets and the bill would be about $600. 
     I said if I traded it in how much is it worth after I had all this done. I was told about $50. That sounded good to me. So I told them to fix the cable and have not been back since. Really.
     The bike itself has been wonderful. Sits out in rain and all weather. Still rolls good. So I am still using it. Since I have rehabed a Raleigh Record and got a Nashbar single speed. Good biking!