New to posting on the forum, but have lurked since buying my XM700 a couple of years ago. Retired, and although I've always biked, was never a high mileage guy. My wife bought a Trek Verve low step due to poor knees, and spent the next two years raving about it. I resisted, as my conventional Trek 7500 was still going great, and I didn't need no "girlie" bike. But she wore me down, and approaching 70 yrs it became more attractive. Went to the LBS where we have bought all our bikes over almost 45 years, and there they had the XM. It was a "show model" that had made the rounds to trade shows by Trek, and then as a demo passed around to a few of the LBS area outlets. So a few scuffs, but a great deal on price.
Getting the perfect fit has been a bit of a challenge. Frame size is just a bit "too big" - I can straddle the top bar while flat footed, but there is no room to spare....LBS (and also later another one) strongly noted that going down one size would lead to more fitment issues than staying with the current size. After a slow buy parts and try process, and several trips to a couple of local shops for fittings, I've pretty much got it nailed - Brooks saddle, correct stem angle, best reach, etc. so it doesn't hurt me on longer rides.
The one remaining issue - I tip over when getting on/off! From seated, I can just touch the ground with my toes. Swinging a leg over the saddle is dicey on whether I'll make it. I've tended to look for spots, like off the edge of the pavement, where the bike can be a bit lower than the road surface, so I can get on it. Setting my old 7500 in the roller stand this winter, I did some measuring, and the XM pedals, at their lowest, are over 2" higher than the 7500. Meaning everything else on the XM is 2" higher. Looks like the only option is to replace the cranks or get smaller wheels (NOT). Or balance saddle height vs leg extension, which is my current mode in the tuning process.
All as prelude to:
Strongly thinking about getting both the Rock Shox fork, and the Bodyfloat/Kinekt seat post.
For the seat post - they say it adds 1 cm to the seat height before putting weight on it. I think I can deal with that....but not more. Any info would be appreciated.
And, a secondary item - I don't ride much a night...but has anyone wired in a rear light to their system? Just so irritating to have to recharge separately, when I have this big battery already on the bike.....
Getting the perfect fit has been a bit of a challenge. Frame size is just a bit "too big" - I can straddle the top bar while flat footed, but there is no room to spare....LBS (and also later another one) strongly noted that going down one size would lead to more fitment issues than staying with the current size. After a slow buy parts and try process, and several trips to a couple of local shops for fittings, I've pretty much got it nailed - Brooks saddle, correct stem angle, best reach, etc. so it doesn't hurt me on longer rides.
The one remaining issue - I tip over when getting on/off! From seated, I can just touch the ground with my toes. Swinging a leg over the saddle is dicey on whether I'll make it. I've tended to look for spots, like off the edge of the pavement, where the bike can be a bit lower than the road surface, so I can get on it. Setting my old 7500 in the roller stand this winter, I did some measuring, and the XM pedals, at their lowest, are over 2" higher than the 7500. Meaning everything else on the XM is 2" higher. Looks like the only option is to replace the cranks or get smaller wheels (NOT). Or balance saddle height vs leg extension, which is my current mode in the tuning process.
All as prelude to:
Strongly thinking about getting both the Rock Shox fork, and the Bodyfloat/Kinekt seat post.
For the seat post - they say it adds 1 cm to the seat height before putting weight on it. I think I can deal with that....but not more. Any info would be appreciated.
And, a secondary item - I don't ride much a night...but has anyone wired in a rear light to their system? Just so irritating to have to recharge separately, when I have this big battery already on the bike.....
