All right folks. Newbie needs guidance. I tried a mountain bike but really liked the feel of the cross from bianchi. of course for 2300 I should like it. I also tested the kona jake the sanke. I was wondering what you all would do. i need to lose weight at 6'5 255 I will break most bikes. I will be mostly road but since i am not confident will be on sidewalks and getting hit by the pot holes and sidewalk ramps. I want to ride longer periods but am not cooridinated enough for a pure road bike yet. do you think the cross concept is worth the money. i don't mind spending money but i want good stuff for it not just pinache. you all know more then me so what is a tall fat guy to do. the folks at a bike shop said that the cannondale and the trek frames will be too small and recommended a scott bike which i never heard before and i also was told to do the GT nomade. please offer guidance. i wanted the hybrid but at this point the 3 8 shifters are not fast enough down hills and i coast rather then pedal. so now you know me what do i do. please help. i would love to be 6'5 210.
The BikeForums Team
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This is an archived thread, you can find the full version of this thread, with images, links and more content here.
Hey, in the Road Cycling Forum, near the top of the first page is a sticky Clydesdale thread. That's what guys like you call yourselves! Anyway, read up! Lots of good info in there.
centexwoody
I'm 6'5" 217 lbs & have ridden a Giant mt. bike for the past year. Dropped 10 lbs and have kept it off. Yea, the gearing is not great but I didn't spend a lot of money on the bike ($ 225?) and have put about a 100 bucks 'improvements/modifications' on it to make it more comfortable to ride. Now I'm ready to spend about $ 1200 upgrading to a cyclocross bike and since I've been riding steadily for a year, have a MUCH better idea of what I want in a bike.
The issue for me was not money but how many versions / options / etc. there were out there for bikes with the clearest info being: I couldn't know until I rode something steadily for a few months what fit me and how & where I would actually ride. Now I know the cyclocross bikes are really attractive for how & where I ride (on country roads with variable surfaces, etc.) and I'm dreaming of a Surly CrossCheck or something similar.
I don't think you have to spend a bunch of $$$ to get a comfortable bike to ride to see what your own style & pace may be. Bike Forum has wonderful threads on all kinds of items: frames, seats, pedals, etc. but until you actually start to ride something, anything, you won't know how to relate all that to your own experience.
darkmother
I think you will want to look carefully at some good strong wheels whatever bike you decide to buy. A lot of off the shelf bikes come with wheels that are pretty marginal for big guys. My recomendation is to have a decent wheelbuilder put together a wheelset with minimum 36 spokes, front and rear, and a beefy rim. A bike that will accomodate 135mm axle spacing, like the Surly Crosscheck, will help too.
fallsjay
Thank you all bery much for your replies i appreciate all your input.
tozovr
I'm 5' 9" and about 220# and I ride a kona JtS...it had held up amazingly well to my abuse.....watch some cyclocross vids and see what kind of abuse they take...