Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - best New bikes for $800-1200 US

OK,
I know that the most frequent question is WTB??? So....I wish to change it to:

If you hAve $800-1200 on a new bike what would you buy?

I'am definately a Clydesdale....5'8" 260# 30" inseam. You guys are an inspiration.
Thanks,
CDarby67

Test ride a Specialized Seqouia.

ask about the Surly Pacer with a QBP parts package.
It's a copy of a highly regarded design; and is a really sweet bike.

Whatever bike you wind up with; ask to upgrade the wheels at the time of sale.

older Jamis Aurora or Nova...

Jamis Aurora, Novara Randonee, Trek 520. All Steel frame touring models. If you can, spare a $200 more.. then a Rocky Mountain Sherpa 30 for $1400. My first bike was a road bike, Aluminum Frame, nice road compnents. The bike didn't serve all my purposes. I wanted to be on the bike as much as I could. I wanted to go to the store on it, ride it to work, go on long and fast rides, family rides hauling some gear, and just putzing around the block. Well the road bike did well for fast (but not so long) rides. Compared to a touring bike with a steel frame and longer wheel base the comfort factor is no comparison... I can stay on the touring frame all day. I tried to do all I could to fit the road bike to commuting and hauling stuff... but, to no avail. Chainstays were too short... my heel would hit my panniers. Really tough to get fenders on, and then when you do, your tire size is pretty limited (23 mm and below.)

Don't get me wrong, I liked riding the road bike. But I'm planning on several long road rides (80-200 miles in one day) this spring and summer... and there is know way that I was going to be able to spend extended hours on the road frame. So yeah, I think it's nice to think of ourselves as "fast" and we need the bikes they ride in the Tour de France, or something that looks like them, but let's be truthful... we're clydesdales... and we need bikes built for clydesdales. Strong frames, comfortable but still move along faster than we are capable, strong wheels (at least 32 spokes and preferrably around 36), and a little bit wider tire (28 mm is still pretty fast.)

Get the bike that fits you. Get the bike that makes you want to be on it all the time. Get the bike that you can enjoy wherever you take it. For me, that was a touring cycle (just happens to be the Rocky Mountain Sherpa 30.) If I don't ride this bike 100+ miles every week, it's cuz I'm sick in bed. I hope that's the way you'll feel about your bike. My second choice was the Jamis Aurora - $850 new. Had a very nice ride. As a starter, don't get caught up in what is "fast" and what is "lightweight." As you get fit... you'll get faster... As you lose lbs.. you'll be lighter on your bicycle. Get a bike that you can ride everywhere, otherwise, you might get frustrated... and you'll be mad that you spent $1200 on those two wheels that sit in your garage.

Interesting question. I'd have to say for me, right now, probably a Redline Monocog Flight 29er. I have road covered (Trek 7.3FX), geared mountain covered (Specialized Hardrock) but would love a SS. I rode a Monocog and came back gigglng. Too much fun, but definitely not for everyone.

As far as a general purpose bike, that's a very hard question. I had a good amount in my bank account and decided it was time for a good commuter. I looked at quite a few but it came down to Volpe vs Trek FX. Ironically, the bike I always had lusted over (Volpe) lost out to the Trek FX. Had the Volpe been a '07 model, I think things would have been different.

My suggestion is to just start riding something at the shop, then compare it to others. Where something = whatever the first bike the salesperson recommends. Shop around extensively, then buy the bike that just feels right.

I bought a Bianchi Volpe last weekend to replace the Specialized Sirrus I'd been commuting on for three years. The Volpe is a sweet ride! The steel frame makes all the difference in the world, and at under $900 (I paid $859 plus tax), it gives fantastic bang for the buck!

For me, the Volpe is a great all-rounder. It's classified by Bianchi as a cyclocross bike, but it also serves as a great commuter/recreational bike, and I reckon I could use it as a tourer as well.

I test rode the Jamis Aurora and it just wasn't for me. It's much more of a true touring bike; definitely wants to track straight and didn't have the responsiveness or the handling of the Volpe. I also once owned a Specialized Sequioa, but the compact geometry never fit me properly, and there is a great difference (for me, anyway) in the feel of a ride on an aluminum frame and a steel one.

Bottom line: Ride as many bikes as you can as much as you can, make sure you're getting the right size (not one that's "pretty close"), and you'll know it when you've found found the right bike.

OK,
I know that the most frequent question is WTB??? So....I wish to change it to:

If you hAve $800-1200 on a new bike what would you buy?

I'am definately a Clydesdale....5'8" 260# 30" inseam. You guys are an inspiration.
Thanks,
CDarby67


If I had to do it over again, I probably would have went with a Trek 520 or other touring bike. The Sequoia is a nice, fast bike, but the 32 spoke alex wheel in the rear really isn't up to clyde duty.

$1200 and this would be my only or primary bike ?
probably a conservative steel frame like surly cross check
or LHT with lx/x.7 mtb components,
upright touring handlebars and 40-42mm tires.
my lbs could help custom fit/adjust it to me.
OR-
a RANS Rocket recumbent

+1 on the Crosscheck. The Volpe is also a great choice, but there are things one would want to swap - building up a Crosscheck gets you what you want off-the-bat.

I'm going to catch hell for this,but; why not try a Giant FCR4 for $440? Or any FCR model? Have had mine a year and a half with no problems! I'm at 300# at the moment. A clyde fer sure! Just be sure to get a narrower seat in the front nose.

Whatever you do, make sure to check ebay. You'll get a $1600 bike for $1000 or less. Just make sure it is from a good ebayer, you don't want to pay $1000 and get nothing.

Check out the Fuji line of bikes. They are sorta like the Toyota of bike brands. They are just as good as the other brands but don't have the big name riders to go with them. Speaking of Toyota, Fuji is now the official bike of the Toyota-United team. The Fuji Roubaix with carbon seatstays and 105 drivetrain can be found for less than $1,000 albeit just a little less.
Juan

Dare to be different - RANS Crank Forward - not a recumbent, not a comfort bike. It's a Crank Forward design for enthusiasts. I love mine...

My Page (http://home.comcast.net/~i.bike/)
RANS (http://www.ransbikes.com/)
RANS Crank Forward (http://www.crankforward.com/)

One thing to do is ask your local bike shp if they have any of "last years" bike still boxed. You might be surprise to find that a lot of them do and will sell you one at a really good discount. I bought a Trek Pilot 5.2 at a really good discounted ($700 off) price simply because it was last years model.

Gentlemen,
Thank you, each and all. The best advice seamed to be: ride as many bikes as you can in the LBS's and choose from those. Wow, I had too much fun. I finally settled on a Specialized Rockhopper Comp disc. That bike felt miles different then the Trek, Cannodale, and others I rode. I was torn between the Rockhopper Sport 2007 $500 and the Rockhopper Comp 2007 $900 that I bought. The front forks sold me. The saddle felt miles better than the others and the way I felt balanced on the frame 17.5" was the key to the whole purchase. I pick my baby up today! Monday March 26.
Thanks again!

C Darby

Oh! BTW next question post will be written immediately! Subj: what a new MTB'r needs for equipment.

I'm 6' 1", 240 pounds, and have been riding a Trek 1000 (started around 260).
That's below your price threshold, but the 1500/1600 are right about the middle.
I find the frame geometry very comfortable. You should definitely ride a number
of different frames (Trek, Giant, Specialized, maybe Felt or Cannondale) to see which
one feels & fits best. At that price point, all the components will be about the same
(probably 105 stuff).

at 6'0 240 (when i bought the bike, im' about 10 lighter now) a trek pilot 1.2 fit the bill at $1000 with a cadence sensing speedometer and a set of cheap clipless pedals. 600+ miles now and none of the CF or aluminum is complaining from an 80% (8 out of 10 weekly possible commutes) 6mile each way commute. the only issue I have is that the bike wasn't meant for wet-weather commuting and I'm seeing rust on several bolts after a relatively dry winter and nightly storage under a tarp.

trek 1500, felt f75 f80 f90 or one of their z series

The 07 Trek 6700 is a great looking bike. Almost regret getting my rockhopper comp. Almost :)

Gentlemen,
Thank you, each and all. The best advice seamed to be: ride as many bikes as you can in the LBS's and choose from those. Wow, I had too much fun. I finally settled on a Specialized Rockhopper Comp disc. That bike felt miles different then the Trek, Cannodale, and others I rode. I was torn between the Rockhopper Sport 2007 $500 and the Rockhopper Comp 2007 $900 that I bought. The front forks sold me. The saddle felt miles better than the others and the way I felt balanced on the frame 17.5" was the key to the whole purchase. I pick my baby up today! Monday March 26.
Thanks again!

C Darby

The whole time I was reading this I thought I was going to be the wierdo to suggest a mountain bike. I'm currently in the process of purchasing a KHS Alite 300 but, wow, I'm jealous. That's a beutiful bike. If you are wondering about trail gear, you may want to try the MTB forum. Thats where the uber stump-jumpers hang out. If you are just trail riding (dirt paths), its the same stuff most any biker needs; a pump, water bottle, maybe some tools or a first aid kit.