Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Giant/Trek/Specialized/Others?

I have begun the initial stages of looking for a replacement for my xmart bike.

41yo, 6' 1" 265lbs (and dropping). Mostly ride paved trails and streets with some dirt trails and a bit of rougher stuff from time to time. All for recreation, My guess is my max riding time will be 2 hours at a time once I get back up into shape for it.

I am partial to Specialized as I am familiar with them and had one that I was very happy with long ago. Known others who had good experiences with them too. But, I am opening myself up to other makes/models because I don't want to put my blinders on.

Been (internet) looking at the Trek 4300, Giant Rincon, Specialized Hardrock XC, and Specialized Hardrock Sport. Any other models similar to those that I am missing? I am not sure who the major/good mfrs are these days.

Looking in the beginner $400 or less range MTN Bike. I thought maybe a comfort or hybrid at first but I think I would rather change tires and maybe a stem or bars if I find the MTB too uncomfortable in my older age. I pretty much did that with my old Specialized back in the early 90ies and it worked well for me.

Any of them. The Rincon has a pretty relaxed geometry, by the way, and is a pretty nice bike.

Pick up a trek 3900 for my son for pretty cheap and the 4300 is a pretty nice ride. The Specialize are nice too.

All strong choices,you won't believe how much better they'd ALL be than a cheapo.I rode a Giant Rincon years ago. It's a popular name, been used for years, it was of a less severe design that other mountain bikes of the day. Sites of the larger companies are bland at best , confusing and "too many" choices at worst. www.jamisbikes.com (http://www.jamisbikes.com) click right there .. www.bianchiusa.com (http://www.bianchiusa.com) ... there too. I'm not trying to sway you from your choices and I'm surely not suggesting your bikes are infererior. The sites I've shown are particularly easy to navigate, nice color pictures, clear and simple texts. In the final analysis, your choice depends on ??? more-over, what's available at the shops you prefer to patronize for whatever reason. From what I see, the wrong size is the only mistake you could make.

Thanks for the inputs. I am lucky in that I have a Giant and Trek dealers in town and just about every bike make available about 20 miles away in St Louis. Not sure of who is good but I am sure I will find that out when I enter the store. ;)

Thanks for the inputs. I am lucky in that I have a Giant and Trek dealers in town and just about every bike make available about 20 miles away in St Louis. Not sure of who is good but I am sure I will find that out when I enter the store. ;)

It's been said before, at least once on every I need a bike thread , I'll say it here, the dealer is far more important then the brand of bike. All bike makers use components from either Shimano, Campagnolo or SRAM, some components like hubs, rims and spokes come from elsewhere, but generally modern bike components, even moderate to lower priced ones, are of reasonably high quality, the price difference between a cheaper component and more expensive one, is often weight, materials and finish.

Once you find a good dealer, fit is the next important item, if a bike doesn't fit, it will be less then comfortable. Third is your riding type and style, you don't really need to know this, a good dealer, will ask about where you plan to ride, and what kind of budget you have, and make the appropriate suggestions.

A good dealer, will not wince when a Clyde walks into the store, but size will change what they will suggest, heavier duty wheels are usually the first consideration. Often for uber clydes and above, a hybrid will be suggested, because the more upright riding position gives more room for uh.... you know.

Nice thing about bikes, if you find yourself doing a lot of riding, you can use different bikes for different purposes, for example if you start with a hybrid, and find yourself doing a lot of technical trails, then you may add a mountain bike to the collection, if you find yourself logging more and more road distance, then a road bike can be added. Add fenders and a rack to the old hybrid, and use it for commuting and shopping runs, bikes are not expensive, $2500 buys a lot of bike, in any category. They don't take up much space either.....

Of course then you get guys like me, who swap components, and upgrade in stages, so that a bike originally intended for one purpose, ends up doing something very different. I started with a mountain bike, it's now closer to a hybrid, and heading toward being a road oriented bike.....

I owned a Specialized, it worked great, and I'm your size. The bikes you are interested in all look good; the only components on a stock bike I'd be concerned about are wheels, and that's only an issue on a racing-specific bike. You'll be fine.