Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - I can't find a big mountain bike

I've been searching for a new bike for a few weeks now. I currently have a size 23 HardRock that needs a new shock. I figured instead of investing in an old, cheap bike, I'd upgrade to something new.

I thought about cyclocross and road bikes, and hybrids. All have good functionality, but not my "thing". I've always had Mountain Bikes.

So I go looking for a new upscale mountain bike. I want quality - good components and a super shock. These bikes exist for about $1000 - Cannondale Caffeine 3, Trek 6700 Disc, etc. I try these bikes out, and the XL size is too short for me. I'm shocked. The salespeople all tell me its the new geometry. Real low in the back and then it's the right height up front. But I'm leaning all over the handlebars and its real uncomfortable. The seat post is about 2' out of the frame. To me, it looks like a setup where it will snap on me.

Have mountain bikes changed so much in 4 years that I can't find one for a 6'5" rider? The standover is about 31" on these bikes. My cheapo hardrock has a 34" standover, and the handlebars are about 4" higher.

How is a mountain bike supposed to fit? I can't believe the seatpost is supposed to stick all the way out, and I'm supposed to be falling onto the handlebars.

For some reason, the $400 mountain bikes come in larger sizes. A trek 4500 comes in 22.5" and 25" even. Wonderful. But the component set is not what I want.

It's a bit frustrating - I'm not sure where to look for a well-spec'ed XXL mountain bike.

I saw a 23in '07 Rockhopper at the LBS last week. Thing looked HUGE.

And yeah, the new craze is lots of seatpost due to the sloping top tube. I don't mind it so much, my Hardrock fits me great, but some dislike it quite a bit. I can definitely see why.

I am 6' with about a 33 inseam and have a new 19 inch HardRock with about 6.5 inches of seat exposed. It seems to fit me very comfortable. I am not upright like a comfort but don't feel like I am falling on the bars and my legs have the right amount of flex.

I saw they make a 24" HardRock and a 23" RockHopper. Those may not be high end enough for you, though. Once you get into the StumpJumpers, I think the max is 21". Not sure why they do that.

Maybe an adjustable stem might help get the feel back to the older bikes? I am not sure what you could do about a lot of seat height, though, unless you are looking at going with a comfort type bike.

I haven't a clue what the prices are like, but have a look at www.zinncycles.com .

Longer seatpost (410 mm, maybe?) + spacers in the headset (an inch or so) + a steeper angle on the stem. You might even look into some riser bars.

Talk to the dealer - if they really want to make the sale, then they should be willing to make a couple of adjustments and part substitutions. If they won't, or they want to charge you an arm and a leg for changes, then I'd find another dealer.

-DR

Many men your height have this problem. A man recently posted very similarly to you. Myself and others offered reassurance that it would be OK touse the 21" in the particular brand he wante, the top-tube between the two was LESS than 1/2 cent.difference. I'm hard-pressed here and now to do that, you know better maybe. I did see one not long ago,they're out there. You could perhaps consider another brand. Companies can run-out of certain sizes in some models at the depots as well. Some LBS may call around more than others. I've come to know that many LBSs very much avoid calling central warehouse distributors, they need to "make freight" because bikes,if sent fed-ex, ups etc. can cost 35 to $45. They really do try to avoid that.

If you look at the link in my Sig - you'll see my Hardrock, with the huge seatpost. There's no issue weight wise as the seatpost is over size. It will go up. I am however an inch or two shorter than you so you'll need an extra inch of seatpost from that :eek:

You might want to consider going to a 29er - but surly, salsa, et al are expensive goto http://www.bike-alog.com/29ermtb/ to see whats out there.

I saw a 23in '07 Rockhopper at the LBS last week. Thing looked HUGE.

Actually, that's not a bad idea: http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=22165

Rockhopper Comp Disk:

23" frame
33.4" standover
Avid mechanical disk brakes
Shimano Deore drivetrain
RockShox Tora forks
MSRP: $880

It'd be a step up from your old Hardrock, certainly (it'd be a step up from mine too... tempting). If you're worried about the strength all that exposed seatpost, you could upgrade to a nice Thompson and still stay within your $1000 budget:

http://www.blueskycycling.com/product350_47_-Thomson-Aluminum-Elite-Seatpost.htm
http://www.blueskycycling.com/product648_47_-Thomson-Layback-Seatpost.htm

(I'd probably go with the straight 30.9 x 367mm, if you get the 23" frame).

-DR

http://www.fisherbikes.com/bikes/large_image.asp?series=genesis&bike=HKEK



this is what I have been riding, and I am 6'4", 279 lbs and I feel good on it. The frame is 21"

Thanks for the replies on my vent post! That Rockhopper does look interesting. It appears to be bigger than the Cannondale and Trek ones. My Hardrock is a size 23, so this should be pretty close. Same company even. The store I went to that sells Cannondale also sells Specialized - it's where I bought my Hardrock. I asked them about XXL bikes, and they said they were all sold out for this year. I don't know about that - but they did check the master computer for Specialized. They did offer to replace/rework the handlebar mount on the Cannondale for free. I really need about 3" higher up so I'm not falling over the bars. But they did not have any parts in stock, and wanted a deposit. I walked out of there.

As much as I want a higher component bike, I may not be able to find one. I like the 29er idea a lot, and they do fit me nicely at XL frame, but they are out of my budget by a long shot. The cheapest I can get into is about $1500 at the LBS. I want gears. Of course I could try the Ibex Section 29 for $1000 I suppose.

This aggressive geometry on mountain bikes just isn't comfortable for me. Tonight I'm off to the famous Continental Bike Shop in Hazel Park to take a look. They're supposed to be top notch, so hopefully this will work out there. Maybe the new model year will have something new.

Hrm, I wonder why they said they were out.. unless Specialized is clearing out their inventory getting ready for '08 models. I bought my '07 Hardrock in July, and it had *just* hit the dealer floor (literally, they built their first batch about two days before I bought one).

Try calling Specialized and see if they can recommend something? Also rumor has it that '08 Rockhoppers will get a 29er option....

The shop probably just wants to sell a bike that they have in stock, rather than go to the trouble of ordering up one that actually fits. Bravo for taking your business elsewhere.

-DR

I called up another Specialized store in Dearborn, and they checked the computer and told me that Specialized was sold out of 23" Rockhoppers for 07, and the 08's should be out in a month. Right after the 4th of July. So, I think I'll just have to wait a month. I imagine I'll just put up with the bad shock on my Hardrock for a few more weeks. Not a big deal.

29er would be nice if it was affordable. The $1500 ones are just out of my budget!

Wow, completely sold out of 23's for the year? Crazy... they must not have made very many of them.

Well Fleet, if you want a '07 I know where you can find one. Dunno if they'll ship it, though :).

Yeah, that's an interesting thought, bdinger, but I think I'll just wait a month for the 08s. I like to kick the tires before I buy any vehicle!

Mountain bikes were originally based on more or less the same geometry as road bikes with a flat top tube. Then in order to increase ground clearance bottom bracket heights were increased, which of course increases the stand over height. After enough riders sacrificed the family jewels on the top tube, manufacturers started using sloping and curved top tubes to decrease the stand over height. This means more seat post showing in order to achieve the same relation between the bars and the seat.

The stand over height is largely irrelevant in sizing a mountain bike, it is the theoretical top tube length and the angle, height and length of the head tube that are interesting. You need to get a bike with a long enough top tube that you are not crunched up and a high enough head tube that the bar height and seat height are in the appropriate relationship when you raise the seat to the appropriate level. If you look at the geometry of the bikes you will see that they measure a theoretical top tube length by measuring a flat line from the head tube to seat tube, how far up the seat tube this point is depends on how much the top tube slopes. Looking at the Trek 6700 this is likely a point 4 inches up the seat tube, as the bars will be at least another couple inches above this it would be reasonable to think that the bike is intended to be set up with 5 – 6 inches of seat post showing. You indicated concern with 2 inches of post showing, that suggests that you had the seat way too low. Having the seat that low actually decreases the length of the cockpit, as the seat goes up it moves back and lengthens the cockpit.

I am 6’7” and ride an upgraded 22 inch frame Norco Rival, it suits me fine. When I put the seat in a position where I am comfortable riding on the road I have about 10 inches of post showing and combined with the high bottom bracket I am up in the clouds. I have to come off the seat in order to safely stop. This is not what the bike was designed for but it is actually really comfortable. When I ride the trails I lower the post to probably 5-6 inches so I can get my feet down easily, when doing downhill I drop it all the way.

My winter commuter is an old 22 inch Marin (a little small for me), probably similar to your old bike in terms of geometry, it is dwarfed by the Norco despite the measurements appearing to be the same. The riding experience is completely different between the two bikes, off road there is no way I would take the Marin near the stuff I ride on the Norco.

Andymac - that is a fantastic writeup. Thanks a lot. Very informative. I wasn't complaining about 2" of seat tube though - but what seemed like 2 feet of seat tube showing - I was up in the clouds, as you say. With that much seat tube out, I worry about snapping it since I'm well into Clyde range. Anyways, lots of good info there

Sorry misread that.
I routinely run seat posts near the minimum insertion line. I weigh 235 but regularily wear a pack with a laptop, food, clothes etc that puts my easily into the 260 range. I bent a seat post while riding downhill and slamming down onto the seat during one of my less than elegant attempts at flight but I have never broken one.

1. if you're worried about the seatpost snapping, just buy a thomson, they're as great as everyone says

2. back when I sold specialized, hardrocks were built around a comfort geometry ($200-$500), whereas stumpjumper geometry ($1000+) was a toned down version of their agressive S-Works race geometry and rockhoppers were somewhere in between in terms of design and pricepoint. Specialized, in comparison to Cannondale for instance, ran a more agressive geometry (lower, longer) at every price point.

3. so what i suspect is that you *might* find the 23" rockhopper longer and lower than your hardrock, meaning you'd be better off modding a 21" frame

4. I really like specialized but, if you're stuck between sizes, it might be a good idea to try another brand.

Check the FELT niners they are bigger and the geometry seems to be closer to what you might be use to