A few suggestions needed

[andymyers.net]

I'm a 27yo 265 pounder and haven't biked since I was 20 and 165ish. I used to ride my $200 walmart special for about an hour and a half 20 miles or so daily. It initially helped me drop 50 pounds (from 205 to 165) in just a couple months.

Well, now I am a father of 3 and while my wife has kept up with her health I haven't. I'm a clyde now but my true weight is probably 185.

I am looking at a $400 to $500 road bike with 100psi tireds and a padded seat at the bike shop. They have been really helpful. I wandered if any other clydes out there have advise for me in terms of brand and part specs? (tire weight, tire brand, frame brand, etc.)

The way I see it, this is a starter bike and hopefully by the end of the summer I will get in to a serious $2,000 setup when I am below 200lbs.

Right now I need to lose weight and be comfortable. I am also afraid I will crush my bike. :)

Looking forward to learning from you all!

[KingTermite]

At 265, you aren't a "big" clyde...not many bikes you wouldn't be fine on. About only bikes you'd probably have trouble with would be some really high-end road bikes that aren't designed for anything but skinny Lance Armstrong types.

[bdinger]

+1 to what KingTermite said. Just look for a 32+ spoke wheelset, and ride it!

Out of curiosity, what bike are you looking at?

Finally, good call on getting a bike from a shop. Building a good relationship with a shop definitely helps.

[CliftonGK1]

I'm 250, and have no problems with my beater 17 y/o Stumpjumper.
As long as you're not looking at some ultralightweight 12-spoked racing demon, just about anything you find should hold up just fine. 32 spoke 3-cross wheels would be the first consideration after fit/comfort.

[andymyers.net]

Thanks for your advise so far.

www.kgbikes.com (http://www.kgbikes.com) is the local shop where I am about to buy. It shows many of the bikes/brands they carry on their website.

I was look at one around $500 and thinking down the road I would ebay it and get a serious bike to reward myself.

[fuerein]

+1 to what KingTermite said. Just look for a 32+ spoke wheelset, and ride it!

Out of curiosity, what bike are you looking at?

Finally, good call on getting a bike from a shop. Building a good relationship with a shop definitely helps.

Agreed. Regarding the wheelset, it can also help to have the mechanic at the shop (if you don't know how to do so yourself) adjust the spoke tension appropriately to your weight. I just had the mechanic at a local shop check mine out the other day and he said he believed, due to my weight, my spoke tension needed to be at least 1.5x what the wheels had been manufacted at. :eek: Gotta get that fixed... Hopefully Sunday when he teaches me to true wheels.

[andymyers.net]

Wow, I may want to check a couple other bike shops in the area.

I was looking at Giant and Fuji in the $450 to $650 price range. The cheapers are older model years but brand new.

What brands are best/recommended?

[andymyers.net]

Does everyone usually pay the retail price in a bike store?

[lil brown bat]

Does everyone usually pay the retail price in a bike store?
If I bought another bike, probably I would. My first bike (my commuter) I bought from Bikes Not Bombs in Boston, where it was built by their ace teenage mechanics from donated parts. My second bike (my roadie) was a gift from my bro. I added on a lot of this and that from the lbs to both bikes. I strongly believe in keeping my lbs in business.

[andymyers.net]

Also what are the best brands?I am worried I am going to blow a bunch of money today and find that I should have bought something else...

[bdinger]

I'll say without getting too direct that if the LBS has good service, don't get too worried about price. If you pay retail, so be it, having a competent shop who cares about YOU is worth more than $50 off a $1000 bike.

[andymyers.net]

gotcha.

Do any of you use GPS or Odometer equipment?

[Bill Kapaun]

Since you plan on a possible upgrade later, have you considered looking at used bikes on Craigslist?

[andymyers.net]

Would it make sense to buy everything top of the line right now short of some 32 spoke wheels? When I drop the weight I could then get some of those flitty littl 12 spokers and have a nice rig?

I got a Fuji for $429 http://www0.epinions.com/bicycles_2002_Fuji_Team/display_~reviews and upgraded the shifters to nicer Shimano shifters instead of the little ones on the frame.

On the test drive I noticed it had a hard time getting onto the 3rd (larger) front gear and sometimes it would shift over too far. Once the chain came off altogether. I wander if it takes talent on my part or a better bike tech to adjust it to my needs?

Are the Giant and Fuji brands reputable?

[Tom Stormcrowe]

Giant and Fuji are both excellent bikes. One thing, keep an eye on that rear wheel if it's the Fuji, they had some bad wheels slip through QC. It's possible you may break a spoke. IIRC, there was a "silent recall" where Fuji was just doing very liberal warranty policy service on the rear wheels on some of their models, particularly the Touring model.

[andymyers.net]

I appreciate that feedback. I will be sure to ask the tech about it today when I pick it up. The real wheel is a 32 spoker and I think it's the 2002 model.

Anyway thoughts on my shifting problem, is the tech adjusting it wrong or does it just take some talent?

[Tom Stormcrowe]

Sounds like the limiting screw is a bit too open, 5 second adjustment....

Have the tech do a final adjustment on it is all it needs likely.