Finding a Bike

[LessEverything]

Hello All!
I am 6'5 375 pounds, I am a former college offensive linemen. Since I was playing I have gained about 65 pounds, actually 85 pounds but I have lost some weight jogging.

Anyways I am looking for a bike. Something that will handle my weight/size. Can you recommend some bikes/brands etc? Can you tell me what to look for what to look out for? I really don't have a budget because I don't have an idea of what a good bike costs.

please help.

[markhr]

welcome dude

cyclocross with disc brakes - I am biased. Bicycles can go from 300 to name your price. Less than 300 for a new bike and the quality and strength may be compromised. The cyclocross bikes go for around USD700 to USD1200 and upwards. Just remember that as a clyde the wheels, frame and saddle are the most important things.

Sorry for the terms below I'm assuming that you'll ask if you don't know what I mean (I sometimes don't know what I mean :D :o )

I strongly recommend getting the wheels rebuilt by a good wheel builder as soon as you buy the bike. More, thicker spokes means a stronger wheel (for example try 36 spokes, stainless steel straight gauge 2.0, with brass nipples, laced 3 cross). A V-section rim with DOUBLE eyelets should be strong enough (for example try mavic CXP33 36 hole black anodised). Finally, the hub should have a wide flange to limit spoke breakage (my suggestion would be dtswiss 240s disc but they're an expensive hubset - any good quality hub with a relatively wide flange will do).

As long as the frame is good quality then you should have no problem with either steel or aluminIum. I went with aluminIum as I didn't want any rust headaches but a lot of the other guys here ride steel bikes with no problems.

There are a number of excellent saddle recommendation threads already, that is, saddle choice is purely an individual thing (it needs to fit your butt so what I find comfortable you may think is a brick).

For Cyclocross bikes with disc brakes try voodoo, redline, salsa, kona, opus, cannondale, mountaincycle, lemond, norco, zion, trek, etc

http://www.huntvalleybicycles.com/images/products/06bikes/06cannondale/06cann-cyclocrossdisc.jpg
http://2006.lemondbikes.com/images/2006_bikes/medium/poprad_disc.jpg
http://media.twango.com/m1/large/0014/55aa770bfd964d2b87f61b0cf43a35f7.jpg
http://www.norco.com/2007bikes/images/bikes_reg/96_1.jpg
http://brodiebikes.com/2006/images/bikes/large/romax.jpg

Anyway, hope there wasn't too much crap to sift through and I hope at least some of it helped.

[v1k1ng1001]

Having cracked a Cannondale at 230 lbs., I say give steel some consideration.

At your weight and strength, you may want to consider a touring frame or a vintage road frame along with a cyclocross frame.

I'd check out Surly and Soma framesets. They're inexpensive, durable and you can put the extra cash into building up a pair of clyde worthy wheels.

[Tom Stormcrowe]

Or the ultimate Clyde bike, the Specialized Hard Rock.......

[(51)]

What is your intended use (Road, dirt, combination)? I have a Trek 7200 which costs $500, it has held up well in the past 1 1/2 years.

It is best to go to your local bike shop(s) and ask them this question. I would expect to pay between $500-$1,500 for your first bike and a few add-ons.

And...Welcome aboard!

http://bestsmileys.com/welcome/16.gif

[LessEverything]

Awesome tips guys! I called my LBS last week but I always question salespeople. I never think they have my best intentions.

I think I will mostly be on the road but I might take it down a trail one day. I am really looking for a bike for fitness to offset my jogging (bad knees and back from football). I have a buddy who is also 300+ and he is a hardcore mountain biker. I will recommend him to this site as well. Thanks Again!

[markhr]

Awesome tips guys! I called my LBS last week but I always question salespeople. I never think they have my best intentions.

I think I will mostly be on the road but I might take it down a trail one day. I am really looking for a bike for fitness to offset my jogging (bad knees and back from football). I have a buddy who is also 300+ and he is a hardcore mountain biker. I will recommend him to this site as well. Thanks Again!

cool - well have a look at those cyclo-cross bikes and, as I'm sure you know, cycling beats running :D