Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Need advice on a bike

Hi,

I am looking into purchasing a bike, but have no idea of where to start. i am 6' tall 410 lbs. I will mainly be riding on paved surfaces, but may ride a few park bike trails as well. Any help/advie would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks,

Daniel

Start out looking at a Trek Navigator, it's a classic starter bike for bigger guys. At your current weight, you may very well be looking at replacing wheels fairly soon because of spoke breakage. But then again you may get lucky and ride along fine for a good long while on the stock ones.

lots of the people here have started on a Specialized Hardrock they say they are tough as nails

I think you should consider a touring bike. They are specifically designed to carry a heavy load. It will be a verstile bike that you can ride and enjoy for decades. I started with a Trek Navigator... it's OK. I wouldn't enjoy riding it any more than 10 miles though. I have a touring bike that I use on club road rides, commuting, touring, and distance cycling. It's extremely comfortable and I have no problem with bike comfort on 100+ mile rides. It's tough as nails! I've even participated in a mountain bike race with it.

Hi,

I am looking into purchasing a bike, but have no idea of where to start.

Daniel:

Let's go see Rod at Aggieland Cycling. He's close to your size and A.C. sells Specialized Hardrock bikes. Free service for life, just pay for parts. I saw a Hardrock in there just this week. If you want, I'll meet you over there & we can enjoy looking at all the bikes, especially the ones that are "made of unobtainium blessed by the Pope, weigh less than a fart and disappear in a wind tunnel." You know, the bikes that you & I will never ride...

I'm always looking for an excuse to go hang around the bike shop.

TW

Sounds like fun to me.

D

Welcome! Check my sig, there's quite a few discussions on bike buying in there. With your size I would probably start off with a mountain bike and look towards a road bike as a benchmark reward for yourself :)

lots of the people here have started on a Specialized Hardrock they say they are tough as nails

Thats what I'm looking at right now :D

Looking at the Specialized Hardrock XC and Specialized Hardrock Sport

I just got an 07 Hardrock Sport and I'm very happy with my choice so far. You'll want to ride a few different styles to find what you like best. That's what I did and the Hardrock was the one that suited me best.

I just got an 07 Hardrock Sport and I'm very happy with my choice so far. You'll want to ride a few different styles to find what you like best. That's what I did and the Hardrock was the one that suited me best.

Nice, I'll be heading to a bike shop in my area on friday to check them out :)

What color did you end up getting?

Consider a folding bike (easier to transport, store), post to that forum for advice.

Nice, I'll be heading to a bike shop in my area on friday to check them out :)

What color did you end up getting?

When I bought my '07 a few months back, I went for the flashy colors. Black and White. lol

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1085/1350410269_40d681263d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stujoe/1350410269/)

Will turn over 600 miles on it tomorrow. It is my main ride and my commuter.

When I bought my '07 a few months back, I went for the flashy colors. Black and White. lol

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1085/1350410269_40d681263d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stujoe/1350410269/)

Will turn over 600 miles on it tomorrow. It is my main ride and my commuter.

Turn it into a road bike?

It is probably as much of a Frankenbike as you will probably see one made into, I imagine. It even has lights on it as of tonight. A mirror is next.

It is working out as a good commuter as well as a main ride for me, though. I certainly don't worry about the rough shoulders, speed bumps, potholes, curbs, broken beer bottles, or much of anything else. It still just eats everything up.

And really, everything on it, except for the Road Ends, I would have had to buy for any bike that I used as a commuter. Nice thing is, I can slap the Knobbies back on it in a couple of minutes and use it for limestone or dirt stuff like I did a couple of weekends ago.

It is not a speed demon and it definitely isn't light, though. Of course, neither am I! ;)