Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Big guy needs bike:)

Hi, I was guided over here by the fine folks in the Commuting forum. I'm 6'6, 260 lbs. and spent my childhood looking awkward on child-sized bikes. I need something strong, simple and reliable to get me around town, any suggestions on what to buy, and where to buy it? (I'm in Sarnia Ontario, if any of you guys are from this area)

Welcome aboard!

Check my sig out for a great starting point. There are a few taller guys on here, they may have other suggestions too.

Since I don't live near you, I can't recommend a bike store, but I would look for a Local Bike Shop (LBS) and talk to them about what you are wanting to do and have them measure you and tell you what you will need. It will really depend upon your inseam and chest length and arm length, etc..... If you have multiple LBS's, go see them all and see how they act towards you. I left the TREK store, because of the "attitude" in the building. I bought a Jamis instead. Then I bought two more bikes in less than 3 months from the same place.

I am 6'3" and ride a 61cm road bike and a 21" comfort bike. I prefer the road bike for the work outs, and then comfort for rides with my wife and friends.

Look 64-66 Cm frames if you get a roadie, and as to compact geometry, I don't have that conversion handy. I'd look around 25" in a Mtb frame. Ride a LOT of bikes and choose the one that calls your name with fit and comfort.

Your weight isn't a big issue other than getting wheels for the job. I generically recommend 36 spoke Deep V wheels, because I believe in the stronger the wheel, the better for you in the long run.

Not sure what your budget is, but if you want a road-oriented ride that has some beef, check out the Surly Cross-check and Long-Haul Trucker.

Jim

One thing you can do is check the local thrifts, classifieds, Craig's List, etc for an older steel bik ein your size that you can modify to suit your tastes.

Common mass-produced bikes came in as large as 25" and 27", but the 27" ones are pretty rare. There are a lot of 25" frames floating about though I just sold one last night), that you might be able to use. Anything over 27" was a custom build proposition.

For example, This One (http://baltimore.craigslist.org/bik/420353986.html) is in Baltimore. It's been up for sale for a long time, so maybe he'll ship it. Might be worth a try?

Also, if a more vintage bike sounds like something you might want to explore, ask over in the Classic & Vintage forum. Someone there might have something, or know someone who does.

I've got a 25" Trek 7200 (Hybrid) that would be about right for your size. I think Trek has some other 25" models as well.

Hi, I was guided over here by the fine folks in the Commuting forum. I'm 6'6, 260 lbs. and spent my childhood looking awkward on child-sized bikes. I need something strong, simple and reliable to get me around town, any suggestions on what to buy, and where to buy it? (I'm in Sarnia Ontario, if any of you guys are from this area)

Not from your area, although a quick check of Yellow.ca (type in Bicycle for the category, Sarnia, ON for the place) and you will find 3, looks like one real bike shop and a couple of bike/sports shops. Visit all three and see what they have. If none of them, turn your crank (pun intended), you can always pop over to Port Huron and see what's cookin' stateside, with the greenback dropping to CA$1.0327, it's starting to pay to shop in the US again. Hmmm, I wonder if my wife would like to shuffle off to Buffalo some weekend.:D

I'm an inch shorter then you with a very long upper body. Look for a long top tube on a bike. Measure from the seat post to the headset, you are looking for something over 24 inches. Many mountain bikes will have long top tubes, Rockies, and Cannondales do, the longest although I'm not a fan of their bikes are the Gary Fishers with the Genises frames. As for road bikes I'm not sure who has the longest.

Where to get a bike? I'm not familiar with Sarnia bike shops, but I've been to many shops in the area. Good Shops That I have dealt with.

London: All Seasons (Jeff the owner has fit big guys, including me,) and the Cycle Path

Strathroy: Doug and Marions, lower end bikes but they have a great reputation.

Chatham: Reynoulds - I think they are still there but they have openned two shops in London.

And finally if you are interested in the Surly Long Haul Trucker I think All Seasons can get them and there is also a guy up on the Lake about 30 minutes from Sarnia the name is I think Wawanosh Water Sports (or something like that) the Surley website did list him as a dealer. I contacted him last year about a LHT (I didn't buy one) and he could get them.

I hope all this helps.

I bought a 63cm used steel Jamis from this site: http://tallrides.com/ It was in mint condition, shipped to my LBS to put the headset, wheels etc back on for me. I'm 6'4, 260 and an aluminium Specialized bike was vibrating me to death..

I believe there was a thread in for a 66cm bike that a guy wanted to sell . This is an tall
frame that should fit you good do a search for it.

Dynodan