Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Need Help With Bike Selection (New Rider, No Money)

Hey Guys,

I am in the market for a bike. I would like to start training for triathlons, but I am a poor college student and don't have $1000 to spend. I am looking for something durable, but still inexpensive. I would also like to get a hybrid bike since I might do some offroading. So far, I haven't seen a whole lot out there, but a few choices I saw were these:

Trek 7200/7300 (25")
Diamondback Insight 1 '08 (23")

That's all I could find with the bigger frames. I am around 6'5" and 220lbs. I would also like to spend between $250 and $400. If I do this more often and start to compete, I will be able to spend quite a bit more.

Thanks

Triathon and hybrid? Not compatible use and goals!

Here's one possible choice, but may be a tiny bit small at 58 CM, it depends on whether you're leggy or long torsoed.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Bicycle-Fuji-Team-05-slightly-used_W0QQitemZ290177648247QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item290177648247

Here's a 60 CM Trek 1000
http://cgi.ebay.com/Trek-1000-60cm-Road-Bike_W0QQitemZ270181865957QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item270181865957

Sorry, this bike is more for training for the next several months, not specifically triathlons. Perhaps a road bike would be ok?

Also, I am long legged.

OK, I'd look at 60 CM then at a leggy 6'5". I'd go with a road bike, in all honesty. It can be onverted as a TT bike by clipping on an aerobar
http://homepages.nyu.edu/~jh15/bikes/images/mbars.jpg

Go as light weight as you can on a bike and do sprint/easy intervals at a 1:1 ratio to build up your aerobic capacity and explosive sprint ability on alternating days with day 2 being recovery and at least one day out of 7 off the bike.

Look at Craig's List as well. Where are you located, by the way, I can set up a web spider looking for something local or nearby or on Ebay and pass it along to you. ;)

You can likely pick up a garage queen road bike from the 80's or 90's for between $20.00 and $200.00. You are a student you said? Another place is the salvage at your college. They usually sell off abandoned bikes, ad with a bit of work, you can get quite a nice bike that way ;)

How much damage can a road bike take? I'm afraid I'll brake it in a week.

At 220 pounds, I wouldn't sweat it ;) You're well within the upper safety limit for anything but the ultralightweight pure race bike with foil walled Scanium tubing. I'd look at strong wheels, but it's not as much an issue for you as with our heavier Clydes. I was riding on 36 spoke Araya Box rims at around 300 pounds with no issues with a 88 model Raleigh Pursuit. Right now, I'm riding a Specialized Allez with custom hand built Velocity Deep V's. I weigh in at 211-215, depending on time of day as of now.

How about the Trek 7.2 FX?

I have ridden the 25" Trek 7200 just over 7,000 miles in the past two years. It has held up very well under my weight (330-350#). At 220# you will not hurt it. If you are looking for a mid-range comfort bike this one is good. You may want to replace the shock seatpost.

The only complaint I have so far is that the BB/cranks have been making a lot of clicking noise lately (I'm not sure how long they are supposed to last).

I had this bike serviced (including spokes) at 2,000 and 4,000 miles. I popped a stock spoke at the 2,000 mile mark, but since they have been hand built with DT spokes there has not been an issue.

I was able to find a couple bikes that maybe are better:

Iron Horse 5.0 Road Bike
Lamborghini Classica Road Bike

Are either of these good?

Both are. Just make sure they fit you. ;)

You can likely pick up a garage queen road bike from the 80's or 90's for between $20.00 and $200.00. You are a student you said? Another place is the salvage at your college. They usually sell off abandoned bikes, ad with a bit of work, you can get quite a nice bike that way ;)

+1

Also, check with the St. Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army, and Goodwill in your area. If you watch closely, some gems will appear. FWIW, the local St. Vincent's here has a huge bike sale every other Saturday, and there's always something you could ride for under $40.

Keep an eye on police auctions, as well. You never know what you'll find. Good luck!

When you do decide to lie down serious coin - look at the Cervelo Soloist.

It is one of the very few bikes out there that truly works as a TT and Road bike. Most road bikes end up with weird stability issues when you simply clip on aerobars, because they aren't designed with that in mind. The Soloist is, and works.

As for now - used is good. More bike for the money.