Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Road bike for the Clyde

Hey Guys,

I've been biking off and on now for over 2 years. I started with a Trek Pilot 2.1 in 52cm that was too small. Moved to a Salsa La Raza 54cm to big. Now looking to go to traditional geometry in 52cm range. What I want to know is, what would you guys recommend for a 225 lb clyde that is short-legged and long in the torso? I hoped on a fuji roubaix the other day in 52 and it fit like a glove. However, I'm trying to buy used off of Craiglist or ebay and the fuji brand is hard to find. Anybody got any other suggestions?

Thanks!

How much are you planning on spending?

There are good bikes that you can get for around $500.00 for a road bike. It will not have the best components, but it will have components that will last for years as long as they are not abused. There are multiple brands out there, go to a few different LBS' and talk to them about what you want and how much you want to spend. You can also look at the used on craigslist, but remember you will need to ride them all to figure out if you will like them or not.

I'm built pretty much like you, only 40 pounds heavier. I ride a trek pilot 2.1, and love it, but that's just me. Maybe look around for a specialized roubaix triple? When I was test riding bikes it came down to between the two. My favorite LBS dropped specialized when the '07 year came out, and the shop at the other specialized store in town here is a lawsuit waiting to happen. Thus the Trek won out for me. All things being said if my fav LBS had kept the specialized line it would have been a coin flip between the two.

I highly recommend checking out Lemond Bikes. They are known for having longer than average top tubes and shorter standover heights. I'm built like you, short legs long torso. Lemonds fit me better than anything else I have tried.

www.lemondbikes.com (http://www.lemondbikes.com)

Randy

Lemonds traditionally fit that short limb / long torso physique. Luckily you can find a lot of their older steel frames on ebay. Most of them are Reynolds 853 with a few of the newer Sarthe and Croix de Fer frames being True Temper OX Platinum. The older Lemonds still look classy too.

Another thing to do is look at the geometry of that Fuji and compare it to what you find used. For example, on ebay you can always ask the seller for the effective top tube measurements, etc. After a while you'll sort of know what brands and models will fit you best.

I'm the long torso clyde too. I love the Lemond fit.

Also note that different makers measure differently. Trek may measure center to center where as Fuji may measure center to top. Result, Fuji would be larger in a 52.

I ride a Kestrel Talon. It's an '03 and I have lots of miles on it and I rode it from my heaviest of 245 down to 208 and everything in between!

-Mike:D