Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Big guy.... need a good bike - HELP :D

Hey everyone.

As I said - I'm a big guy. 130kg or about 290 pounds and quite tall 195-196 or 6'4 - 6'5 ....
I want an all-around bike to start using my car less, and to add even more to my daily gym routine. I need a bike :

1. that's big enough for how tall I am
2. that's set up [strong rims/frame/tires] right for how heavy I am
3. I've moved for a while in my house just out of town so I can learn for my exams in peace and I'd like to start biking my way around town and from there till home, and also a bike that will take the horrible bumps and craters we've got on our tarmac around here and the occassional fun forest / hill ride.
So an overall bike that will be COMFORTABLE [I'd hope for a fat seat for my big ***] and that will take the punishment of a 290 pound guy jumping and fooling around with it.

WHAT in the world are my best options , don't know just yet how much I can afford , but I'd like to see some options because I don't really know much about bicycles yet, though I like trolling forums about anything that gets my interest and I hope you can help me.

Called a bike store that imports decent brand bikes and the woman said a few things about wheels and framesizes , obviousely enough , even though I've always been a motorcycle and car freak, I don't know squat about bike specs. Again, HELP :D

I've just gone through the same thing. I'm in the process of shopping for a bike and at 360 I was worried too. What the bike shop told me is that most mid to high end bikes are made to be punished by the smaller guys and they can take a beating. Obviously biggies like us aren't going to be able to take it off a 6' drop but for commuting and puttering around urban and light trail for a start there should be no problem. I have been looking at the Merida 500 series and 900 series, I also checked out the Trek 6500 series. Apparently the Trek has a little bit of better frame but the Merida has better components. I also chose disk brakes and Air shox. The air shox are better cause you can preload them a little stiffer.

So I am going with the Merida Matts TFS 900 D, on an 18 inch frame. The main reason is that I can get the frame in my size, (it's a bit hard to get the larger frames in Korea, most bike shops import only up to 17 inch and it's a hassle for them to get a bigger frame. (oh yeah, I'm 6'0" and 360lbs, down from 385 jsut 2 1/2 weeks ago)

Also for a ball park figure there are a few web sites that suggest frame sizing your bike. Just type in: sizing a mountain bike, in any search engin. I've had a great time shopping for my bike and mine comes home next Saturday. Enjoy,

Ttibby...

Where do you live? I'm 7' 350# and I started out on 25" Trek 7200. The cost was about $500.00 US. Once you get the bike you can get a seat that fits your needs.

It really depends on what type of riding you enjoy, and whether you prefer a more traditional road posture, or something a bit more upright. I just bought a new ride and here's what I decided was best for me.

I have been road riding with a mountain bike the past couple of years. I wanted to get back on to a more road friendly ride, and after a lot of research and consideration, I ended up with a Surly Long Haul Trucker. It is a touring frame, so it is designed to carry heavy loads, like me (300lbs). The complete bike costs $985, and has better spec than any other bike in its class at the same price point. The 58cm frame feels like it was made for my 6'2" body.

Other bikes I considered included the Soma Smoothie ES, Surly Pacer, Surly Cross Check, Bianchi Volpe, and the Salsa Casaroll. If money was no object, I would have given a long look at the Co-Motion Mazama. It is specifically intended to fill the clyde ride niche.

Also, I cannot stress how much difference a steel frame makes. You would think an aluminum mountain bike with a suspension fork would make for a fairly plush ride. Compared to my new steel ride, it was fairly harsh.

If you want something that can do some light off-road duty and still be an efficient ride on paved surfaces, I'd look at a Surly Cross Check, Bianchi Volpe, Soma Double Cross, or something similar. That said, I wouldn't hesitate to slap some knobbies on my LHT and get it a bit dirty.

As for the saddle, forget the big cushy models. While they may seem comfortable at first, they place all sorts of pressure on your soft tissue, and end up being the reason so many people don't like to ride. Splurge for a Brooks saddle. It's classic look may not be for you, but if you want comfort, break one in to fit your anatomy, and enjoy miles of comfortable pedaling.

Also I'd like some suggestions for a decent comfortable saddle, considering noseless ones as well, or anything that will keep some pressure OFF that certain area on longer rides.

until you are riding for hours at a time the stock saddle should be fine.

a new clyde bike standard is a specialized hardrock.

stay away from suspensions they will only rob power and increase weight but if you think you need or want the comfort go with a comfort hybrid.

most important get a a bike that you love and will ride.

your LBS relationship is more important than make and model.

Also I'd like some suggestions for a decent comfortable saddle, considering noseless ones as well, or anything that will keep some pressure OFF that certain area on longer rides.

Keeping pressure off that area is a matter of saddle tilt as well. Highly padded seats will often put more pressure on your, "Taint". Your sit bones need to absorb most of the pressure. I think that is why the Brooks saddles are so popular; they have no padding, but support the sit bones well.

Do you think I could go with a Specialized Hard Rock Comp Disc ? I've heard that they're pretty tought, and may be fine with my almost 300 pounds. If so , what about sizing .... on this site , the HardRock from Specialized with the 21" frame is suggested for riders 6'1 to 6'5 and I'm somewhere between 6'3 and 6'5. Should I get a larger version if possible - the 24" , or would this approximate sizing be ok ?

The hard rock is what's called compact geometry, and gives a lot of room on standover. It kind of depends on your proportions, though, ie long legs, short torso, or vice versa.....

Try the 21" frame and see. With compact geometry, you you get too large a frame, the top tube may well be too long for you. ;) In short, ride them both if you can and try to make it more than a spin around the parking lot. You'll need about an hr, give or take to know for sure.

I can't try any brand bikes around here. There isn't a place where I can get bike fitting. There is no place where I can get professional advice, except emailing people that know or better yet, get advice on these forums. I will SURELY have to buy a bike that I can't try before i buy it, which is why I need all the opinions I can get. As I said I'm somewhere between 6'3 and 6'5 ... 280-290 pounds, both muscular and fat, with .... no out of the ordinary long legs or arms ... just the usual prolly for my height. I want to buy the bike as soon as possible as I've been researching for quite some time and I'm almost sick of researching :(.
I already know the Hard Rock can carry 400 lb people around I guess, I just need to know if I could be happy with the 21' frame ...... can I get any kind of online professional bike size suggestions if I measure myself and stuff ?

I roughly have a 35' - 36' inner leg length [inseam ?] or 89-93cm approximately and about 20-21 inches inner arm I mean from armpit up to [not including] my palm. I don't know if that helps but there might be people around that know these things better :|

And also - would a MTB style like the Specialized Hardrock comp (which I seem to like, unless I get better suggestions) be comfortable enough for 20-35km / day ? I want the exercise and comfort and I don't want a usual bent-over position road bike because of two factors : I don't necessarily want to go fast, just get some exercise done and be fairly comfy and 2. most of the tarmac where I live is all horrible , half of the time to the point you can consider it offroad so I'd probably feel all the pain on a fast road bike, AND probably do more damage to it.

Hi, I am about 5-6 centimetres shorter than you and 20 or so kg lighter. I have a 2006 Hardrock sport in the XL frame size - which it turns out is the 21 inch frame set - There's one bigger!

I put a 100mm cross country stem on mine, and I am really stretched out when I ride (which I quite like)

You would be an easy fit on the 24. You might want to go one size down. You could adjust the seat height and bar height to suit you on either the 21 or the 24.

Would it be comfortable enough for 20-35 km a day? I certainly have rode mine that distance. It took a while to do 42 km on it - like two hours. Much above 50km, and I'd prefer another bike like my road bike.

I will probably grab the 24 size , every < online > bike fitting guides put me somewhere between 22 and 25 bike frames. I COULD bother for a road bike but I just need the exercise and the fun, don't care how fast I get here or there. And having suspension as I've heard will also < slow > things down a bit on the road, but again , I'd rather work a bit harder for that daily mileage :) and one of the zillions of cracks and potholes I'll grab eventually will make me happy I chose a phat MTB.

Since I, unfortunately, can't get fitted professionally or try good bikes ANYWHERE even remotely close to my location, I'll have to buy with compromise. And if I buy a mountain bike the only thing that may turn out wrong is that it's too slow on tarmac and a bit annoying. On the other hand if I buy a sleek road bike , the things that may be wrong are worse : I have a slightly crooked spine and my back may hurt, I wouldn't like the bent over position, it might not be so rugged and lasting as a mountain bike on our scary bad tarmac, and it might also be a very jerky ride on these same roads. And it's not my main concern but it's there - the same level DURABILITY and strength ROAD models cost twice as much. If I buy a Hard rock with the V-brakes - since I don't think I'll be getting on any mountain trails soon and don't need the disc ones - I'll be paying 400 euros , almost half the price of an equally well built roadie.
Still didn't make up my mind , but this makes sense I guess for now....

By the way , a big HAIL !!! for your forum name :D

Well, the HR Sport is a great bike.....

I certainly know bdinger swears BY his, rather than at it. ;)

Sounds like that's the bike for you, then.