Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - I'm 400 lbs...is there a bike for me?

Hey fellow cyclist. As you can see I'm very new to this site, as well to the cycling world. I've done some research online, all have turned out to be dead ends. I found one site but the bikes are over 1200 dollars! , I'm a 6'4 400 lb man and would love to ride a bike, I have had this urge for years but have fear of embarrasment going to stores and they not having a bike for a man of my size! So you guys help will be greatly appreciated! peace!
*update*
whats the best bike a big man should get for around 320? or will i probably not be able to afford a decent bike with my range?


i found this bike on ebay, do yall think it would do well?

http://cgi.ebay.com/SPECIALIZED-HARDROCK-PRO-DISC-MOUNTAIN-BIKE-19-BICYCLE_W0QQitemZ280231343639QQihZ018QQcategoryZ98083QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Welcome! :beer: You're in the right place.

Don't feel embarassed about stopping by your LBS. They are supposed to be there to help you. If not, just move along to the next shop. Basically everyone modifies their bike somewhat so that it works best for them. It is OK to ask about this. The main problem with heavier riders is the strength/durability of the wheels. On mtbikes and hybrids, another worry is that heavier riders tend to overload the front suspension. Many have opted to go back to rigid forks instead.

Hardrocks have a great following on the clydes' forum and would be a good choice I think. Budget for the aforementioned modifications in case you need them and you should be fine. Be sure that the bike will fit you before you bid!!!

yeh now after reading the threads i think i want a Giant Sedona, I scrambled up 320 dollars, now im on the searching, I'm in western ny and i cant find them! anyoen know a good site that i can buy it from around this price range?

*update* the trek 7200 is looking pretty cool too, anyone know a price range?

There is a bike for you, don't be discouraged. I rode 7,500 miles on my Trek 7200 and I stand 340#s. I paid about $500.00 for it brand new. The stock wheel-set held up for 2,000 miles before a spoke popped. Once I had the wheels hand-built at my LBS I never had a problem again.

Good luck in your search. There are a few guys on here that are your size, so I hope they chime in soon.

thats cool, thanks for the advice, do you think i could get anything decent for 320? that trek 7200 seems so sweet but i def cant afford that anytime soon

man im so eager to have a bike its 6 am and havent been to sleep yet lol its been like 4 hours of me trying to find a bike online...am i overstressing this....didnt seem like i would be this hard!

I would go to your LBS and get professionally fitted for a bike. After that check craiglist.com or yard sales for quality used bikes in your area.

Need-A,

Welcome to the forum! Like some others have suggested, a trip to a local bike shop (LBS) is probably in order. You might find something in your size and price range on the floor. A few months ago I purchased a left over 2007 Trek 7300 for the price of a new 7200. The Trek 7000 is right in your price range.

Good luck, and have fun!

Welcome! I started a little over your weight, and put close to 1,000 miles on a late 90's low-end Raleigh MTB before buying a new bike. Worked fine for me, what finally made me buy a new bike was a chaos of repairs - new tires, new chain, then two popped spokes in one day. I picked up a '07 Hardrock Sport when I was still over 400, and it's got about 2,500-3,000 miles on it, been great for me and I paid $349 for it new.

Now I'm down to 340, and I still love it - two years later. Granted it's had it's share of abuse related issues, just discovered yesterday that the rim is cracked around some of the spoke holes - I don't blame it too much, though. I mean seirously, $350 and I've ridden the thing like I stole it every time I've gotten on it, and it's only once left me stranded. Can't say that about my other bikes :). I'd recommend one, just swap the tires with some Specialized Nimbus slicks and you're good.

As far as fit, you'll need AT LEAST a 21in frame, maybe even one of the 23's. I ride a 19, and at 6 2 it's almost too small for me.

The Sedonas are extremely popular around here - both locally and on bikeforms - as are the Trek 7x00 series. All are excellent choices and will serve you well. In your price range there are definitely options.

Good luck!

I started out on a mountain bike and at first I broke a spoke on my rear wheel EVERY TIME I went for a ride. I had the LBS rebuild the wheel with a heavy duty rim and Swiss DT spokes and that solved that problem for good. FYI

I mean seirously, $350 and I've ridden the thing like I stole it every time I've gotten on it, and it's only once left me stranded. Can't say that about my other bikes :).

+1 I've owned cars I can't say that about ;)


The Sedonas are extremely popular around here - both locally and on bikeforms - as are the Trek 7x00 series. All are excellent choices and will serve you well. In your price range there are definitely options.

Good luck!

Exactly. Look around, get a bike and ride!

Hello and welcome!

When I first started out I was 410 at 6'5". If I had read this forum before buying my bike I would have purchased the Specialized Hardrock. I've read many good thing about that bike for people our size.
The bike I bought was a Trek Navigator 2.0, and broke the rear wheel, seatpost, pedals, saddle, and lastly even cracked the frame. Now I must say Trek has been fantastic on their warranty and I had everything fixed or replaced and kept on riding. but like I said, I wish I had read this forum first and got the Hardrock at the time. I am now down to 280 and upgrading to a Trek 7.3 FX next week.


Jake

I would look at the Trek 7.2FX. It goes for about 460.00 USD new. It doesn't have the front suspension fork, which at your weight will just be working against your pedaling effort anyway. It does have a suspension seatpost, which you could replace inexpensively. I'm sure there are other brands that offer equivalent models. Check craigslist too. As others have said, you may have to have your spokes and wheels worked on some. Good luck.

I started out at 375 on a Trek 7300 with the standard wheels set. They last a short time, but they have since changed the basic wheel set since I got mine. They are a great bike, but you really need to be sized and make sure what you get is fit for you. Have fun riding and post your adventures.

wow guys thanks a million, one of my aint concerns is the handle bar, on the trek it seems as if the handle bar is too low (or is that just my wrong preception?) the sedona seems like a good fit but my LBS doesnt sell them!!!!!! thats the one i think i want, so idk i guess i gotta do some seaching, i wish there was a web site that had them, but it seems hard to find, and wow you guys weight lost are a HUGE inspiration...i cant wait to start riding, im strong willed and will be dedicated to it!

wow guys thanks a million, one of my aint concerns is the handle bar, on the trek it seems as if the handle bar is too low (or is that just my wrong preception?) the sedona seems like a good fit but my LBS doesnt sell them!!!!!! thats the one i think i want, so idk i guess i gotta do some seaching, i wish there was a web site that had them, but it seems hard to find, and wow you guys weight lost are a HUGE inspiration...i cant wait to start riding, im strong willed and will be dedicated to it!

Most modern bikes use a thread-less stem, there is a tube that runs from the fork up (called a steerer), the stem bolts around it, sometimes dealers cut the stem too short, making the bars too low, so they probably are too low, they just need to assemble a bike from the box and not cut the steerer. Best is to get them to leave the steerer uncut, and use several different sized spacers, then by moving the spacers around, you can change the bar height, until you get it perfect, then they can cut it. This should be S.O.P. at bike shops, but it isn't. It's easy to cut something shorter, it's impossible to cut it longer, which is why the golden rule in carpentry is measure twice, cut once.