Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - If I were bike shopping

After riding my step-brother's mountain bike, I've come to the realization how heavy and slow my beloved Diamondback comfort bike really is. If I want to get involved in group rides, I'm definitely going to need something lighter and faster.

So, if I were to look for another bike to add into the mix to fit the following criteria, what would be some good recommendations
... not super expensive (under $800 pre-tax)
... light but not looking for carbon everything
... good commuter for streets and paved paths
... frame style suited to 5'4" with long legs, but short body and arms
... more upright seating position preferred
... triple ring crankset
... fast enough to have some SERIOUS fun on

I looked at a 2nd hand M frame Giant FCR w/ carbon fork last night. Nice but I'm not all twitchy over it. (no chance to do more than ride it on sidewalk to corner and back, seat was completely unanchored)

After riding my step-brother's mountain bike, I've come to the realization how heavy and slow my beloved Diamondback comfort bike really is. If I want to get involved in group rides, I'm definitely going to need something lighter and faster.

So, if I were to look for another bike to add into the mix to fit the following criteria, what would be some good recommendations
... not super expensive
... light but not looking for carbon everything
... good commuter for streets and paved paths
... frame style suited to 5'4" with long legs, but short body and arms
... more upright seating position preferred
... triple ring crankset
... fast enough to have some SERIOUS fun on

I looked at a 2nd hand M frame Giant FCR w/ carbon fork last night. Nice but I'm not all twitchy over it. (no chance to do more than ride it on sidewalk to corner and back, seat was completely unanchored)

I think your in Toronto, if so, check out The Community Bicycle Network (http://www.communitybicyclenetwork.org/) Old bikes never die, they end up at CBN (unless they got stolen by Igor).

I will go against the grain and suggest something outrageous: the IRO Mark V Heidi. Going off my faulty memory, it's a 46 cm frame with 650 wheels and designed for petite women. You can get it fixed or freewheel. Slap some risers on it and it'll meet all your criteria.

OK, I'll stop and let everyone else chime in with their serious suggestions. :D

Trek 7.5FX. Niiice bike.

Here's the right spec sheet and picture

The parts list isn't anything to brag about. I'd keep looking if I were you. Have you considered Canadian makes like Kona & Norco?

Norco LRT-1: $549 CAD and looks loaded for commuting (fenders & rack)
http://www.norco.com/images/2008_bikes/regular/lrt_1_black.jpg

Kona Dew: $399 USD
http://www.konaworld.com/bikes/2k8/images/625/2K8_DEW.jpg

I'm looking :)
This is why I'm running the specs by y'all

My wife moved from her Diamond Back Wildwood to a Fuji Finest 1.0 in May and loves it. She test rode many bikes and the women's geometry fit her so much better than the men's (Duh!). Not sure what you mean by "not super expensive" but hers listed around $1,600 but was a leftover '06 and, by combining a couple of discounts, we got it for $810. It has carbon forks and seat stays and weighed right at 20 lbs. before pedals. She thought she loved the upright position of her comfort bike till she felt the speed of riding in the drops. She was originally planning to add bar-top brake levers but gave up on that quite quickly as she spends very little time up there.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/tourist.htm

^my understanding is it is a rebadged fuji but $350 off msrp

http://fujibikes.com/2008/bikes.asp?id=422

touring or Cross may be the closest you can get...

Surly LHT maybe, but a tad more than 800...

somethings on your list may be mutually exclusive, depends on how you define them.
mainly these group rides you speak of and the SERIOUS fast speeds, may not mix with upright riding position and good commuter.

I have a commuter and a road bike because if you get somethig in the middle you sacrifice a little off both sides (my opinion, but you don't see anyone racing on hybrids nor commuting on race bikes so it seems like the world agrees).

If your group rides are 17 mph or less average i think a hybrid is fine, but like i said a touring bike or cross bike would fit best for intended purpose IMO.

hehe ... consider that my criteria is relative to a diamondback wildwood deluxe comfort bike and just getting back to cycling as opposed to a carbon fiber racing bike and the tour de france :D

many people who like to ride fast don't race :)

hehe ... consider that my criteria is relative to a diamondback wildwood deluxe comfort bike and just getting back to cycling as opposed to a carbon fiber racing bike and the tour de france :D

You might be surprised how quickly your view changes if you give it a chance. When I returned to cycling, my wife rode along on this:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3015/2694309132_7f56147813_m.jpg
(actually this pic was after adding clips & straps and lowering the stem angle)

So, as she found it more difficult to keep up with me, I started making little changes.

Added clips & straps (against her objections) - she liked them almost instantly and said she felt stronger with them.

Adjusted the stem to move bars lower and forward - she liked that especially riding against the wind.

Changed the 26 x 1.95/65 psi tires to 26 x 1.25 90 psi - Wow! She couldn't believe the speed!

Picked up a '78 Schwinn Le Tour III - She could really do some distance on this (riding in the drops works!)

Got the deal on the Fuji Finest 1.0 - a little intimidating but really nice.

Found a brand new par of Shimano road shes in her size at a thrift store and paired them with some M520 SPD pedals I had - She gave them a try and felt "a part of the bike".

Along the way I also got her a few pair of padded shorts, some jerseys & gloves. This is where we are now:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3231/2604632005_864944252c_m.jpg

Her new Giro helmet arrived today (visors give her a pain in the neck when in the drops) along with some true road pedals that will get installed tomorrow. This will finish the transformation from bopping along on a comfort bike to racking up some serious miles and having a blast doing it! Just one woman's (reluctant) journey from cruiser to roadie.

hehe ... consider that my criteria is relative to a diamondback wildwood deluxe comfort bike and just getting back to cycling as opposed to a carbon fiber racing bike and the tour de france :D

What part of the city are you in, depending I can recommend a couple of dealers I know of, best piece of advice, find a dealer first, then look among what they have. One of the best known downtown is Urbane Cyclist (http://www.ucycle.com/) in the North end there is Bayview Cycle (http://www.bayviewcycle.com/NewFiles/Home.html) in Willowdale. Both of these shops are quite good. Of course there are like 200 shops in the Toronto, area.:eek: so you may find others that are just as good.

Best thing is to find a good shop, then look among the brands they carry, then to find a company, then look for a dealer...

Wogster, I'm in South Rexdale, Etobicoke.

I work about 2 km from Invita Sport and 10km from Skiis and Bikes Mississauga and live approx. 10 km from Sweet Pete's

The specs on the Bottechia are a bike from Invita Sport which is incredibly convenient but 90% of what they carry is not in my snack bracket.

Wogster, I'm in South Rexdale, Etobicoke.

I work about 2 km from Invita Sport and 10km from Skiis and Bikes Mississauga and live approx. 10 km from Sweet Pete's

The specs on the Bottechia are a bike from Invita Sport which is incredibly convenient but 90% of what they carry is not in my snack bracket.

I got ya, I am not familiar with that area, Etobicoke is the area of the city I am least familiar with..... A good dealer though, is able to work with the kind of riding you want to do, and can work within your budget. It's actually easier to find bicycles for reasonable prices now, then it was a few years ago, when a beaver buck was worth US65¢..... Something else to keep in mind, there is no Provincial Scamming Tax on bicycles under $1000, although you do still have to pay the Gouging and Screwing Tax:(...... Since you have 3 shops available within a reasonable distance, then visit all three, see what they have, and do some test rides.....

Sweet Pete's is a pretty good shop with a good selection. Check them out and see if they can do anything for you.

I got a bike and a wheelset from Sweet Pete's. I like them, and if you get your bike there, you get free labour when you get stuff fixed/added. A lot of shops probably have arrangements like that, but not all of them. It'll save you a lot of money in the end.