Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - 2006 Trek 5200

Although I have been shedding weight, lots of it, I am still tipping the scales at the 240ish range. My current bike, which is a 1999 Trek 1200 has been great, but with the economy the way it is, and it being end of year, deals abound.

My LBS has a 2006 Trek 5200 sitting on the floor that is on sale at a great bargain. Originally something like that was going to be my 'reward' when I finished losing weight, but now I am thinking about not waiting.

The question, which it always seems to come down to for us larger folk, is this bike going to be safe for a guy my size? Is anyone here already riding something like it at my weight or higher?

I know I could always buy it now, and then not ride it until I lost more weight, but realistically I will not be able to do that. If I have it, I will have to ride it.

Buy it, Ride it. Lose more weight.
New Bikes are fun to ride.

i'm a lot bigger than you and i'm on a road bike, definately buy it. definately get fitted properly and ride the heck out of it.

I am on a road bike now as well, but not a carbon road bike with race wheels (Bontrager with 20 spokes). The road bike I am on now is aluminum, and the wheels have lots of spokes.

A link to the Trek archive page about this bike is here:
http://www.trekbikes.com/int/en/bikes/2006/archive/5200

I have been looking at it every time I go in there for anything on my current bike, and it has been calling to me. I am just not sure it knows what it might be getting itself into!

The question, which it always seems to come down to for us larger folk, is this bike going to be safe for a guy my size? Is anyone here already riding something like it at my weight or higher?

Call Trek, or, have the LBS call Trek and ask. They're likely to know better than anyone else :) Many Clydesdales recommend more spokes and beefier rims so you're not popping spokes off on bumps than what appears to be on that bike.

I have been looking at it every time I go in there for anything on my current bike, and it has been calling to me. I am just not sure it knows what it might be getting itself into!


You would Need 32 to 36 Spokes. I have broken two with 28 spoke count @ 202 Lbs

I trust everything on a racing bike to hold my weight (250) except for 2 components:

Carbon Seatpost
Low Spoke-count Wheels

Now, I'm setting myself up with the seatpost comment, because plenty of big dudes ride on them without issue. I just prefer to have a metal post under my butt.
The low count wheels, however... Trade 'em for something a little bit more substantial. Not that they won't hold you; because most of those sets are very strong, considering the abuse that lighter riders put on them when they stand and hammer. It's just that the continuous stress of a bigger rider on those high tension spokes can lead to quick fatigue of the material, and when one of those spokes goes, the wheel is out of commission until you replace it.
The higher the spoke count, the more forgiving the wheel is if one spoke breaks.