Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.jmfdone
06-07-09, 07:51 AM
hey everyone,
I am strongly considering a new bike. I am currently on a Le Monde Alpe de Huez, but I am not happy. I am having mechanical issues on many rides and dont feel like it is as "solid" as I would like - if that makes sense. I typically ride 30 - 50 miles at a time in either the Boston area or western MA. So I get significant hills and bad roads - potholes and the like. I have custom wheels so that's not an issue. I ride pretty hard, usually at say 17 mph of so if I am not on a hill. I am around 230, but lift a lot so while i definitely could lose 20 or so, my ideal weight would likely be 200 - 205 not 185. I carry most of my weight in my legs and ass, so I think I put significant pressure on the pedals and crankset etc. In fact, yesterday my left crank fell off - wonderful riding with one pedal and the other crank attached to your foot but not your bike....
The guys I ride with most regularly is a former racer and of course weighs 140lbs soaking wet, but says I need a better bike the way I ride, and I am inclined to agree. He is suggesting a much stiffer bike with better components which he says will last much longer and put up with the type of riding i do better than the Le Monde. He also thinks I should get something that is not aluminum- he is suggesting carbon.
I wanted to get the thoughts of a group of guys my size. I would be willing to spend up to around 2K. Any thoughts would be very appreciated.
Thanks
I am strongly considering a new bike. I am currently on a Le Monde Alpe de Huez, but I am not happy. I am having mechanical issues on many rides and dont feel like it is as "solid" as I would like - if that makes sense. I typically ride 30 - 50 miles at a time in either the Boston area or western MA. So I get significant hills and bad roads - potholes and the like. I have custom wheels so that's not an issue. I ride pretty hard, usually at say 17 mph of so if I am not on a hill. I am around 230, but lift a lot so while i definitely could lose 20 or so, my ideal weight would likely be 200 - 205 not 185. I carry most of my weight in my legs and ass, so I think I put significant pressure on the pedals and crankset etc. In fact, yesterday my left crank fell off - wonderful riding with one pedal and the other crank attached to your foot but not your bike....
The guys I ride with most regularly is a former racer and of course weighs 140lbs soaking wet, but says I need a better bike the way I ride, and I am inclined to agree. He is suggesting a much stiffer bike with better components which he says will last much longer and put up with the type of riding i do better than the Le Monde. He also thinks I should get something that is not aluminum- he is suggesting carbon.
I wanted to get the thoughts of a group of guys my size. I would be willing to spend up to around 2K. Any thoughts would be very appreciated.
Thanks