Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Clyde-proof FS mountain bike???

Clyde-proof FS mountain bike???

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I looked thru the Clyde threads on this and did not find much. So here it is again.


This season I am riding a SwissBike LX folding hardtail. The decal on the front fork tells me that it is for leisure. No drops, none of that naughty stuff. The fork goes up and it goes down and that's about it. Adjustments... not hardly. Not inclined to go NorthShoring with it.

Thinking of swapping the fold out this winter. Also considering the option of upgrading to a FS mountain bike next season. I am 72" x 235#

What out there in FS land holds up under manly mesomorph riders vs. those little ectomorphs?

(I swear I will only ride it on rail-trails and perhaps a few dirt roads over Moab way. But some of those trails have surfaces that look like the surface of the moon. Weiser Canyon, for one.)

Look for something with air shocks for easy setup for your weight. Just stay away from the weight weinie XC race stuff and you'll be fine. Most of the all mountain stuff is pretty burly, but will cost quite a bit of $$$.
I know someone who about the same weight as you with a pile of broken Gary Fisher frames, so maybe stay away from those. They honor their warranty though.

I ride a cannondale rush and have been riding every other day for the past
two months without any major issues, the grips are coming off, but I really enjoy and. It suits
my needs very well thus far. I've done some pretty hairy stuff on it and she keeps on going. I weigh in at a stout 245 now. So yeah you can find a bike that will hold up, but a food fs mtb is
not a cheap investment.

Like others have said, I think a good all mountain bike should do fine- but when you test bikes, try them off road and make sure the suspension is setup properly for you.

Pretty much everything in my price range has the fox rp2 in the rear- when properly set for my weight (210ish), I can't stand it. Maybe it's the linkage on the bikes I try, but there's an initial resistance to the air spring compressing that just feels wrong to me. Sort of like it's just designed for a lighter rider and the only spec they try to meet for heavier riders is "not bottoming out".

I might just be being weird about this as I'm apt to do about things, but hey- it's kept me from dropping $1500 or more on a full suspension setup, so I can't complain. :D

Anything that Kona does will hold up frame-wise ime, I'd just make sure to have some sensible wheels spec'd.

I am 325 by the scale this morning and i ride a Trek Remedy 7 I have the rear fox air shock pumped up to about 275psi and the front forks about medium tension and it is a dream. i have done some pretty ignorant stuff on it the last few weeks and no problems at all. I have had it a little over a month now and have about 60 hard MTB trail miles on it!

i have a 03 norco shore VPS full suspension. it may be a downhill rig but its big, burly, never broke, and 40 pounds lol. i ride this thing damn hard. instead of air in the rear it is coil. and i also have a 6" travel fork. newer DH bike have much more suspension travel but, 5-6" is not bad for jumps, drops and the ocassional tree that jumps out in front of you and crash head on. nothing crazy like X games but quite clyde resistant, low on the effeciency side, not the greatest climber. which is why ill be buying a XC bike over the winter so i can do some racing next year.


i have 3 years on this thing. being an 03 it is about 140 years old in mountain bike years so i have been told :roflmao2:

Thanks for the input folks. Keep it coming!
I can see that the rear suspension may be optimized for ectomorph riders. Anyone else have that feeling? After all, that's all you see in the pages of the MB mags. Late teen to early '20s and about 130#. It's the optimum for mountain biking. Never make the front four of the Greenbay Packers.

It was interesting that one of the bike mfgs. is using a Clyde Lite in the advertising - Sette. Check it out. He might weigh over 200# - or is it just the loose clothing.

<http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/18722-018_SETAC8-3-Parts-47-Bikes/Sette-Ace-Bike-W_Rock-Shox-Monarch-2.1.htm>

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Meanwhile, we have had our four days at the SYC Friday Harbor outstation and must leave the wifi, ice machine, cable tv, etc. tomorrow and spend a few days out in the islands on the hook in some nice cove. I will check the mail when I get a berth at Henry Island next week.

??? Can a Clyde get that plushy ride they all gush about?

Thanks for the input folks. Keep it coming!
I can see that the rear suspension may be optimized for ectomorph riders. Anyone else have that feeling? After all, that's all you see in the pages of the MB mags. Late teen to early '20s and about 130#. It's the optimum for mountain biking. Never make the front four of the Greenbay Packers.

It was interesting that one of the bike mfgs. is using a Clyde Lite in the advertising - Sette. Check it out. He might weigh over 200# - or is it just the loose clothing.

<http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/18722-018_SETAC8-3-Parts-47-Bikes/Sette-Ace-Bike-W_Rock-Shox-Monarch-2.1.htm>

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Meanwhile, we have had our four days at the SYC Friday Harbor outstation and must leave the wifi, ice machine, cable tv, etc. tomorrow and spend a few days out in the islands on the hook in some nice cove. I will check the mail when I get a berth at Henry Island next week.

??? Can a Clyde get that plushy ride they all gush about?

The problem with any non-air shock, is that when used beyond their capacity, they get soft after a while. I have a hardtail, and when new I could barely move the front shock the way it was set up, now it's easy to make it move, even though my weight has changed little, so I think the elastomers have weakened with age under a 100kg rider, when they are designed for 80kg max.

Even used within their capacity, springs will start to sag and go soft. The good thing is, springs on rear suspension bikes are easy to replace and steel spring forks are cheap. :D

The problem with any non-air shock, is that when used beyond their capacity, they get soft after a while. I have a hardtail, and when new I could barely move the front shock the way it was set up, now it's easy to make it move, even though my weight has changed little, so I think the elastomers have weakened with age under a 100kg rider, when they are designed for 80kg max.

Interesting point. One option is to DX the front fork on the SwissBike for something with more features. I have been collecting bits of data. Is there a Clyde Friendly front fork out there. I read the reviews. Various complaints about leaks, etc.

Even used within their capacity, springs will start to sag and go soft. The good thing is, springs on rear suspension bikes are easy to replace and steel spring forks are cheap. :D

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Cane Creek Cloud Nine has a lot of fans. I like their Thudbuster. Their new shock with an external spring looks nice, but spendy.

235# really isn't all that heavy honestly.

That said, the Santa Cruz Heckler is on my short list of bikes that I want to own...

Cosmo beat me to it. At 235# you are safe on almost any FS MTB.

My Cannondale Super V has been in service for what seems like forever (about 16 or 17 yrs old). I know they don't make them anymore but it speaks of the durability of their bikes. I am 74" 250 lbs and have been since I bought the the bike. It has been ridden hard and abused in many ways. I have only replaced the wheels, tires , chain and other normal wear items.
I have a Kona Jake the Snake cyclocross bike (1998) that has seen a lot of abuse also (It fell out of the back of a truck once on the highway). I would recommend their bikes for heavy riders also.

Interesting point. One option is to DX the front fork on the SwissBike for something with more features. I have been collecting bits of data. Is there a Clyde Friendly front fork out there. I read the reviews. Various complaints about leaks, etc.

From what I understand most suspensions are made for riders in the 150-180lb range, this includes most air ride shocks. My brother-in-law at 215lbs had trouble with the front shock on his FS bike, the shock would lose air on the return side. You need a high pressure rated air shock and those can be expensive, they can also end up being too tall for the bike you have, the axle to crown measurement has to be the same. It really depends on the riding you do, if you usually ride on the MUP or road, then a solid fork works just as well. Suspension forks are good for light trail use, for technical stuff, you really need full suspension, but the bike needs to be designed for the rider weight.

I am 325 by the scale this morning and i ride a Trek Remedy 7

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Then it should work for me. Trek is on the short list.

You need a high pressure rated air shock and those can be expensive, they can also end up being too tall for the bike you have, the axle to crown measurement has to be the same.

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Is there a worksheet out there that covers all the measurements needed in swapping forks? What are some names in the HP shock world?

What we need is ClydeWorld Bikes and Accessories. Wonder if anyone has a clyde bike boutique out there.

In putting together the UberClyde FS mountain bike - wonder what would be speced in rims, tires, forks, etc.

Kona Hoss - made specifically for Clydes but it's a hardtail.

The SC Heckler is a decent FS bike. I have a friend who at 280 rides a SC Superlight - the bike is doing well but he doesn't ride agressively. Ventana has builds FS bikes that can hold up to weight.

Cosmo beat me to it. At 235# you are safe on almost any FS MTB.

Glad to hear that ClydeLites have some choices. Especially if I am restrained in my use. Which is only smart. Those in the Geezer Club should not be out there "hucking." Leave that to the 20 somethings. They heal faster. Bounce better.

For me a FS bike is like a 4x4. It can get me to places my 2x2 van better not go. There are some rincons on the lower end of the Escalante I would love to photograph. Hope to get the hardtail out to the Wedge Overlook in Utah next month for some exploring.

Why do you need an FS? That benfits the dowhill. Go with a hartail to compliment your climbing, an area where most clydes should concentrate rather than the downhill. You don't get fit going downhill!:rolleyes:

Why do you need an FS? That benfits the dowhill. Go with a hartail to compliment your climbing, an area where most clydes should concentrate rather than the downhill. You don't get fit going downhill!:rolleyes:

Balderdash. Suspension helps in all kinds of situations besides going downhill- rock gardens, technical climbs, not beating the crap out of yourself over long distances.....

And you need to find some bigger hills to bomb down or quit going so slow if you think it doesn't do anything for fitness. Besides, you still have to go uphill first. :P

Is there a Clyde Friendly front fork out there. I read the reviews. Various complaints about leaks, etc.

I have a Tora 318 that I just love. Not exactly the fanciest thing in the world, but it was cheap. I still run the stock springs in mostly XC, maybe some AM type riding. I weigh 205ish and they get the job done just fine. I think there's a spring upgrade available for heavier riders.