Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Need a bike that's easy on the knees and back

Right now I have a Hard Rock with road tires and it's OK but I would prefer something a bit more upright I believe. I sat on a beach cruiser type bike today and it was very comfortable but I don't want something to just ride around the block on either. I was thinking something along the lines of a Jamis Citizen...any thoughts on the comfort and efficiency on this type of bike?

It depends on what kind of back/knee issues you have. Each time I think of a beach cruiser I think of sitting completely upright and a low saddle where legs don't come close to full extension. I find having the saddle higher up is much easier on my knees, and a more bent-over posture isn't jarring on my back. YMMV. I have no experience with the Jamis. Whatever you buy, make sure you can test ride it and not just straddle it in a showroom.

I was looking at the same style Trek and was talked out of it by the salesman. He listened to me when I told him I had back surgery in the past, so I'm always worried about that, and that I wanted the bike for fitness as I gained weight lately. He said that as I gained in fitness, I would appreciate a more aggressive geometry. He was right. I've been riding for 4 weeks with about 600K and tonight, on a 30K ride after work, my back felt strong. I had no soreness and my back didn't even feel tired. I've noticed my posture is a bit better also. My bike is a Trek FX 7.3. It's not as aggressive as the road bikes, but it's better than the hybrid. Trek calls it a fitness bike. I think I got good advice from a salesman that took the time to listen to me. I couldn't be happier with my choice.

John

It depends on what kind of back/knee issues you have. Each time I think of a beach cruiser I think of sitting completely upright and a low saddle where legs don't come close to full extension. I find having the saddle higher up is much easier on my knees, and a more bent-over posture isn't jarring on my back. YMMV. I have no experience with the Jamis. Whatever you buy, make sure you can test ride it and not just straddle it in a showroom.

My knees are actually OK if I don't pound it. It's actually more of a lower back issue and also if I have a bike that makes me bend way over my wrists and shoulders are hurting after a few miles. I just took the Hard Rock out for a minute and it was actually pretty easy on me. I had been riding a borrowed Dave Scott Centurion for a while and even though it was really easy to pedal it just made me hurt way too much. The geometry of my bike is fine for me but it's a bit chunky for the street.


I was looking at the same style Trek and was talked out of it by the salesman. He listened to me when I told him I had back surgery in the past, so I'm always worried about that, and that I wanted the bike for fitness as I gained weight lately. He said that as I gained in fitness, I would appreciate a more aggressive geometry. He was right. I've been riding for 4 weeks with about 600K and tonight, on a 30K ride after work, my back felt strong. I had no soreness and my back didn't even feel tired. I've noticed my posture is a bit better also. My bike is a Trek FX 7.3. It's not as aggressive as the road bikes, but it's better than the hybrid. Trek calls it a fitness bike. I think I got good advice from a salesman that took the time to listen to me. I couldn't be happier with my choice.

John

I have been looking at the Trek FX and Jamis Coda series bikes as well. I'm thinking that unless I just fall in love with the geometry of the Jamis Citizen or Trek Hybrid I'll go with a FX or Coda. They look to be pretty easy on the body while faster than hybrids.

I was looking at the same style Trek and was talked out of it by the salesman. He listened to me when I told him I had back surgery in the past, so I'm always worried about that, and that I wanted the bike for fitness as I gained weight lately. He said that as I gained in fitness, I would appreciate a more aggressive geometry. He was right. I've been riding for 4 weeks with about 600K and tonight, on a 30K ride after work, my back felt strong. I had no soreness and my back didn't even feel tired. I've noticed my posture is a bit better also. My bike is a Trek FX 7.3. It's not as aggressive as the road bikes, but it's better than the hybrid. Trek calls it a fitness bike. I think I got good advice from a salesman that took the time to listen to me. I couldn't be happier with my choice.

John

^^^^^^This. It's a quandry in that when we startout we don't have the fitness to tackle a more aggressive geometry, but it doesn't take all that long to gain the fitness. This is a major enabler to the N+1 syndrome.

One of the best bits of advice for anyone starting out is to not get too warpped up in the first bike because if you stick with it it won't be your last bike, lol.

Having had three back surgeries I only ride drop bar bikes. Any problems I have had since I started riding again haven't been due to the bike but the bone headed moves off the bike.:o