Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - My bike and why I like it...

My new bike is a Giant Cypress DX, all stock except for the computer and Topeak rear rack with integrated U-lock. It is 7 weeks old and has 535 miles on it as of today. That figure is lower than I would have liked due to a week out of town, a rear wheel problem and some miserable weather.

The wheel problem started at about 300 miles when I popped a spoke. Took the wheel to the LBS and they replaced it and retrued the wheel. About 50 miles later another spoke broke, I heard it go and was about a mile from the shop so I rode it over and they again replaced it and had me back on the road in 20 minutes.

Another 50 miles and 3 spokes went, all on the sprocket side as were the first two. I took the wheel to the LBS and they called the Giant warranty rep and got them to authorize an upgraded rear wheel with a Shimano hub. The folks at the shop have been teriffic.

I bought this bike because I have been riding a lot more and a lot longer lately and longer rides on my '89 Schwinn Cruiser had been causing me quite a lot of back and shoulder pain. Some of the problem may have been that saddle which I thought might be a good replacement for the Memoflex II that I rode until it fell apart.

When I took the Cypress for a test ride I was instanly in love with the cushy ride, the flat handlebars and especially the trigger shifters. I checked out some other bikes from Trek and Specialized but they didn't wow me the way the Cypress did. My longest ride so far was 43 miles, there were some aches and pains afterwards but nothing to compare with riding 15 miles on the Schwinn.

It does everything I need a bike to do and makes me happy when I ride it. What else could you ask for?

Are you spotting the rough spots and standing when you can't avoid them? That will help with the spoke issue. I *heart* my Cypress, too.

Are you spotting the rough spots and standing when you can't avoid them? That will help with the spoke issue. I *heart* my Cypress, too.

I rented a Cypress when I was in Cleveland, Ohio, a couple of years ago, and it's a nice bike. As a nod to the Southern habitat of the cypress tree and my own pathetic attempts to pass as a cyclist I called the bike "Lost Cause."

The wheel problem started at about 300 miles when I popped a spoke.

I've said it amillion times but too many riders avoid taking preventitive actions. The spokes ned to be retensioned at about 200 miles. But the trend continues and too may riders posting, "I popped a spoke at 300 miles" threads!:D





Took the wheel to the LBS and they replaced it and retrued the wheel. About 50 miles later another spoke broke, I heard it go and was about a mile from the shop so I rode it over and they again replaced it and had me back on the road in 20 minutes.

If a shop replaces a spoke haviong me back on the road in 20 minutes, I'd be worried. That means he trued the wheel but didn't check or retension the wheel as needed. Asking for more trouble!:


Another 50 miles and 3 spokes went, all on the sprocket side as were the first two.


No suprise here!



The folks at the shop have been teriffic.

I'm sorry , but if they were terrific, they would have serviced the original wheel and prevented all the hassle. Hopefully they retension (not just true) the replacement wheel at about 200 miles so that you can happily ride your bike trouble free!:thumb:

Enjoy the bike! Once it's in running order, it's even that much better!:D

535 miles in 7 weeks? Holy smokes, you've been tearing up the pavement!:thumb:

Very cool, glad you like it. Also good to see the shop helping you out

Are you spotting the rough spots and standing when you can't avoid them? That will help with the spoke issue. I *heart* my Cypress, too.

Yes I diligently try to avoid the rough spots and get my behind off the seat when they come up but here in metro Detroit the streets and sidewalks in many places are in terrible shape and an occasional "surprise" is almost inevitable.

I've said it amillion times but too many riders avoid taking preventitive actions. The spokes ned to be retensioned at about 200 miles. But the trend continues and too may riders posting, "I popped a spoke at 300 miles" threads!:D

If I saw this before it didn't sink in. When I picked up the bike the shop told me to be sure to bring it in in 30 days for a check and tune up. The first spoke break was several days before the 30 day mark.





If a shop replaces a spoke haviong me back on the road in 20 minutes, I'd be worried. That means he trued the wheel but didn't check or retension the wheel as needed. Asking for more trouble!:


That 20 minute figure is a subjective view from a distance, I didn't actually look at a clock. I just remember that I thought they did a quick job, I can't actually speak for what they did or didn't do in terms of checking the wheel.





I'm sorry , but if they were terrific, they would have serviced the original wheel and prevented all the hassle. Hopefully they retension (not just true) the replacement wheel at about 200 miles so that you can happily ride your bike trouble free!:thumb:

Their taking the trouble to call and negotiate with Giant over the wheel and getting me the upgrade counts as a great big + in my book. Perhaps they could have done more with the original wheel but I am not expert enough to judge. I am just very happy for what they did to resolve my problem.:D



Enjoy the bike! Once it's in running order, it's even that much better!:D

535 miles in 7 weeks? Holy smokes, you've been tearing up the pavement!:thumb:

I have been riding a lot this season, all my routine shopping, visiting friends and relatives and just for fun. In fact I haven't had to fill the gas tank in my car since mid-June.:thumb: Sadly the season is coming to an end here, I won't ride on snowy/icy roads or when the temp is really cold.:cry:

Where are ya in the Metro Detroit area? I'm in Dearborn Heights myself, there are tons of nice bike paths that are well maintained. I'm fortunate enough to live 5 miles from Hines Drive .. 5 feet of shoulder and about 40 miles give or take a few round trip.

Where are ya in the Metro Detroit area? I'm in Dearborn Heights myself, there are tons of nice bike paths that are well maintained. I'm fortunate enough to live 5 miles from Hines Drive .. 5 feet of shoulder and about 40 miles give or take a few round trip.

Small world, I'm in the Heights too, south end. From your pic I thought you might be a guy I sometimes see riding a Trek hybrid.

I have ridden Hines Drive a couple of times myself but most of the time I am actually going somewhere when I ride. Getting to Southland Mall is a real adventure and I haven't yet discovered any way to get to the shopping district on Ford road and Greenfield without directly challenging the motorized traffic for the right-of-way on the road surface.

If you know of any lists of bike paths in the area I would appreciate a heads-up. Ever been on the bike path along I-275? Some very dangerous areas there although MDOT has promised to clean it up.

I'm in the south end as well, usually take Pelham to Outer to Monroe to Michigan to get to the Rouge gateway trail to Hines, I ride a Giant Boulder not a Trek - same difference some would say. I'm usually out there every day, just not lately, just honk if ya see me.

I tried to ride the 275 trail one day but couldnt find the trailhead.

I'll probably PM you a list later with some trails I ride but we have ton of parks around here with nice trails, theres the Willow/Oakwood/Lower Huron metropark ride , thats a 24 mile ride I think. I pretty much use Hines as much as I can. Tom had mentioned something about hitting the Kal- Haven trail sometime this fall , I'm still down for that but hadn't heard anything further on it.

I just picked up a 2010 Giant Cypress DX yesterday.
It is awesome.
I couldnt find what I wanted in a Trek or Cannondale.
Close but the Cypress is the one for me.
It will help me avoid back fatigue.

Every Clydesdale should have a spoke tensiometer ($60). The knowledge that your spokes are evenly and fully tensioned, adds a lot to the enjoyment of every ride.

Every Clydesdale should have a spoke tensiometer ($60). The knowledge that your spokes are evenly and fully tensioned, adds a lot to the enjoyment of every ride.

Assuming you are referring to the Park TM-1, I was thinking about one of these. Looking thru the repair forums shows a divided opinion on the usefulness and quality of this tool. One person thinks its the greatest thing since peanut butter and the next says "I threw that thing in the junk bin as soon as I saw it." (My paraphrasing.)

The value of uniform tension is obvious, but does this tool work well or should I consider biting the bullet and getting one of the multi-benjamin units?