Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Help a Clydesdale pick. Aurora or Coda Sport w/ Deep Vs. Can't Decide.

Hi Guys (and girls),

This is my first post but I have been reading through past posts on this site for about a month now researching for a new bike. From the advice on this forum, and especially the Clydesdale section, I have narrowed my choices down to two bikes, Both Jamis.

Aurora (w/ stock 36 spoke wheels) or a Coda Sport & add Velocity 36 spoke Deep V's.

The owners is really giving some good prices on the Jamis bikes, so I'm pretty set on Jamis. I haven't road either and will have no opportunity to, but I did have a fitting done and have tried to ride other similarly styled bikes. I know, chancy, but nobody has these bikes in stock within 150 miles.

The Aurora comes with Alex ACE19 double wall eyeletted rims, 36h, Shimano Tiagra hubs, 14g spokes. 700X32 tires.
The Coda Sport I'll have the shop owner put on Velocity Deep V's, Shimano hub, 36h, 14g spokes. (and keep the 32h wheels for later use, if needed), 700X28 tires.

Both bikes are 2010 models.

The Aurora is $699 + tax.
The Coda Sport is $469 + tax and $200 for a set of Deep V's (installed).

Some info on me. I started riding a beach cruiser and dieting 9 months ago and have dropped 96 lbs so far. I currently weigh 250 lbs. My worry is the wheels, as I want something that will hold up under my weight.

So what do you think is the better option? I assume from what I've read on here the Deep V's are tougher wheels? I'll be riding about 5-6 hours a week, most trips about 10-15 miles, some as long as 25 (when I work up to it) all on pavement. For exercise and FUN :-)

The components:
Aurora: Derailleurs: Deore XT rear, Tiagra front, Tiagra STI levels.
Coda Sport: Derailleurs: Deore front & rear, Deore RapidFire Plus SL 27 speed shifters.

So what say you guys? Any advice and input will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike.

Great work on the weight loss.
Seems you have done the research.
The Aurora might be best.

I have been lusting after the Jamis Aurora / Aurora Elite for sometime. Local dealer has the Aurora for sale here for $950. You are getting a good deal.

Just can't seem to figure a way to swing a $1500 bike and remained married...

Aurora, as the components are a WORLD ahead of those on the Coda.

Deep V's are cool, but you're only 250lbs, so the 36 spoke touring rims on the Aurora will be fine.

Enjoy!

(Besides, you can always buy a copy Jobst Brandt's "The Bicycle Wheel", and build up your own set of deep V rims if you need something to do later this winter, although $200 for a set of built deep V's is a STEAL.)

Aurora, but I like drop handlebars and can't stand flat bars on a road bike.

Yeah, it's a good deal on the Deep V's but the catcher is that they are close-outs, colors that haven't sold. I get to pick from either Eggplant or Orange. :-(

I'm thinking of asking the owner to let me have the rims before he puts them together so I can spray paint them. Anyone see anything wrong with this? I mean seriously, nothing against orange or eggplant, if that's your thing, but they don't match the color scheme on the 2010 Coda Sport.

Both bikes are a real departure from a beach cruiser - especially the Aurora. What you really need to do is ride both of them... for as far and as long as the shop owner will let you. Go with the one that feels better.

Go get the Aurora and start riding it. I've got a Bianchi Eros with 20 count spokes. I'm in the 230's now, but but most of the 1,000 or so Km's I've put on it were when I was your weight. Unless you're going over curbs or mountain biking with it, it will be fine and you'll have a great bike.

John

I own a Coda, I replaced the rear wheel pretty soon after buying it (less than 300 miles and 5 broken spokes) due to spoke breakage, with a Velocity Dyad, 36H.I had zero problems out of the front for 3000 miles, but it then started popping spokes (broken spokes on back to back centuries, not something I want to have to worry about during a long ride), so i had a set of Tiagra 36H Dyads built, keeping the stock front and the other Dyad as backup wheels with more treaded tires on them. I weighed 285 when I bought the bike. I'm now 240.

I know of one other heavy guy in the area with an Aurora, probably in the 240 range, he too ended up replacing the stock rear for a 36H Dyad. But several in the 200-220 range seem to have had no problems out of the Aurora wheels.

Buy it all. You won't see prices like that anywhere else.

I would not spray paint the rims. Every time I've seen someone do this, the paint flakes and peels off. It is hard to hide those type of colors, so if I were you, I would play-up the color. Maybe get bike gear in the future that matches that color such as a helmet, gloves, reflective tape (to go on your bike and stuff), etc. Or...play it off like you are a sports fan for someone like the Minnesota Vikings/North Western University or Cincinnati Bengles/Florida Gators.

Being noticed is a good thing when you are on the road and in traffic. I would go with it.

Thanks for all the advice guys. I keep going back and forth between the Aurora and Coda Comp w/ upgrades. Since I posted the original question, I have had a chance to ride a few bikes with drop bars. Seems comfortable, but both rides were only about 10-15 minutes, so I'm still not sure how the leaning forward position would feel after 30-45 minutes. One thing I did notice was that I had a much more restricted view of my surroundings than on bikes with a more upright position.

I can sit up on my road bikes.

At that price I'd totally buy a set of Orange Deep-Vs...I think they'd look just fine on my blue Fantom CX

i weigh in the 215 range now. was up to close to 230 at one point, i cant say enough about the velocity deep v's. ive been riding on a set of 32 hole dura ace hubs and deep vs for 5 years or so. not sure of the mileage must be in the 3000 range, not a hiccup,burp or anything else from them. dont think ive had the spokes touched. ive always had problems keeping my rims straight, both on mountain and road. until i had these monsters built. never having had experience with them i even bought a spair rim. still got the plastic on it. unfortunately my rims are only black (just kidding) im actually in the market for a lighter set of wheels now. just havent made my decision on what to have built. buy a bike, ride it and have some fun. if the rims go south, you have lots of options. obviously you have done some research. oh and congrats on the 96 lbs loss!!!

Thanks for all the advice guys. I keep going back and forth between the Aurora and Coda Comp w/ upgrades. Since I posted the original question, I have had a chance to ride a few bikes with drop bars. Seems comfortable, but both rides were only about 10-15 minutes, so I'm still not sure how the leaning forward position would feel after 30-45 minutes. One thing I did notice was that I had a much more restricted view of my surroundings than on bikes with a more upright position.

As far as position goes... you'll be much more comfortable on a bike with drop bars than flat bars. If you are trying to build up distance, being comfortable is most important. Just take a look in the long distance and touring forums for the type of bikes that those people ride. They are on their bikes for several hours a day and comfort is more important for them than it is for a commuter, recreational cyclist, or racer. They all ride bikes with drop bars... and there is a reason for that. Just because a bike has drop bars, doesn't mean that you have to set it up so that you are in the most aerodynamic riding position. Most touring cylclists and many distance riders set their riding position so that the bars are at the same height as the saddle. This is a rather comfortable position, and you may not be "leaning forward" as much as you might be on a bike with flat bars.

The 36 spoke eyeletted wheels on the Aurora will have no trouble holding you. If you have any doubt spend $60 on a tensiometer so you can check that spokes are up to tension and evenly tensioned.
When I went to drop bars I took the visor off the helmet. Have the bar up at seat level. Exercises for shoulder and stomach muscles also made the riding position easier.