Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Bike fit question: a big guy with short legs

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TechKnowGN
03-23-10, 06:14 PM
So, Im noticing that mie bike fits me fine from the feet to the hips, but between the hips and the hands it feels too small. I'm riding a 2008 Fuji Absolute which sizes as a 19" mtb/comfort sizing, though it's really a cross/hybrid bike.

Are there brands that have longer cross bars without higher standover heights or am I relegated to custom bikes if I want something close to what Im looking for?

My standover is about 31 inches, my current frame is 30 to the top of the top tube. My wife who is 5'4", her bike is only an inch shorter than mine. Hip to shoulder I'm 23 inches.

zoste
03-23-10, 06:18 PM
The short answer is yes. The long answer is that you have to dig around on different manufacturer's websites to find different bike geometry.

Have you tried monkeying with the stem? A longer stem can give you some room.
TechKnowGN
03-23-10, 06:26 PM
The short answer is yes. The long answer is that you have to dig around on different manufacturer's websites to find different bike geometry.

Have you tried monkeying with the stem? A longer stem can give you some room.

I havent tried a longer stem though that makes sense. Thats a good short term and cheap solution. I still need to look around to find something that will fit long term.

Mr. Beanz
03-23-10, 06:32 PM
The bike has a sloping top tube, get a bigger frame (21) then lower the seat.
Herbie53
03-23-10, 07:13 PM
I don't think this will apply very directly to a comfort bike, but may be helpful for a straight bar road bike.

Pretty good tool for getting an idea of what road frames you might want to try.

Fit Calculator (http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO)
mdlynam
03-24-10, 09:36 AM
The bike has a sloping top tube, get a bigger frame (21) then lower the seat.

+1 on that advice. My body size is pretty odd. I'm 5'7", but my inseam is only about 28 inches. I have a long(ish) torso and pretty normal arm length.

Short of a custom bike, the sloping (aka compact frame) design with a larger frame size and the seat post more fully inserted should help.

I'm riding a 56cm Specialized Sequoia. I don't have adequate standover height, but that's the risk I'm taking to get a bike to fit.

Based on stand-over height, I was riding a 49cm, and ended up going through all kinds of machinations with bike fitters (Grand Fondo in Nashville and a physical therapist in Frankin, TN), but never got the balance right.

Of course, a full-on custom bike would be nice, but that'll have to wait 'til the kids are outta the house in oh, about 18 years!