Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Getting a new bike, maybe a 29er?

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Goatman
02-12-11, 04:34 PM
I've been looking at new bikes to replace my old Trek 930. I've looked at Specialized Tri Cross, a Salsa Vaya and now a Giant 29er. While I realize that it's mainly the motor that is slow on the 930 I want something with more speed. Is the 29er faster than a mountain bike? Is it just a matter of putting on road tires? Are they fast enough to get my speed fix? Thanks for the help.

skilsaw
02-12-11, 07:38 PM
How big are you?
How far do you ride?
How often do you ride?
What is the main surface you ride on? pavement or dirt.
What do you want to do on your new bike that you can't do now?

I would say tricross for mixed pavement and dirt.
Giant for mostly dirt
Salsa for mostly, or all road.

Giant - fast
tricross - faster
salsa - fastest

Does this help?
Goatman
02-12-11, 08:08 PM
Yes it does.I did forget some details. I ride mostly pavement and gravel roads. I've been riding as much as the weather will allow so far this year. We have really had some crappy weather. Maybe not Canada bad but bad for here in Kansas. I want to increase the mileage this year and plan to ride 4 or 5 times a week. Definitely a clydesdale at 320 down from 369. Riding the exercise bike at the Y is OK but nothing beats the regular bike. Thanks

lucienrau
02-13-11, 06:25 AM
I've built up a Salsa Vaya last fall and that thing rocks. It's durable enough to handle dirt & gravel but not heavy like some 29'er's that I've ridden, I've taken it out on some dirt trails and it's been great. It's the first bike I've ridden where I forget about the time I've been out and just go (15 min jaunts end up taking two hours.) I just got spiked tires on it and it's handling our cracked and frozen roads in the Northeast pretty well. From how it handles with the winter tires, if I have the need I wouldn't worry about putting knobbies on it and doing some single track. Salsa describes it as a gravel grinder and I'd say that's pretty apt. I wouldn't put tires smaller than 38c on it 40 seems to be the sweet spot. This year they've got two build specs out there and both seem pretty good.

Other options in the same sort of thing are the Surly Cross Check, slightly more road oriented but still takes fat tires, and the Jamis Aurora Elite (similar to the vaya but without the sloping top tube.)