Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Got a new bike...

So after about 7 years without a bike, I finally managed to convince the wife to let me buy one. I had my sights set on something more expensive than she did tho, and after being brought back down to reality, she let me spend about 500.

Wow. Not much.

I cruised craigslist for several weeks before finding a Felt SR71 that was my size and in excellent condition. It has hardly seen any use at all. It's a flat bar road bike with decent components overall. It does come with a dura-ace rear derailleur which is pretty nice. Its several years old but it still shifts WAY better than the soara and tiagra stuff that I was looking at on the newer more expensive bikes.

The only thing that I don't know if I particularly like is the flat bar. I want to see what kind of cost and labour is involved in changing it over to a drop bar bike. And a new saddle. The stock felt one on there is pretty bad.

Other than that I really like the bike and I think I managed to get it at a fairly decent price.

I am sitting at about 307 right now and hope to get down to my post high school weight of about 180. Long way to go, I know, but I have the wife to help keep me on track. She just lost about 70 lbs working with a trainer and doing a TEAM fitness thing. I tried it, but I cannot stand to be on a treadmill inside walking for that long. I would rather go outside and do something... like ride a bike!

I just felt like telling people about my new bike. I'm pretty excited about it and can't wait until I get a chance to take it out for my first real ride.

Thanks for reading!

Pics or it didn't happen my friend. :)

Congrats and welcome :)
It is customary to post a pic of your new steed. We've all been through it ;)

I figured that was coming. I'll try to get some up tomorrow, but I have class pretty much all day. I also need to charge the damn battery in the camera otherwise they are going to be crappy iPhone pictures...

Oh, also...

What is the best resource for learning how to wrench your own bike? I would prefer a book over a website, but it doesn't really matter too much.
Just looking for something with easy to follow pictures and explanations of how things work, not just what to clean and how to clean it.

thanks-

Pics and congrats.
Park Tools actually has a great book on how to wrench on bikes. :)

Congrats on the new bike, it's a very nice one and I'm sure you will enjoy it. :)

Park tools is a very good resource and also searching on youtube often produces excellent results as well.

You might want to hold off on changing out your saddle until you decide about the drop bar option. Some saddles are more suited for different bike setups, i.e. bars lower than seat vs, bars equal to seat level etc.

Just something to consider.

Bicycling Magazine regularly publishes a good book on bike maintenance. I think it's called "The Complete Guide to Bicycle Maintenance and Repair" or something like it.

Youtube is my favorite resource. I have a computer in the garage just so I can work and watch at the same time. And +1 on the Bicycling Mag book. And congrats on the bike!

Thanks guys!

Has anyone done a flat to drop conversion before? I'm trying to understand what I will need. Probably a new stem as the one thats on there is adjustable, but who knows... New bars obviously. I know I will need to Shift levers or "brifters" as I hear them called on here, but thats where I get really confused. Which things work with what? I have some sort of "shaman 9 Speed" Front derailleur and a Dura-Ace rear. Would I need to change the cables? For being just a simple break lever/shifter thing those are pretty expensive. The 105 hoods/levers/shifters are about 200 each online. (Maybe they are cheaper somewhere else...)

Thats why I am looking for a DIY book on bike MX. I just want to understand what I can and can't do for this little conversion project.

thanks everyone, and I'll try to get pictures up sometime late today... I have to head off to class for the majority of this unfortunately beautiful day here in MN...

Flat to drop can be done. I looked into it when I had a flat bar bike as my only bike. Couple things I found out quickly

-The Brifters are expensive. Unless you find a decent set used, it could be 1/2 the cost of a used road bike.
-The brakes will need some sort of an adapter or different brakes. Flat bar levers pull the cable at a different leverage rate than brifters. The road levers will not pull the cable far enough, and you won't have good braking power uness you have it adjusted with little to no pad clearance and constantly keep it that way.
-The geometry might not work, but it might.
-I priced out stem, bars, brifters, bar tape, new cables and brakes, and I was looking at $500 worth of stuff on my $400 hybrid. It can be done, and some have done it but without access to inexpensive used parts, it ususally doesn't make a lot of sense.

I added bar ends, to get a little more hand position options. There are also different trekking bars and others that you can still use the flat bar shifters/brake levers but gain hand positions, if that's why you are wanting the drop bars.

The cheapest way to do it would be with bar-end shifters - instead of $300 for a set, they are closer to $100. Also, the front derailleur that works with your flat bar controls will not work with brifters. However, bar end shifters have non-indexed fron shifters and will work with any derailleur.
Add to that a handlebar (~$60), a set of V-brake compatible brake levers ($50), new cables and bar tape ($25) and I figure you can do the swap for less than $250.

You can use your current stem... even though adjustable ones are often heavier and uglier than non-adjustable. What I would do is set the bike up with the current stem and fiddle with it until your comfort is optimised, then buy a rigid stem that matches the adjustments. Most people would put on a slightly shorter stem because drop bars increase the reach considerably.

So for $300 you could do the complete swap. Add at least $300 if you want to go with brifters, a cable pull adapter to makle them work with V brakes, and a road front derailleur.

You could also ride the flat bar bke ten thousand miles and keep shopping for a killer deal on a bike that already has drops... then you will have two bikes, which is twice as good as having one bike :)

I like Mel Alwoods book Mountain Bike Maintenance: the Illustrated Manual (http://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Bike-Maintenance-Illustrated-Manual/dp/155297734X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1305747147&sr=8-1).

It can also get pricey if you want to convert from flat bars to drop handle bars. DCBO did a pretty good write up of what would be involved. Why do you want to convert the bike to drops anyways? If the bars are uncomfortable you can try different grips or different styles of flat handlebars.

Honestly, For the look. I think. Am I going to get made fun of on group rides because I don't have drops?

2 things-you are better off getting a drop bar bike than converting a flat bar bike. Second is why would your wife begrudge you spending money on your health when she engaged the services of a trainer? Was the trainer free?

Honestly, For the look. I think. Am I going to get made fun of on group rides because I don't have drops?

What makes you think cyclists are the type to make fun of people? >ducking and running<

2 things-you are better off getting a drop bar bike than converting a flat bar bike. Second is why would your wife begrudge you spending money on your health when she engaged the services of a trainer? Was the trainer free?

Because I earn no income. I am a full time student right now. Her money. Her rules. Not a big deal. And I couldn't afford a drop bar bike. I could afford this. I can convert it over time and it will be easier to justify.

I have had good luck on you-tube for tuning and adjustment advice -- just don't take the first one you see, check out a few to get a reliable source. Some are posted by bike shops and some by regular folks but when i see 3-4 saying the same thing i figure it's good to go.

+1 for youtube, and not forgetting Sheldon Brown. Have you thought about tinkering with the bars you have to change your position or putting some bar-ends on, i have some curved L shaped ones with thick padding on my hybrid and they've transformed the bike.

Because I earn no income. I am a full time student right now. Her money. Her rules. Not a big deal. And I couldn't afford a drop bar bike. I could afford this. I can convert it over time and it will be easier to justify.

Honestly, for now, just ride it... And ride it some more... And make the drop bar conversion (or an entire drop-bar bike) your "reward" for reaching a certain milestone or goal. I imagine that once your wife starts seeing results, she will be more amenable to you spending a bit more on your health/life.

I've seen wicked-fast guys on road bikes converted to flat bars... and I wouldn't ride with a group that made fun of me anyway (a little ribbing is cool--but we all know the difference, and I imagine we all know how bad "bike snobs" can be).

You're a big guy--people won't notice your bars rigth away. Make your bike comfy for you , get comfy with it, and start wearing stuff out...

My .02

YMMV

Comfort is actually a part of it as well. The hoods on brifters have been more comfortable than the grips on the flat bar. (what little riding I have done on either..)
Gloves? New grips? It seems like there is a fair amount of pressure being exerted on my palms on the flat bar, where as in the hoods, it seems to be more on my wrist. (Or dissipated in some other fashion I do not understand.)

Comfort is actually a part of it as well. The hoods on brifters have been more comfortable than the grips on the flat bar. (what little riding I have done on either..)
Gloves? New grips? It seems like there is a fair amount of pressure being exerted on my palms on the flat bar, where as in the hoods, it seems to be more on my wrist. (Or dissipated in some other fashion I do not understand.)

Bar-ends and Ergo Grips will relieve much of what you are describing.. Seriously, before you tear your bike up (and it sounds like anice one...), look into those options...

Gratz on the bike. I rode a straight bar for 4 years. No one said anything derogatory (to my face ;-) ). about my not having drop bars. I did quite a few fun rides some of which topped 20 miles. Granted, I find it easier to ride further with my new bike, but I loved my other. As many here have said . . . just ride!

Bar-ends and Ergo Grips will relieve much of what you are describing.. Seriously, before you tear your bike up (and it sounds like anice one...), look into those options...

+1 :thumb:

Hopefully you didn't get into cycling so you can wear spandex and tight shirts...cuz that's why I did :innocent:. Well that and to make snide remarks to people who don't live up to my standards of what a cyclist is :lol:.

No. Spandex and tight ANYTHING do not belong anywhere near me. I wouldn't be doing anyone any favors to wear that stuff. I am thinking about shorts/bibs, but I would probably wear something over the top part. Tight things don't look good on me. LOL.

Good luck with the bike. Zinn and the art of roadbike repair is a great book. Spend what you want to of your own money :P . . . no guilt there you are doing it for yourself.

Honestly, For the look. I think. Am I going to get made fun of on group rides because I don't have drops?
Do you still have a working third digit on either hand ?

Don't worry about things like that, go out and have fun.:thumb:

Do you still have a working third digit on either hand ?

Don't worry about things like that, go out and have fun.:thumb:


LOL, I've went on group rides with a fixed gear beater. I've did group rides on a 26in mountain bike with street tires. Whats fun is when you get faster than those with 2000$ bikes :P Its all about the engine!

Yes, I have a middle finger. I actually use it more often than I probably should.

I still owe everyone pictures. Wednesdays are my long day at school so I hope I have time to get some up tomorrow some time.

Yes, I have a middle finger. I actually use it more often than I probably should.

I still owe everyone pictures. Wednesdays are my long day at school so I hope I have time to get some up tomorrow some time.

Yup. It don't exist if there are no piccies.... LOL!

Ok. Main camera battery is still charging, but here is a picture taken with the wonderful iPhone 4 camera.

ive done this conversion before. you will need brifters. I recommend looking for microshift brifters, they are available on ebay in the 9speed version and are only about $100 Nashbar has them as well but the 10 speed version which would require you to get a new 10speed casette as well as chain.
You will need a new Front Derailleur. To use flat bar shifters with a road crank up front there is a special FD that shimano makes. You will simply need a regular road front deraileur. you can find one used or purchase new. I would recommend simply getting a Microshift FD which can be had for $30 from nashbar. You will also need new cables because the relocation of the shifters will result in your existing cables being too short. Save your rear shifter cable, you can reuse that for the front, you will need new housing for both.
Do you have caliper brakes on the felt presently? if so you won't need any changes there, if not, you may need to get some travel agents to make the brifters cable pull compatible

BTW, Thats a nice looking bike as is and quite frankly as others mentioned if you start riding this one and keep looking around for a true drop bar bike you can probably find a good one used for what you will spend to convert this one. Also, at your weight, your first priority probably be a wheel upgrade. Not to say that those wheels wont' end up working just fine for you but if you do start riding regularly, those wheels are probably the weak point. If i'm not mistaken thats a 20 spoke front wheel? your asking for problems at 300lbs. I see that they are some type of stock shimano wheel. If they were handbuilt 20 spoke wheels by a reputable builder perhaps they would be okay but most of those shimano wheelsets get bad reviews from 175lb riders never mind a 300lbs rider. You could probably sell them on craigslist for a nice chunk of change tho cuz people will go crazy over "low spoke count" wheels

Yeah, I don't think I'm going to bother with the drop bar conversion. Too pricy.
There are other more important things I need to buy. Helmet, shoes, pedals, car carrier, saddle, some basic tools, spare tubes, etc....

I bought the Park Tool BBB2 and its ok. It goes into lots of MX things but not explanation of why and how it works. Cant seem to find any of the other books locally yet.

Hey, nice bike! I like the all-black coloring - it looks fast. Enjoy it!

Thanks! I can't wait to go for my first real ride. School and work make it hard but Sunday and Monday should provide an opportunity to get out.

Any helmet advice? Need that and a new saddle.

Just get something cheap that fits for the helmet. I liked the Bell Alcera (or something like that) that I picked up for like $40 on sale at nashbar one time. They all have to meet the same safety requirements, so get something that fits and has enough holes that you feel like you'll get the airflow you need in the summer.

Saddles are a personal thing and everyone has their own preference. See if your local bike shop has some sort of trial/trade in program. Some do that with saddles they've taken off other bikes (or through a manufacturer) so you can try several things to see what you like (I just ordered a bunch off ebay, found one I liked and sold the rest only losing about $10 in shipping costs but I wouldn't recommend that).

I did the flat to drop bar conversion. Wasn't cheap, but I did it in bits. Got a set of bars for like $15. I think my brake levers (that did work with my brakes) were like $30. Tape was $10. I splurged and got Kelly Take Off's (http://www.kellybike.com/2nd_xtra_takeoff.html)
http://www.kellybike.com/images/kelly_takeoff_photo.jpg
and some NOS downtube shifters for a total of something like $80, but that's pricier than I really needed to go. I think it was $30 for my brake/shifter cable set as I got decent stuff. So let's see here, that looks like under $175 for the conversion. Of course I also got some interupter brakes that aren't needed and added an extra $25, new brakes a couple of different times to try out what I liked (total ~$60), redid the brake cables twice (an extra ~$20), new brake pads (~$10), clipless pedals, and a bunch of other new stuff that have me well over $500 in parts in on a bike I bought for $100 of craigslist. And that doesn't even count for cycling specific apparel.

Thanks. I'll look into that style of conversion. I tried some helmets on yesterday and they all seemed the same standing there, but had huge price differences. That's why I was wondering about those.

I found a thread a while back that talked about wide shoes, but the information was pretty outdated. What's everyone with wide feet doing for shoes?