Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - New member, what do you guys think of this bike?

I'm 6'2 and about 280. I joined this forum a while ago, but never got a bike, and stopped positing. I'm back, and looking to get a bike. Truth be told, I could probably spend 500 or so, but I'm looking for a good deal. My biggest concern right now is that I don't really know what I want in a bike, so I would rather get a cheaper one, make sure I stick with it, and then be more informed to spend a lot on a bike. Plus, I would think a decent used bike would hold its value pretty well.

Anyway, here is the bike I'm looking at.

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/bik/3024988410.html

Does 58cm sound about right for somebody 6'2'? Does it seem like a decent starter bike?

The Sirrus is a decent ride. :D That's a fair price, if in good condition, too. The only questions is does the frame fit your size and a 58 CM-60 CM frame is just about right. I say grab it fast and ride it like you stole it.

+1 to Tom's comments. Take it for a short test ride and make sure there isn't anything obviously wrong with it (rusted shifters etc)

Thanks for the responses. I did a bit more research and it seems like a great bike. I've sent an email to the person, and assuming its not already sold, I hope to be test riding it today or tomorrow.

Good luck with the purchase, it's already been up for a day an a half- bikes tend to go quick on craigslist. So quick, that often by the time you post a thread and wait for a reply you've already missed it. That's part of the game of craigslist, good deals all day long, but for the truly great deals, there isn't much more time than it takes for a quick google and trip to the ATM.

Have you found a 58 is a good size in other bikes you have owned?

a sloping toptube is a fooler ,then the same functional size has a shorter seat tube. so the the 58 is taller ,
a 60+ may be better for 6'2" with a horizontal top tube.

as said else where... have the seller bring the bike into a meeting place and time
at the local shop so a 3rd party can give you a condition estimate ..

do tip them for that service.

I'm guessing, not knowing your leg length/torso length, that a 58cm would fit you fine. It will be pretty close, especially in a hybrid where sizing isn't as critical as on a drop bar road bike. One word, rarely do bikes, especially at the lower end, hold their value for any length of time. You shouldn't lose too much with this one if you keep it in good shape. Welcome back.

I have an '06 Giant Cypress comfort bike. I also have a Trek 1200 flat bar road bike. Though the Trek cost twice as much, and is far lighter, with fancier componants, I have found that I can ride the Giant farther, more aggressively and with less fatigue than the Trek (which I have outfitted for comfort with 32c tires). I am 5'11" and 230lbs. The Giant is just so much nicer to my body, and it is far more suited to trails and rough roads than my Trek. I use Continental Travel Contact 700x38c tires which are relatively flat with good tread along the sides, so it is suited well for trails or road use. The Giant fork has spring shocks. I am trying to get stronger and move up to a touring bike of some sort with fat tires, but for a relatively inexperienced cyclist, the Giant has been a very good bike.

Well, I got the bike today!

I send the email to the guy Sunday, and didn't hear anything all day Sunday or monday, so I was a bit suprised when he sent me an email on Tuesday saying it was still available.

I test rode it today, and bought it. Everything works great. I think the brakes leave a bit to be desired, but are certainly functional. I'll test them a bit more sometimes this week, maybe I just need to give it a bit more force. I have read about kool stop brake pads, so I may buy a set of those as well.

When I got home, I took it for a ride to the grocery store and back (2.5 miles). I averaged 10.5 miles an hour, over some gentle hills (lance armstrong might define the trip as flat). Not too bad of a time, for a first trip. I was going at a good hard pace, but not trying to set any records. For some reason I thought the tires would be a bit wider (they are 700x32c, 32 spoke). I am about 280, so it was a bit of concern, but reading online it looks like it shouldn't be a problem. I know the frame will accept larger wheels if it does become a problem, and my goal of cycling is to loose weight, so I hope to be a bit lighter every week.

I just wanted to thank everybody for the advise, I have a feeling the spending has just begun. I need to get a floor pump, and a good lock, and I need a bag to put my wallet, cell phone etc in.

Excellent news, congratulations.

Congrats and welcome back to cycling. New brake pads will make a big difference over the stock ones. And 700x32 is a plenty big enough but you need to keep it aired up near max to prevent pinch flatting. And the 32 spole wheels should be fine for your weight as long as you aren't jumping curbs.

Welcome back, and congrats. You took the first step to a healthier you!

I'm not sure if these are the exact model you would need, but the Kool Stop Salmons (http://www.amazon.com/Kool-Stop-Bicycle-Threaded-Salmon/dp/B000BMT2GU) are very well regarded in the 41 (almost as well thought of as the CAAD bikes! :D) Check with you LBS. They'll be able to set you up with what you need. They should really help.

I am 6'2" with slightly shorter legs for the size - 33" inseam, and I have a size L 2008 Sirrus. Started at 280+, down to 255+. Bike has thousands of KM on it now. I've since converted it to drop bars from flat bars. Currently saving for a purpose-built road bike.

Only 2 pieces of advice: 1) Get the wheel spokes tensioned, or you will break a spoke at some point this summer - the machine-built wheels have varying tension, and you and I are big guys. 2) I got a LOT of flats with the 28mm specialized tires that shipped with the bike (you mention 32 mm above, so maybe they're not original). I switched to 25 mm Gatorskins and haven't had a problem since.

I remember being amazed at how the bike just kept going when I stopped pedaling. Big difference from my old mountain bike.

So I did a bit more looking. The tires are actually 700x25. (the 32c was from the bikes spec when new), 25c is what the tire says. (Tires were bought in the fall, 2011)


Would this cause any any problems at 280 pounds? Should I switch to a wider tire just to be safe?

(Edit, upon reading the above post. its good to know that at least some 25c tires are strong enough. I'll get a spoke wrench since I want to build a bike kit anyway, but I'll go to a pro and let them tension them so its done right.

Like I said, I ride 700x25c.

Make sure you pump them up before practically every ride, and avoid potholes. Check the sidewall for a maximum pressure rating, and go close to the max.

So I did a bit more looking. Would this cause any any problems at 280 pounds? Should I switch to a wider tire just to be safe?

congrats on your new bike, looks good. you can always run a 28c tire on the back wheel and keep the 25c front. it would give you more shock absorption rather than safety.

My buddy who is a 300lbs 6'4" rides a road bike with 25c front and rear tires without any problems. Keep inflated to max pressure and you will be good to go. He had lots of flats until he realized he was only pumping up to 90PSI. Once he inflated to 120PSI all the flats stopped. He has not had to true his wheels in over 2000K of riding.

Claude

I went on another ride today. Same trip as before, this time 11mph. It was an improvement of .5mph, and felt a bit easier, so thats good.

I need to work on my shifting, I find myself shifting the wrong direction, which slows me down, or not shifting before a stop sign. There is one section that is downhill, I can hit about 25mph, and I'm in my top gear. The stop sign is slightly uphill, but I have to start from the tip gear, which slows me down a lot. Still not to bad for somebody who hasn't ridden in 12 years.

Thanks again for all the replies, I'm going to stop posting updates in this thread. I just wanted to post a decent baseline, so when I do the same route in 4-5 months I can tell the progress I made.