Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - What bike should I buy?

Last year on a bike ride my hand-me-down Huffy with an after market modified extra long handle bar post, the handles bars sheared off, and somewhat unrelatedly the pedals broke off as well. I haven't had a bike since, but my brother went to price one as a gift and was told that because of my 6' 3" height and 300+ lbs weight, I would have to get a frame with a special steel alloy at a cost of $1200-$1500. I am a casual rider in that I bike mostly for transportation as I don't drive and that price range is unacceptable to me. I went into a bike shop today and the salesman told me that I didn't need the expensive alloy frame, and was shocked to learn that they still make them. However he had difficulty fitting me on a bike as I apparently have stubby legs with a mere 32" inseam, and gangly arms with a 41" reach, further complicating matters is that I prefer to ride in a tall or upright position. Eventually they had to bring out their mechanic who nearly had a heart attack when I started pedaling with my heels, which is a must since I am an amputee, and he began to discuss doing a custom design to account for all of my peculiarities. This is all more than I want to deal with I've been biking since I was a kid and it is my primary form of transportation, I never had these kind of problems with my old Schwinn Blue, before it was stolen, and I am on a budget of only a few hundred dollars. Do I really need a special alloy frame for my weight? Do I really have to go custom? Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.

Have you looked in the Adaptive forum for some advice - with some unique needs that may be a god place to have a look.

From what I can tell you shouldn't need a special alloy frame, in fact a steel frame would probably be best. It might be helpfull if you could post some details about the blue schwinn you seem to have liked. I can see how the shop had a hard time fitting you to a bike given your proportions but I find it hard to believe that a custom built frame is needed. Given your budget it may be more reasonable to look for a bike on craigslist or through an auction or some other unconventional means, but of course that doesn't come until after you have found out what kind of a bike would work/fit you best.

Thank you, I will try to cross post. Although I hope I can still use regular bikes, is heel pedaling really that bad?

its not very efficient to pedal with your heels as it doesn't make use of your calf muscles, and I am sure there is more to it than that. However if because of your unique situation it works for you then you can just ignore the shop people. Like you said your not trying to race or anything just commuting from place to place so efficiency is not top priority. Don't let this one lbs experience discourage you try a few more. Earlier this year when I bought my new bike I went to about 7 shops and a few were places that I will never go again. But out of the 7 I went to about 4 I would definitely return to for future bike purchases.

The bike was being sold under the model name "Blue" in the mid 90's, the color ironically was green. I can't find that model name online however the following link for the "Frontier" is my best guess as to the actual model, I am about 90% sure thats the right one. My second best guess would be the second link for the "Searcher", which was also the name of the awkward model, I was put on this afternoon.

http://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1991_2000/1996_Cnsmr_40.html

http://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1991_2000/1996_Cnsmr_45.html

I bought a 2010 Giant Suede DX at 6'0" at 378lbs with a 60" waist and a 32" inseam and loved it. (I've since moved to a trike, but that's another story).

I put over 650 miles on the Giant with only some rear spoke issues.

http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g475/Peter_CC/Peter_ride_04-17-10_007.jpg

VS now:

http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g475/Peter_CC/Peter_C%20Trike%20Album/Rides/ride-07-13-12007.jpg

The Giant is around $380 new - FYI

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/cypress.st/9019/48871/ is similar to what you linked to. It may not be the perfect bike for you but it's similar to your links.

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/cypress.st/9019/48871/ is similar to what you linked to. It may not be the perfect bike for you but it's similar to your links.

The Cypress was the other one I was choosing from personally. I simply went with the Suede as I felt a crank-forward might be better for me, and i actually liked the front suspension, which I was not too heavy for.

Q: what brands are in your LBS?

If the stock wheel is low spoke count , have the dealer exchange them
for a normal 36 spoke wheel, point of sale is the best time to do that.

I am about 6'4", the same 32" inseam as you, and on a dress shirt I take a 38" sleeve length. I weigh over 360#. Moth the Giant Suede and Giant Sedona fit me well. I liked the feel of the Sedona more than the Suede, but that is personal preference. (The Sedona also cost less and offered more for the money.)
I cannot speak to your special needs with your disability, but the base price of the Sedona at my LBS was $399.