bbandu

On so I'm thinking about getting a road bike. Any opinions on this bike for a Clydesdale .... 2010 Giant Defy 3
2004 Trek 1000 Alpha
2012 Jamis

trailmonkey72

Depending on how much you plan to ride (and where), those hubs from the factory are pretty unreliable. Keep an eye on them for any lateral movement. If it happens pretty quickly, plan on buying new wheels - something with better hubs and at least 32 spokes.

TrojanHorse

Maybe you know more about him than he revealed but your advice may be overkill. I personally have never heard that Giant hubs are unreliable but that doesn't mean they aren't of course. As for how many spokes you need... well, that's a function of how heavy you are and how hard you ride. I'm 225 and have 20/24 spoke wheels. So far so good. YMMV.

bbandu

Thanks, I am a big guy. I am currently riding a mountain bike and have decided to look for a road bike to change things up.

TrojanHorse

Define big... we have people here that are 180 # and a couple 400+ people.

bbandu

In my book big = 310

dr_lha

What Jamis is it?

Podagrower

I've been riding a Giant Defy Composite with Giant's 18F/24R spoke count P-SL1 wheelset. I started riding these wheels at 295lbs 11 months ago and am still working them hard at 265lbs. I have broken 1 spoke nipple and have had them trued once (they could use a second truing, but they aren't far enough out to worry about yet). The hubs are DT Swiss, straight pull spokes (advantages and disadvantages), and they are a great set of stiff wheels.

The back up bike is a Jamis Coda (flat bar) and the wheels on it are terrible. 28F/32R spoke count, Formula hubs, no name spokes. I'll probably never break them, but they are loose enough that they rub the brakes when cornering at speed. I don't blame Jamis for it, the bike is a great ride (makes a great commuter rig), but a better wheelset would make it a much better bike.

TLDR; better wheels are better.

As far as which bike, I will stick with the common advice here, buy the bike that makes you want to ride.

Jarrett2

At 310 and for recreational riding, I'd say go steel. Here's a list of nice steel road bikes that will handle your size:

questseries
https://www.adrenalinebikes.com/stor...roductid=78992
2016 Weekender Drop | Fairdale Bikes
Goodship | Fairdale Bikes
KONA BIKES | 2016 BIKES | STEEL ROAD | Roadhouse
Mr Pink | All-City Cycles
Raleigh Bicycles - 2015 Grand Sport
Raleigh Bicycles - 2015 Record Ace
Raleigh Bicycles - 2015 Grand Prix
Save Up To 60% Off Pro Level Steel Road Bikes | Commuting | Commuter Bikes | Motobecane Gran Premio PRO

If your goal is to compete, then carbon is the way to go.

oddjob2

Make sure to know what size you need first. As a heavier rider, I recommend an older bike with 27" tires or a 700c road frame which will fit at least 700 X 28 mm tires or wider. The clearance issues are related to the rear triangle of the frame.

Second, I would recommend a steel frame, they are more comfortable for longer distances. While I have own several Cannondales and have had a lot of Trek aluminum road bikes pass through my workshop, the vast majority of my bikes are steel.

If you're looking for a used bike, look for one ideally with Shimano Tiagra, 105, 600 groups.

SpikedLemon

Based on my Cannondale's owner's manual: the CX road bikes are rated for higher capacity than their standard road bikes. I suspect this would be due to the larger tires and, perhaps, stronger frame. You can fit road tires onto a CX bike without issue if you don't want knobby ones.

bbandu

I have contacted the seller and waiting on that info now, I am unable to tell from the pic.


Thanks, Right now all bikes make me want to ride. Heck I see someone else riding and I think leaving work or stopping what I am doing to go ride.


Right now my biggest goal is to become a healthier person, and I am doing that through riding. I will take a look at the list you have provided, Thanks

I am not in so much of a hurry that I am not going to do my research. I have just been thinking ahead and wanted to get started on my research so if I cross paths with the right bike I will know it.

bbandu

Thanks

MRT2

I would suggest getting a frame that has clearance for at least 28 mm tires, and preferably, even a little larger. The reason is, at 310 lbs, you will have to pump up 23 or 25 mm tires up to really high pressures, which might not be the most comfortable ride.

I ride the now discontinued Salsa Casseroll, and I am very satisfied with my purchase. It is a steel frame. I replaced the 32 spoke back wheel with a 36 spoke wheel, which has worked well for me. And I ride 32 mm tires, which seems to be a nice balance between weight and ride quality.

Similar products out there include the Fairdale Weekender drop, Surly Pacer, All City Space Horse.

dagray

I started at 390 on a Raleigh Revenio 2.0 (aluminum frame, carbon fork), and the only upgrades after a proper bike fitting were to replace the rear wheel with a 32 spoke wheel (the factory wheels were 28 spoke). I then got a heck of a deal on an Orbea Orca (carbon fiber everything) that came with factory 32 spoke wheels. I changed the tires to Continental 700x25mm and would ride at close to the max pressure (120), but then lost more weight (am now hovering around 360) and ride at about 110psi.

I recently changed to Schwalbe One tubeless tires in 700x23mm that I ride at 110psi.

Get the bike you want to ride.

dr_lha

You could post the pic here, and I could tell you what one it is.

Punchline: If it's a steel Jamis road bike, I'd go for that, if not then out of the three bikes you posted I'd go for the Giant, which give you the best bang for your buck, with the caveat that the wheels may not work for you (which will be a problem with the stock wheels on almost any bike when you're a Clyde).

bbandu

I could do that.

bbandu

Ok here this the Jamis



The Trek 1000 Alpha


The Giant Defy 3

dr_lha

Pretty sure that's a Jamis Ventura Sport. Probably 2012 or 2013.

EDIT: It's a 2012.

https://www.jamisbikes.com.ph/philipp...asport_rd.html

It's a low end aluminum road bike. I don't think this is what Jamis does best, but it's probably a solid choice if it fits you.

It's specced pretty close to the Defy 3, the defy has a triple. The Trek is just OLD.

Jarrett2

I forgot to add Ritchey Road Logic to the list above. Another great steel bike.

How tall are you buy the way?

Depending on your height, here are some nice steel bikes from San Diego Craigslist:
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/bik/5256770909.html
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/bik/5300652209.html
https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/bik/5306132045.html
https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/bid/5304254350.html
https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv...304543286.html
https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/bid/5308748703.html
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/bik/5305632994.html

Nice Ti bike:
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/bik/5301001216.html

bbandu

I'm 59 inches tall.

When it comes to wheels, the more spokes the better for heavier guys? What spoke count should I look for?

OnyxTiger

As you'd expect, typically the greater the volume of material, the more durable the wheels (should) be. More spokes, more durable.

Although you can possibly get away with lower count spokes, and riding thinner tires, the question is - are you willing to risk more money on a "maybe"?

If your greatest priority at this point is getting healthy, I'd go with as durable as I could go. The difference in speed between a road and mtn is night and day for the same rider.

Once you lose some more pounds and decide that this is something you want to take serious, then start thinking about going lighter and faster.

I wouldn't go any less than 28, and would be more apt to choose 32 or 36 if I were you. My first bike was 32/32 at 315#... broke the rear spokes 5 times over the first 3 months. I suspect it could've been a defective wheel (bought brand new though)... LBS was baffled, but knew my weight could've been an issue. About 6 months later, sold that bike for another roadie (weighing 285) and rode 28f/32r... only issue was minor true. No spokes broken yet.

Breaking spokes left and right is not fun, and certainly doesn't help with your fitness goals.

TrojanHorse

Either your math sucks or you are improbably short.

59 inches <> 5 foot 9 in case you're wondering.

Jarrett2

Are you 4'11"?

At least 32 on the rear wheel, 36 wouldn't hurt. And need to get them tensioned for bigger riders.

MRT2

Are you really 4'11" tall?

Anyhow, the answer is, there are better quality wheels and worse quality wheels. And I know there are 300 lbers who have done well with low spoke count wheels. That said, I would suggest you go with at least 36 spokes on the back wheel, 32 spokes on the front wheel. My weight fluctuates between 250 and 260 and that is what I have. The weight of 4 or 8 spokes is pretty small compared with the peace of mind you have knowing your wheels can take whatever you throw at it.