twistedmjc

Hey all..just found the forums a couple nights ago and been reading up what I can..

First off I'm 6'1" 315ish lbs and haven't been riding for many many years..used to ride in high school but am 39 now. looking to get a bike that can handle what I wanna throw at it. Basically I want an in town commuter with a little variation for easy trails and shortcuts around Kingston ontario. I'm on a SEVERELY limited budget right now. basically as cheap as I can go atm and looking for something to save me bus fare and loose weight at the same time.

My local pawn shop has what I have figured out, I think, is a 2014 Specialized Crosstrail.. Not sure which version yet as I need to take more pics for info on Monday when they open again for about 300 and has offered to let me pay it off in chunks which works best for me. I've researched a little and found out max weight is 300lbs according to there website.. but read that if I get a good rear wheel with 36 spoke design I should be okay. I'm going to goto a LBS monday to find out about the price to get one put on the bike and a tune up. I also need to look into winter riding tires as I plan for this to be a year round usage bike to replace public transportation. On top of all this I'll need to pick up a bike helmet and good lock set and anything else you think I will need. I'm basically looking for advice or a "God, don't buy X" kind of thing lol And any suggestions on extras I should also purchase to go along that would be considered mandatory items. As I said my funds are very limited so best bang for the buck or a "Will do till you can afford better" situation would help. Fenders? Rear wheel/tire suggestion.. Helmet type, just about any advice right now is Welcomed! Thanks for reading and look forward to any responses good or bad heh


Edit: price is as cheap as possible but I do have a few extra hundred I could drop into stuff needed if I went with this bike to make it ready for my size and ride style. I'd basically be dumping every cent of a small minimum wage paycheck on the extras

MRT2

I am not a huge fan of suspension forks for 300 lb riders, but the Crosstrail might be a decent choice for you if the suspension has a lockout on it. But first of all, does the 2014 Crosstrail even fit you? At 6'1", you will probably need a large frame, so make sure the Crosstrail fits you. A small or medium sized frame that would fit someone 5'6" would be too small for you.

Jarrett2

My brother is 350 or so and rides an orange one. He really likes it.

twistedmjc

while I haven't rode it yet..standing beside it in store the frame comes to my hip in height. it comes in multiple sizes but do plan to sit on it before I buy and give it a run around the block

dbikingman

I've test rode the Crosstrail and found it to be an enjoyable ride, I think the one I tested was the LTD, IIRC. I had it on my list for a commuter.

travbikeman

I started riding my Crosstrail Sport when I was close to 380 pounds. I've only bottomed out the suspension a few times when riding through off roads that were better suited for mountain bikes. But I do leave it locked when riding on pavement.

The 32 spoke wheels also lasted, until I weighed much less and decided to ride them over some rocks on rails to trails.

Curious on which Crosstrail is this?

NYSteve

I have a Specialized CrossRoad and I love the bike. Absolutely love it. I weigh 60 to 70 pounds more than you do. I have had zero issues with the bike.

Good luck with riding in the winter. I am too scared, and way too much of a baby. I need a remote start so I can get into a warm car.

WestboroGoose

CT.JPG

I think a Cross Trail is an awesome choice for a big guy. Here's a pic of my '09 CT Elite that got me from 300 down to 260 lbs over six months and around 1.5k miles. I swapped out the suspension fork for a carbon fiber 'cross fork and the stock 45mm tires for a set of 28mm Kenda Qwiks. The result is a very well behaved, although heavy (26-ish lbs), road bike that can stand up to a big rider and big miles I'm 6'0" and the 21 inch frame fits me fine.