Bike for big person
03-31-08, 01:35 PM
#26
The Improbable Bulk
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I was about to say that the Sedona or Cypress from Giant would also fit the bill for a large rider.
The suspension fork (at least on my 2003 Sedona DX) had an adjustable preload, so I didn't sink it all the way, even at 350+ I still eventually replaced it with a rigid fork because of the bounce when I got out of the saddle to climb a hill... it would have been better with as complete lockout, which it doesn't have. I also locked out the suspension seat post by cranking down the adjustment screw.
I have 3,000+ miles on the Sedona with total maintenance being a couple of tune-ups, one broken spoke replaced, and new tires.
The suspension fork (at least on my 2003 Sedona DX) had an adjustable preload, so I didn't sink it all the way, even at 350+ I still eventually replaced it with a rigid fork because of the bounce when I got out of the saddle to climb a hill... it would have been better with as complete lockout, which it doesn't have. I also locked out the suspension seat post by cranking down the adjustment screw.
I have 3,000+ miles on the Sedona with total maintenance being a couple of tune-ups, one broken spoke replaced, and new tires.
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People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
03-31-08, 06:14 PM
#27
Gorntastic!
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So this is my first post, please take it easy on me.
I'm in the same boat as the OP; I'm 6'5", weigh 280lbs (down from 320 though, so it could be worse), and have a 34" inseam. I'm very much a newbie when it comes to bicycling, I've done a bit of research over the past month or so, but aside from that the last time I rode was in elementary school. I got a cheap Wally World bike at a garage sale to see if bicycling would be something I would like to do and I can safely say I got my $5 out of it.
Now I'm in the market for a "real" bike. I'm getting married soon (thus the incentive to get in better shape) so I really can't budge on my budget of $300-$400, preferably on the $300 end of that spectrum. There are a few bike shops in my area and I have looked online at what they have available. I plan to do mainly in town and trail riding, which according to a cycler in my office, makes me a candidate for a hybrid or a mountain bike.
Some of the bikes I'm looking into are the Giant Cypress ($320), Trek 4300 ($399), Trek 3700 ($329), Gary Fisher Mako ($279), and thanks to bautieri I've bookmarked a Giant Rincon ($399) too.
Like I said before, I don't plan on doing anything too adventurous at all, everything will be on a nice even road or trail, so I wouldn't think that my weight alone would be enough to cause problems with wheels or forks or anything but I have no clue when it comes to this sort of thing.
Do any of you have any experience with these bikes or any suggestions at all? Thanks in advance to anyone who can help or give advice, I really appreciate it.
I'm in the same boat as the OP; I'm 6'5", weigh 280lbs (down from 320 though, so it could be worse), and have a 34" inseam. I'm very much a newbie when it comes to bicycling, I've done a bit of research over the past month or so, but aside from that the last time I rode was in elementary school. I got a cheap Wally World bike at a garage sale to see if bicycling would be something I would like to do and I can safely say I got my $5 out of it.
Now I'm in the market for a "real" bike. I'm getting married soon (thus the incentive to get in better shape) so I really can't budge on my budget of $300-$400, preferably on the $300 end of that spectrum. There are a few bike shops in my area and I have looked online at what they have available. I plan to do mainly in town and trail riding, which according to a cycler in my office, makes me a candidate for a hybrid or a mountain bike.
Some of the bikes I'm looking into are the Giant Cypress ($320), Trek 4300 ($399), Trek 3700 ($329), Gary Fisher Mako ($279), and thanks to bautieri I've bookmarked a Giant Rincon ($399) too.
Like I said before, I don't plan on doing anything too adventurous at all, everything will be on a nice even road or trail, so I wouldn't think that my weight alone would be enough to cause problems with wheels or forks or anything but I have no clue when it comes to this sort of thing.
Do any of you have any experience with these bikes or any suggestions at all? Thanks in advance to anyone who can help or give advice, I really appreciate it.
Just a general tip...stay away from front suspension forks on hybrids.
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03-31-08, 07:27 PM
#28
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If you seriously do not want to spend more than $300, I believe your best bet is a used sturdy mountainbike ( specialized rockhopper, univega alpina, trek whatever, scott, centurion, etc..) - without any suspension equipment (suspension requires a lot of maintenance, is more or less useless for you, only the higher ened suspension is worth any money anyhow).
Mount some slick tires on one of these mountainbikes and you have a sporty sturdy frame and sturdy wheels - a good "go anywhere" bike - in contrast to a new $300 bike or also to the bikesdirect wheels.
You will have to search for a big frame in all cases however.
Mount some slick tires on one of these mountainbikes and you have a sporty sturdy frame and sturdy wheels - a good "go anywhere" bike - in contrast to a new $300 bike or also to the bikesdirect wheels.
You will have to search for a big frame in all cases however.
03-31-08, 08:31 PM
#29
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So this is my first post, please take it easy on me.
I'm in the same boat as the OP; I'm 6'5", weigh 280lbs (down from 320 though, so it could be worse), and have a 34" inseam. I'm very much a newbie when it comes to bicycling, I've done a bit of research over the past month or so, but aside from that the last time I rode was in elementary school. I got a cheap Wally World bike at a garage sale to see if bicycling would be something I would like to do and I can safely say I got my $5 out of it.
Now I'm in the market for a "real" bike. I'm getting married soon (thus the incentive to get in better shape) so I really can't budge on my budget of $300-$400, preferably on the $300 end of that spectrum. There are a few bike shops in my area and I have looked online at what they have available. I plan to do mainly in town and trail riding, which according to a cycler in my office, makes me a candidate for a hybrid or a mountain bike.
Some of the bikes I'm looking into are the Giant Cypress ($320), Trek 4300 ($399), Trek 3700 ($329), Gary Fisher Mako ($279), and thanks to bautieri I've bookmarked a Giant Rincon ($399) too.
Like I said before, I don't plan on doing anything too adventurous at all, everything will be on a nice even road or trail, so I wouldn't think that my weight alone would be enough to cause problems with wheels or forks or anything but I have no clue when it comes to this sort of thing.
Do any of you have any experience with these bikes or any suggestions at all? Thanks in advance to anyone who can help or give advice, I really appreciate it.
I'm in the same boat as the OP; I'm 6'5", weigh 280lbs (down from 320 though, so it could be worse), and have a 34" inseam. I'm very much a newbie when it comes to bicycling, I've done a bit of research over the past month or so, but aside from that the last time I rode was in elementary school. I got a cheap Wally World bike at a garage sale to see if bicycling would be something I would like to do and I can safely say I got my $5 out of it.
Now I'm in the market for a "real" bike. I'm getting married soon (thus the incentive to get in better shape) so I really can't budge on my budget of $300-$400, preferably on the $300 end of that spectrum. There are a few bike shops in my area and I have looked online at what they have available. I plan to do mainly in town and trail riding, which according to a cycler in my office, makes me a candidate for a hybrid or a mountain bike.
Some of the bikes I'm looking into are the Giant Cypress ($320), Trek 4300 ($399), Trek 3700 ($329), Gary Fisher Mako ($279), and thanks to bautieri I've bookmarked a Giant Rincon ($399) too.
Like I said before, I don't plan on doing anything too adventurous at all, everything will be on a nice even road or trail, so I wouldn't think that my weight alone would be enough to cause problems with wheels or forks or anything but I have no clue when it comes to this sort of thing.
Do any of you have any experience with these bikes or any suggestions at all? Thanks in advance to anyone who can help or give advice, I really appreciate it.
Now I will ask a question, that is most important, does your spouse to be ride, and if so what type of riding do they do? If they ride, then it might be a together activity, and that can affect the kind of bicycle you want.
04-01-08, 01:04 PM
#30
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Thanks for all the advice so far, I'm going to check Craigslist and so forth to see if there are any bikes listed in my price range.
The bride-to-be doesn't ride per se, but she does have a decent bike and would like to ride together if possible. Again, she would be a beginner just like myself and would stick to trails and the neighborhood around our house rather than do anything too adventurous.
The bride-to-be doesn't ride per se, but she does have a decent bike and would like to ride together if possible. Again, she would be a beginner just like myself and would stick to trails and the neighborhood around our house rather than do anything too adventurous.
