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Good Los Angeles LBS for fat biker?

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Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) Looking to lose that spare tire? Ideal weight 200+? Frustrated being a large cyclist in a sport geared for the ultra-light? Learn about the bikes and parts that can take the abuse of a heavier cyclist, how to keep your body going while losing the weight, and get support from others who've been successful.

Good Los Angeles LBS for fat biker?

Old 07-20-08, 11:32 PM
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Good Los Angeles LBS for fat biker?

6'6", just clocked in this morning at 330lbs (down 20lbs! (again)

I want to get back into biking, and I've been doing all kinds of research into "fat guy" bikes.

The next step, is I'd like to talk to somebody who knows something about bikes to plan the best way to attack this problem. I checked with one LBS (Spring and Bellflower in Long Beach) who basically said they could build anything if I told them the parts I wanted, but that's a bit hands-off. I don't have the experience to design a bike from scratch.

So, I live in Compton, I go to school in Long Beach, and I currently work in El Segundo. Can anyone suggest a decent bike shop I could work through this design with?

and while we're on the subject, do you think I"d be better off (with a max budget of $1000, or slightly over) building a 3 or 5 speed bike (1 front gear) from a bare Surly Instigator frame and fork, or buying a Specialized Hardrock and upgrading the wheels, tires, seat post, etc...?

thanks!
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Old 07-21-08, 12:03 AM
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Check out Electra -- they have COOL townie-type bikes, and a few real sweethearts I'd like to own!

I'm personally drooling over the Rat Fink....and the Bonneville, and the Rockabilly....

www.electrabike.com
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Old 07-21-08, 05:07 AM
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Here's every Specialized Dealer in the area

Specialized Dealers Near: El Segundo CA US
4.56 miles
Map...
Directions...
BEACH CITIES CYCLE
219 PACIFIC COAST HWY
HERMOSA BEACH, CA 90254 US
310-318-6030




6.14 miles
Map...
Directions...
WHEEL WORLD CYCLERY
4051 SEPULVEDA BLVD
CULVER CITY, CA 90230 US
310 391 5251
https://www.wheelworld.com




8.49 miles
Map...
Directions...
CYNERGY
2300 SANTA MONICA BLVD
SANTA MONICA, CA 90404 US
310-857-1500
https://WWW.CYNERGYCYCLES.COM
customerservice@cynergycycles.com
Body Geometry Fit Specialist: Steve Carre





9.54 miles
Map...
Directions...
BIKECOLOGY
9006 W PICO BLVD
LOS ANGELES, CA 90035 US
310-278-0915
bikecologyla@yahoo.com




10.64 miles
Map...
Directions...
PV BICYCLE CENTER
714 DEEP VALLEY DRIVE
ROLLING HILLS ESTATES, CA 90274 US
310-377-7441
https://www.pvbike.com
Body Geometry Fit Specialist: Steve Bowen





13.23 miles
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SAFETY CYCLE
1014 N WESTERN AVE
LOS ANGELES, CA 90029 US
323 464 5765
https://www.safetycycle.com




13.33 miles
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ORANGE 20 BIKES
713 N HELIOTROPE DR
LOS ANGELES, CA 90029 US
323 662 4537
https://www.orange20bikes.com




15.02 miles
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Directions...
THE BIKE PALACE
1600 S PACIFIC AVE STE B
SAN PEDRO, CA 90731 US
310-832-1966
https://thebikepalace.com
bikepal@aol.com
Body Geometry Fit Specialist: Brad House
Body Geometry Fit Specialist: Francisco Figueroa




15.27 miles
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Directions...
UNIVERSAL CYCLES INC
3717 CAHUENGA BLVD WEST
STUDIO CITY, CA 91604 US
818 980 7456
Body Geometry Fit Specialist: Carlos Bautista




15.86 miles
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THE BIKE CONNECTION
13711 VENTURA BLVD
SHERMAN OAKS, CA 91423 US
818 995 5788




16.04 miles
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RUSSELLS BICYCLES
8027 E FIRESTONE
DOWNEY, CA 90241 US
562-867-2306




16.99 miles
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Directions...
MARTINS BIKE SHOP
6067 E OLYMPIC BLVD
LOS ANGELES, CA 90022 US
323-832-5304




17.29 miles
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Directions...
BELLFLOWER BICYCLES
16442 WOODRUFF AVENUE
BELLFLOWER, CA 90706 US
562-867-2306




18.34 miles
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Directions...
EUROPA BICYCLE CENTER
6217 VAN NUYS BLVD
VAN NUYS, CA 91401 US
818 989 2453




18.58 miles
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Directions...
GABE'S BIKE SHOP
5346 HUNTINGTON DR S
LOS ANGELES, CA 90032 US
323-226-1921
gabesbikeshop@sbcglobal.net




18.67 miles
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BURBANK BIKE SHOP
4400 W VICTORY BLVD
BURBANK, CA 91505 US
818-848-6177



18.69 miles
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GLENDALE CYCLERY
1250 W GLENOAKS BLVD STE A
GLENDALE, CA 91201 US
818 246 5551
glendalecycle@earthlink.net




19.17 miles
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BICYCLE STATION
6433 N FIGUEROA ST
LOS ANGELES, CA 90042 US
323-256-0703




20.78 miles
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Directions...
WHEEL WORLD CYCLERY
22718 VENTURA BLVD
WOODLAND HILLS, CA 91364 US
310 224 2044
https://www.wheelworld.com




21.75 miles
Map...
Directions...
KELLYS BICYCLE
8700 WOODLEY AVE
NORTH HILLS, CA 91343 US
818-894-8976
kellysbicycle@earthlink.net
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Old 07-21-08, 05:28 AM
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Live in Compton, school in LB and work in El Segundo, WOW!!! Thats a crap load of gang land to ride through. I used to do it looong ago but it was not as bad as it is now.

First piece of advice, do NOT get anything high end or that LOOKS high end unless you pack some heat when you ride.



As for a shop, I have not been to any down there in a while but I would suggest asking in the Socal forum here OR head over to STR and ask there. It is a mostly a lot of mountain bikers but a few of us are roadies as well and a lot of them are in/near your area, more so towards LB or El Segundo/Manhattan.

1000 to 1300 would get you a great bike but I would be looking over my shoulder more then I should if riding in your hood.

DBD
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Old 07-21-08, 09:17 AM
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Originally Posted by Tom Stormcrowe
Here's every Specialized Dealer in the area
Thanks, but are there any you'd recommend doing business with?
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Old 07-21-08, 09:20 AM
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Originally Posted by dirtbikedude
[B][COLOR="Teal"]Live in Compton, school in LB and work in El Segundo, WOW!!! Thats a crap load of gang land to ride through.
I'd be using the bike only to get to and from school and home (13 miles, roughly), and I think I can save quite a bit of trouble and traffic using the LA River or the Compton Creek bike paths. The El Segundo gig is just a summer internship.
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Old 07-21-08, 03:51 PM
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It is a bit out of your way, but a shop I have bought several bikes from does a good job of dealing with the concerns of Clydes ( I am 6'3'' and 270-280).

It is Banning's Bikes in Fullerton. Web: https://www.banningsbikes.com/

Tell them what it is you want to use it for and how much you want to spend and they will build you the best bike for you for that price.

Steven
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Old 07-21-08, 04:17 PM
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Originally Posted by bigmonter
Banning's Bikes in Fullerton

Thank you, Sir! That's not nearly out of my way... I guess that's the benefit of a car over a bike, you can go 25 miles while sitting on your duff and without breaking a sweat. ;-)
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Old 07-21-08, 05:39 PM
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I used to live in Manhattan Beach. Try REI on Rosecrans. I recommend getting a Novarra Randonee touring bicycle (currently $950 but will be $650 on sale in the Fall) since it is a steel frame bicycle with good wheels built for heavy loads. They also carry a wide range of bikes. The staff is friendly and knowledable.

Also you can try Performance Bicycle on (Redondo Beach Blvd.) in North Torrance near El Camino College. They have Jamis bicycles.

Good luck and enjoy your ride.
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Old 07-21-08, 11:54 PM
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Originally Posted by brianlojeck
Thanks, but are there any you'd recommend doing business with?
Cynergy is my store. They're fantastic, I've never had any of the negative crud that people report about some stores here. The bikes run towards the high end, but for 1-1.2k you'll find something there. They're also very helpful and not salesy/pushy.
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Old 07-22-08, 11:48 AM
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I live 2 mi from PV Bike and they're my favorite LBS https://www.pvbike.com . Steve (the owner) is super cool and Miguel (the mechanic/wizard) is the best. I bought my Specialized Sirrus from them and I'm planning on getting a new wheelset hand-built by them. They have a amazing selection (everything from cheap beach cruisers to 5k+ racers) and are mostly geared towards Specialized (I think they have in stock just about every bike in the Specialized catalog). They're the only dealer in the area I've seen that carries Waterman *drool*

Bikecology in Torrance is pretty cool too, they're near work so I've stopped by there a few times to check them out. They have a much larger show floor but they don't stock as much specialized bikes as PV Bike (mostly giant and trek). Haven't bought much from them so I don't know how their service is. I think I saw a few Hardrocks in stock at PV Bike last weekend
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