tallteacher

I am new here. I am considering getting back into cycling sometime this year after shoulder surgery rehab. I am trying to decide between a road bike or a mtn bike with slicks... but THAT is for a later thread!!!

my question is for you fellow gravitationally gifted guys... have any clydes ridden bikes from bicycylesdirect??? ANY feedback is welcome..good, bad, oh hell no..... I have seen good and bad reviews from the regular riders on this site but I want some feedback from guys on the bigger frames

I am still in need of getting properly fitted 34+" inseam (or so) 6'5 230# (long waisted)... I will not be purchasing anything in the near future but I am starting to keep my eyes out and wonder if its worth keeping an eye on the bikes on that site

thanks
scott

adam_mac84

6' 3" 225 riding fantom cross CX 61cm (the 499 one) no complaints, put skinnies on it, and have used it around town (up to 12 miles round trip) and also on the rollers.

it's actually my dad's who has recently been injured and i am putting in seat time while i decide EXACTLY what it is that i am looking for in a bike, that is to say size, components etc... so far i know that i HATE the sora shifters cause my thumbs don't fit between the little mouse ear and the cable if i have any kind of glove on.

that being said, i have seen tiagra shifters used on here and ebay for <100, still a decent deal if you ask me

i will probably go with the phantom cross or whatever one has the carbon fork when i purchase for the upgraded wheels and brifters

now the $**t storm will begin cause you made a comment about a BD bike

RT

Nah, this isn't the road forum >:-) I am looking at BD bikes right now, and if you ask those who purchased one, the reviews are very good. As long as you know what you're getting into as far as assembly and adjustment, you'll be fine.

bigvegan

Superclyde (like you plus another small person) here. Was riding a Motobecane Messenger 61cm fixie with 23mm tires until I loaned it to my brother. The stock tires went pretty fast, but as a superclyde on 23mm tires, that's probably not entirely their fault (they are pretty cheap though).

BD bikes are fine, their frames are really solid (apparently the owner had a bad experience back in the day with a frame issue, and has made overbuilding the frames a priority), their components are perfectly adequate.

I may not buy my next bike there, as if I buy a decent road bike, I think the benefit of a proper fitting and being able to swap out stems and saddles and whatnot at the store, and getting a free tune up or two, may pretty much even out the cost and hassle of buying online and then having to get my bike dialled in on an ad hoc basis, (I haven't done the apples/apples comp yet, so I may buy from them again if the difference is too great), but in terms of being a perfectly adequate and solid bike, bikesdirect is OK.

Smirob

I ride a 2009 Motobecane Cafe Sprint it's light and fast as far as hybrids go. It definitely is clyde friendly once you properly tension the Shimano WHR500 wheels and toss the seat.

txvintage

You can find a lot of negativity about the business/marketing practices of BD but I have seldom seen a bad review of a BD bike. In fact, those who have them seem perfectly happy with them. I've heard that contact with customer sevice might be spotty attimes but issues seem to be resolved once they know about them..

As mentioned earlier, the points to consider are buying a bike you can't sit on or be fitted to prior to purchase and the need to do some assembly and adjustments when it arrives. I do know that many folks who have them sort of so a mini complete annual tune up to make sure everything is tight and adjusted properly.

We have one of the brick and mortar stores Cycle Spectrum, that are owned by the same folks who own BD. Do a search for the store name and see if there is one in your area by chance. They will have a fair selection, but not complete, of the bikes on the website and you get the LBS support along with the good price.

tallteacher

Not being able to sit on it is my biggest concern. My goal is, when the time comes, is to get all of my measurements and use one of those online calculators or even pay the money at an LBS to get fitted then if I do choose a BD bike I can look for the one with the geometry made for me. Id prefer to buy from the bike shop in town but the carry only Scott and KHS which stop at 61 cm. The next closest bike shops are minimum 30 minutes away.

thanks for the feedback thought. IF i do go the BD route I shall do so with some more confidence.

txvintage

If you can find a Performance Bike in your area try a Fuji. Many of the BD frames seem to be slight variations of, or earlier model rebadged Fuji frames.

Daspydyr 

I think that Mountain bike with front suspension is a better choice. BikesDirect is as good as any of the web sources. I am a fan of Craigs List, plus you get to ride the bike before buying.

I'm a Clydes who is 6'3" and started at 242. 34" inseam. I have a 20" frame, but could go 22." I like having a little stradle room over the bar. Plus you sit more upright. My wife has had several shoulder surgeries. I think that for the first year post rehab that you don't want to put a ton of pressure on the shoulder. The muscles that make up the Rotator Cuff are notoriously slow healing.

Good riding and healthy recovery.

Neil_B

The Windsor Tourist is basically a Fuji touring bike frame.

Buckeye Jim

I have the Windsor Falkirk. It works for me I weigh 190. I've got about 900 miles in the last four months,got the crank tightened up three day ago is all the problems so far. Love it for the price.

youcoming

If you have no issues doing your own tune ups and minor repairs go ahead, just make sure you are fitted properly.

CliftonGK1

There's nothing that says you can't take a BD bike to the LBS for repairs and tune ups. You won't get the "minor tune ups included" deal the LBS offers with bikes sold on site, but any shop will work on it.

jkmartin

I have the $600 Fantom Trail MTB. You should plan on taking the bike to the shop for assembly or at least fine tuning. My biggest complaints weren't with the bike but with BD's failure to respond to a warranty issue when the front shock failed. By the time BD did respond I had already taken the shock to the shop (the shock has since failed a 2nd time).

If everything goes well with the bike you're getting a pretty good deal. If you have problems you're going to find that you get what you pay for.

GeorgeWerr

Hi Bigvegan

As for tires, all the manufactures put cheap junk on for tires, its the first thing I replaced on my Cannondale after three flats in one long weekend. havnt had a flat since and its beed 1000 miles. I still have 23mm tires on it but beter brand.

I do agree with the value of a LBS setting up the bike and swapping components with the right size for your dimentions such as stem and bars

George

cyccommute 

I'd say that given your fit issues, BD might not be the best way to go. You might spend a fair amount of time and money trying to find the right bike on-line. Having to ship something back isn't that easy, especially something as large as a bike box. And you'll have to assemble and disassemble it and repack if you want to return it.

30 minutes of driving is nothing. Make a day of it, go to lunch, ride some bikes, take the wife shopping...bonus points...etc. Call around first to see if anyone has a frame in your size...which may be a problem by itself...and then go ride them. The good news is that, in your size, there isn't going to be much competition for the frame. The bad news is that there isn't going to be much demand nor much selection.

If you do want to go the BD route, you may want to spend some money on a fit session. That way you'll have numbers that you can compare to the bikes you are interested in.

bigm141414

I have two BD bikes and I like them a lot. I'm 6'3" and 260 lbs. I ride a Motobecane Sprint and have logged more than 2k miles on it. It is used as my daily commuter/touring bike. Also, I have a Motobecane Fantom Trail and have no issues with it at all but I've only taken it on the trails about a dozen times so not too rough on it yet.

Do your research, visit the LBS near you to test out frame geometries and bone up on how to tune a bike and you'll be happy with it.

adam_mac84

i will say in addition to what i said above; that i have put lots of hours on a borrowed BD bike that i intend to purchase the exact same style. This bike is my size, but i have been fiddling with fit, and doing video analysis of myself while on the rollers... this will let me fine tune my fit, and will help me choose a size accordingly.

FWIW i am deciding b/t 61 and 63cm frame, i fit well on the 61 with the seat quite high, and i am considering the 63 to obtain a bit more upright position with seat lower in relation to handlebars. honestly the TT changes 15mm and i am confident that i can make that up with a stem swap

DieselDan

I have a Motobecane Messenger that I share with my son. I've had to replace the BB after only 30 miles, and now the headset has seized. I did change the freehweel from 16T to 18T, the brake pads, and a higher stem. The wheels have been the biggest surprise: 32 spoke no name hubs, spokes, and rims and they only have gone out of true once on the rear. I have been as high as 300 on it!

bautieri

Bikesdirect will be fine so long as you accept that you won't have the "support" (whatever the hell that is supposed to be) from a local bike shop. On the flip side, I have never met a bike shop that is not willing to take my money to fix my bike regardless of where I bought it. I'm fortunate in the sense that there are three bike shops within 15 miles of my house and I do buisness at all of them. I'm confident that if you have any issues with your bikesdirect bike you will have no trouble getting it fixed. Just don't expect any freebies. I'd rather see you riding a bike than not. I don't care what the name brand is or where you bought it. Ride your bike and enjoy it. For the reccord, the Phantom Cross Outlaw haunts my dreams. One day I will have one.

Maybe you could make a project out of this. Buy the bikesdirect bike, then photograph and document everything about it. The assembly and inital impressions. How was your expirience? Would you do this again? etc This could help other people who ponder BD.

DieselDan

Alright, here's the deal. You won't get any free tune ups or adjustments on a BD bike unless you live near a Cycle Spectrum (Spectrum Cycles?) store, which is BD's retail front. You will have to pay a LBS somewhere between US$50-$80 per tune up, not to mention an assembly fee, which us usually the same as a tune up. Then you have minor issues, like a wheel truing or torquing a crank, that you will get charged for. Don't forget an accessory discount many shops have with bike purchases of 10%-20%.

On the flip side, if you are a competent bicycle mechanic that can adjust derailleurs, adjust brakes, tune your fit, change saddles, install pedals, adjust hubs, true wheels, and change tires and tubes THEN a bikesdirect.com bike will be a good deal.

CliftonGK1

The BB and headset issues are not out of line with things I've heard from other BD bike owners. Apparently the partial assembly done at the factory isn't to the highest specifications. Things I've seen recommended by many BD owners (and other online "direct from factory" shops, to be fair about it):
- remove BB and grease threads before reinstalling
- repack headset bearings
- remove cranks and grease spindles before reinstalling
- tension/true wheels
Those things being done, you can get a reliable and durable bike from factory direct order shops like BD... but you will need to put some TLC into them.

DieselDan

Many of those issues are fixed at a bike shop before the bike goes on the sales floor or is sold to the customer, unless it is a bare frame build.