etofhb

This is a reply a question that was asked in my introduction thread but I though it deserved its own thread. And thanks for all the warm welcomes.

I first started riding in late 2003 after Lance and US Postal won another TDF. I rode my best friend’s bike that his brother an advance road bike ride gave him. It is Cannondale H300 Hybrid, all alloy frames. I weighed in at 285lbs and I’d lost about 20lbs by the end of the season.

In 2004 I started riding early in the season on the H300, I weighed about 275lbs. I wanted a road bike but every time I tried to ride one I couldn’t catch my breath. I carry most my weight in my stomach, so when I lean forward my thighs drive my belly up into my diaphragm. By the time the TDF rolled around I was down to 250lbs, Lance won again and I had to have a Trek! The Cannondale was just beating me up, the alloy frame just too harsh on vibration. I bought a Trek 2200 ZR-9000 Ultrega bike. It has carbon fiber chain stays, forks and seat post, it was so much easier on my body to ride. The Carbon Fiber was a huge change. I ended the year at about 225lbs but I’d developed really bad issues with Saddle Sores that ended my season.

In 2005 I started off on the Trek but the Saddle Sores came back, I tried everything, different saddles, different short and a couple creams but I ended up hanging up the bike midyear where it hung until this year.

So in 2011 I went to the Tour of California and got so excited I decided to get out the old Trek. I was at the edge of 300lbs and didn’t recall the breathing problems from years before. I fixed it all up, tune up, tires & tubes and the realized I was too large to ride it. I dug the old Cannondale out and tried riding it but it was still too rough a ride. I went down to my local Target and bought a Men's Schwinn 700C Trail Way Hybrid Bike with 28” wheels. I put my saddle and pedals on it and rode it for a couple month’s until I got down too 285lbs. I hated the shocks, losing all that power when climbing drove me nuts! Also the 28” wheels are deep dish so finding tubes is next to impossible.

I had my LBS take my Trek and put hybrid bars, shifters and brake levers on it with the goal of when I hit 250lbs I’d have them switch it back to the drop bars. I really enjoyed riding it but since I only had two possible hand positions, on the grip or bar end I developed Handlebar Palsy. I lost all control of my right pinky finger and my right hand was numb for weeks. I started looking into Carbon Fiber handlebars but that was another expense to a temporary modification to my bike. It wouldn’t be long before was would be going back to my drop bars. After sitting around for 3 weeks I started thinks “All Carbon”, if going from an alloy to a part carbon bike made such a big difference then going all carbon must be good too. I did a bunch of research and found out with my long torso and shorter legs Specialized and Cannondale seemed to be the best fit for me. I decided on a Specialized Roubaix, Cannondale was just too pricey for me. I had a dilemma, my LBS Two Wheeler Dealer, Brea CA has been working with my every step of the way on this journey and I felt bad about not buying a bike from them. One afternoon I walked in there and they had a Cannondale Synapse Carbon 3 Ultegra demo with 100 miles on it for what I was about to pay of the Specialized. They gave me half off on a set of FSA flat carbon fiber handlebars too. The stars aligned and after a quick trip to the bank I had a new bike.
The only surprise was going from a triple crankset to a compact set. I knew I was going to lose the lowest gear but it had an 11-28 on it, I figured I could live with that. After a few days in Colorado’s altitude I desperately needed a lower gear. My LBS put a Sram 11-32T cassette and a Shimino RD-6703 Ulterga Long Cage derailleur on it and I’m climbing like a goat again! Also thanks to Chamois Butt’r no more sores!

monkeydentity

i hope the end of my story is the same as the end of yours....i want that bike! glad things worked out so well!

CraigB

My experience with prices was just the opposite. Around here you can get marginal deals on C'dales, and none on Specialized.

Mithrandir

Yeah... I can't ever picture myself using a double crank. Doubles are for pros who need to shed the weight for racing. Triples are for us normalfolk who need better gear ranges