kpmurphy

Hi,
I am a new rider looking to get a road bike. I currently have a K2 comfort bike that weighs a ton, is a little too small, and has a suspension fork I am too heavy for. It was fine for riding the bike path with the kids but my biking goals/needs/wants have changed and I would like a road bike. I am 6'8" and currently 275 pounds. I am carrying an extra 30 that always goes quick once I start exercising. I am having a little bit of sticker shock over what a bike in a 64cm frame and up will cost me. I am have been going through message boards and articles about what is out there in my size. All the older bikes that are close but not quite tall enough seem to have a short top tube and are not very comfortable because of this.

Then I found this:
https://www.somafab.com/archives/product/es

This looks promising. Then I started looking into what all the components will cost. So then I thought what is stopping me from buying this..........

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ington2_IX.htm

.........and putting the components on the soma frame? I am sure there are plenty reasons not to but it seems like I could do this, sell the wellington frame for whatever I could get for it to defray the cost and have a nice tall bike for 700 or so dollars, and can upgrade components when needed in the future.

So.........am I crazy, stupid or a genius? Also, any opinions on the Soma frame itself? I would probably buy the fork from them as well. Thanks for any input and sorry if it got long.

cplager

Why not just get a 64cm BD bike (such as https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/tourist.htm)?

The problem with doing what you're planning is that you're paying money for a frame you're not using (and I don't think you'll get too much for selling the frame).

That being said, I've thought of doing similar things for building up recumbent bikes...

Good luck!

Charles

CACycling

That BD bike has pretty much the bottom end components throughout but most will swap over. May have issues with headset, FD (clamp size), chain (may not be long enough), seat post and cables/housing so take that into account. The rest should work.

Looks to me like you will be in well over $700 by the time you are done and that is assuming you have the tools and skills to build the bike.

kpmurphy

The Soma comes in 66cm with a long top tube and from what I read is a good quality frame. The largest frame I saw on bikesdirect was 62cm. Your link doesn't work for me to see the 64cm you suggested. I know I wouldn't get a lot for the windsor frame and fork but it would still bring the cost down.

kpmurphy

I would be well over 700 if I bought separate components for the Soma wouldn't I? Or am I looking at the wrong components? Where would I would look to buy parts for the rest of the Soma build? What would be better to spend money on? For example, are shifters more important than brakes when it comes to going for higher end parts?

JerrySTL

I bought a Windsor Tourist on BD last year. It comes in a 64 cm size.

https://bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/tourist.htm

That bike is suppose to be the same as a Fuji touring bike. It also looks a LOT like Bike Nashbar's Steel Touring Bike. Nashbar's bike has newer 10-speed components for the extra $100.
https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...12_-1___202339

Personally if I was your height, I'd probably just go to Zinn Cycles and see what they have. Zinn specializes in bikes for tall riders. Of course you are going to pay. The cheapest road bike seems to be $1700.
https://zinncycles.com

CACycling

Not arguing that buying components will be cheaper, just that going the way you are looking at will be higher than you are anticipating. And again, that is assuming you have the tools and skills to do the work yourself. And your end product will be a good frame with bottom-end components. As was suggested earlier, getting a BD bike that comes in 64cm, has much better components than the one you are thinking of buying for parts and will get you on the road for less than your plan will cost seems to be a better option:
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/tourist.htm

And BD has other bikes that come in 64cm that may be of interest as well.

digger531

I have a Soma double cross and love it (wish it was smaller). You might be better off buying a used bike on craigslist for components. This was common practice for touring bikes because they were hard to come by. Another thing to consider is if your comfort bike has 700c wheels the wheels and brakes and possibly even the crankset and stem will fit on the Soma frame.

digger531

On second thought, you should sell that K2 complete. Its not worth parting. Again, craigslist.

TrojanHorse

You should keep your eyes on fleabay - bikes that large don't appear to be overly common so you may be able to swing a deal. There are some good classic frames from the 80s you could buy and enjoy, and upgrade the parts at some later, future date if you feel like it.

Building your own bike from parts is generally the most expensive way to do it (although that's what I do... I seem to alternate frames & groups every now and then). Getting a bike from 2012 or older that's NOS (new old stock) is probably your most economical bet, or even better, a 64cm or larger test bike.

kpmurphy

The Zinn stuff looks awesome but is out of my range. How do you like the Windsor? The reason I am looking at the Soma is that it has a 66cm height and a longer top tube. The Windsor/Nashbar is a little shorter in both but in my limited experience it makes a difference.

kpmurphy

Yes, I agree on selling the K2 whole. The parts are all heavy and would defeat the purpose of the new bike. It was a great bike on the path with the kids on the trailbike/topeak but it is killing me to take it any sort of distance.

kpmurphy

This is what I have been doing, ebay and craigslist. I guess I am just getting to easily discouraged. Part of me says "buy a cheap used bike for a season or two and then commit to a quality bike if you stick with it." Other half of me thinks that is a waste of money because what I have found so far is probably too small and heavy.

kpmurphy

https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bik/3662555782.html

https://boston.craigslist.org/nos/bik/3618683803.html

These are 2 examples of what I have been finding. The panasonic was entry level, heavy,and overpriced in my opinion. Maybe too small as well. The Schwinn I know nothing about but the height seems promising. Any thoughts on the old ones, or should I post that somewhere else?

edsall78

I think with a little patience (eBay+ Craigslist) you could get yourself a really nice used bike in that size.
i like 80's Japanese bikes (specifically Lotus, Fuji, etc)--I've seen quite a few xtra large Lotuses Lotii??(sp)?..whatever.

Otherwise, I'd just get a Surly Crosscheck or a Motobecane CXX ($799 at bikesdirect). With the BD bike you'd actually be getting a decent Frame and some quality components.

kpmurphy

I will look at your suggestions. Here is another off craigslist:
https://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/bik/3660239802.html

Do any of the three I posted qualify as nice for the price?

I think Lotuses is correct.......doesn't look right though....

jsigone

I agree, I'd take a classic bike for $3-400 oppose to the modern day options at that price point.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/87-CENTURION...item19d814e7a7

don't know your location but plug in 64cm into searchtempest.com/ bike for sale and these came up...I'd be ALL over that SOma and upgrade the tiress, bartape, saddle and new chain.

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst...651702891.html

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv...636319518.html

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/bik/3625483322.html

kpmurphy

Unfortunately I live in Boston, because all three of those look great. I agree, I would jump on that Soma or that Nikishi in a second. Guess I need more patience. Did you see the Schwinn or bridgestone I listed? Any good?

jsigone

I'd guess this would be right around 1980 era, 27" tires, but pretty clean frame and fork and around the lugs. I'd just get new bartape and tires. Lube the chain well and it should still be good.

https://boston.craigslist.org/nos/bik/3618683803.html

also see if this guy has something in 63-64cm range.
https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bik/3633017361.html

kpmurphy

I am going to look at the Schwinn on saturday and see how it fits. Funny thing about the second listing you entered. He had a Panasonic Sport 500 in that listing in 64 cm. As soon as I emailed him about it he took it out of that listing and put it into its own listing for more money. I researched it a bit but it is a heavy bike not worth any upgrades according to most.

This is another one I may go and look at.
https://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/bik/3660239802.html

CACycling

All the bikes you linked are low end. If you see a bike with suicide levers and stem shifters, it is the sign of a low end bike. And stay away from steel wheels (looks like the Schwinn has chrome steel rims). Also, those look like they have fairly short top tubes so probably wouldn't be a good fit anyway. At 6', I comfotably rode a 25" Schwinn Le Tour II as a commuter because of the short top tube.

kpmurphy

What are suicide levers?

aramis

Why don't you just buy that nashbar bike or some other 64/62 cm new bike? They have sales all the time. I know you are huge (6'8") but you could still always get a longer/taller stem and bigger bars or whatever as long as the contact points are good you will be fine even if the bike looks a little funky. Stems/bars are pretty cheap.

I mean they have this motobecane on ebay (and on bikesdirect for the same price) w/ 105 stuff for $800 which is a very good bike and requires no work but paying:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2013-MOTOBEC...item20cf2d9a52

goldfinch

Look at the Schwinn. Off of the regular brake levers are auxilary brake levers that you can operate from the top of the handlebar. You can see the levers in the Schwinn picture.

kpmurphy

Got it. So suicide levers and stem shifters are a sign of low end bikes.
I have heard mixed reviews for bikesdirect.com and hesitate to buy from them. Does the motobecane suggested have better components than most?