matticus

Hey guys. New rider. Well, new for the first time in 20 years.

I've narrowed my search down to 2 Specialized models and I wanted to get some advice. I know via the search that there are many of you riding Specialized Sirrus models. I've read a lot of people saying the wheels will need to be upgraded, etc.

With that in mind, Saturday I went and checked some out. At 6'2" and 315lbs, the LBS told me I'd need to get an XL frame. I tried the Sirrus Elite in a Large frame and the standover was fine (31" inseam) but I was a little "wobbly" with the handlebars. The owner suggested we try an XL but that they were on backorder. He pointed me in the direction of a Hardrock 29er Sport Disc model.

Basically, my reason to get a bike is to commute 2.5 miles each way into work for some extra cardio. In the last year I've lost about 90lbs and weight train 4 days a week but don't do enough cardio. 2.5 miles is a really short, easy commute. I do not plan on doing any single-track or offroad riding.

That being said, the shop offered to fit the Hardrock with some thinner (32c I believe) Armadillo tires. I rode it about 2 miles and the bike itself feels fine with the exception of the hydraulic brakes. I'm not sure if they're just cheap (Tektro HD-330M I think?) or what, but I've "bedded" them and they're still very slow to stop, which undermines any confidence I have and makes me less than thrilled about riding to work.

The shop has offered to allow me to exchange the Hardrock and they'll order the Sirrus Elite. I rode the base model Sirrus in an XL and it felt fine. Honestly, the main reason I wanted the Elite was for the lighter weight and the color (I know, that's so dumb isn't it?). The Hardrock was 700, the Sirrus Elite will run me $815. The Elite has a carbon fork, which worries me, but otherwise has 32 spoke double-walled wheels that the shop will tension. I figure this will probably get me by and buy some time to save up to get wheels built.

Tl;dr, should I try to make the Hardrock work or go for the Elite? The Hardrock has wider, 36 spoke wheels. The carbon fork on the Sirrus Elite makes me wonder if it won't snap under me. The price difference isn't a problem. I just don't want to end up trashing a more expensive bike because I"m not small.

Thanks!

TrojanHorse

If you're sticking to pavement and paved paths, get the Sirrus.

Are you sure you need an XL though? Were you able to try a LG?

salreus

How long before they get the larger size bike you might be interested in? Could you wait for it to arrive and try it out? The cost might not be that much of a deal for you, but for the cost involved, I would get what I wanted. I don't mind ordering a car from a dealership vs just picking what they have on the lot. And I wouldn't mind waiting for the bike I wanted if they didn't have it in stock.

matticus

Well, I was able to ride a LG Sirrus Elite and it felt a bit short, if that makes sense. I ended up wobbling the handlebars back and forth. They let me try the base model Sirrus in the XL frame and it was great. They didn't have an XL Elite and stated it'd be 3-4 weeks before they could get one. They have been gracious enough to allow me to exchange the bike, which is awesome. In fact, I'm not 100% sold on the elite. I could be fine on the "sport", but there's something about the Elite from an aesthetic point of view that makes me want to ride it. That is ridiculous to me, but it's true. That alone is enough for me to be ok paying a bit more for it. My main worry there was the stock wheels and the carbon fork. Specialized says the carbon parts are meant to handle up to 240lb riders. Suppose I could throw a steel fork on it but at that point, may as well buy the Sport version and just deal with it not being that sexy matte black and slate red...

matticus

They've quoted me 3-4 weeks to get the Elite in an XL frame. My concern is twofold, really. The first is that the Sirrus felt a lot faster on the road. The second being that the Hardrock is much... beefier. The Sirrus has 32 spoke wheels, the Hardrock 36. The Hardrock has a suspension fork with a lockout and the Sirrus Elite has a carbon fork (which Specialized says is meant for up to 240lb riders, which worries me). The shop seemed to push the Hardrock with street tires as the best bet. Which I was ok with until I realized I felt unsafe braking. The hydraulic disc brakes stop like garbage even once I "bedded" them, which the shop said they'd already done.

bbeasley

Welcome to BF and congratulation on the 90lbs! Commuting is a blast, nothing stopping you from stretching that 2.5 miles. My short commute is 6 but I've been known to ride 22 to get there

salreus

I am over 300 and my wheels have 32 spokes and in pretty good shape. But I am also on a 26" rim vs the 700mm rim which would make it stronger and prob why I haven't had an issue. But I also ride on flat roads and that is pretty much it. And I agree with the added distance on your way there or back. my There and back ride to my turn around point is 6 miles. However when I add all my extras, I can push it to 13 miles. I hope you pick the bike you really enjoy and put lots of miles on it.

exile

Buy the bike that you will ride. It is not "dumb" to purchase a bike for the reasons you mentioned. It would be dumb to buy a bike and not ride it though.

It sounds like you have a good LBS that did not try to up-sell you. Ride the Hardrock now, and enjoy the Sirrus later.

matticus

Yeah the LBS has been great. My fear is more that the wheels and fork on the Sirrus Elite won't hold me.

UnfilteredDregs

If the fork is rated 240# max and you weight 315#...

Don't do it.

A fork failure is a world of hurt.

Find a bike that is suitable for your current physique.

Down the road when you lose more weight you can reconsider your options.

Never compromise safety.

matticus

I agree - I certainly don't want the fork to fail. I'm not necessarily opposed to swapping a steel fork out and setting the carbon fork aside. Interestingly enough, Cannondale carbon components are only tested/rated at 275lbs, which is a fair bit more than the Spec carbon, but I know there are a lot of bigger guys and gals riding just fine, even if some of us are pushing and/or over the "rated" weight limit.

ill.clyde

Good lord people ... it's carbon fiber, not balsa wood.

That carbon fork will be more than fine. I've ridden a Trek 1.2 for the past five years, with a carbon fork, and with 25c tires on it. During that time I've weighed everywhere from just north of 300 pounds down to my current weight of 265. I've probably but 3,000 miles or more on that bike (would have put more if I hadn't bought another bike that I use primarily for commuting) and the fork is fine. Those weight limits are generally legalese.

And I'll echo what TrojanHorse said ... if you're going to ride primarily on roads and paved paths, get the Sirrus.

Wilfred Laurier

where can i find the rider weight limit for specialized forks
because i tried searching their site
but only found weight limits for wheels

edit
never mind
i just found this in their english owners manual
and for all the cavemen out there who don't know how to convert
100kg = 220 lbs
so to the dozens of three and four and five hundred pound people on bikeforums
who have been riding the hell out of specialized bikes without problems for years
thank your lucky stars i found this
and please send your bikes to me for proper disposal


but seriously folks
this should prove to everyone that their published weight limits
are nonsense arbitrary numbers
chosen to prevent litigation
and not really limits based on engineering analysis or testing

matticus

I just howled so loud in my office @ "it's carbon fiber, not balsa wood". Thanks for your reply - I feel a lot better about the Sirrus Elite. The LBS just e-mailed to say that they may have another option for less money but haven't revealed what that is. There's just something about the Sirrus Elite in that matte black and slate red finish that sucks me in and makes me want to ride.

ill.clyde

Glad you found it humorous.

And there's nothing wrong with buying based, at least a little, on looks. Find the bike with the specs you want, and then buy the one that holds your attention asthetically. Of the two bikes I ride the most, I love the looks of both of them, really rather equally. And the funny thing is, one is black (with orange and white) and the other is white (with red and black). If you love your bike, from a specs standpoint and a looks standpoint (as well as fit of course), you'll want to ride it.

Jimbosays

+1 I have put in a 'hard riding' six months at 320-300 lbs. on a stock Specialized Secteur with nary an issue . . . And once you get comfortable in the saddle, don't think your first bike will be your last bike!

UnfilteredDregs

Specs exist for a reason, certainly not arbitrary, but hey... what do I know?

I'd query the rationale for the number. It is a fork, regardless the material. You may not encounter a failure type issue but you may certainly place undue wear and tear on the headset, etc.. It pays to look into these things.

What does suck is there aren't many bikes tailored for heavier folks.

mrodgers

First, congrats on the weight loss. I don't have much to say about the bikes, I'm not an expert.

Sounds like why I sold my motorcycle a long time ago. Thought it would be great saving money on gas going 20 miles to work. The problem was the gas used on the 120 mile ride home, LOL.

Wilfred Laurier

this is an assumption
and you know what they say about assumptions

don't make assumptions

matticus

This makes me feel a lot better, especially considering the Secteur looks like it would put more weight directly over the fork than the Sirrus, by far. Worst case, I'm completely ok with the LBS swapping in a CrMoly fork. They let me ride the crap out of a Sirrus Elite knowing my weight and said if I were comfortable and could spend the money, they'd have 0 issues putting me on a full carbon road bike (which would be serious overkill for a 5 mile round trip commute... but seriously fun I'm guessing).

Wilfred Laurier

get used to your 5 mi round trip
and soon you will be trolling google maps for new routes
and dreaming of longer rides
and maybe even of a full carbon road bike

UnfilteredDregs

or sweeping generalizations...

UnfilteredDregs

If your cardiac health is any good 2.5 miles twice a day will become extremely short in quick fashion. I like to take 10 casual miles to warm up...That's about the point where the juices are flowing. Good luck and enjoy...

A caveat..."Hard riding" means different things to different people. If/when you start bombing down significant hills at 30+ mph...You're going to want to have confidence in your machine.

Null66

"but there's something about the Elite from an aesthetic point of view that makes me want to ride it"

It's speaking to you... That's the bike for you... Many people never experience that, but it's a sign of 100 and 1 reasons that your just not conscious of, but you "feel"...

And congrats on your progress.

The fork will definitely hold you, just don't jump it or curb it. The wheels too, especially if you have them re-tensioned either right off the bat, or after a few rides.

Heck, even a LHT (full on tourer) is only rated for 300...


<edit> The Sirrus speaks to me too... There's just something about it.

Null66

worksman...

And why I built up my DT myself. Spoke with Surly, they said the wheels were the limiting factor not the frame.
So had built up wheels for the apocalypse...
48sp pw tabndem disc hub, velociter chukker rims and Marathon 38's.

Heavy? yeah but always gets me home.
Slow? Yeah, but that's me not the bike...