Jmaclennan

My uncle, who's in his early 60's and weighs 250lbs, is looking to replace his old hybrid bike and move towards a road bike. His rides will be by himself and with a friend who's currently on a higher end road bike (and in much better shape than him).

He's been looking at the Madone 4.5 but mentioned that it was hard on the hands and arms. The shop is suggesting a different stem to raise the bars and change the body positioning to be less aggressive.

Can anyone suggest some other road bikes that might be a bit more comfortable for someone like him?

chasm54

The shop sounds as if they have the right idea.

Other bikes he might look at include the Specialized Roubaix and the Giant Defy. One thing I would suggest is that he buys the biggest frame he can be properly fitted to. Bigger frames mean taller headtubes so there is less of a drop from saddle to bars.

Dudelsack 

Another vote for the Roubaix.

I would be remiss (and I get paid to do this) if I did not suggest a recumbent.

ThatBritBloke

Cannondale Synapse might fit the bill. Whichever bike he chooses check the quality of the wheels.

Pluto

I'm 63 and bought a Cannondale Synapse Carbon 5 last August. It is a real comfortable bike and I've put over 3300 miles on it. I put a Koobi Century saddle on it for a bit more comfort, but there are other comparable saddles that could be used. This bike is fast enough for me. I rode in a charity ride this past Sunday - 30 miles in 1:40 averaging 17 mph. There are a number of Plush bikes out there...try them all and have him get one that feels best. Spend a little money and get something nice that he will enjoy. Don't go cheap!

volosong

All the bikes mentioned will fit the bill. All are good. Myself? I do have a Madone 4.5, in addition to a couple of others. The key, whichever bike he gets is to have a proper professional fit. Assuming he has the correct frame size, a pro fit will make it such that he will be able to ride pain free, no matter what bike he gets. It will cost him somewhere between one or one and a half C-notes, but it is well worth the expense. Perhaps the shop he gets a bike will throw in a pro fit with the purchase?

p.s. I'll be 61 in just under three months.

OldLog

The Felt Z series are far less aggressive. That was my choice after trying and test riding quite a few. I went with the Z85 as i thought it gave me the best component wise for the money. I am 69 years old and thi is my first road bike. The key is to go out and test ride make a choice on feel and comfort.

doctor j

63 here, and I too ride a Cannondale Synapse Carbon 5.

I am very satisfied with this bike. 11,000 miles on it so far.

Hairy Hands

Get him something like the Specialized tricross. Wide tires are king when you weigh 250. Wide tires are no slower than 23's, and you get the laid back geometry and longer wheelbase. Keep the drop between the seat and stem to a minimum when determining the sizing. I weigh 230 and have a Tricross and a Colnago C50. The tricross is only a bit slower but that due to the different wheels I use.

Rwc5830

I believe all the suggestions are very good. Just upgraded to a new specialized roubaix a little over two weeks ago.Test rode the bike for 53 miles. The first day I got it I did an 82 mile ride and a week later did my first 200k or about 126 miles on the bike. My previous bike a Fuji SL Comp is a year old and my first road bike. Put over 6k on it but the new bike rides very smooth and is easier to get going. Agree with the less agressive setup unless your uncle wants to race. Keeping the Fuji as my training bike...need to get some pedals now

Main reason i chose the specialized is because the local bike shop sells them and I would have to go out of town to find the felt or trek. Plus it really rides very nice for me.


Good luck to your uncle.

qcpmsame 

Another vote for the Synapse Cannondale line. Good choice of group levels to choose from and carbon or aluminum frames available. At 250# he may want to look at some rated wheels like a 32 spoke set. Just glad to hear he is riding and wants to move up.

Bill

BikeArkansas

Just a little different slant to this, and this is based on your uncle actually trying to get in shape to ride with his friend. I believe that any bike he buys now that is comfortable will be too relaxed and slow by the end of the summer if he actually works at becoming good enough on the bike to ride with his friend. The bike he buys now should hurt some, but will feel great when he gets in better shape.

I am basing this on what happened to me. Once I listened to my brother and rode a more agressive bike for a couple weeks my whole perspective on bike fit changed along with my speed going up. Once he got me on a more agressive bike his advice for at least two weeks was to "shut up and pedal". Once the two weeks were over I realized that was the best bike related advice I had ever received.

Jamesw2

I have a Mercier Corvus (Al frame)from Bikes Direct for my road bike. I agree for a larger frame for an upright position with an adjustable stem. I am 60 at 260 lbs i just put 28 mm tires to deal with what they call chip-seal road surface
I also have a Gran Turismo steel framed touring bike.Also from bikes direct. It has the gearing to get me up hills.

I don't have a 'bent yet! But then again that is a medical condition and i would need a prescription

fietsbob

What Brands are sold in the Bike Shop that he likes doing business with?

Jmaclennan

His LBS carries Trek, Felt and Surly. (The Bike Lane - He lives in the Washington DC area)

Lots of great replies so far, thanks for all of your input. I see lots of support for the Synapse! (a bike I ride myself and have recommended to him from the start)

John_V 

Sounds like a done deal!

donheff

A bit of a hijack -- but same subject so permitted? Thanks to this thread I (64 Y/O looking for a road bike) decided to take a look at the Felt Z series and am already back from the bike store. The Felt just felt right, so I am very interested. The only model in my size that was built up to test was a Z85 aluminum bike with 105 gearing. The geometry was just right and the ride very comfortable. I will go back to look at a Z5 (carbon with 105) next week.

GaryPitts

I bought a Cross bike and put road tires on it. Works for me, but I have nothing to compare it to. Only road bike I've owned.

donheff

I liked the Felt and Felt's general description of the Z series says they can be ordered in a compact double or a triple but it turns out that is not true. You can only get the triple in the lowest end version. I want a triple so I am still looking. Madone offers them in several of their series but it turns out I like the H3 fit which is available for men in only some of their bikes. Turns out they only offer H3 in series that come in compact doubles. They don't offer H3 in the 4.5 which lets you order a triple. I can't win for loosing but I am holding out until I find a bike that fits right and has the components I want. Any thoughts on good triples with relaxed geometry?