tallbruce

Hello,
I'm a new poster, but have turned to BikeForums for info several times before. I am looking for advice on buying/building my "perfect bike." Please read on if you're interested. If I'm in the wrong forum, please advise.

There are several competing requirements, but here's a shot at what I'm looking for:

- large frame, as I'm 6'6", 225# (I once had a 26" frame and enjoyed it because it was too big for most people to ride/steal), prefer 29" (700c?) wheels
- prefer a hybrid, more upright style, I mostly ride in town for transporting myself and my stuff (groceries, etc.) around, comfort trumps style
- would like a step-through (as I get older and flexibility is declining), but have big concerns about frame stiffness with a larger bike
- I think the cargo bikes are cute, but need a standard wheelbase so the bike will fit conveniently into bus bike racks I use regularly
- gears - I live in Pittsburgh, so there are often hills, sometimes fairly steep - I rarely shift the front derailleur in town, but will shift all the way down when climbing a big hill
- prefer to have disk brakes
- wouldn't mind some shock absorption on front tire and/or seat

I've been hunting for step throughs on line, but they tend to be small. I'd buy a women's if they came big enough. Budget would be in the $700-1K area, but might need to go higher if the options are working with a custom frame maker.

Thanks in advance for any advice, links, recommendations, etc.

Regards,
Bruce

jimc101

Hi Bruce

What about this from Specialized (Crossroads Elite Low Entry), no discs; but under your budget so you could add a front (the more important brake) + has front & seat suspension, , https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...port%2FFitness

You will struggle to get the spec you want, step through + Discs, bike manuactures still seem to insist on fitting V-type brakes on hybrid type bikes, and not even giving the disc tab on the rear stay as a future upgrade option.

good luck in the search

Eggywootah

Are you talking $700-1000+ for just the frame or the whole build? I would guess just for the frame if you're talking custom. In that case, maybe a Salsa Fargo would do the job! It's a 29er adventure touring bike: https://salsacycles.com/bikes/fargo/ and comes as a complete bike or a frameset. The complete bike does come with drop bars, but you could switch them out and the mountain-inspired geometry raises the headtube pretty high. Of course, if you wanted to build it from the frame up, that's not a problem. It's fully rackable and fenderable, and you can mount 5 water bottles on it I think It's not exactly a step-through but it's got a pretty steep top tube. Disc compatible, long wheelbase. Not sure if the XL would be big enough for you though. You could definitely put a suspension fork on there if you wanted - the website says "suspension-corrected for 80mm travel forks." I think this bike is so rad! but I own a Salsa Casseroll, so I'm biased.

fietsbob

I dont think you grasp what a custom frame is...
the whole QBP frame brand name lineup is made in a big contract factory in Asia,
Put on a container ship to POE and trucked around the country to the QBP warehouses,
and then on another set of UPS trucks to your dealer.

Eggywootah

Yeah thanks bro. Allow me to restate it so you understand better what I meant. Here we go, I'll paraphrase:

"Are you talking about 700 to 1k for a whole bike or just the frame? Since you mention custom frames, I imagine that you meant 700 to 1k for just the frame. In that case here is my recommendation for just a frame, a Salsa Fargo."

Perhaps I should have written a bit more clearly, but you should definitely have read more carefully. At the very least you should give the someone the benefit of the doubt before you try to get all condescending. I'll leave it at that since neither this post nor your post are helping the OP.

blamp28

FYI,
Without getting condescending, I believe the point fietsbob was trying to make is that Slasa does not make custom frames. The frame you linked is offered in Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large. It looks like a cool frame but is offered in four standard sizes. Alternatively, a custom frame is made to order taking into account the body measurements of the customer as well as the intended use. Frame geometry and tubing choices are often massaged to accommodate the needs of the customer.

To the OP, The specialized bike linked above can be bought in XL size and could well fit the bill.