Whoops...
 

I posted this in the roadie forum as well but I know there are some guys over here that are really good when it comes to bike geometry that may not get over to that side much so I am hoping the mods will overlook the double post, if not feel free to delete it...

Hey guys, I got into riding a few months back and figured I would be doing mostly mountain biking with a little bit of road riding here and there. Turns out that I was completely backwards from what I actually am doing, I ride almost 100% road at this point.

I am a bigger guy at 6'1", 235lbs so I am not sure your average road bike is going to be strong enough for a guy like me (perhaps you guys can tell me different if I am wrong).

Knowing what I know now about my riding style I probably should have either bought a road bike or perhaps something more cyclocross oriented like the Kona Jake .

What I did buy however was a Kona Shred

I am going to try and see if my LBS will hook me up on a possible trade in but incase they won't (and afterall they are under no obligation to as it was my own fault for buying the wrong bike) would there be any way to make this bike ride more like a road/cross bike?

I was thinking maybe a longer stem and set back seat post to stretch me out a bit more and a set of drop bars to allow me to lean in more along with adding a third chain ring and changing the tires out for slicks or semi slicks.

Is this feasable to do or would I ruin the geometry of the bike and make it unrideable by trying to make it more roadie-esque? If it will work what would swapping out the fork for a Kona Project Two TB (as seen on the Jake) fork do to the geometry?

Thanks guys, I apreciate any help I can get.

I'd be tempted to eather keep the Shred for a rainy day, or sell it. It is not a road bike. You could try and turn it into one, but I don't think you'll be very satisfied with the result.

I agree, it stinks but i dont think it would turn out to good if you tried to make it a road bike.Its just not what it was meant for. YOu could always try to sell it locally too..

This is probably a stupid question but are drop bars like those found on touring bikes?

eeek, that sucks man. I don't think you could ever turn the Shred into a road/cross bike. It's possible of course, but with the money you'd be investing into it, I wouldn't suggest it, others might disagree. I can say that you are more than enough to be a canidate for a road bike. I'm 6'4 225lbs and I ride a road bike, I know there is someone out there much larger than me on a bike. I even think AL would be fine material for a man your size. I ride steel, it's real. All my bikes are steal, from the road bike to the mountain bike to the SS. Just a preference. So I would suggest keeping the Shred as is and learn that style of riding, it's a hell of a lot of fun. Then maybe save up and grab you a road bike or a cyclocross bike. Whatever you do, just be happy with it and listen to GI JOE, because knowing is half the battle.

The shred is a dirtjumper...definatly not ment for the road (unless you count urban). Kona DJ bikes' geometry don't work well if you're trying to stretch out the frame. I found that even raising the seat high on my Cowan throws its geometry off and makes it uncomftorable to ride.

I kinda figured it would be a lost cause but I thought what the heck it is worth asking.

Yeah, i'd imagine you would lose just as much money selling the bike as you would trying to convert it.

Keep it. You could probably buy a road bike for the amount of money you'd have to spend converting it into a road bike. You'd need to buy everything other than the frame (almost). You may as well buy a road bike frame too, and have 2 bikes.