magoolc1

I have been wanting to do this type of bike since i was a kid...never realized there was so many people into it. My problem..im a big guy 6foot1 and 300lbs. Will a road bike hold me or should i just try to do a mtb? Or should i just give up on the idea. I have a new trek mtb but i want to keep it geared, but would love a single speed freewheel bike for the smooth bike paths i ride. I dont take my mtb off the smallest gears front and back most of the time anyway. Shoot me straight i know im not small, but i would love to have one and dont really want to wait untill i lose 60-70lbs(my goal weight) The asap part is i can get a nishiki for a good price. Thanks in advance.

mad1

Wow. Well, I personally see it as the best form of exercise. Before you waste your money on a bike though - rent a road bike for a month and see how you like it. You might hate it, or you might find your calling. Personally I'd rent, take it easy, change your diet and you should be good.

531phile 

Stick with all steel road bikes(Reynolds 853, 520, 531, 653, 753, Tange, True Temper) and you should be fine. I've ridden ultra light alumium 7005 road bikes and dented one from a standing fall and I only weigh 165lb!

531phile 

I also use to know a 6'4 240lb irish banjo player from Providence, Rhode Island who would ride an all steel shogun road bike without any problems.

dkb

Whats the worst that could happen? You taco your wheels? If you can get a good deal on a Nishiki then go for it. Ride it around and if it feels too squirlley, set it up in your place and use it as inspiration to lose those extra pounds you're worried about. You can always sell it later. Pushing your mtb around will help you lose those pounds quicker than some lightweight road machine anyway.

luckycat

Don't be so quick to write off aluminum, I'm your height and 220lbs and love aluminum. Most steel frames just aren't as stiff as the average aluminum frame, and too much flex is no fun. Be careful with your wheels though, that's where you're more likely to have problems with your weight. You shouldn't look at anything less than 36 holes.

riderx

Two words: Karate Monkey. It can go geared or Single speed/fixed, it's beefy, takes 700c wheels, can run fat tires or skinny and is reasonable price.

magoolc1

Id love to find a mtb that has been set up for ss....dont really want fixed. I think i would like to keep the freewheel going for awhile anyway. Now excuse my ignorance but is the 700c the real thin rims? When i was a kid i had a mini robinson i used to race bmx with. It had those thin tires you had roll on the rim and we used to call the tire/rim combo sew ons or sew togethers...it was all one piece. I want to stat away from this type all together if possible. i remember as a kid these things would roll right off the rim on a hard corner situation. Just good old tires and tubes i can take out without any fancy tools is what i want. I want simple..lol

pitboss

dude -
https://www.surlybikes.com/karatemonkey.html
https://www.surlybikes.com/files/SURLYKarateMonkey.pdf
https://www.surlybikes.com/virtual_KM.html

read
learn

riderx

700c is the rim diameter. Commonly used for road bikes and now also used for 29er mountain bikes. Comes in widths from skinny to wide and can be used with normal everyday style tires.

See 165's links for Monkey info.

magoolc1

Thanks guys ill check that out. Like i said forgive the ignorance. I saw this on the bay. This is about what im looking for. Will this hold up. It says fixed but i can convert over to freewheel without to much fuss right?
https://cgi.ebay.com/FIXED-GEAR-TRACK...QQcmdZViewItem

RobbieIG

That ebay bike would only require a BMX freewheel to be a coaster. If you go with a size cog that is enough different, you may need a new chain too, but your bike shop could do that for you in a couple of minutes.

As far as worrying about your size, just stick with wheels with 32 or more spokes, tires should be 700x25 or larger (700x28, 700x32 if room). I started riding fixed at about 315 (down from 365), now I am 280. The only difference I have had to deal with is slightly wider tires, and I do a lot more dammage to a car when they decide to collide with me.

Oh yeah, don't skimp on pedals. Get some nice, strong, NEW ones. If you searched for it, you could probably find the results of what happened when I kept the "classic" pedals on my conversion.

magoolc1

Thank you robbie you give me new hope...im sorry if i sound cheap but i just shelled out money for 2 new treks and i want a cheap bike to play with when im by myself. THe surry is sweet but out of my budget right now. If i had the cash i would by a decked out 26 inch bmx cruiser. Im a weired six foot one..i only have a 30 inch in seam. Im all torso.