bbandu

I will checkout REI as I have a store right down the road.


Thanks I will keep tire clearance in mind when looking for a bike.


I will check them out.

bbandu

Ok so one of my LBS is having a sale and has the following new bike.

KHS Flite 280($455)
SE Royale 14 ($400) Royale 16 ($450)
Fuji Sportif 2.5

And even more with Claris drivetrains and/or carbon fiber forks for under $600.
Jamis Ventura Sport ($550)
KHS Flite 300 ($520)

dr_lha

Never heard of "SE Bikes"*, so I exclude that one, but the rest of those bikes are perfectly decent entry level road bikes. It's best to pick the one that fits you best.

*Dr_LHA's rule of crapbikes is that if they print the word "Shimano" on the chainstay, it's a crapbike. Unless it's a Trek ALR, in which case, they just should not do that next year.

bbandu

I am still doing my research and was going to stop by the LBS either later today to tomorrow.

Feldman

Hey--it's a Waterford product. That means it's the only bike still produced by an actual member of the Schwinn family.

DMC707

OG BMX company dating back to the late 70's -- have been doing "Adult bikes" for about 15 years now

bassjones

I was a LOT heavier (425) than you when I started riding a road bike, a Cannondale CAAD9, which is only able to fit up to 700Cx25. I did build some "big boy" wheels for it - 36 spokes F/R, but other than that it's been great for riding and losing weight - down 175 so far... The older CAADs make great Clyde bikes and you should be able to pick up a used CAAD9 or earlier in your price range. Of the bikes you've posted so far, they're all decent but have low end components (on the new ones). In your budget range, I'd suggest used and look for something with 10-speed 105 on it. That's a smooth shifting group and it holds up well.

bbandu

thank, I am still looking and will look into the older CAADs

schnee

I rode the crap out of a Giant sport tourer (the OCR Carbon) at that weight. Giant makes some of the best carbon on the planet. I trust them.

The only thing you *may* have to worry about are the wheels, but that's the weak link all Clydes need to keep aware of. Most OEM wheelsets are crap because bike vendors know it's the most expensive component that's likely to be upgraded with a very particular, choosy, wide range of alternatives.

That said, if you're on a budget, just get the wheel tensioned by a good wheel builder when you get the bike, and if you start breaking spokes on a regular basis then worry. If you're a 'light' rider, as in you avoid obstacles, unweight the rear when you hit a pothole, etc. - something I expect you are good at from your MTB experience - you may make the OEM wheels work just fine. Just look at those videos of trials riders doing backflips on road bikes...they can take a lot if the rider has good control.

If you go for custom wheels go for DT Swiss touring hubs + a 36-spoke, high profile rim like a Velocity Deep V or H+Son Archetype. Those are cheap as far as wheels go and are absolutely bomb-proof.

bbandu

ok folks, I know that I have not posted to this thread in a few weeks. I am still looking for a road bike and wanted to know what people thought about this bike ............

FLITE 500 - KHS Bicycles


I know that I am going to need to upgrage the wheel set as the wheels it comes with just dont look strong enough for a clyd.

customsound79

In my honest opinion, just get a bike a ride it. You can get so drowned in shopping for a bike that the real goal fades into the distance. You may hate road riding or you may love it. I snagged a $150 Trek 1000 Craigslist Edition on Jan 1 and went out and rode it 14 miles. I was 400 lbs. The seat hurt and my feet were numb but it was awesome. I continued to ride it until I built a really awesome Carbon bike with high end components. Honestly, at my level of road riding I can't really tell the difference other than the 11 speed gearing. BUT the weight is falling off like crazy now. If the new bike was stolen I would just keep riding the Trek without feeling like I'm missing out on much.

10 Wheels

Nice Bike.

Get one that has Three Chain Rings.
You will need them for the hills.

Erwin8r

Ditto. Very nice bike with disc brakes. And as @customsound79 above mentions, "just do it."

ColaJacket

If you want an AL alloy bike with a 105 groupset, also check out the Fuji Sportif's.

As always, check out several LBS's and several bike brands/geometries at each.

Fit is always the biggest thing you need to check for with a bike. Road test each one for as long as the LBS will let you.

GH

bbandu

Ok folks after several months of searching I have finally made a decision on a road bike, I purchased a 2014 KHS Flight 500.

ColaJacket

2014 KHS Flight 500.

10-spd 105 w/ disc brakes. That's a nice bike.

Hope you enjoy it!

GH

bbandu

ColaJacket, I think that I am really going to enjoy it, compared to my mountain bike this thing flies. I hit 32 mph on sunday and I was even on the brakes during my decent.

sdmc530

YEP! I got a Cannondale CaadX cross bike, changed the tires and put a 36 spoke rear tire on. Use it as a road bike and love it. I am 320 and dropping, they are good to 330lbs according to Cannondale when I called them. they said I would have no issues, have not either. good bikes.

I OP got the bike but wanted to put it out there...

bbandu

Nice, I think that I am going to start looking for me a cross bike. They look to be a lot of fun.

Willbird

My first "modern road bike" was a Sportif 1.5..it is 9 speed Sora...it really did me very well and I still have it, it came with disk brakes and no s**t a 700x35 carbide studded tire will fit front and back both :-). Probably 700x28 or even 700x32 makes more sense, and it is pretty sporty with 700x25.....it has 700x28 on it now.

If you want to ride year round in snow and ice Fuji makes a kinda cool bike called a "tread"...the cables run up along the top tube instead of down under the bottom bracket. Comes with 700x32 tires.

Fuji Bikes | LIFESTYLE | CROSS TERRAIN | TREAD 1.7 DISC

Bill

PatrickR400

Nice! You will love the 105 groupset, it is very smooth. I have the same groupset on my new bike but with smaller front rings 50/34 instead of 52/36. 52 is a bigger gear to push. As for the cassette, 11/32 has lost of range and 32 is basically the granny gear.

If the forks will allow for bigger tires, something in 28 or even 30/32 helps keeping the ride smooth. Mine are Specialized Roubaix Pro, other may (surely will) suggest other brands.

Willbird

If your looking at the ten speed 105 stuff look IMHO towards the stuff that was 11 speed ready, my EVO has RS11 wheels which are 11 speed ready...maybe worth a few bucks more due to maybe higher resale value. I intended to drop an 11 speed group on my EVO but really it works fine as is, MIGHT do it next Christmas though :-).

jody61

Hey guys, here are my specs:
I'm 5'6"
340 lbs.
I can't afford the trek style bikes or even the $300+ bikes. Ok, so don't laugh lol, What if I bought a bike from walmart that is designed for a 300 lbs guy and change the wheels to support the extra 40lbs? The bike that I am looking at is a genesis bike. Any ideas?

dagray

Yeah, don't do it.

Go to your local bike store and see if they have a used bike that would work for you. Build a relationship with that bike shop (buy your tubes, tires, gloves and such from them) so that when you are ready to upgrade you can trade the bike you bought from them back to them for some credit to your new bike. Be sure to get a bike fit done so the bike you buy will fit you correctly.