Hambone

In the interest of full disclosure: I am not a big fan of "hybrid" bikes. (Search my username and the word hybrid and you can see some of my screeds...)

I enjoy my mountain bike -- it is not a road only thing. Just hybrids are not enough to go tear it up in the trails, and they are inefficent on the road. The discomfort of road bikes goes away with a little time in saddle. And if you want to ride on dirt paths and stuff too, get a mountaing bike and put slicks on it. OR Somebody posted on here the other day about a Specialized cyclocross bike. I really liked that as a "hybrid" (In thruth it is more a special niche product, but a great choice for a clydesdale who wants to ride mostly roads.)

All that aside, my road wheels are narrower and lighter than your hybrid wheels and they have carried my 270 pound (down from 350) about 2,000 miles. They are fine.

Ultimately, no matter what anyone says, once you get it home are you going to want to ride it? If the answer is "Yes!" It's a good choice. If it is "Maybe..." then find a bike you are excited about.

I'll stop preaching now. Good luck. And remember, it's bike riding. It is supposed to be fun.

maxrep

Well I think even though I ordered that Sirrus, I am going to ask really nice so that LBS guy might be sick of me and test out that Cannondale Bad Boy and then make the decision.

TomM

I have a Sirrus and use it for my commuting/touring bike. Other than the wheels, which I ended up replacing, the bike has been great.

Ironkat

Howdy y'all!

After many test rides and countless hours reading reviews and the forum I finally got a new bike today!
Felt F4C with ultegra/dura ace components....except for the brakes....which seem a little wimpy...but will upgrade them when I'm able to afford it. The bike rides great, even without my wheels which aren't ready yet ( mavic open pro with ultegra hubs 32 spoke front, 36 spoke rear.) It takes almost all of the buzz out of the crappy Texas chip seal roads around here. Thanks to all of the posters for their great info and ideas. The compact crank is awesome...very natural fit for me 33 mi today with hills. Was able to stay seated and spin up without problems. No knee pain at all. Here is a pic

thanks again

cohophysh

Damn nice bike...what did you pay for it if you don't mind me asking?

Ironkat

Walked out of the door with new Keo sprint pedals and matching Giro eclipse helmet for $2100 including tax!

yosemitesamiam

Well, got my first bike (in 20 years) in the mail yesterday. Have yet to put it all together, as I don't have my pedals yet anyhow.

Me: 5'9 214lbs

Bike:

1996 Bianchi Trofeo
Dedacciai steel lugged frameset
57cm seat tube center to top
Full Campagnolo: Mirage and Avanti grouppo mix
8 speed rear, 2 speed crank.
Bianchi stem/ITM Europa2 bars
Ambrisio Elite Wheelset with Campy hubs
Rolls San Marco saddle/Bianchi post



those pix are from eBay obviously since like I said, I haven't assembled it yet. Once my pedals arrive, I'm going to put it together, then take it down to the LBS to have them give it a quick tune up, make sure it doesn't need anything...I was told it was rebuilt completely not too long ago, and looks it! New brake cables, et al...only thing that may need work is getting brakes adjusted properly, getting chain and all that tuned, and making sure the tires are in good working order.

Thanks all! Hope to see you on the trail soon!

Sam

Hambone

Damn, I love a nicely built lugged steel frame! Looks like a sweet ride.

Hambone

I had seen a bunch of Felt's on the road when I was riding but never saw one up close. Then, outside of Morgan Stanley/Columbia Presbyterian Children's Hospital, I saw a rider on one who was waiting for the same red light as my son and I.

I had a brief conversation with my 18 month old for the benefit of the rider... "Little-Hambone, that is a Felt. It is a sweet ride. If daddy had one of them he would climb hills much faster. And look at the gruppo. A gruppo is..."

The rider was unaware of how to deal with the whole thing and just rode away smiling. 275 pound men with kids aren't supposed to know much about bikes...

It really is a quick looking bike. Congrats!

yosemitesamiam

Yes, it really is. Can't wait to ride it!!! (pedals are on their way). Then I need to go give it the once over...adjust my brakes, look over the tires, and make sure the shifting mechanisms are all in order!

I thought I got a sweet deal on it as well at $525...was told it is fully rebuilt!

JohnV

I little off the track here, but what do you attribute the weight loss to, the cycling?
-John
Trek Pilot 2.1 S.P.A. 2006
Trek 7500 FX disk brake 2005

goaliedad30

I got back into riding in June by buying a Trek 1000. At that point I was 264. Worked great. All stock except for going to Bontrager Race Lite Hardcase tires (I hate flats ...) and Speedplay X5's. I've logged over 500 miles, and am down to 243.

Didn't ride today ... refereed three beer-league hockey games in the last two days to get ready for the big Labor Day kickoff tournament (very high level youth games, up through 18U AAA). Hadn't skated since the state playoffs in April, and today my hamstrings were SORE!!!

TomM

Those Hardcase tires are great. I just replaced a set that had 3000 miles on them. I only had one flat which was caused by a tack in the side-wall. Prior to these I was using Conti Gatorskins and I could only get about 1100 miles on a set. For some reason I always would get nasty side-wall cuts in the Contis.

barndoor

Barndoor checking in here..

6'7" 275lbs

I ride a Cannondale R1000, 66cm .... just getting back into cycling after a bit of a hiatus.

I was wondering what tire/tube combo's some of you other clydesdales ride? I'm looking for a good, high quality tire that will last....I don't care what price, doesn't matter....I just want high quality and lonnnng life.

I'm sure this topic has been covered here somewhere....but please save me the endless hours of searching through the forums and help a bro out here....

scottmorrison99

I'm using regular tubes and Armadillo tires. I've pulled goathead thorns out of the tires that have not managed to cause a flat. Tire pressure makes a difference as well on wear. I copied the following chart that gives suggested pressures based on rider weight from another thread. (Of course, never exceed max suggested pressures for your tires or rims). Here it is:
https://www.precisiontandems.com/phot.../tirechart.jpg

barndoor

Thanks for the chart, Scott....but according to that chart I should only go 125-130psi....I flatten that like a pancake...we're looking at around 300lbs of bike and rider.

Back in the early '90s, I rode on Specialized "fatboys" I believe they were called...all black. I was told by a shop owner "off the record" that these would hold 150psi...and they did! Never got flats then....that was then, this is now though....I've tried a few different brands and they just seem too darned thin....I'm getting ready to try a set of Tufo tubular clinchers that a friend recommended(also a clydesdale) they are supposed to go up to 200psi or so...and are supposed to "eliminate" pinch flats....hmmmm...maybe....I just don't want to blow a large chunk of change on different tires while trying to find "the one".....
I'll check out the Armadillo's also...thanks for the reference!

breadbin

Hi I am 5' 10" and about 105kgs = 230lbs. I defo qualify for a Clydesdale. I used to cycle a hell of alot when I was younger, even raced but have given up for the last 15 or so years. I want to get back into it but can't seem to make that all important first outing. Don't know if it is confidence or something but feel like every weekend I decide to do it and never do. I will do soon though. Like another poster said he doesn't want to go the way of his old man heart trouble etc. I got to lose some weight. My bike is a Raleigh 531c with mostly old Shimano 600 parts. Solid as a rock, just as well!

maxrep

so this is the seat on my new 07 Sirrus Sport which it came with....
https://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqP...jsp?spid=16133

What im wondering is the fact that it has no hole carved out closer to the front seems to be causing me discomfort. What I am wondering has anyone in the 200-205 range tested out seats with the holes in them... are they worth it for relief? More importantly is it important with the whole perineum/blood flow/erectile dysfunction thing. bike riding is not worth losing my sex life over so the right seat is key!

Littlebike

I'm new here, just signed up about 10 minutes ago.

6'2" 265

I usually bounce around 220-230 but an nasty fall while trials (not time trials) riding laid me up for most of last summer and this year I decided to sell my trials bike - I dont want my wife to have an invalid husband.

Since the fall and selling my bike I have gained 40 lbs.

The reason I came here is to research and learn about road biking - a road bike is the only bike I have never owned.

Hambone

The whole tingly dingly thing is a function of a lot of things. Your anatomy, the seat, your clothes, your bike, the geometry of your bike, the set up of your bike, how you ride, etc.

I ride my steel mountain bike with a Flite saddle and it is never a problem. I can't put it on my aluminum road bike without discomfort. On my road bike I have a Specialized saddle with the Minkoff wedge. I like it a lot.

I honestly think that the biggest thing for making these issues go away (and also for the longevity of tires/wheels, your bike and the just overall enjoyment) is riding "light." It is always keeping some of your body weight on your feet. It is watching where you are going and avoiding the pothole. It is amazingly intuitive but if you watch a bunch of new/intermediate riders, as a group -- they ride heavy. Wathc the more accomplished riders, they ride light.

DaBigRague

Hey guys,

I am new to this forum, and could not be happier to be here. I have been losing weight and getting back into running and the like. As a result I am looking to compete in some triatholons next year and I need a bike.

I have been reading all the threads on this Forum, and I am glad to see I am not the only BIG BOY in the house. I stand at 6'0 270 lbs. I am an old football player, so I have broad shoulders, strong legs etc. I am continuing to train and dropping weight on a monthly basis.

I went into a few bike shops and I am being shown all this high tech stuff for bikes, and the road bikes (which are required to race in a tri) look nice, but I don't see them holding up. One bike shop guy literally laughed and said I would have problems . Seeing that I am not the only 200 plus guy that desires to ride, I am asking this quetion.

What model bike so I need to get, and if you reccomend it are there any modifications? I'd like to keep it simple and avoid flats. I am not terribly bike literate, but need to get the ball rolling. My udget is between 700 - 1500 USD, but I would like to keep it on the lower end of the spectrum.

Please feel free to e-mail me or PM with the specifics. I am so happy I found this place.

Mike

DaBigRague

Hey guys,

just a quick follow up, I called a bike shop here in chicago and they told me that the Trek 1500 T would be a solid option given my dimensions. I will go see them this weekedn, but can anybody help me out?

Thanks in advance,

maxrep

So i have been riding around lately and i dont know if this is a clydesdale thing or a new bike thing but on my first ride out about half way thru my chain started slipping whenever i went to the 2nd crank

i took it to the lbs and supposedly it was fixed but then after todays ride of only 9 miles sure enough useing the 3rd gear on downhills wasnt working right at all and then halway thru the ride switching from 1st gear for uphills back down to 2 on flat ground started slipping away again and clunking and crunching.

what is the deal? they told me that a new bike will settle in but ive put 20 miles on it so far.
can i adjust this myself or is it something i have to take it in their for every time.

i plan on going on my first longer trail this weekend ~20 miles and i dont want my chain going nuts on me halway thru.
please let me know what you think.

thanks!

OrangeOkie

I'm pretty new to cycling, and just bought a new Specialize Sirrus. I was "crunching the gears" as well and thought it was just the chain stretching. I took it back in for the 30-day tune up and they adjusted everything. When I explained the chain crunching the LBS mechanic told me to make sure I didn't "cross" the chain when shifting, ie. big front sprocket to biggest rear sprocket. He said to use both of the largest front sprockets with only half of the rear sprockets to keep the chain "in line." I haven't had any crunching since using this technique. (I'm sure someone with more technically correct bike language could probably explain this much clearer.)

tbrown524

I'm 5'11 @ 240lbs and I ride an old Centurion(time to upgrade) The only problem I have with this bike is when I'm going up hills.. It feels like the bike is going to fall apart under me..