Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg)
Reload this Page >

help me choose between these bikes...

Notices
Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) Looking to lose that spare tire? Ideal weight 200+? Frustrated being a large cyclist in a sport geared for the ultra-light? Learn about the bikes and parts that can take the abuse of a heavier cyclist, how to keep your body going while losing the weight, and get support from others who've been successful.

help me choose between these bikes...

Old 04-14-07, 09:32 AM
  #1  
new newbie
Thread Starter
 
jorpe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Denver Colorado
Posts: 158

Bikes: Cannondale F400

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
help me choose between these bikes...

https://denver.craigslist.org/bik/311662049.html

https://denver.craigslist.org/bik/309313758.html

https://denver.craigslist.org/bik/310994350.html

My gut is to go with the $200 trek and beat it to death to see how I deal with day in and day out commuting. The primary use of this bike will be to ride on paved trails in a mostly dry climate carrying a backpack to and from work.

I usually just take a backpack to work and leave a handful of myoplex shakes in the fridge so I dont carry much at all. I'd like to be comfortable riding this bike on a longer ride on the weekends also. I'm just geting into ''cycling''. I weigh 205 lbs and am 6'2''. I've had a MTB for a few years and it's been a sidewalk/dirt trail queen.
jorpe is offline  
Old 04-14-07, 10:08 AM
  #2  
Out fishing with Annie on his lap, a cigar in one hand and a ginger ale in the other, watching the sunset.
 
Tom Stormcrowe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: South Florida
Posts: 16,057

Bikes: Techna Wheelchair and a Sun EZ 3 Recumbent Trike

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 22 Times in 17 Posts
If you are planning on commuting, either the Trek or the Specialized. The Cannondale is a TT/ Tri bike and I suspect you might find it unsuitable for commuting or much else besides racing.

The Trek has brazeons for that rear rack, has friction shifting (Simplicity and reliability), and if it fits you properly, that's the one I'd lean toward, personally.

DT shifters are......well, an adjustment, but I use them myself and frankly, I've grown to love them!
__________________
. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche

"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanuel Kant
Tom Stormcrowe is offline  
Old 04-14-07, 10:09 AM
  #3  
Out fishing with Annie on his lap, a cigar in one hand and a ginger ale in the other, watching the sunset.
 
Tom Stormcrowe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: South Florida
Posts: 16,057

Bikes: Techna Wheelchair and a Sun EZ 3 Recumbent Trike

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 22 Times in 17 Posts
Add in the fact that the Trek is actually designed for touring, so it will have a more relaxed geometry, hence more comfort on long rides!
__________________
. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche

"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanuel Kant
Tom Stormcrowe is offline  
Old 04-14-07, 10:34 AM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,132
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Gut feeling ? the Trek is the choice as a bike to use and abuse as a comm. bike. The others two look nice. Nothing to compare to the Trek. It would be more sensible to compare a new 5-8 hundred dollar bike to the Trek than the c.dale or spec... don't ya think ?
old and new is offline  
Old 04-14-07, 08:08 PM
  #5  
bear
 
murphjam's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 63

Bikes: '06 Scott S20, '04 Trek 3700, '88 Schwinn Tempo, '86 Schwinn Tempo, '85 Centurion Le Mans RS, '84 Univega Gran Tourismo

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
The Specialized is sweet. I was actually looking at that bike last year. I like the Trek as a commuter. How much do you really want to spent would be the big factor.
murphjam is offline  
Old 04-15-07, 09:11 AM
  #6  
Infamous Member
 
chipcom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 24,360

Bikes: Surly Big Dummy, Fuji World, 80ish Bianchi

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times in 3 Posts
The Trek is the obvious choice for commuting...if it fits you. I'm 6'1" and usually ride 56-58cm frames. You may stand over the frame ok, but you might be uncomfortable with the reach, in which case a shorter stem might fix you right up (adjust the saddle for proper position of your legs in relation to the pedal spindle, not to compensate for reach).
__________________
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
chipcom is offline  
Old 04-15-07, 09:48 AM
  #7  
Mad bike riding scientist
 
cyccommute's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,251

Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones

Mentioned: 149 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6133 Post(s)
Liked 4,067 Times in 2,310 Posts
Forget the Cannondale. It's a race bike pure and simple...and for a very specialized type of racing at that.

The other 2 have pros and cons that you need to consider before you decide. I'll start with the Specialized

Pros:

Modern equipment. No need for upgrades

Nice light bike.

Very nice stuff hanging on it. Dura Ace is the top of the line for Shimano road stuff.

A little smaller if you have fit issues

Cons:

For a commuter bike, you probably want something with a rack to carry stuff. Backpacks are fine but they can become uncomfortable for some people. There are ways around this but a rack on the bike is going to be problematic plus you'll get major fred points.

It's a pretty short wheelbase bike. Fast but not necessarily comfortable.

It's $1100.

It has very nice stuff hanging on it

For us larger guys (you aren't that heavy) 28 spoke wheels probably aren't the best choice. For a commuter bike, they are probably an even worse choice. You could end up with a spoke popper.

Carbon fiber fork with carbon fiber steer tube would cause me some concern. I have a bike with a carbon fork but it has a aluminum steer tube. It still kinda gives me the willies to ride it.

The Trek:

Pros:

It's cheap.

It doesn't have anything modern hanging on it so the risk of theft (especially in Denver) is kinda low.

It's got a longer wheel base and more comfortable ride.

It has rack and fender mounts.

Steel fork.

Cons:

It doesn't have anything modern hanging on it. That stuff may need to be replaced at some point and that can add cost. It can be done but all it takes is money.

It may have 27" wheels (may not, too). 27" tires are harder to find and you don't have much selection.

It has downtube shifters. That's not too bad but they aren't as easy to get use to as STI. You have to reach a ways to get to them.

It has a rack but it looks like the rack is for a mountain bike, i.e. too small. It would need replacing but that's not too expensive. I'd look for a Delta Universal rack.

Overall, if you want a bike for commuting, I'd go with the Trek. If you want a bike for fast weekend rides, the Specialized would get my vote. If you want a bike for long weekend rides, the Trek would be a slightly better choice. And, finally, if you want a bike that people will drool over, the Specialized wins hands down.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!



cyccommute is offline  
Old 04-15-07, 11:18 AM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,018
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
1) Look at the hubs. If the $1000 bike has sealed hubs and the old $200 bike does not, you might have to overhaul the hubs and BB. I would guess a total overhaul of a bike runs $100-$200.

2) Having bought many older bikes, the hub cones and possibly the BB might need to be replaced.

3) The older the bike, the cheaper the parts, the more likely there is a time consuming problem. Every bike I have bought has had a significant unforeseen problem with it, so I can attest to the fact that trying to save money does not always work as planed.

On the other hand $200 leaves room for upgrading and there is no reason to think the $1000 bike is perfect.
geo8rge is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.