footballdude2k3

hey everybody,

im really new to getting a nice bike, my name is paul im 21, and im a big guy, i really want to lose some weight and i found out that my parents are going to take me to europe and go biking around france germany and italy. so i really need to get in shape, i used to bike a lot but i stopped when i got a car and i have put on a lot of weight since then and i need to lose it, i will be using the bike for commuting around 5 miles per day and more on weekends so i can lose weight and get ready for europe. my problem is that i have had a problem breaking cranks when i peddled, i have extremely strong legs and never had a quality bike, so i need to know what to look for, i want to get a steel frame with a strong crank so i cant get to work, any help is much appreciated on anything, treat me as a complete newb. thank you in advance.

Tom Stormcrowe

Look at a touring bike like the Randonee from REI, or a Surly Long Haul Trucker if you have the budget.

Wogster

If your breaking cranks it means you have too much torque there, the key is a quality bicycle, and then good use of gears, because if you can put enough power there to break a crank, that's not good for your knees, at 21 you don't really worry much about knees, but if you are not kind to them now, then when your 42 they will be paying you back for that.

Part of the issue is a quality bike, if you look around here, there are about 15 threads on buying a bicycle, within the last couple of months. Any of those will tell you what you need to know.

footballdude2k3

ok now, my dad is going to buy the bike for me, and what he told me to do is piece together something, so find a frame and find out what pieces that it need for it to work for me, so i need to know what has a stronger frame, a mountain bike or a road bike, i know that i need steel. what kind of crank should i look for because i want to have a nice one that will not break right away for me, also i hear to upgrade the wheels, well what kind of wheels should i be looking for? thanks in advance for everything

Tom Stormcrowe

https://www.surlybikes.com/longhaul.html


Best possible touring bike under or around $1000.00 that I know of. The stock wheels are touring wheels, so they are going to be strong.

deraltekluge

You don't need steel. You may want it, but you don't need it. Aluminum has a better strength to weight ratio than steel. That's why you see aluminum airplanes.

badgermac

You got a lot of folks here who have LHTs and love 'em. I'm "Green" with envy for one of those olive frames

magoolc1

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Mr. Beanz

I'm sure a 105 or mtb crank (LX) should work for you.

Godzilla33

I would suggest finding a good local bike shop and stopping in and talking with them. I had a great experience with mine today they had no worries about putting me on a new bike (and I'm 6'2 and close to 500 pounds) and if you can find a good one it will make a huge difference in your buying confidence and with the quality of end product you purchase. happy hunting and keep the rubber on the road

magoolc1

Sorry to mess up your thread bro...edited do to i really dont know how to ride.

Mr. Beanz

Aluminum is good if it's large diameter tubing. My Cannondale is rock solid while my Lemond, well you saw the pictures!

footballdude2k3

thanks for all of the help guys, and when i say that i have strong legs, i mean it, not to say that 800 is not a lot, but my sophomore year on the hip sled in the weight room i was pushing 1440 lbs. my dad is helping me and i am trying to learn as much as possible, he thinks that he has a frame for me, so im just trying to find quality parts to put on the frame i think. i just dont want to be riding and all of a sudden have things start to break on me.

Mr. Beanz

Make sure you get a good strong rear wheel. Maybe a Deep V. I know they come in up to 48 spokes, got them on my tandem! Heck, if you're that big, maybe look into a tandem hub? Expensive though!

magoolc1

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Mr. Beanz

Speaking of cranks, sometimes it's better to go with good quality but at the low end like 105's. Go Dura Ace and it's all hollowed arms, too light for us big guys!

magoolc1

Sorry for screwing up your post football..

Tom Stormcrowe

Ahem......

<Admin hat> Might be a good point to let this die.</Admin Hat>

Thanks much......

magoolc1

Your right Tom. I was completely out of place.