Need bike for tall rider - $600 limit
 

Hi, I'm new so if I leave something important out or ramble don't laugh.

I'm 6'5 - 6'6, 280 lbs. My inseam in jeans is 36", but most of my height is in my torso. In other words, the reach to the handlebars is usually way too short for my taste even in a big bike.

I went to a LBS and they tried to sell me a Cannondale Adventurer 5 for something like $400. They told me it had an XL frame. I thought the bike was too small.

My experience with bike is mostly with cheap ones. As such, I really dislike suspensions because I think they will all bottom out or just flat out not work well with my weight. Also, I seem to break bicycles. I don't really take it easy on them and I have managed to taco many a wheel. When I replaced the wheel with steel ones, I'd taco those as well.

Spin class gets boring sometimes so I'd like to be able to have a bike I can take on the street. But, I occasionally go to the state parks where they have dirt roads that are sometimes muddy.

Price limit would be $600 tops, but I'd rather keep it around $400.

Fit is most important since I'm tall. Durability is next. I really don't care about weight - I think any decent modern bike is going to be light enough for needs.

Searching the forums, it seems that the Specialized Hardrock Sport seems like a good deal. How do I know what size to order?

Thanks for listening.

The other day someone else had said that the Hardrock came in up to a 24 inch frame. That is the biggest I've heard of in a mountain bike. You can always go to a longer stem to stretch out the cockpit some.

Good choice! The answer is the biggest one that they have. The shop should have something comparable in that size that you can ride to see if it is big enough.

Physically, we are very, very similar and I know from experience a 23" frame fits me. Let me guess, your shirt sleeve is what? 37"?

Check out a Raleigh or Fuji "comfort bike".....look for a 23" frame.

What about a 23" '08 Specialized Hardrock XC Disc for $419.99? Anything wrong with that bike? I like the idea of disc brakes on it too.

I don't understand the difference between all the Hardrock models except for the disc brake part.

Ride a bunch of used road bikes. It is pretty easy to find one long in the torso, because racers like to be "flat backed."

I'm 7' with a 38 inch inseam. Trek makes a 25" comfort / hybrid bike for $500.00. I know the 7200 model comes in a 25" inch flavor, but there are a couple of others as well. It's easy to raise a bike, but it is hard to stretch a bike out. I had to push my handlebars forward to gain some length in the bike. You may want to go to your LBS and have them fit you. I eventually went custom, but this Trek offered me 7,500 miles. See how I pushed the bars forward:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3229/...708f938ea6.jpg

I'm 6'4" with a 35" inseam. I bought a 62cm Surly LHT ($985 complete - a bit out of your budget range). I guessed when I bought a stem. It was much too far of a reach. I bought a shorter, taller one. Things are good. For your added height and long torso the original setup I had might be just right. My seatpost definitely had another inch in reserve. It's a great, comfortable bike, and a super tourer.

Thanks for the advice!

I bought an 08 24" Hardrock Pro Disc for $589 from the LBS.

It feels 10x better than my wal-mart bike ever did.

How do you know how high to put the seat? The guy ay the LBS was very helpful and adjusted it to where he said it should be for me, but now that I've ridden it it just feels too high. He said that is how it is supposed to be for a MBX. Do I just get used to how high it is?

I'm not impressed with the stock seat. Other than that, I can't see a thing wrong with it.

Does someone have a link to a good fitting guide handy?

Regarding the saddle, feel free to replace it. Most bikes nowadays come with a saddle that is designed for test rides and casual use, not for longer rides. Specialized makes a Saddle called the Alias that will probably fit the bill. Ask your LBS if they will give you a discount since you bought the bike from them. Another option is to look on ebay.

I would give the seat a couple of hundred miles (depending on how much you ride) or perhaps ten rides to settle in. Seats are such a personal choice item, my favorite may be the worst for you.

As far as seat height, I would just search for seat height and you will probably find dozens of discussions on this topic.

I found mine on Craigslist... 6'6" and 205 lbs....

Generally, you should set the seat to a height where your knee is not quite straight when the pedal is at its lowest point. This will probably seem very high if you're not used to it, but it's more efficient and better for your knees and legs than a lower setting.

Read what Sheldon Brown said about saddles: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/saddles.html

Truer words were never said. I've been raising my saddle bit by bit over the last week and the results have been great. Just when I think I'm up high enough, I go another quarter inch and I feel better. At first you think you're riding some kind of super tall clown bike but you adjust quickly and it feels great.
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