chuckygetlucky

Hi everyone, I am looking for a bike for paved paths and road. i would like to stay around 1000 bucks or less. I currently ride a giant mtb with road tires, but i don 't like the front shock. I seem to bottom it out at times and i need some sturdy wheels as i have busted some spokes on my 36h rims. Current suggestions have been touring bikes like the LHT or trek 520. Please let me know from personal experience if you can. I think first hand knowledge is best in this situation.

hammond9705

Can you lock out the front shock? You might also consider just replacing the fork and the rear wheel. Then you could hold off until you lose some more weight before buying a new bike.

Mr Danw

A suspension adjusted rigid fork and a set of tandem wheels will be a much better investment than a new bike.

RI_Swamp_Yankee

36h wheels should be up to the task - I'm 320 and get by with 32h - just make sure you take them to a good LBS for truing/tensioning. If you did, and you're still breaking spokes, maybe find another good LBS, as the last one may not be as good as you thought they were. Also, you're not bashing around the wheels on-pavement as you are off-pavement.

Niagara Cycle sells replacement forks, if you like the bike you already got... slap some Continental Town & Country or Schwalbe Marathon tires on trued-and-tensioned rims, get some ergonomic grips, and your MTB is now a competent pavement cruiser.

chuckygetlucky

these are great suggestions, the fork and rear wheel replacement are exactly what i was thinking. But now what rear wheel to go with?

Mr Danw

Check the bike shop for a rear tandem bike wheel. Those would have 48 spokes. (I think).

breadbin

48 spokes is probably overkill, as another poster suggested get them trued by a decent bike shop, the sort of bike shop where cyclists congregate and you should be ok. steer clear of the halfords type shops that do buggies and what not and find a nice local family owned one os you can kepe them in business. 36h wheels should be ideal if made right and the fork is a great suggestion, actually i did the same just recently, i hated the squishy feeling and got myself slicks for the wheels too so all in all it feels fantastic now good luck with it. although if that $1000 is burning a hole in your pocket...

acpeeps

this
https://cgi.ebay.com/REAR-ALEX-SHIMAN...item2ea68fb527

and this

https://cgi.ebay.com/MOSSO-RIGID-MTB-...item20b083b853

or something like it

chuckygetlucky

That wheel looks stout enough but i have 135mm spacing out back on aluminium frame.

chuckygetlucky

Thank you i will be checking out another LBS the first one replaced my spokes and trued the wheel, and first ride out pop pop two more spokes gone. So i'm thinking he wasn't the guy to build my wheels. I am currently looking into velocity cliffhanger, Deep V, Chukker, and maybe even aerospoke. I can't seem to find to many LBS that build custom wheels so might have to do some leg work and talk to people in the area. Problem is most people are average size or on the small size so most wheels will stay true for them.

BigDaddyPedals

well....i weighed in at 434 in Jan. this year....i got a specialized allez....it cost me $1200......i ride almost everyday since i got it.....but i have a great LBS that takes care of the bike.....they have to true the rear wheel at least once a week....i had them last week build me a new beautiful DT Swiss 36 spoke rear wheel($300).....oh by the way.....i weigh in at 340 now.....just start pedaling and good luck!!!

sooprvylyn

If you weigh that much you are safer to ride a steel framed bike. If you put even a small ding in a crucial area of an alloy frame it will certainly buckle under 400 lbs pretty fast, and you will hit the ground hard. Just a suggestion. You should be fine on 36 spoke wheels if they are built correctly and true, unless you ride hard.

spthealien

That is pretty amazing!

moose67

As a fellow 400+ guy I can sympathize with your plight. I bought a Specialized Globe Carmel 3 April of last year. The hybrid style bike was the perfect fit for me. I replaced the suspension seat post with a non-suspension one which made a big improvement. Once I got the bike tuned right things were great. I too had problems popping spokes. I had several replaced until finally my LBS replaced the spokes with I believe DT Swiss spokes. From what they tell me it's built like a downhill wheel. I have had it adjusted several times. After taking unwanted time off over the winter I began riding again and it wasn't long at all before I heard the distinctive sound of the spoke. I adjusted them myself which was much better but I believe I'll be taking it to the LBS soon. With the right built wheel 36h will work but you must make sure it stays tuned right. I'm hoping to start hitting the MUP hard now and be in the sub 400+ club soon. Keep spinning and enjoy it. If you don't enjoy it you'll never stay with it. I found myself wanting to ride everyday and looked forward to getting off work to go ride.

jeveretts

A Surly Karate Monkey comes to mind. I started on one second hand one at 330 lbs, when I dropped below 300 I rewarded myself with a brand new Long Haul trucker.



Both are steel and both are incredible bikes, I have never once regretted being a "Surly" guy.
My wife got interested so we bought her a second hand GT.. after about a month we upgraded her to her own Long Haul Trucker.

H
Here is a picture of us on the West Orange Trail after about 10 miles. We are regularly putting down 20+ miles together. And I do 50-60 miles once a week.

Redeemed07

Once I get the right bike I'd love to go on a ride with y'all. I ride the WOT in Apopka. I'm hoping to build up my endurance but currently having bike-fit issues.

ArmedMainer

That Long Haul Trucker is one sweet looking bike. Looks tough as nails.

breadbin

i think i agree with you but lots won't - i say *think* cos i'm actually riding an alu bike this last while and its holding up pretty well, and feels not too bad either

wrk101

If you are thinking about buying new, check out the thread on the REI Randonne. Also check into REI's warranty. They cover just about anything, for the lifetime of the bike.


"100% satisfaction guarantee: If you're ever dissatisfied with an item, you may return or exchange" it. Try getting that from any of the other manufacturers.

garage sale GT

I got a firm ride kit for my fork. Check with the fork's maker or a retailer that has a qbp catalog. I don't know if it would be enough.

There's also Worksman Cycles. You could drop $300 and pick up a nice, singlespeed, vintage style cruiser which can withstand almost anything. However, some of their bikes are just ordinary imported cruiser type bikes so check with them.

Boyd Reynolds

There was a Worksman cruiser in my LBS for service a couple of months ago. I was not impressed by it at all, it looked and felt like a department store bike. Maybe the industrial Worksman bikes are better, though. I've only ever seen the one.