nataku17

i'm looking into getting a bike mostly for weight loss, i am 307 lb male and am really worried that i will break any bike i buy.

i have done a some research into what would be good for me and have found that i want something with a cassette gear system (don't fully understand what this means) and must have double walled rims. is there anything else i should look out for?

i will mostly be riding on roads and paved cycle tracks. there are two bikes i am currently interested in which are the

Specialized Crosstrail

Specialized Hardrock

would one of these be ok or would there be something else you would recommend? my budget is about £400

also a problem i have is that there are very few bike shops where i live and none of them have these bikes in the store so i am unable to test them before buying =/

thanks =)

adam_mac84

for what you're doing id vote for the crosstrail.

cohophysh

Dude, both of those bikes look great and you should have no problems on either of them. I weigh 305, ride a leader road bike and and an old steel mountain bike and am not worried about breaking either one. Personally, I would take the Hardrock

10 Wheels

For hills get the Hardrock.

Seve

x 2

IMHO
The gearing [chainring] is much more suited to where / how you are planning to use the bike. Also, the 700 x 45 tires will provide you with a very nice/plush ride.

Arvadaman

Either will work for you. If you have more hills, go Hardrock. It has lower gears. If you want to go fast and have fewer hills, go Crosstrail.

nataku17

thanks alot =) there are a fair few hills where i am (south wales).

i was leaning a little towards the hardrock as it would give me more options in the long run and it is a little cheaper, i could get the hardrock with mechanical disk brakes and still pay less than what the crosstrail costs. my only worry with the hardrock is that it wouldn't be very good on the roads? also are the mechanical disk brakes worth the extra?

Arvadaman

You can increase the road performance on a mountain bike by changing the tires to a smoother, more narrow tire. See the thread "Do road tires/slicks make a big difference."

It will not make it a true road bike but it help its on road performance. It will still be slower than a true road bike but will roll more easily on road surfaces.

I cannot comment on the disc brakes since I do not have a bike with discs.

JohnA42

Disc brakes (mech or hydro) give better stopping power in wet or rainy conditions.

nataku17

thanks alot for the help all =) think i will get the Crosstrail as i will be riding with my partner who is getting a Dawes Mojave hybrid and i want to make sure i can keep up with her heh.

i have seen it's customary to post pictures of the new bike =) so i will make sure to do so once i get it

RuggerJoe

I vote for the Hardrock...though I have a softspot for them seeing that I'm riding a 20 years old one on my daily commute. Swap out the knobby tires from some slicks and she'll be fine on the pavement.

nataku17

just wondering and sorry if i am being a pain in the ***. most people who have replied have said to get the hardrock and i just wanted to know if there was any specific reason?

i have been to the 3 nearest bike shops to where i live and only one of them recommended i get a mountain bike while the other 2 said i didn't need one. am i possibly missing something? sadly i need as much input as i can get as i am unable to test these bikes before i buy one so i don't really know the difference first hand. again sorry for being a pain

bradtx

nataku17, It isn't a bother, really. The personel in the bike shops are going to have their own opinion, just like everybody on this forum. Bottom line is that either bike will be just fine.

Brad

rumrunn6

definitely get a bike, it could jump start your lifestyle change but don't rely only on the biking for weight loss. a bike is not a magic bullet. guns aren't dangerous the people who own them are. go for walks when you aren't riding. do some weight training because muscle mass and higher metabolism will help you get thinner and lose weight. be patient and keep short goals. day by day week by week month by month and year by year you will improve a bit. don't get discouraged if you slip because the next day or week or month or year will be better than the previous. stay diligent. the bike is less important than your compliance to riding it.

mkadam68

I don't understand: if you're going to be riding on roads (presumably paved) & paved tracks, why are you looking at a mountain bike or cross bike?

nataku17

@rumrunn6; i understand that. my girlfriend is getting a bike too and we plan on going out togeather for rides on the nearest bike path and such just for fun.

@mkadam68; i have no idea what to look for tbh. i have read posts in other forums about bikes for a larger male and many recommended mountain bikes and the hardrock came up a few times. i have been to my local bike shops and to be honest none of them were all that helpful and none of them really wanted to touch on my weight when i asked.

when looking at the bikes in the larger store near me i saw the Specialized Sirrus but the guy working there said it may not be suitable for me as it's more of a road bike and then he showed me the crosstrail sport and said it would probably be better for me.

what type of bike should i be looking for?

bradtx

nataku17, Look for the type of bike that is most closely associated with the type of riding you intend to do. Either of the two you listed earlier will perform well with your weight. The Hardrock may require a change of tires to be more adept on pavement, then again it may not if the tire lugs are closely spaced. Because of it's smaller wheel size the Hardrock will have a slightly stronger wheelset than the Crosstrail.

Brad

mkadam68

Guy at the store sounds like he's put you in a box and is trying to sell you what he thinks you should buy. Instead, here's some info for you to make an informed decision...

There are lots of different "types" of bikes available. Which one you should look at depends--as others have said--on the terrain & type of riding (distance, technicality & effort) you're planning on doing. (Here's a more lengthy explanation of bike types. Below is an abbreviated version.)

I'd be afraid you would get one of the listed ones, then, after 6mos, be dissatisfied with the comfort. You'd either have to buy another, or give up the sport. I did this with my sons: we bought a $75 bike from X-Mart knowing full well that it's cheap. They rode it into the ground. But then I knew they enjoyed the sport, so I bought them a nice, entry-level road bike (Specialized Allez). My 15yr-old has been riding/racing since.

From what you've said, in the long-term I would recommend at least looking at a road bike with a more relaxed/upright geometry. It may be difficult to find exactly waht you look for, but the ones you linked to are pretty much a mountain bike (excellent for rugged, off-road riding) and a hybrid bike (again, better for really short rides on paved or smooth, off-road trails).

Since you're just starting, you'll probably want a more relaxed/upright fit. It'll be more comfortable at first. But, as you continue to rack up the hours & miles, you'll probably want a road bike. They're more efficient, therefore more comfortable. There's less rolling resistance, better stability, and good ones take the buzz out of the ride.

Don't worry too much about your weight on a modern bicycle. Nowadays, most all can handle you. For example, in 2006, when I was 318lbs., I bought an all carbon-fiber racing bike (Kuota Kharma). I dropped 60lbs. over the next 18-mos. Eventually I was putting 9,000 miles on the bike every year. Absolutely no problems (until I crashed in a race, breaking the only aluminum part of the frame!).

The part where you'll be concerned with your weight? The wheels. I'd recommend some hand-built (by an excellent wheelbuilder--ask around), 32 or 36 spoke clinchers with a 25c tire width.

At your budget, look for a used bike and invest in some good wheels if necessary. Ask some bike clubs if they have classifieds or a local shop if they handle used bikes. That's where you'll find the best bikes at good pricing.

My $.02.

SeaDawg

My husband weighs more than you, and he tested both the Crosstrail and the Hardrock, and greatly preferred the Crosstrail - he said it was much easier to get moving, and found he had to work harder on the Hardrock to get it moving.

We ended up also liking the Giant Roam 1, and because we got a deal on them we went that route. That was about a month ago, and thus far he hasn't had any issues with his bike due to his weight. He probably needs a new saddle, but many people don't like the stock saddle. He's looking for new wider pedals b/c he has wide feet (although the Roam's stock pedals are metal, which is nice, and I'll probably stick with them). Larger people can have issues with their wheels, so if that happens he'll get new ones, but for now we're doing great <knock on wood>.

Have fun shopping, and I hope you find something you love! Make sure to share pics when you do!