New Bike Questions
 

Hi everyone, just found this forum and as a bigger guy am glad there's a place to get some good guidance. I have a Trek FX 7.3 that I've liked a lot but really wanted a road bike. Tomorrow I'm picking up a Felt Z85, test rode it and it felt great (no pun intended). I know Trek road bikes go up to 275 lbs, I'm around 290 and asked my LBS and he said it shouldn't be a problem cause there's a lot of spokes. Just wanted to see if it's anything I should be concerned about or if I should be good. I'm hoping the first 20 lbs or so will drop quickly and then I'll be in range. Goal is to get back to 210 where I was two years ago before a shoulder surgery messed me all up.
Also, does anyone have any suggestions for jersey's for us larger guys? I bought one on Amazon that was a XXL (normally XXL fits fine and is slightly loose) but that thing was skin tight!

Thanks!

As your LBS guy said, you should be okay with most road frames -- you just need to stay away from light, minimally spoked wheels.

When buying jerseys, there IS a fair amount of variability between brands' sizing, but do be sure to look for CLUB fit rather than RACING fit. The racing-fit jerseys are supposed to cling as tight as a second skin.

Have fun with your Felt!

Newbie; Recommend checking out Nashbar, Amazon, and Kingsize for large top gear. I wear 2XL Tall and have found plenty there.

/K

Welcome robd54. As has already been said jersey sizing is all over. I have found that Primal has generous sizing in xxl. Novara as well. I bought one no-name brand jersey on Amazon a few years ago that was also comfortable. Good luck on losing the weight, it can be done.

I have a Z85, bought last year and I do love it! I am a light-weight rider (165 lbs) but ride the Felt for sunny day commuting with an additional 15 to 25 lbs in my bag, or more - like that day last fall when I picked up two bombers of Surly Darkness on my way to work. Also, I do ride rough roads and tend to be aggressive.... The wheels have held up great. One pinch flat when I hit a bad pot hole.

I will share one minor issue you should look into with the Felt: http://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycli...l#post17014578

I recommend a conversation with your shop about the BB and make sure they are experienced with BB30. This should not be a buyers-remorse thing, just wanna share what I went through with my new Z85.

Weight limits are normally lower than what is really safe, it is a liability issue for the manufacturer so they typically mark the max weight much lower than it can actually handle. As long as you have good, strong wheels the frame will be fine.

Ive been riding a bunch of vintage road bikes and have never really looked at what their weight limits are or worried much about them. Ive broken spokes and I have had a few flats but haven't worried about the frames breaking and I was heavier than I am now when I started riding them. Im currently riding around on them around 270 +/- a bit depending on the day.

I weigh more than you, and did a fair bit of research on weight limits and such before buying one of my bikes, and still now, shoping for another.

The owner of the top notch LBS in my area(best out of like 5), gave me the best piece of mind... honestly it couldn't have made me felt better if I told him what to say.

"Can you get on the bike and ride it for ten minutes without, A)feeling like you're wearing the bike instead of riding it, and B)not be so completely out of breath you want to die?" "If both your answers are yes, you're not too heavy for the bike at all. End of the day, the only thing to worry about with any substance, is high end wheel sets with very few spokes. And even then, if the wheels are trued properly, you're unlikely to run into more than 1 or two occasional problems in the worst case scenario. My advice? Get the bike you want, whatever its made of, whatever it says it can hold.. forget that... Pick what you like, and the one thing Ill tell you to pay attention to, is make sure your tires are always inflated to the ideal maximum pressure. Problems caused by the heaviest of riders are usually brought on by having under=inflated tires. Its not really the weight thats the problem, its the weight PLUS the bike not ready to operate fully"

Basically verbatim. Basically.


If you want to buy a high end light carbon bike, but want some extra duty piece of mind, then buy the bike and put a hefty set of wheels on. OR, better yet.. Put it in your mind that down the road, you MAY need to do that. The wheel is not going to explode while you're riding it causing a fatality, IF anything, a spoke is gonna pop.


Weight limits are for lawsuit purposes. If these bikes really only could hold X amount of weight, there would be massive warning labels at every turn... instead, you usually have to dig deep into the manufacturers website, often download a PDF file, scroll to the bottom of a 30page manual, to find a weight limit. Yeah.. sounds like super important information.

Plus, if your riding your bike, you're only gonna weigh less and less.

I completely agree with the post above. bottom line pick a bike that you like because if you like the way the bike looks or feels your more likely to keep riding it instead of letting it collect dust in the garage.

+1 jersey sizes are all over the place due to european sizing. make sure you check the size charts. I am a bit lighter than you and I normally pick xxl jerseys. I have read that Aerotech designs has 3xl and 4xl jerseys

+1 on areotech designs. Also they are made in the USA!

You and I are the same weight. I came here for help and everyone was awesome. Listen to these guys they know whats up. I went out and bought a CAAD8 this past weekend and now am nearing my first 50 miles on it with zero issues due to me being too heavy for it. As all these guys will say make sure the bike fits you. MY LBS was very thorough with my fitting so i know its done right. At our weight it is 100% possible to ride with no fear

Relax on the "no issues at all" commentary until you get more miles on it but you should be fine.

After about 200 miles, take your wheels in and have them checked by somebody competent and that should help keep you trouble free. :)