Hi I am a new member to the cycling world and I would like some helping finding the right starter bike for me. I am a 300 pound 5'11" male. I will be riding mostly paved roads for now but would like to transition to dirt trails as I live in Alaska!

I have been looking at an used specialized hardrock or giant Sedona dx. I do not know very much about frames or heights and weight limits to bikes but I do know that I need something to be able to support my weight.


Can anyone help me out or direct me to a thread where I can figure it out? And thanks for taking the time to look at this!

For a quick measurement try

Bike Fit Calculator | Find Your Bike Size | Competitive Cyclist

Once you know which frame you need it will make the decision easier. Wheels are the weak point but the wheels on both bikes are OK.

There is a group for large size riders but for now you just want to get into riding.

Both bikes are good and will take your weight. Make sure you have the seat set to the correct height.

I like disk brakes so if the hardrock has them I would go for it.

The DX has an adjustable stem and a suspension seat post and a comfort seat all pluses.

A friend started out with a big box store bike and has lost 40lbs. He still has a way to go before he is happy but he knows what kind of riding he likes and he has a new bike to do it on.

Get the bike that fits even if you have to wait for the right bike to come along.

My favorite article on fitting a bike doesn't use measurements. It uses adjustments. It makes the most sense to me.

Modern bikes come it two or three sizes at most. Three sizes of the same model to fit men from 5'4" to 6'4". This obsession with "fit" is IMO way overrated. I have three tandems, two folders, two general purpose/touring/commuting and one road racer. One of the tandems has an XL Captain compartment. One has a L Captains compartment and one has a one size fits all beach cruiser captains compartment, I think it is an 18". One of the commuters has a 18" (slightly sloping) frame and the other has a (level) 23". The main difference between them all besides the wide variance in seat-tube lengths is top tube or effective top tube. All of the larger sizes have ett's of 23", and all of the smaller ones have ett's of 22". Regardless of size, all of the bikes are set up so I have 28.5" of distance between the top of the saddle and the center of the bottom bracket. And, regardless of size, all of the bikes are set up so that my elbow on the nose of the saddle just reaches the handlebar. Drop handlebar or upright. There is one exception. My newest tandem bought just last week has a one inch gap when I try to span the distance between the nose of the saddle and the handlebar. Actually, that tandem has another distinction: it is also made in just the one size. I will buy any bike I see that I like the look of and make it fit with stems (cheap at ~$15). I haven't yet met the frame that a 350mm seatpost can't make work. I am sure some of those cranks are 170mm and some are probably 165mm but I don't know which ones are which and it hasn't seemed to matter. We convince ourselves that we have to spend hundreds of dollars finding the right saddle, and at least as much finding the right bike but I am putting it out there that just as you buy a used car without wondering if it will fit you, you can buy a used (or new) bicycle based on attributes other than its size! Price is one such attribute. I am not wealthy. Only a small number of my bikes are new. In most cases the bikes I have were bought because they did what I needed for a rather low price. But in the end all of them have been made to conform to the exact same ergonomics. FWIW.

Fit is not overrated, but sometimes size is. You can (potentially) fit well on a bike that is not officially your size. My bikes range in size from 53cm to 57.5 cm. I've ridden smaller and larger with little or no trouble.

Hey,

I am 325 and 6'3". I have a bunch of bikes but I should only have one. My favorite now is a Specialized Diverge. It can ride in some dirt and gravel but it handles well on roads. The bike is sturdy and smooth. I have had problems bending rims on my other road bike but aftermarket wheels have fixed that problem. I would look into what they call adventure bikes because they can handle some other types of terrain. I like road riding the best right now but I also do some gravel and dirt.

-jason

I'm going to throw in a plug for Rivendell Clem. This is a well-though out bike for all roads and trail, and built to last.
Clem Smith Jr.
You can follow their links to fit guide and if you call, you will find them very helpful.