Hi - I'm new to this and am interested in casual weekend biking with my wife. This would be casual trail (relatively flat) riding (not pavement but crushed stone) and for distances of 10km on average. My concern is that I'm a big guy and want to ensure I'm comfortable (my butt especially) and that the bike will hold me (approx 300lb capacity). I want something decent but not spend a fortune either... Any suggestions on what I need to look for particularly, whether it's a brand or specific specs?
Thanks for your help,
M

Look for a used hardtail mountain bike. Throw some low-tread tires on it, run at a lower pressure (maybe around 40 PSI), and enjoy. Make sure the frame is good and strong, and also, ask around at some bike shops to see if they have any reccomendations.

You sound similar to my need when I started.

I was led to a "comfort" style bike which is sort of hybridized so that it is ok for road or trail. It won't be as good as a true "road" bike for road riding or a true "mountain bike" for trail riding, but is a great happy medium.

I was concerned about weight too, but was assured by people at all bike shops that I was ok for the bike (at 350).

Now, as far as brand and model....that is hard to say because EVERYBODY is different and from my experience (which is MUCH LESS than most people here) is that geometry made all the difference. So you have to try a lot of bikes to see how "they feel" to you. Most bike shops will let you take them for a test drive.

For the record, I ended up with a Trek Navigator 300. It's just up from the entry level comfort bike and it was about $400. An entry level bike will probably be around $250 - $450 from my experience when I was looking.

Also for comfort on the tushy, get bike shorts from day one...they help tremendously. There is a thread just started recently about big & tall bike clothes (two links in there are good I know). You can get bigger seats, but I was fine with the standard seat that came on the comfort bike....they are wider than the road bike seats (though they do make wider ones if you really need it).

Hope that helps.

Have you ever heard of the Expedition Sport model from Specialized bikes?

https://www.specialized.com/SBCBkMode...cchwr8v.j27008

There's a dude on this forum who weighs 600 POUNDS! Err, correction 559!

I can't offer you any specific advice, but there are others on here who weigh over 400, so go kick some ass!

every person 400+ lb that I've seen on here has bought a Kona Hoss. Actually the 3 biggest folks on here ALL have Kona Hosses.

While your out looking for bikes you might want to check out the Jamis Commuter. Its a simple lightweight 7 speed with 700c tires. I just ordered one from a LBS for $240 and its a good value for whats out there in that price range. Im setting this bike up with fenders and a rack to use for my rainy day/foul weather only commuter bike. They ride nice and have a plush seat. https://www.jamisbikes.com/bikes/05_commuter.html

I started out on a GT Hybrid. Rode mostly trails and some road. I agree with the others about padded shorts and a decent saddle. Maybe even some padded gloves if you are top heavy and might put some of the extra weight on your hands / arms.

I'm your weight, probably a little heavier. I started on a hybrid with 700c wheels - that was my first mistake. 700c wheels can be strong, but add our weight and a bumpy road and you'll be truing them alot! In the long run it was not worth it for me, after going thru several rear wheels, including a nicely built 36 spoke Dyad I gave up on that bike and got a Giant Rainier Mountain Bike and was happy for a while, but I knew the wheels wouldn't hold so I called Velocity to see what they reccommended.
Now I have a wheel in the works that I know will last, a 40 spoke Deep-V laced to a velocity hub for $175.00, can't wait.

My advice, stay away from the 700c wheels, get a decent Mountain Bike (you don't have to break the bank here, a $300.00 Gary Fisher would probably do just fine) and have some stong ass wheels built, especially the rear.

I belive the frames will hold up just fine no matter what bike you get, it's the wheels you need to pay attention to.
This is just my opinion though.

I am also a heavier (295 at the outset) rider and my bike trail commute consists of both crushed stone and paved stretches. I bought a 700c Fuji Supreme which I really like and have found very comfortable from the outset. I had a few days of discomfort from the 23 mi roundtrip on the stock saddle but after that first week I developed enough of a riding callous to not notice.

I would agree with Linchpin that for a suitable off the shelf bike that will handle a heavier rider a 26in mountain bike is probably easier to find. I eventually had a new double walled rim, 36 spoke rear wheel built and have been very happy with it and had no further problems with broken spokes and such. But at $140, a new rear wheel is a significant expense. I think you will find it is easier to find rugged mountain bike wheels as a stock feature on reasonably priced bikes.

From experience I can also say that if you can check out a few LBS's until you find one that actually has some experience with larger riders and won't dismiss you as beyond their average sized clients. I live about equidistant from 2 bike shops, both places are similar on price and have a courteous staff. But only one seemed to really know or care about larger riders. As I have done more business with them and talked with them more I've found out that they have 6 or 8 large riders (both in terms of height and weight) that they have been working with to find good sturdy bikes. So I never feel out of place when I go in there and I've found their advice well worth the search for a good LBS.

Also the idea of putting some sort of low tread tire on the bike will make for an easier ride. As you ride more you might even want to look into narrower tires, and once again there are several choices out there in the 26in size.

Kona "Hoss."

A good bike indeed, but he'll still most likely have trouble with the 32 spoke wheels that come on it.

I thought I'd have trouble with the 32 spokers on my Dew Deluxe, but so far, so good.

definitely test for different sizes in each model your interested in...!!

I tested the 17" and 19" Giants Boulder SE and Rincon, both were great.
I could tell the 19" would be best for road riding
and the 17" would be better for trails...
there was still a similar feel between the 17" and 19"

I also tested the Trek 3700 18" and it's geometry was perfect for anything I would want to do...

Now the 18" Trek is supposidly between the Giant 17" & 19" models, but had a huge difference in feel....

(I ended up getting a 17" Giant Rincon, wanted to persue more trail action)
https://www.bikeforums.net/mountain-biking/107768-entry-level-mtb-sub-300-decision.html

Back when I bought my Moab in 95', the bike shop where I was purchasing it from let me upgrade to the newest gripshift and tires. The ones that they removed were decient quality and they credited the cost towards the upgrades, since they new that they would use them to upgrade someone elses base model with junk....
just a thought...

Find something strong that feels best, and upgrade what components you feel need, or others suggest... ie. the rims. Some MTB have an aggressive tread which different tires can be put on too...

Hope this helps other than improving my terrible typing.