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SteelCity 07-05-09 05:32 AM

Advice for a beginner
 
I'm 30 years old, I haven't been on a bike since I got my driver's license 14 years ago. I would like to get back into it, both for exercise and for fun (I will NOT be commuting with it). Most of my rides will be around town, nothing very far or for an extremely long duration.

I anticipate that most of my riding will be on the street, but I will most likely also be going up curbs and thru some parks so there will be some off-road. Also, I am a very large man. Even after I loose weight, I will still be 250-260lbs.

Knowing this would it be better for me to buy a mountain bike? A rode bike seems like it won't hold up for me, and after some research it seems like people seem to not like hybrids.

I'm willing to spend what it takes, whether that be $400 or $1,000, but I don't want to waste money if it's not necessary. For example, do I really need full suspension? I got by riding for many years without any springs :p The only thing I'd really like is disc brakes, call me a poser, I don't care. Disc brakes are cool as hell ;);)

Duce97 07-05-09 06:03 AM

i have a buddy thats 264lbs abd rides one of these http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...6_series/6700/

A guy in my bike club rides a santa cruz http://www.santacruzmtb.com/blurlt/ , its a full susspension hes 280

another guy in my bike club rides this http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...l_ex/fuelex55/ and hes 275 , says he wont ride anything but full susspension cause it handels his pounds better than a hardtail.

Id say any upper quality bike with an Aluminum frame would be ok. Lokk at some quality 29er bikes to .

Im 230lbs and ride a trek 4300disc , i raide it on single tracks ive had it on small jumps 3 to 4 feet and it hasnt givin me a problem.

SteelCity 07-05-09 06:46 AM

Thanks for the reply!

I really like the Trek Fuel EX 5.5 that you linked to.

Is there merit to what the guy in your bike club said about a full suspension being better for a heavier person?
Is there any difference in riding when the bike has a full suspension?
Finally (sorry for all the questions!) will this type of bike be ok for 85% street use?

Thanks!

Duce97 07-05-09 06:56 AM

The bikes with full suspension take some getting used to. They have a bounce to them and it just makes it feel funny ridding it the first few times.Ive heard other big guys say once they went full sus. they would never go back to the hardtail.

For 85% street use id look into a less agressive tire, most of the top end bikes will come with good trail tires that will wear down quick on pavement. http://store.trekbikes.com/jump.jsp?...&bShopOnline=1 That tire or the connection trail have proven to be good tires for my boy. He rides on the street alot and i changed to those tires cause replacing his kendas every month and a half was getting exspensive.

toolbear 07-05-09 05:01 PM

I'd get a mountain bike.

In fact I did. Went from a Dahon folder to a SwissBike LX folder. It travels with me on my annual migration from SoCal to the NorthWet, thence to Moab and back to SoCal. (I need the folding to fit it in my boat.)

The mountain bike will go places that a road bike cannot, and that gives you a lot more options. It's a 4x4 pickup vs. a sports car. Both do pavement. Put the sports car on a dirt road and see how it does vs. the 4x4.

Clydes just might get a better ride with full suspension. Cost is more. Choices.

The riding posture is more upright and I find that a comfort. I don't find head down, butt in air a comfy ride. With glasses I am always looking over the tops and can't see @#$% or getting a crick in the neck.

I swapped out the mountain bike tires for a set of Specalized Crossroad tires as most of the use is on pavement (11/12 months). So far, so good. They are with me in the islands so I can swap back at Moab, if needed.

The SwissBike is a hardtail, so I added a Thudbuster. Seems to work fairly well. Come winter I will probably upgrade the front fork. It goes up and down. That's nice. I want more. I want adjustments and that "plushy" ride.

We figured how to carry a full sus. bike with front wheel off in the van, so next season I might just go that way and bring the Dahon up to be the boat bike. It's a fun ride, but needs more gears and Clydes are too heavy for it. (230# rider weight limit and I am there.)

kenhill3 07-05-09 05:19 PM

Hey, Toolbear-

Ya comin ' to Crazy Legs Fest?

I'm leading a MTB excursion on Friday of the fest.

toolbear 07-06-09 03:18 PM


Originally Posted by kenhill3 (Post 9223001)
Hey, Toolbear-

Ya comin ' to Crazy Legs Fest?

I'm leading a MTB excursion on Friday of the fest.

@@@

Crazy Legs Fest?

Duh? Is what? Is when? Is where? (As I said, duh?)

Probably going to have the boat back together and off to the islands. Yesterday the sails, tomorow the engine!

I was trying to sneak off to ride the Centennial Trail in Snoh. County, but the weather changed (as predicted - get a hot spell, it seems to have rain following).

kenhill3 07-06-09 08:38 PM


Originally Posted by toolbear (Post 9229123)
@@@

Crazy Legs Fest?

Duh? Is what? Is when? Is where? (As I said, duh?)

Probably going to have the boat back together and off to the islands. Yesterday the sails, tomorow the engine!

I was trying to sneak off to ride the Centennial Trail in Snoh. County, but the weather changed (as predicted - get a hot spell, it seems to have rain following).

August 7th, 8th, and 8th. at Jim Blodgett's out in Yelm (Roy).

Get over to Breaktime and check the Breaktime Fests folder.

It is gonna be a great time!!!


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