bxbikerguy

I need some help I have been talking to some local lbs and I have recieved 3 different answers to the same question....I am a big guy 5'7 270lbs I want to get the road bike and was looking at the Trek 2200 now 1 lbs says no problem and the other two say I should get an all carbon bike because of my size so I need help I didn't plan on spending $$$$ for a carbon bike but I still dont want to get a aluminum and the frame breaks from fatigue so I need your insight into this thanks

galen_52657

I would say get the aluminum frame. It will be stiffer. Check the warranty. If it is 'lifetime' you are good to go. Cannondale has supper-stiff aluminum frames, again check the warranty. Both Cannondale and Trek are good companies. I am assuming you are somewhat over weight? If your are 5'7" @ 270 with 4% body fat... you are going to have a problem because you will break anything made....just a how long it will last is the question. The other thing is, if you are somewhat over weight, when you lighten up you might like the carbon better.

55/Rad

I would tell the lbs who says you need carbon that you found a good deal on a used one at the same price as the 2200 and "thanks for your advice".

See what happens next.

55/Rad

halfspeed

I'd be more concerned with the wheels than the frame. I think Trek still has a lifetime warranty on their frames. At your size, you might want to see if the LBS is willing to swap out the stock wheels for something with 36 spokes.

I'm shocked, shocked, I tell you, that a bicycle saleman would try to get you to buy a more expensive bike! What's the world coming to?

Maj.Taylor

All kidding aside, given your weight, have you considered a steel frame? 270#s is a lot of weight to put on many of the newer exotic-material bikes. It's your call of course, but I'd buy nothing but steel with that much mass.

zhmontana

They hit it on the head. Most reputable company's warranty their frames for life against defects (simply breaking in half would be a defect), so go with aluminum, go with steel, go with carbon... as long as the frame is fully warrantied, you should be fine.

bxbikerguy

thanks for the responses I am working on losing the weight, I know not all of it but a good percentage of it before the next riding season so maybe I will just wait until next year to get it at the start of the riding season

Hitchy

g'day,

as the others have said, check the frame warranty before putting down your cash, If they don't have an upper weight limit, you'll be ok even if they do break, (which they shouldn't!).....spend some time thinking about heavy duty wheels...they will be more of an issue for you than any frame...as others have said....."shock, Horror, a salesman trying to 'upsell you'....dang"

hitchy

Steelrider

At your height, you may find that there are some screaming deals out there right now as LBS' are trying to move inventory to make room for the '05's. So although (not knowing where you live) you might be a "fair weather rider" until next spring, at least you could get some basic things down now and be more ready for next year. You might also find that at your current weight, whatever you get is likely to feel very different now than when you drop some lb's. Don't get me wrong - the basic dimensions of a bike that fits won't really be different, but how you feel on it likely will.

Good luck!

twahl

I agree with Steelrider. Go for it. You are likely to get a good deal now, and you can spend a little extra to buy a trainer and get dedicated. One of the big things that got me motivated to ride was losing some weight, and I've dropped about 10 lbs. in the last 2 months or so. Not as fast as I'd like, but I bought a trainer tonight and plan to use it so that I can continue when the weather is bad. I fully intend to be in the shape I want to be in before next next spring, and I realize that putting it off won't get it done for me. Start easy and you'll be suprised how much you progress in a short time, just take it easy, but don't wait to start.

PhatRoadie

Hi I agree with Major Taylor on this one. I was roughly your size, massed a little less but was also concerned about bike material when I started riding again,not so long ago. I tried both aluminum and steel as Ti and carbon were out of my budget. I bought a second hand steel framed bike and have not regretted it. It's just so much more comfortable. It's heavier by a few pounds than the Alu. bikes but considering how much weight I was packing one or two extra pounds on the bike really meant nothing.

Also a set of bomb proof wheels is EXTREMELY important. It costs a bit more but it is worth the extra $$$. I use a set of full spoke count Open Pro rims laced to Ultegra hubs. 2000kms and still true.

Hope this helps.

bxbikerguy

Well I test road 2 bikes today a Trek 5200 and a Trek 2200 all I can say is both bikes were light years apart from my Trek 7500fx but I am now leaning towards the 2200 because of cost the lbs said I can get it for 1450 do you guys think that is a good price

squeegy200

Don't wait until next season to get started.

If you like the Trek 2200 and it will motivate you to get a riding routine estabished, then the $1450 is worth it. All of the above suggestions are good. Insist that the bike shop perform a post sale tune-up 30 days after you've started riding. The bike will "settle" and will require some readjustments. Any good Bike shop should include this service along with the purchase price of your bike.

Also find out if they will throw in some other items you may need.
1. Patch kit and levers to fix a flat tire
2. Air pump to pump up repaired flat tire

Anything else they would be willing to throw in to enhance your riding experience.

Helmet
Shoes
Socks
gloves

The important thing is to get something that will motivate you to get out and ride.