Of course, I can read threads to determine what components are good and all BUT -
I'm 6'7 and 240lbs, I need something that isn't going to snap under me like a twig. -also something that actually fits right - I've been doing a lot of reading (mostly reviews) and it seems like bikes in my price range (which is as inexpensive as possible...) have sometimes had issues with heavy riders and wheels/frames. While carbon would be very nice, I will not turn my nose up at aluminum.

Which brands/models might fit me the best?

I have a performance bike membership, so I automatically like Fuji and Scattante.

get a saw cut yourself in half then buy a noraml bike

Calfee builds to 70cm and can stiffen up the frame depending on ride characteristics you want.

I had a 63cm CAAD 5 which I sold to a guy 6'5" and it fit him pretty well. Probably some used 63 Cannondales around. There are some 64 cm Treks out there, too.
I've mostly used 36 spoke hand built wheels and they hold up well.
How much do you want to spend? I think you can get a Gunnar off the shelf in a pretty big size. I have a 62cm and it's very solid.
I think BF member waterrockets races an XL Fuji and he is 6'4", or so.

My hybrid is 57cm. height is good, but I feel like it should be longer. I know it's meant for upright riding though.

My spending chart is as such:

Angry Wife ------------- Threatening Divorce -------------- Forever Alone
$500-----------$1000----------$1500------------$2500---------$3000


Sticking around a grand or less would be ideal, but I could probably get away with a little more if it meant a significant value increase.

I sold my CAAD5 for $300, guy got a good deal, but it needed some work.
Looks like you can get a new Gunnar frame up to 68cm for $900. They have a fit tool:
https://gunnarbikes.com/site/my-gunnar/gunnar-fit-tool/

You really might find something nice used, or maybe a new Cannondale CAAD10?

you could always get a custom aluminum frame and then buy the rest separate

Check Zinn Cycles. He specialized is bikes for very tall riders. https://zinncycles.com/Zinn/index.php/archives/5

Thanks for the suggestions, look like I have some good starting points.

CAAD 10 sadly only goes up to 60cm. Rode a felt 61cm and it was too small. I think I'm stuck with custom (I like out of the box solutions...) or Trek 1.5

It says 63 on the geometry chart. https://www.cannondale.com/2012/bikes...-4-rival-20059
What was too small? Were the bars too low?

Oh hell, I only looked at REI and 60 was the biggest option. I wonder if a CAAD 10 5 63cm would fit me? Sadly, there's really no way to know except ordering one and being stuck with it if it doesn't :/

With the Felt - The seat had to be put up past minimum insertion to get my legs right.

Pickin's are slim right now, but set up an ebay favorite search with your spec's and keep checking back. Your size is not in the highest demand, so I would think you could score a pretty good deal. Also, www.searchtempest.com will allow you to search as many craigslists as you want, depending on mileage from your home.

Current ebay offerings with 62-64cm frames

And check out post #1667 of the Post Your Titianiums thread. Beautiful BIG Seven.

Thanks I'll probably go new. I'd buy the CAAD 10 63 in a heart beat now if I knew it fit, though I cant find a CAAD dealer with good reviews around here...

36.5" inseam measured from floor to book spine.

*edit, Searched a little farther and found a place in Downtown with good reviews. Real helpful on the phone. I'm going to check out the 60cm there and order a 63 if it "just almost" fits...
Get the white one from the other store, or order matte black? Decisions...

You might want to look at the BMC SR02. The frame is listed as a 60cm, but it seems a tad larger. Competitive Cyclist has them on sale at $899, with a 90-day no questions return policy. Possibly too small, but worth going to the BMC site to look at the geo (under the 2011 bikes). I am 6'2", looking to shorten the stem a bit and am getting a 0 offset seatpost so my saddle is perfect instead of ok. Flipping the stem helps, too. Worth a look, maybe. Great price for a very nice bike.

I'm about 35" and the 63cm CAAD5 I had was a little on the big side. I'm not super flexible so with some frames by the time I get the saddle high enough the bars are too low. I like to use an uncut steerer, (most of them are 300mm but some are longer) and I don't want a silly amount of spacers, so I look for a head tube of 220 or 230mm.
I'm not as tall as you and the top tube of the CAAD was 60cm, so I used a 90mm stem, angled up. Same set-up on my Gunnar.

That chart is hilarious!

DO NOT buy a bike that's too small, no matter what anybody tells you about "making it work" with a new seatpost, stem, whatever. I'm 6'4" and feel very cramped on anything smaller than 64cm, but YMMV.
Don't get fixated on carbon or aluminum, especially in a low-priced bike. Each frame material has advantages and drawbacks, and many of us prefer steel.
Your weight isn't likely to be a problem as long as you buy decent wheels, but your height will be. This is a sport where a 5'11" guy is a giant.

Just know that the bike is out there waiting for you!! If Yao Ming can have his own steed, so can you.

Wow, a bike that fits Yao. I think he weighed around 300 lbs, maybe a bit more.

Are you sure you want a CAAD? Those tend to be more race oriented. My dad (215 lbs) got a Cannondale Synapse for $680 when REI had a sale this past year that seems to be more on the comfort side.

EDIT: Hmm... on Cannondale's website it says the Synapse goes up to 61 cm. I thought I had read somewhere about getting sizes higher than that though...

I've got a Cannondale 66cm - they may still have an inventory of these as frames only. You'd need to talk to your local Cannondale dealer. But then that might be too big for you - I'm 6'8", 245lbs and it's a good ride. Clears my 180mm Dura Ace cranks just fine.

I'm currently exploring a Zinn - I've bought into the longer crank thinking and want a bike that truly fits me. He did a joint deal with KHS - I'd think that bike might be perfect for you if the price is within budget. The Flight 747 or similar.

Above all, I'd recommend getting measured/fit for a bike.

LAX

Do the competitive cyclist fit calculator https://www.competitivecyclist.com/za...LCULATOR_INTRO it will give you a pretty good idea of what to look for in sizing. I am 6' 4" with a 37.5 cycling inseam (long of leg) and ride a 63CM CAAD9 with lots of seatpost still in the tube, I would think that you would be able to make a CAAD10-5 work for you and stay in the Angry wife/Threatening Divorce range on pricing, remember you are going to need pedals/shoes at a bare minimum when you get it. To note, this is mine, and those are 180mm Campy cranks on it, no problems with clearance.

Your probably not interested, but gigantor C&V road bikes are fairly common at good prices...

Pedals, yeah... Y'all won't kill me when I put the plastic take-offs from my hybrid on it for a while, right?

Calculator was great link, thanks..

Competitive Fit numbers:


The Competitive Fit

Seat tube range c-c 62.9 - 63.4
Seat tube range c-t 64.8 - 65.3
Top tube length 58.4 - 58.8
Stem Length 12.7 - 13.3
BB-Saddle Position 87.5 - 89.5
Saddle-Handlebar 60.1 - 60.7
Saddle Setback 8.8 - 9.2

Seat tube range c-c would be the standard measurement, yeah? That makes the 63 look 2cm too small for me.

However, it says top tube is vital, and the top tube of the CAAD10 is 60cm, while my requirement is only up to 58.8... So that's good, yeah?


You're probably right, but I can grow into the CAAD, I think and the Synapse does stop at 61. It was the Z85 I was looking at from Felt.