what kind of bike at $300 price?

i have looked around and what i see is toys r us and sports authority
bikes which are so-so and certainly a lot cheaper than a bike store. i
need a bike for comfort and not racing or climbing mountains. I am 55
and my doctor said if i don't lose the paunch i will be in serious
health trouble. I am 6'4" and a problem comes up with frame size. each
bike shop claims their bike has the biggest frame in the line. I look
on the net and see xl (22) which i have no idea about but i assume it
is the largest frame. I cannot find the frame size on the bikes in the
shops. they are interested in unloading what they have and they know i
don't know anything about bikes. I don't want a disaster because if
the bike turns out to be painful or a dud i can't bring it back. some
bikes have shock absorbers in the fork and seat. Are these really
necessary? When i sit on the bike it pushes these "shock absorbers"
down so i don't know what use they could have for cushioning in that
postion. (i weigh 270lbs). Is fuji a good reliable bike? the most
reasonable dealer in my area seems to be pushing them Not sure. need
help. thanks in advance.

On Tue, 20 Jul 2004 08:38:48 -0700, humblejohn wrote:

Is fuji a good
reliable bike? the most reasonable dealer in my area seems to be pushing
them Not sure. need help. thanks in advance.

Fujis are fine, as are many mass market ~300 bikes.

You can get a perfectly good entry level "hybrid" bike for 300 bucks, but
I'd steer clear of any suspension gizmos, get a bike with a real fork and
save yourself the headache of breaking a cheap suspension fork. Around
here the preferred cheaper entry model is the Marin San Anselmo. The
frame's a bit rigid in my opinion, but since you're a bigger guy--the
strength might be a good thing.

Personally, if I lived in a flatter area and wanted a bike for just
tooling around, I'd get a Kronan. I've owned one before, and they're awe
inspiring. They weigh 46lbs and who cares? You'll get there in style.
These and the cockroaches will survive after a nuclear blast LOL:

http://kronancycle.com/kronanusa/home.html

$359 for the single speed. You know you want one.

humblejohn wrote:
i have looked around and what i see is toys r us and sports authority
bikes which are so-so and certainly a lot cheaper than a bike store. i
need a bike for comfort and not racing or climbing mountains. I am 55
and my doctor said if i don't lose the paunch i will be in serious
health trouble. I am 6'4" and a problem comes up with frame size.

(i weigh 270lbs). Is fuji a good reliable bike? the most
reasonable dealer in my area seems to be pushing them Not sure.

Definitely stay away from ANY department store or sporting goods store
bike at your size. Also stay away from shocks absorbers.

You want a sturdy comfort or hybrid bike with wide tires, strong wheels,
and as large a frame as you can get.

The wheels will be your biggest challenge. Make sure they have 36
stainless steel spokes, and that the spokes are tight and have been stress
relieved. Otherwise, you're going to be breaking spokes and/or having the
wheels go out of true. Many wheels are machine built. Have the shop
tension, true, and stress relieve the spokes for you.

Cycling is great exercise, and MAY help with weight loss if done
regularly. There was a long thread on that subject a few weeks ago.

Good luck,

Art Harris

"humblejohn" wrote in message
om...
i have looked around and what i see is toys r us and sports authority
bikes which are so-so and certainly a lot cheaper than a bike store. i
need a bike for comfort and not racing or climbing mountains. I am 55
and my doctor said if i don't lose the paunch i will be in serious
health trouble. I am 6'4" and a problem comes up with frame size.

I'm 6'3". You won't likely find anything to fit outside a bike shop. Even
there you might have limited selection to try, or they might need to order
in. Plus, you need something that's pretty sturdy.

each
bike shop claims their bike has the biggest frame in the line. I look
on the net and see xl (22) which i have no idea about but i assume it
is the largest frame. I cannot find the frame size on the bikes in the
shops. they are interested in unloading what they have and they know i
don't know anything about bikes.

Yeah, this can be a problem. If you have a local bike club, show up at their
meeting. Find some tall guys. Ask them what bike shops they like.

Even more of a problem for you is that the right frame size depends on the
bike style. In a road bike, you might need a 62 (centimeter) frame. On a
hybrid, with a different shaped frame, the sizing will be different.

I don't want a disaster because if
the bike turns out to be painful or a dud i can't bring it back. some
bikes have shock absorbers in the fork and seat. Are these really
necessary? When i sit on the bike it pushes these "shock absorbers"
down so i don't know what use they could have for cushioning in that
postion. (i weigh 270lbs).

Shock equipment isn't necessary if you are riding on pavement. I own 6
bikes (yes, down from 7) and none has suspension. However, it's hard to find
new bikes without it.

Is fuji a good reliable bike? the most
reasonable dealer in my area seems to be pushing them Not sure. need
help. thanks in advance.

Fuji is a reliable manufacturer. So is Trek, Cannondale, Giant and others.
More important for you is to find a good guy at a dealer who will help you
find what you need.

many thanks but the krono is not sold in new york.




maxo wrote in message ...
On Tue, 20 Jul 2004 08:38:48 -0700, humblejohn wrote:

Is fuji a good
reliable bike? the most reasonable dealer in my area seems to be pushing
them Not sure. need help. thanks in advance.

Fujis are fine, as are many mass market ~300 bikes.

You can get a perfectly good entry level "hybrid" bike for 300 bucks, but
I'd steer clear of any suspension gizmos, get a bike with a real fork and
save yourself the headache of breaking a cheap suspension fork. Around
here the preferred cheaper entry model is the Marin San Anselmo. The
frame's a bit rigid in my opinion, but since you're a bigger guy--the
strength might be a good thing.

Personally, if I lived in a flatter area and wanted a bike for just
tooling around, I'd get a Kronan. I've owned one before, and they're awe
inspiring. They weigh 46lbs and who cares? You'll get there in style.
These and the cockroaches will survive after a nuclear blast LOL:

http://kronancycle.com/kronanusa/home.html

$359 for the single speed. You know you want one.

On Tue, 20 Jul 2004 22:19:15 -0500, "Mike Kruger"
wrote:


More important for you is to find a good guy at a dealer who will help you
find what you need.


This is the key, especially for someone who is new to bikes. Shop for
a bike shop! Find a place that you would feel good about giving your
money, a place that you can walk into a week later with a question or
a month later for an adjustment, etc. In some ways it may cost you
more, but the advice and help is worth every penny.

A suggestion- make another post using 'clydesdale' or 'heavy guy' or
something like that in the subject. There's a lot of knowledge and
experience around here, and using the right 'bait' will get some of
the heavier people talking. Use 'older' also?

Clydesdale is a common way for heavier people to refer to themselves
in the bike world, by the way. No insult intended!

Oh, one thing I haven't seen mentioned- wheels!!! Be sure to find a
shop that will go over your wheels, stress relieve them before you
pick it up, etc.

Emailed & posted on NG

The problem with buying a bike in a toy shop is that's what you'll get - a toy.
Something that is likely to be so heavy it's *not* going to help you enjoy
cycling and the components are likely to be made of cheese ;-) In the world of
bikes cheap too often means cheap and not good value.

Saying that, you don't have to spend a fortune to get somthing halfway decent.
I suggest you buy cycling mags with lots of adverts in and is possible, bike
tests. Read - often and in detail - inwardly digest. Visit *lots* of bike shops
- specialist bike shops, not ones where there's a passing nod to cycling, or a
toy shop. Try out various bikes. Do not buy the first one you try. Look at web
sites of bike manufacturers and bike retailers - get the background knowledge
to help you make the right choice.

Here's my experience - Years ago I had a bike which was a *cheap* one. It was
built in eastern europe from lead girders - well it weighed as if it was made
of lead girders. It made cycling hell. The bike was little used. It was in the
back of a garage for years. When I had my child, it had a child seat mounted
behind the seat and it was my normal transport out of necessity at thet time.
It was *not* enjoyable. Then I was bought a new bike - one of much better
quality and lighter. Overnight my mileages doubled and I actually started to
*enjoy* cycling for the first time in years. The difference between a cheap
bike and a reasonable on *is* that noticeable. I've still got that bike. Then a
couple of years ago, Santa was particularly generous to me and he delivered an
even better bike (a Bianchi San Remo, second hand). Once again, my mileages and
level of enjoyment increased.

If you are going in at bottom level prices, do not buy a bike with suspension.
Cheap suspension is rubbish. Consider buying a more expensive bike second hand,
to get quality at a budget price. Look for last year's and the year before's
models. The paint jobs will have changed but the components don't change that
much, so you can save a lot of money on a decent bike that way.

Think about the type of cycling you are going to be doing. Unless you are going
to be doing serious off-roading, I'd argue you don't need suspension. Cycling
on road, cycle paths, and light off-road doesn't require suspension. Indeed
suspension on bikes when riding on tarmac is a waste of energy.

Be prepared to make changes to any bike you buy - thinking particularly of the
saddle. What constitutes a comfortable saddle is a very individual thing.

Other things I'd recommend...

Cycle shorts with padded bottoms! Honestly - I'm never on a bike without
wearing a pair - I wear them underneath my trousers.
Jeans are not a good thing to wear when cycling - the fabric and seams can be
hard and cause *nasty* chafing of those delicate nether regions.
You may wish to consider mudguards (fenders on the other side of the pond to
me??) which are a godsend in wet weather, and front/rear lights.
You are a big guy, but this doesn't mean you need a frame made of lead to carry
you :-)
Finally - if you haven't been on a bike before or for a long time and are
generally unfit - take it slowly at first and do not think you are a wuss if
you have to get off and walk. Little and often is the way to go. Don't try and
over extend yourself. Little and often - *gradually* increasing distances and
speed is key. Most of all - enjoy it.

A couple of years ago when I first got back on the bike I couldn't cycle five
miles without getting off to catch my breath several times... now I'm
comfortable to 50+ miles and thoroughly enjoy my cycling. I may not be fast, I
may not be slim, but I'm loads fitter than I used to be, which is borne out by
the tests don at the docs.

Hope this helps a bit.

Cheers, helen s




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humblejohn wrote:
many thanks but the krono is not sold in new york.


Have you looked at Specialized? I'm 6'3", and love my
Specialized Crossroads Sport hybrid ("XL" size). AFAIK
it's a UK only-model, but there must be a US equivalent.

You might have to up the budget a little, they go for
260-300 pounds over here.


--
jc

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dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers wrote:

Emailed & posted on NG

The problem with buying a bike in a toy shop is that's what you'll get - a toy.
Something that is likely to be so heavy it's *not* going to help you enjoy
cycling and the components are likely to be made of cheese ;-) In the world of
bikes cheap too often means cheap and not good value.

i ended up going with a motobecane. yes, its low-end, but its NOT
dept/toy store grade. aluminum frame, carbon forks, alex rims, shimano
sora...

if i fall in love with riding, ill spring for a $2k bike next, or build
my own. the past 6 years ive been riding a MGX mtn bike that i put
skinny tires on. not the same.

my only road bike was an 84 schwinn world, and this bike is light years
ahead of it, even for a low-end bike. its like comparing an 84 honda
civic to a 2004.

Saying that, you don't have to spend a fortune to get somthing halfway decent.
I suggest you buy cycling mags with lots of adverts in and is possible, bike
tests. Read - often and in detail - inwardly digest. Visit *lots* of bike shops

agreed... some ONLY carry top names, some carry a little of both.

- specialist bike shops, not ones where there's a passing nod to cycling, or a
toy shop. Try out various bikes. Do not buy the first one you try. Look at web
sites of bike manufacturers and bike retailers - get the background knowledge
to help you make the right choice.

Here's my experience - Years ago I had a bike which was a *cheap* one. It was
built in eastern europe from lead girders - well it weighed as if it was made
of lead girders. It made cycling hell. The bike was little used. It was in the

did you have previous experience on a nicer bike?

did you have previous experience on a nicer bike?

When I was a kid, I had quite a good, well I suppose these days what would be
called a hybrid. It was a good steel frame - single-speed, leather saddle,
leather saddlebag. I went miles and miles on it. Spent many a school holiday on
my bike just cycling around the area where I used to live. Didn't really
appreciate it though!

I hope you enjoy your cycling.

Cheers, helen s




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