Large adult son wants to ride

[Triskeliongirl]

FYI the surly long haul trucker is now coming prepackaged with s/s couplers (or actually I think it is the cross check, called the travelers check: http://www.surlybikes.com/files/Surl...008_lo_res.pdf), so if travel is in the future for him, its something to look into. From what I have seen, I concur with most of what has been said, a sturdy steel frame and high spoke count strong wheels are the two most impt. things to look for.

[SandyLS]

My son called every Surly dealer in Michigan. It seems everyone was willing to to order a bike for him if he wanted to purchase but not a one had any in stock to test ride or even view. Seems like a lot of money to spend sight unseen. Anyone in the Great Lakes area know of a dealer that actually has these bikes on site? I guess we could take a road trip to test one if necessary. Any other other suggestions for a bike for a big guy (350lb 6"3"tall) that wants to start some distance riding? Each bike shop we go to suggests that one of the bikes they sell will do the job for him. Usually a non-steel frame cross bike of one sort or another. I sure don't want him to have his first bike be one that is not strong enough to take the punishment his present weight will give it and discourage him from reaching his goals by being bothered by repairs all of the time.
I know most of you recommend testing lots of bikes to find the right one. What do you think about buying the Surly without testing it first? I know it is usually not a good idea, but I think his options might be limited. It seems most of the big name brands (Trek, Specialize ect.)around here don't even make steel any more. Oh, the Surly has bar end shifters. Any one have experience with those? Thanks for your help.

[Trek420]

Anytime I drool, stare or even glance sideways at a bike in my LBS if it's not in stock in my size they happily offer to order one. I decline saying I'm just looking, have more than enough bikes, don't need another, love steel just lookin' at the puhrty carbon etc blah blah.

More smiles and assurances from them that it's ok, if they get it in stock and built up they will sell it. I'm 5 foot nuthin'. It's not as if I'm the only short female rider around.

Same applies to your brother, it's not like he's the only tall big fella around.

It's all about great service. Find a local shop that treats him right!! He must try the bike.

[Blueberry]

I have bar end shifters on 3 bikes (including a surly cross check) and love them. True, you can't shift as quickly in a pace line, but otherwise (and since I don't generally do that kind of riding), they're great- a little less fiddly (and you can always shift the rear to friction if it gets out of adjustment). I find them more robust than STI.

I bought by Surly off ebay - and had never ridden one. I lucked out with fit - bought it off a couple of key measurements. I think it could work for your son to order one sign unseen *if* he has a local dealer that will do a fit kit on him. They should be able to tell if it will be a good fit for him, and they may be able to duplicate the geometry on the fit kit and/or let him try a bike that's similar in fit. When you order a custom bike, you can't really test it either. The key is finding a dealer he can trust. I can only think of 1 shop within 4 hours of me that ever stocks built frames - I think most buy sight unseen. Good luck!!!

CA

[Trek420]

CA, when folks here say "I lucked out with the fit" most are speaking from a ton of experience. My LBS keeps all the measurements of my bikes on file. Whether a bike is on TE, Craigs, Ebay .... I can check against his measurements and think "sure, close enough for government work". not that I want/need another bike

But for a new or newer rider, one with some health concerns I sure wish he could try the bike or similar.

[OakLeaf]

y'know, this just occurred to me, and pardon if I'm being rude - at his size, will his belly make it difficult for him to reach the drops, and thus the bar end shifters? And/or does he have back issues? Bar end shifters might not be the best idea for someone who can't lean very far forward.

Re: frame materials, I've known two very large guys with carbon frames who've had no problems at all. Wheels and spokes, yes - frames, no.

[tulip]

Have you called Surly directly and talked to them about your dilemma? Surly customers are a close lot far as I can tell, and maybe they could get in touch with one of their customers in your area and arrange for your son to try out a bike.

[Eden]

Re: frame materials, I've known two very large guys with carbon frames who've had no problems at all. Wheels and spokes, yes - frames, no.

Yes, carbon is quite strong, but when it fails it can fail rather suddenly and spectacularly (some poor fellow took a face plant in a different field at a race I was in when his carbon front fork failed and I'm guessing he wasn't a huge guy either), so I think its one of those things that you have to decide if you are up to taking that risk.... When you are rather large having a bike that weighs 24 lbs instead of 18 isn't going to make that huge a difference to your ride, so perhaps better to stick to stronger materials at first. Not to mention that no company will honor a guarantee for a broken frame if you are over the weight limit that they set.

That's not to say that aluminum and even steel cannot fail. My husband cracked a lugged steel frame, but steel will at least usually give you some warnings before it goes completely.

btw I don't think a cross bike is a bad idea. They aren't too much heavier than racing bikes (probably in the same weight range as touring bikes), but they are still sturdy. They are made to take off road punishment (and frequent falls), so they tend to come with sturdy wheels and the components tend to be made for relatively easy maintenance and to take a beating without failing. (oh and a slightly higher end one will come with disc brakes which may be much appreciated by a larger rider)

[Blueberry]

CA, when folks here say "I lucked out with the fit" most are speaking from a ton of experience. My LBS keeps all the measurements of my bikes on file. Whether a bike is on TE, Craigs, Ebay .... I can check against his measurements and think "sure, close enough for government work". not that I want/need another bike

But for a new or newer rider, one with some health concerns I sure wish he could try the bike or similar.

Yep - agreed. I also knew I could re-sell the bike if I needed to, and was willing to take the risk. I still think he's be OK, though, if he went to a shop that could do a fit kit on him to make sure that bike would work - or find something in stock that was close to the geometry so he could get a feel for it. The long top tubes of cross bikes can be a challenge.

On the bar end issue - I can't ride comfortably in the lowest part of the drops and pedal. But I have no problems shifting.

CA

[SandyLS]

Son and I finally went shopping for his new bike. After reading all I could find about Clydsdale riders we decided to order the Surly long haul trucker. A new shop in E. Lansing Michigan, Revolution Bikes, http://revolutionbikesllc.com/ had the best prices of anywhere we checked. They do mostly internet mail order sales. They seemed to know what they were doing when they measured him for the bike. The bike should be in next week. My son was invited to come back while they set it up for him so he can learn a little about the bike. They also run a weekly ride out of the shop in which he was invited to participate so they could help him learn about proper pedaling and such. I'll post again after the bike gets set up for him.