Large adult son wants to ride

[SandyLS]

I knew I could count on all of you for good ideas. Oakleaf, I don't think your comment was rude at all. It is certainly something to consider with a rider my son's size. Trek420, I know you are right. He must try out the bike before he buys. I sure wish I could find a shop like yours. When he called all of the Michigan Surly dealers last week not a one was willing to order a bike his size without a commitment to buy. Some dealers even told him, Oh yea, we sell a ton of those"! So why not order one to try? Karen, I don't even want to start thinking about trying to find gear for my son. He also has size 13 feet. You are right, he needs to be riding, not shopping for the perfect bike. He hopes to put a lot of hours in on a trainer over the winter, so maybe a good enough bike would be, well, good enough! Bike shopping is so much fun, that would give him a chance to do it twice and a much bigger variety to shop from when he's lost some pounds.

[Trek420]

To a point I'd just want to get him on a bike, any bike. It has to be safe and you want it to fit well enough that it doesn't turn him off riding.

How many of us have heard "oh, I tried riding once. But _____ hurt and I stopped".

I would not worry about the perfect fit because as he gets fitter, looses weight and/or inches what fits him now will change. The we can obsess with you over dialing it in

I'd think safe, acceptable fit and .... let's go ride!!!!