Larger rider looking for new bike

[Trek420]

The most important thing is fit. After you get your bike, spend the money on a professional fitting. It's worth every penny!

Your bike must fit if you want to ride and enjoy ALC or any long multi day tour. Last night I ran into a member of the Yellow Jackets club who also shops at my fave LBS. We were bemoaning the demise of the Breast Cancer Bike Against the Odds ride which is not being held this year.

That one day ride has kicked my @zz each year and I've done 4 ALC's although must admit I've only ridden every mile but 10 on one of those.

She asked why I thought BAO is a harder ride. ALC is not that hard a ride in some senses. Yes there are hills, yes, they are tough, yes there are lots of them. But what fells riders is the back to back to backness of multi day touring. Ride a hard century, sleep in a tent, get up, do it again x 6.

BAO is/was just TOUGH.

Things that are bothersome but minor on a short ride become irritating and painful on a long training ride are agonizing on a century and will land you in the medical tent on a multi day tour

Fit first, then buy the bike. In other words if you decide on a new steed rather than either of the bikes you have now find a shop and bike you love, have them fit you for that bike.

Don't buy a bike and spend your precious training time trying to get it to fit after the fact.

OTOH if the bikes you have fit and feel fine now, ride the bike you have and love. Nothing wrong with that. How are your training rides?