Cyclists: Need help please...

[danielhv]

Ok, so the wife and I have picked up cycling. I really enjoy it as does she. We took our hooptie Walmart bikes back and are going to buy some decent bikes from a local bike shop. Im torn here... She wants a hybrid, I want a road bike. She wants the hybrid cause of the riding posture. So I said fine, I'll get a damn hybrid too. The primary goal is fitness/exercise.

I go to the bike shop today, and Im looking at the hybrids in Trek, Specialized, and Giant flavors... I tell the dude I want to stay under a $1,000, preferably under $750. He shows me a bunch of bikes, then asks why a hybrid. So I explain the deal... wife wants one because of posture, etc. So he starts pushing me towards Endurance Road Bikes.... which apparently is different than Performance road bikes. The posture on an endurance road bike is very similar to a hybrid. It still has the drop bars, but he said you can use the top portion (and showed me 2 different ways to grip) and not be any lower / more of an angle than a flat bar bike. But you also have the option of using the lower bar to be lower if you desire... I see, I like. Now I just gotta sell the wife on the idea. But I'm torn on 3 things here...

1. I'm 6'4" tall and weigh in at 270. Will I look like a dumb ass on a road bike? Would a hybrid be better? Don't plan on any trail riding...

2. Is a road bike practical for me? We usually ride around the neighborhood a few nights a week (around 7 miles so far, looking for more), then hit a paved bike trail on the weekends.

2. I'm torn between these:

Hybrid:

Trek 7.3FX ($640)
Trek 7.5FX ($919)

Specialized Sirrus Sport ($550)
Specialized Sirrus Elite ($700)

Giant Rapid 3 ($680)
Giant Rapid 2 ($950)


Endurance Road:

Trek 1.2 ($860)
Trek 1.5 ($950)

Specialized Secteur ($940)

Giant Defy 3 ($790)



As you can tell, there are 2 different price points between all of the bikes. Most differences seem to be in the drive train. But since I'm a noob, I wouldn't know the difference between either one.

Also, the local bike shop(s) (I called around) don't have many of these in stock. So I need to narrow down my choices before I have them order a bike for me to test ride... The only one they have in my size that is in stock is the Trek 1.5.

For those that have gone before me... any tips/hints/suggestions/thoughts/concerns?

Thanks guys.

[motoman]

The biggest thing I would suggest you ask yourself is how much time do you want to invest into riding? If you're only going to go out and ride when your wife rides a few nights a week and you're not riding very long or very far then save some money and get a hybrid or something similar. But if you're wanting to lose some weight, get back in shape, and are more serious about riding then I would suggest a road bike. You're going to be able to ride farther and longer on a road bike and you're going to be more efficient on it. If you're going to spend time on both the road and some lighter trails then you might want to look into a dual sport bike like the Trek DS.

Depending on where you're located you may want to look at a shop like Performance Bikes. I have nothing against Trek or Specialized as I've owned both but if price is a concern then you should look into brands like Giant, Fuji, or Scatante. A shop like Performance Bikes will offer those brands where you may be able to get more bike for your money.

I know that didn't really answer your question but it's something to keep in mind.

[ThreeFingerPete]

If you plan on riding much, buy a road bike. If you'd like to try one out, I've got a singlespeed 61cm that you're welcome to take for a ride. You can buy a solid road bike used for ~500$, which is about going rate for some of those hybrid pieces of shit. Those generally use low end MTB components on the higher end hybrid models.

[Kidd]

I have a Cannondale Tandem. They are the best to ride with a women. No two people ride at the same pace. Top of the line Tandems with Dura Ace gear. $1500.

[kingjason]

The biggest thing I would suggest you ask yourself is how much time do you want to invest into riding? If you're only going to go out and ride when your wife rides a few nights a week and you're not riding very long or very far then save some money and get a hybrid or something similar. But if you're wanting to lose some weight, get back in shape, and are more serious about riding then I would suggest a road bike. You're going to be able to ride farther and longer on a road bike and you're going to be more efficient on it. If you're going to spend time on both the road and some lighter trails then you might want to look into a dual sport bike like the Trek DS.

Depending on where you're located you may want to look at a shop like Performance Bikes. I have nothing against Trek or Specialized as I've owned both but if price is a concern then you should look into brands like Giant, Fuji, or Scatante. A shop like Performance Bikes will offer those brands where you may be able to get more bike for your money.

I know that didn't really answer your question but it's something to keep in mind.

Fuji has some really nice bikes. I went from a Aluminum Caad something or other Team Cannondale to a Fuji Marseille about 10 years ago and it was half the price and rode much nicer. I did miss the Dura Ace a little but the ride quality went way up with a steel frame. I like the price point at the Performance Bikes places.

To the OP, I was 367 pounds when I got back on a bike 12 years ago and over 59 percent body fat. I looked like a busted can of biscuits in my spandex. LOL I started off with a 1200.00 Cannondale and started by riding three to five miles averaging about 10 mph. Two years later I was 275 and my body fat was in check. I was averaging 15-20 miles a day at a 17-21 mph average. Then I bought the team bike as a reward for all the hard work and rode it a couple of years. Switched to the Fuji and thought what the hell was I thinking. It had a little more rise to the bars and didnt stretch me out as much, not to mention steel absorbs shock better. LOL Now I ride recumbents exclusive just for some good exercise and total comfort, breaking every bone in my right arm helped that choice. Just remember if you buy something fast and she buys something mid range you will not get very much exercise riding with her and she will get irritated with you. FYI that is a good deal on a tandem and they are fun to ride. Then buy you a nice used bike nothing less then 105 components and ride it when shes not interested.

[kingjason]

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1094403_-1_20000__400315

[danielhv]

Ended up getting the Trek 1.5 and she got the Specialized Dolce Sport. Cant wait to put some miles on...

[motoman]

Congrats on the buy. The first thing I highly suggest is to get fitted on the bike if you haven't done so already. That's going to make a world of difference with how comfortable you are.

[danielhv]

Congrats on the buy. The first thing I highly suggest is to get fitted on the bike if you haven't done so already. That's going to make a world of difference with how comfortable you are.

Yea the LBS set everything up for us. Seat height, left the bars as is, really wasn't much to adjust.

[Beej]

Glad you guys opted for a real road bike. In the end you will have ended up wanting to sell the hybrid and get the real deal. Congrats. Gets some saddle time and have a good time. Little Rock is an awesome place to ride. I wish I had half as many hills and cool places to ride here as you guys have there.

Be careful though. Cycling as completely replaced my mustang habit. It can be more expensive too

[kingjason]

Didn't even notice you were in Little Rock. The big damn bridge is a bad ass place to ride.

[Vertnut]

Nice choices. You won't be sorry for dropping the extra bucks. When it comes to bicycles, you DO get what you pay for.

[danielhv]

Didn't even notice you were in Little Rock. The big damn bridge is a bad ass place to ride.

Yep, we live right by it.


Big Dam Bridge by cormack13, on Flickr

[ThreeFingerPete]

Yea the LBS set everything up for us. Seat height, left the bars as is, really wasn't much to adjust.

You will find that is not the case. I'm quite surprised. Often big guys run a wider drop bar, and it's pretty uncommon that your fit was 100% on an off the shelf bike. There's nothing wrong with just riding it as is, but if pain develops, check into having your bike fitted by someone who knows what they're doing. It will probably cost 100$ but if you get to the point where you're on the bike for over an hour at a time, I'd consider that a cheap investment.

[Strychnine]

You will find that is not the case. I'm quite surprised. Often big guys run a wider drop bar, and it's pretty uncommon that your fit was 100% on an off the shelf bike. There's nothing wrong with just riding it as is, but if pain develops, check into having your bike fitted by someone who knows what they're doing. It will probably cost 100$ but if you get to the point where you're on the bike for over an hour at a time, I'd consider that a cheap investment.

Yeah, there's a big difference between just setting the seat height then sending you on your way and actually having a fitter put you on a trainer, watch you pedal, use tapes and plumb bobs, swap parts (bars, stems, etc), move cleats, etc all while measuring and monitoring.

Having a real fit done on the last bike I built definitely made a difference to me. I couldn't imagine riding 100Ks and centuries on a bike that I was not completely comfortable on.