road bike recommendation

I would go with 'steel is real' since snapping frames.
Others here are more expert in fitting you than myself though.

Miles said:

Hi,

I'm looking for a recommendation for a road-racing bike. My main
criteria are:

- I'm 6'6" so need a large frame. I also weigh 250 lbs so it needs to
be able to take that sort of load (the last three frames I've had have
all snapped after 3-6 yrs riding);

- I want to use it for weekend centuries/triathlons/training, I'd
expect to do 100-150 miles a week on it;

- I want to spend approx 1100-1300 GBP.

I've just started my research, and the things I'm finding particularly
confusing at the moment are

(a) choice is limited by a frame that will actually fit me (and even
more so by the fact that most shops don't have a large stock of
'over-size' bikes for trialling);

(b) my price range seems to mean I'm looking at top-end
'off-the-shelf' bikes or the starting point for 'custom-built' bikes -
so it's a bit like comparing apples and oranges.

If anyone has any good ideas of bikes I should try and look at, that
would be really helpful indeed!

Thanks,

Miles

ddog said:

I would go with 'steel is real' since snapping frames.
Others here are more expert in fitting you than myself though.

Miles said:

Hi,

Quoted message said:

I'm looking for a recommendation for a road-racing bike. My main
criteria are:

Quoted message said:

- I'm 6'6" so need a large frame. I also weigh 250 lbs so it needs to
be able to take that sort of load (the last three frames I've had have
all snapped after 3-6 yrs riding);

Quoted message said:

- I want to use it for weekend centuries/triathlons/training, I'd
expect to do 100-150 miles a week on it;

Quoted message said:

- I want to spend approx 1100-1300 GBP.

Quoted message said:

I've just started my research, and the things I'm finding particularly
confusing at the moment are

Quoted message said:

(a) choice is limited by a frame that will actually fit me (and even
more so by the fact that most shops don't have a large stock of
'over-size' bikes for trialling);

Quoted message said:

(b) my price range seems to mean I'm looking at top-end
'off-the-shelf' bikes or the starting point for 'custom-built' bikes -
so it's a bit like comparing apples and oranges.

Quoted message said:

If anyone has any good ideas of bikes I should try and look at, that
would be really helpful indeed!

Quoted message said:

Thanks,

Quoted message said:

Miles

Don't know how bike shops work in the UK, but at my shop-$2600 would
buy you a custom Gunnar with a mix of components and hand built wheels,
including tri bars and bar end shifters.

http://www.gunnarbikes.com

That would also buy you a custom Habenero frame(titanium) and perhaps
somebody there to spec it.

http://www.habcycles.com

Miles said:

Hi,

I'm looking for a recommendation for a road-racing bike. My main
criteria are:

- I'm 6'6" so need a large frame. I also weigh 250 lbs so it needs to
be able to take that sort of load (the last three frames I've had have
all snapped after 3-6 yrs riding);

Lennard Zinn is also 6'6". and makes big frames.
http://www.zinncycles.com/bikes.aspx?bike=projbig

Dunno whether $2600 US would crack the nut or not.

Quoted message said:

Miles said:

Hi,

I'm looking for a recommendation for a road-racing bike. My main
criteria are:

- I'm 6'6" so need a large frame. I also weigh 250 lbs so it needs to
be able to take that sort of load (the last three frames I've had have
all snapped after 3-6 yrs riding);

Lennard Zinn is also 6'6". and makes big frames.
http://www.zinncycles.com/bikes.aspx?bike=projbig

Dunno whether $2600 US would crack the nut or not.

The dollar against the pound is really weak at the moment, so buying from
the US would get good value.

You must live in GB. GB is full of very good bike shops. Since you are
new at this, I would advise that you visit a few bike shops over there.
See how they treat you and compare different bikes. Once you get a
sense of what they are offereing you, post a message relating your
experiences and the offers that you get from various shops. The goups
will be able to guide you a little better.

Thirteen hundred pounds can get you a nice racing bike. You can get a
brand name as Gunnar, Peter suggested or a brandless bike for a little
less. You'll be able to get a bike in steel, aluminum, titanium or
combination with nice components for that much.

GB has several frame buildres with years of experience selling their
own frames for comparably very little. See if you can find one of them.
Do a search for UK bike shops and see what you can find.

Good luck,

Andres

Miles said:

Hi,

I'm looking for a recommendation for a road-racing bike. My main
criteria are:

- I'm 6'6" so need a large frame. I also weigh 250 lbs so it needs to
be able to take that sort of load (the last three frames I've had have
all snapped after 3-6 yrs riding);

- I want to use it for weekend centuries/triathlons/training, I'd
expect to do 100-150 miles a week on it;

- I want to spend approx 1100-1300 GBP.

I've just started my research, and the things I'm finding particularly
confusing at the moment are

(a) choice is limited by a frame that will actually fit me (and even
more so by the fact that most shops don't have a large stock of
'over-size' bikes for trialling);

(b) my price range seems to mean I'm looking at top-end
'off-the-shelf' bikes or the starting point for 'custom-built' bikes -
so it's a bit like comparing apples and oranges.

If anyone has any good ideas of bikes I should try and look at, that
would be really helpful indeed!

Thanks,

Miles

Jim Higson said:

The dollar against the pound is really weak at the moment, so buying from
the US would get good value.

It would if it were easy as that. Not only is shipping to or from UK
Ultra high, but they will tax citizens the difference of UK vs US
value. So in effect, you are paying shipping and insurance cost above
getting one over there. The UK tax man doesn't let anything get by
their system.

Although UK has some of the most exotic skilled manufacturing shops in
the world, and the greatest variety. Their top elite rich landowners
over there don't want to be without the best. And if you looked all
over the world, UK would have something to match the rest of the whole
world, and then some. Just look on web and figure add $200+ to get
anything over hear is a safe figure, but its not just shipping and
insurance: it will be taxed on value coming in and on insurance going
out (damned if you import, and damned if you export). I'd love some PFM
ductile Iron disc brakes (only ones in world) for my BMW F650: $280
conversion rate, add $185 shipping/ins, and some companies won't ship
because of US/Canada fraud so there has to be a middle man somewhere -
$$$: in effect near $600 for $280 (after double conversion rate)
brakes, which would be $150 if made in USA.

The tax man has almost made import/export to UK impossible. And that's
a shame since all we are left with Chinese goods with high defect rates
in cut rate materials, specs, and processing steps since all of China
has one cheap boss, GW Bush's partner in Crime: GW get kickbacks from
whole world manufacturing and triple oil prices.

Miles said:

Hi,

I'm looking for a recommendation for a road-racing bike. My main
criteria are:

- I'm 6'6" so need a large frame. I also weigh 250 lbs so it needs to
be able to take that sort of load (the last three frames I've had have
all snapped after 3-6 yrs riding);

- I want to use it for weekend centuries/triathlons/training, I'd
expect to do 100-150 miles a week on it;

- I want to spend approx 1100-1300 GBP.

I've just started my research, and the things I'm finding particularly
confusing at the moment are

(a) choice is limited by a frame that will actually fit me (and even
more so by the fact that most shops don't have a large stock of
'over-size' bikes for trialling);

(b) my price range seems to mean I'm looking at top-end
'off-the-shelf' bikes or the starting point for 'custom-built' bikes -
so it's a bit like comparing apples and oranges.

If anyone has any good ideas of bikes I should try and look at, that
would be really helpful indeed!

Thanks,

If you appreciate things traditional and British, a Mercian frame could
be just the ticket. Handmade in the UK and they start at around
4-500GBP, should leave plenty of money to spend on the rest of the
bike. At 250#, you'd be well served by traditional hand built wheels,
36 spoke rear and 32 front. With good parts they'll be just as light as
the goofy low spoke junk.

http://www.merciancycles.com/frames.asp

In article <[email hidden]>,

landotter said:

If you appreciate things traditional and British, a Mercian frame
could be just the ticket. Handmade in the UK and they start at around
4-500GBP, should leave plenty of money to spend on the rest of the
bike. At 250#, you'd be well served by traditional hand built wheels,
36 spoke rear and 32 front. With good parts they'll be just as light
as the goofy low spoke junk.

http://www.merciancycles.com/frames.asp

That's pretty good advice. I'd also recommend posting an inquiry to
rec.bicycles.uk too.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Miles said:

Hi,

I'm looking for a recommendation for a road-racing bike. My main
criteria are:

- I'm 6'6" so need a large frame. I also weigh 250 lbs so it needs to
be able to take that sort of load (the last three frames I've had have
all snapped after 3-6 yrs riding);

- I want to use it for weekend centuries/triathlons/training, I'd
expect to do 100-150 miles a week on it;

- I want to spend approx 1100-1300 GBP.

I've just started my research, and the things I'm finding particularly
confusing at the moment are

(a) choice is limited by a frame that will actually fit me (and even
more so by the fact that most shops don't have a large stock of
'over-size' bikes for trialling);

(b) my price range seems to mean I'm looking at top-end
'off-the-shelf' bikes or the starting point for 'custom-built' bikes -
so it's a bit like comparing apples and oranges.

If anyone has any good ideas of bikes I should try and look at, that
would be really helpful indeed!

Start visiting frame makers. First priority is if you
can talk to him personally. Then see if the two of you
are speaking the same language, and if a consensus
seems likely.

--
Michael Press

Hi,

Thanks for all the advice, it has helped me 'zone in' on what the issue
is a bit more clearly. I've been to a few good bike shops round here
(established for ages, lots of courier/local team customers).

The bikes I am being shown in the shops range from:

- last year's full carbon LOOK frame and parts, and shimano ultegra
(special offer!)

- some aluminium/carbon brand-name frames, shimano/campy
ultegra/centaur/chorus level parts, mixed

- all aluminium frames with slightly higher-spec groupset

My number one concern is about the strength of the frames. I am having
some trouble convincing myself that a full-carbon frame is not going to
snap into pieces after 12 months, and a mixed-material frame sounds like
it is introducing an obvious point-of-failure. What does the group
think about it? The bike shops assure me that it's not an issue, but
given my 'track record', I suspect I might just be too far out of the
typical range for this to be concrete advice. Given that my snapping to
date has been on reasonable quality steel and aluminium frames, perhaps
I should just accept that these things have a limited lifespan lower
than I would like (I do ride everywhere)?

I think the choice is boiling down to either the special offer LOOK or
taking the time to get a decent steel frame and build the bike up from that.

Miles

Guru bikes (Road or Triathlon)

Optional Extreme Series: Recommended for riders weighing between 220 -
275 lbs.

Light weight.
70% fiber - 30% resin ratio.
Engineered for extreme riding conditions.
Improves impact resistance and fatigue life.
15% stiffer in out-of-plane deflections.

http://www.gurubikes.com

Miles said:

Hi,

I'm looking for a recommendation for a road-racing bike. My main
criteria are:

- I'm 6'6" so need a large frame. I also weigh 250 lbs so it needs to
be able to take that sort of load (the last three frames I've had have
all snapped after 3-6 yrs riding);

- I want to use it for weekend centuries/triathlons/training, I'd
expect to do 100-150 miles a week on it;

- I want to spend approx 1100-1300 GBP.

I've just started my research, and the things I'm finding particularly
confusing at the moment are

(a) choice is limited by a frame that will actually fit me (and even
more so by the fact that most shops don't have a large stock of
'over-size' bikes for trialling);

(b) my price range seems to mean I'm looking at top-end
'off-the-shelf' bikes or the starting point for 'custom-built' bikes -
so it's a bit like comparing apples and oranges.

If anyone has any good ideas of bikes I should try and look at, that
would be really helpful indeed!

Thanks,

Miles

Miles said:

Hi,

Thanks for all the advice, it has helped me 'zone in' on what the issue
is a bit more clearly. I've been to a few good bike shops round here
(established for ages, lots of courier/local team customers).

The bikes I am being shown in the shops range from:

- last year's full carbon LOOK frame and parts, and shimano ultegra
(special offer!)

- some aluminium/carbon brand-name frames, shimano/campy
ultegra/centaur/chorus level parts, mixed

- all aluminium frames with slightly higher-spec groupset

My number one concern is about the strength of the frames. I am having
some trouble convincing myself that a full-carbon frame is not going to
snap into pieces after 12 months, and a mixed-material frame sounds like
it is introducing an obvious point-of-failure. What does the group
think about it?

Mixed materials, whether it be anything and carbon does nothing to the
ride and can make it less reliable. One material frames, all
'something' is the best idea. If the frame does NOT show the
reliability you wish, and needs to warrantied(something that will cost
you $), why do it. Get anice steel or titanium and ...bob's yer uncle'.

The bike shops assure me that it's not an issue, but

Quoted message said:

given my 'track record', I suspect I might just be too far out of the
typical range for this to be concrete advice. Given that my snapping to
date has been on reasonable quality steel and aluminium frames, perhaps
I should just accept that these things have a limited lifespan lower
than I would like (I do ride everywhere)?

I think the choice is boiling down to either the special offer LOOK or
taking the time to get a decent steel frame and build the bike up from that.

Miles

Miles said:

Hi,

Thanks for all the advice, it has helped me 'zone in' on what the issue
is a bit more clearly. I've been to a few good bike shops round here
(established for ages, lots of courier/local team customers).

The bikes I am being shown in the shops range from:

- last year's full carbon LOOK frame and parts, and shimano ultegra
(special offer!)

- some aluminium/carbon brand-name frames, shimano/campy
ultegra/centaur/chorus level parts, mixed

- all aluminium frames with slightly higher-spec groupset

My number one concern is about the strength of the frames. I am having
some trouble convincing myself that a full-carbon frame is not going to
snap into pieces after 12 months, and a mixed-material frame sounds like
it is introducing an obvious point-of-failure. What does the group
think about it? The bike shops assure me that it's not an issue, but
given my 'track record', I suspect I might just be too far out of the
typical range for this to be concrete advice. Given that my snapping to
date has been on reasonable quality steel and aluminium frames, perhaps
I should just accept that these things have a limited lifespan lower
than I would like (I do ride everywhere)?

I think the choice is boiling down to either the special offer LOOK or
taking the time to get a decent steel frame and build the bike up from
that.

Miles

I'm 6'10"/230. My preference is for large tubed aluminum bikes
(Cannondale, Klein, etc.), mostly because they're stiffer. I also like
long wheelbase/chainstays for better weight distribution and stability.
I prefer to use somewhat larger tires, 25-28mm, to help protect the
rims. My favorite frames are actually "touring" geometries since they
have the wheelbase and clearances and are built a little stronger. My
philosophy is to consider bike weight as a percentage of rider weight
rather than an absolute number. I pay particular attention to wheels.
I've had pretty good luck with conventional hubs/rims (Shimano/Mavic),
even with 32H rears, although I'd rather 36, but the roads I ride are
pretty good and I'm reasonably careful. I feel safer with steel forks
and stay away from very light stems and bars. I use MTB seatposts and
check my cranks frequently for cracks. I have broken a couple of steel
frames and one stem in the past.

"Miles" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

Thanks for all the advice, it has helped me 'zone in' on what the issue is
a bit more clearly. I've been to a few good bike shops round here
(established for ages, lots of courier/local team customers).

The bikes I am being shown in the shops range from:

- last year's full carbon LOOK frame and parts, and shimano ultegra
(special offer!)

- some aluminium/carbon brand-name frames, shimano/campy
ultegra/centaur/chorus level parts, mixed

- all aluminium frames with slightly higher-spec groupset

My number one concern is about the strength of the frames. I am having
some trouble convincing myself that a full-carbon frame is not going to
snap into pieces after 12 months, and a mixed-material frame sounds like
it is introducing an obvious point-of-failure. What does the group think
about it? The bike shops assure me that it's not an issue, but given my
'track record', I suspect I might just be too far out of the typical range
for this to be concrete advice. Given that my snapping to date has been
on reasonable quality steel and aluminium frames, perhaps I should just
accept that these things have a limited lifespan lower than I would like
(I do ride everywhere)?

My LBS had a 6'5 guy on a Trek OCLV frameset which he loved (he was a
sprinter and said it was good and stiff compared with the custom steel frame
it replaced). The big boys (e.g Trek, Specialized) do have lifetime
warranties.

I agree with Peter that keeping the frame 'in one material' is a good thing.

Skippy
E&OE

Quoted message said:

I think the choice is boiling down to either the special offer LOOK or
taking the time to get a decent steel frame and build the bike up from
that.

Miles

Tim McNamara said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

landotter said:

If you appreciate things traditional and British, a Mercian frame
could be just the ticket. Handmade in the UK and they start at around
4-500GBP, should leave plenty of money to spend on the rest of the
bike. At 250#, you'd be well served by traditional hand built wheels,
36 spoke rear and 32 front. With good parts they'll be just as light
as the goofy low spoke junk.

http://www.merciancycles.com/frames.asp

That's pretty good advice. I'd also recommend posting an inquiry to
rec.bicycles.uk too.

I think you mean uk.rec.cycling.

--
Dane Buson - [email hidden]
"Washington could not tell a lie; Nixon could not tell the truth;
Reagan cannot tell the difference." - Mort Sahl