Can anyone suggest a mountain or comfort bike for large folk that doesn’t cost half a million dollars?

3 Comments

1. tonalc1 says:

   July 3, 2010 at 10:45 am

   You could get a sturdy bike and have it upgraded:

   Have a cassette rear hub and double wall rims for strength; substitute all metal pedals for the original plastic ones and substitute heavy duty tubes for the original ones, to hold up to heavier rider weight.

   Also, substitute a wide saddle for the standard one. This is good because it will disperse the rider weight onto a larger area in an effort to keep your rear end from getting so sore.
2. mirageguitarworks says:

   July 3, 2010 at 10:53 am

   Regarding price, consider that if you keep a bike for 5 years and ride only during the “100 days of summer” each year, that a $500 bike will only cost you $1.00 per riding day, or about 27 cents per calendar day….

   Forget a mountain bike. You’ll want either a hybrid or a comfort bike depending on how you ride:

   Riding on paved trails or on the road asks for a hybrid. They have narrower tires and are quite comfortable for hour long or day long rides. I would recommend either Raleigh, KHS or Diamondback for the best value. Trek is OK too but aren’t as well equipped for the same money. Expect to pay $300 to $500.

   If you want to go “off the beaten path” every now and then- perhaps a rain rutted trail or a mildly rocky path- choose a comfort bike. If a hybrid is a road bike, then a comfort bike is a mountain bike. Diamondback invented comfort bikes, but Raleigh, KHS, and Specialized also have some nice models. Consider these in the $250 to $500 range.

   In full disclosure, Diamondback and Raleigh are both Raleigh USA products.

   In any case, forget full suspension as most “production” bikes in this price range are meant for riders in the 120 to 170 pound range. Also, for the type of riding you plan to do it robs energy…every time you pedal the suspension flexes, so instead of your power going to the rear wheels it gets damped out by the suspension.

   When shopping, be sure that there is a mechanic available that can “tune” your bike for your weight. This will include stiffening up the wheels and things like that. I have tuned bikes for people as large as 275 pounds with great results.

   Good luck!