I'd like to start getting more excerise and I think I want a road bike. Just want a good one to ride around the neighborhood, etc. I'm a squatty guy (58 years old, 5'7", 250) and when I look at the bike charts they are all over the map in terma of what size frame, etc. I would need. Any thoughts on size, brand, type, etc. Would be greatly appreciated as I am clearly a newb.

Best advice is find/visit a Trek dealer. They will assist you picking out what you need/want. They will do all the proper adjustments
I am 81, I Only ride the neighborhood streets, cause I have very slight case of vertigo. I ride a measures 3.5 mile loop daily and have it down to 15-16 minutes.

For what you describe, you don't need a fancy road bike. Get what is sometimes called a city bike with fatter, lower pressure, tires. After I retired I bought a Cannondale 50-50 and rode it for several years unitl I crashed and broke my hip. Look at Trek, Cannondale, Specialized, etc. Bike mfr websites will have guides to help you find the correct frame size, or visit some bike shops. True road bikes are more delicate and uncomfortable to ride.

Wear a good helmet!!!

Getting a good fit is complicated and critical to comfort if you intend to ride for very long. It is not just a matter of seat height adjustment.

Everybody is different, leg length, torso, arms, etc. Pro bike shops are set up to do the measurements, with variations in skill and experience of course. Just about every part on a bike can be adjusted and set for a given body, frame size, crank lengths, handlebars, etc. Frame geometry is fixed for a given model, but can be selected as needed to start.

When I went through this decades ago, I found the serious riders and found out who they used.

If you ride 10 miles, it is not so critical. As you ride a lot more, it will be.

I'll second the above comments. Find a local bike shop & have them fit you to a bike.
The couple local to me carry multiple brands, so I imagine similar there, take a couple test rides & figure out what you like.

Trek, Cannondale, Specialized all make a good bike.
Knowing your size, will allow you also browse for a used bike, or the LBS may have some 'trade-in' bikes.

It's not rocket surgery, but if you really don't know what to do, a local bike shop really can give you good advice.
Ask some local racers or serious fitness cyclists for a referral. You don't necessarily want to be a racer, but the racers will know which shops really know bicycles. Some bike shops just hire the same people who would apply at walmart.

OP:

You and I are/were built very similar. I'm slowly dropping the weight, but when I was at my heaviest, I found it more comfortable to ride a traditional looking bike vs the distance bike with skinny tires that I use now.

Reason being that leaning over on the lower handlebars put a lot of weight on my hands and made long distances uncomfortable.

The key parameter of bike fit is a standing measurement from the floor to as high as a thin book goes into your crotch. This establishes a frame size then it can be fit with changing of handlebar stems if you are long or short torso.

Many inexperienced cyclists wish to adjust their bikes to take weight off their hands, remember that all your weight has to be supported by something. Weight off the hands means more weight on the saddle.

I've been riding road bikes since 1975 and mostly ride and appreciate what are called classic and vintage bicycles. Part of their allure is they are a very good value. I recently bought a very nice hand made in Montreal bike I found on craigslist half way across the country. My brother was cruising on his new to him 40' cruising boat and met the seller at a marina 3 miles from the sellers house to pick it up. It's beautiful.

This bicycle forum has a section for larger riders which could help.

http://www.bikeforums.net/clyd...thenas-200-lb-91-kg/

Excellent advice in the above posts. You might review this article for some additional thoughts

http://thesweethome.com/review...ybrid-commuter-bike/

quote:

Originally posted by pbslinger:
The key parameter of bike fit is a standing measurement from the floor ........ mostly ride and appreciate what are called classic and vintage bicycles.

That does work reliably for classic & vintage bikes. But with the new sloping top tube designs, it gets all weird. You have to either know your size from past experience, or know how to balance the "Stack" and "reach" measurements.
For example, I am a pretty sold ""54 cm" in classic bikes. But I am riding a "50" in a sloping top tube model that sizes off the seat tube length. I usually shoot for an "effective top tube" size of 53-54.

But no beginner needs to agonize about all this. Just go to the shop!

quote:

Originally posted by Crom:

quote:

Originally posted by pbslinger:
The key parameter of bike fit is a standing measurement from the floor ........ mostly ride and appreciate what are called classic and vintage bicycles.

That does work reliably for classic & vintage bikes. But with the new sloping top tube designs, it gets all weird. You have to either know your size from past experience, or know how to balance the "Stack" and "reach" measurements.
For example, I am a pretty sold ""54 cm" in classic bikes. But I am riding a "50" in a sloping top tube model that sizes off the seat tube length. I usually shoot for an "effective top tube" size of 53-54.

But no beginner needs to agonize about all this. Just go to the shop!

Similar to Austin Powers father telling the unbadged henchman to just fall down, should I just go ahead and post a link to my advice in the "Bad Forum Advise" thread?

Yes to the above.

What surface will you be on? Dirt, gravel, paved bike trails?

Check out the Trek FX, Specialized Sirrus, etc. These flat bar hybrids have a great selection in sizing and components. The entry level is $300-400 and good components. Step up to nicer components. The frames will be the same across the series, until you really jump up in price to get into carbon. The FX and Sirrus use alloys.

quote:

Calling all Bikers, the kind with pedals...

Riders of bicycles are properly called "cyclists", I think; "Bikers" connotes motorcycle riders, particularly 1%ers.

flashguy

I would suggest a visit to the local thrift shops or Goodwill. Lots of nice bikes can be had for 30 to 50 bucks. Find one that feels right and use it until you know whether or not you are actually going to cycle. If you are, you now have the knowledge to make a more informed decision on buying a new bike.

The problem with shops like Goodwill, it that the bikes are typically your Huffy variety of heavy, ridden hard cheaper bikes. I can't recall ever seeing a Trek at a Goodwill.

May have some luck in local pawn shops, one local to me had a decent looking Cannondale Synapse for a little while at a decent discount to new. But, you'd want to know your bike size before going that sort of route.

I bought my first road bike on Craigslist & at 58cm, it was too big for me, I'd gone off of an online sizing chart, and went with the estimate there.
My current bike is a 55cm, IIRC, and a much better fit.

Go to more than one local shop, talk to them and explain your goals. Not everyone will try to put you on a race bike, especially if you're honest with them up front. You don't have to spend a fortune to get a good, comfortable bike to ride safely. However, I'd forego the goodwill route and stick with a legit shop. You'll get familiar with stack and reach numbers (the key to the correct frame sizing), but only with some shop time. Always wear a helmet (almost split mine in half in my lone road wreck) that fits correctly, and make sure you're aware of your state's cycling laws. Most now require a rear light, and sometimes a front light, so make sure you're in the know. Good luck, cycling is great as long as you stay upright!

The importance of proper Fit and Posture cannot be overstated. Improper fit leads to wonky posture which leads to discomfort and injury as time in the saddle goes on.

Have a local shop help you with fit.

Cobra,

A lot of bike shops have a rental program. Definitely worth renting a road bike and hybrid to see if you prefer one over the other.

You might like a hybrid style bike. The Trek FX series is very popular and not too hard on the wallet.

quote:

Originally posted by JALLEN:
Getting a good fit is complicated and critical to comfort if you intend to ride for very long. It is not just a matter of seat height adjustment.

That is great advice there.

Getting fitted is, in my opinion, the best value one can spend on their bicycling journey. They will go through everything from saddle height/angle/forward/backward, type of saddle, handle bar angle, stem length/angle, etc.

There are dozens of combinations.

JALLEN hit it in is post. Go to a shop and try them on. Bikes aren't unlike shoes in this way.

Your tagline says you're in the DFW area. I have to believe there are a few good big shops with great selection there. When I got my bikes (mountain and road), I tried a bunch, and the shops I went to were more than willing to help me through the process. If not, go somewhere else.