Elbows and handlebars
 

I'm 39 years old, weigh 350 pounds and am 6 feet 9 inches tall. Twenty years ago, I had a custom bike made. Now it's time for a new road bike. One question of fit has come up: As you're reaching to hold your handlebars, should your elbows be locked or slightly bent? The way I've been riding for 20 years is locked and I'm used to it. I've been in for a fit at a shop that's experienced in custom bikes, and they have a fit machine there, and the fit specialist set it up so the handlebars would be closer and I wouldn't lock my elbows as much. Also it had me sitting up a little straighter than I'm used to.

So... question one: locked or straight?

Question two: for a huge person, rim brakes or disc brakes? The fit specialist tried to steer me towards rim brakes, saying large people warp their disc brakes fast. I've never had disc brakes, but I'm drawn to the idea for their better stopping power.

p.s. my name is Eric but I thought crankarmbreaker was a cool handle just because it's what I do about once per year. Pedals two or three times per year.

Elbows should be slightly bent, or at least, not locked. Your elbows are suspension.

I'd get discs. Not really better stopping power, but less effort for the same stopping power.