Hi all, I am looking to get into commuting by bike. The motivation is there, and hopefully it will help me lose some weight, improve health and get into clothes sold in regular stores.

I used to ride quite a bit in my youth, mostly on drop bar cheapo steel racers, but it's been a good 25 years. I am now in my mid forties, 6' and 309 lbs. The commute is just about 10 miles, in slightly hilly terrain, in an oceanic climate. Mostly on bike paths, but quality of paving is variable, and there is an occasional need to go off the paved road. I have a strong preference for drop bar bikes, don'1 really get along with straight bar bikes, although I see the point.

Concerns are obviously weight (as far as what the bike can take), bad shape (for going the distance, being able to haul the aforementioned 300+ lbs uphill, and not giving up after a week), and the belly that magically shows up whenever I am photographed (so a "casual" setup with a slightly more upright position might be needed to keep thighs from hitting my gut or even compromising my breathing). On the plus side, I am motivated and blessed with an almost childlike optimism.

After doing a minimum of research, I have primarily got my eyes on cyclocross/gravel type bikes due to their higher weight tolerances and more relaxed setup compared to pure road bikes. Going electric would probably not be a bad move to make the job a bit easier especially on the climbs and stop motivation from flagging, but my thinking here and now is that I can get by on my own.

Right now, there are a couple of somewhat attractive options available locally at a decent price, not too far apart (in weight, equipment tier and more) and at the same time quite different. I would prefer shopping locally for my first bike, because I need to try the bikes on for size and setup.

Kona Rove ST (2018 or 2019)

• It's steel, which reportedly is real (and smooth)
• Sweet looking, especially the green metallic 2019 one
• Dudes like them, in a woodsy, finger picking guitar-y way
• SRAM Rival 1x11 system has some appeal, with a useful spread of gear ratios
• ... although it's lacking the fastest options on the top side off the shelf (40t front to 11t back)
• Nice (flat mount) mechanical disc brakes. Still mechanical though.
• Other niceties include flared drop bars, thru axle and more
• Rated for just about 300 lbs

Cannondale CAADX 105 SE 2018

• It's aluminium, which reportedly is stiff (good) but can be harsh. This frame, though, promises to have some shock-absorbing properties built in.
• Sharp looking paint job
• Shimano 105 is said to be a solid choice, maybe even the bees knees
• Ratios from 1:1 up to quite a bit faster than the Kona on the top end
• The same mechanical disc brakes as the Kona
• Quick release, not thru axle
• Rated for 300 lbs rider plus 30 lbs luggage/love handles

Added challenger:
Cannondale CAADX 105 (2019)

• Like above, only better?
• Hydraulic disc brakes!
• Updated mech
• More road-y gearing?
• Stack/reach a bit less relaxing?
• Green!
• Tire clearance 40, on a good day?

Obviously, the next step is to revisit the shops and get a feel for the size and geometry of the two bikes. This might disqualify one or both right away for all I know.

So, am I onto something? Or is this the path down to certain failure?
Any opinions on the relative merits of these two? Anything else to keep in mind?
Of course, there are cheaper options in both product lines, and elsewhere. The point here is that I can afford it, and the price difference is not all that big.

All input is highly appreciated. Especially the constructive kind, but flames also have their charm.

Well, it would, but are you sure about this? Most reviews and descriptions of the 2018 version explicitly mention rack mounts, albeit "hidden" or "subtle".

Thanks for the input. Will try to get a feel for the bikes before I buy (gearing, geometry, etc., even whether the type of bike is it for me and for the commute). Face value, both bikes have appeal.

Not sure about the extent of trial rides on offer, beyond trying the bikes on for size in the store. Some of the important differentiators between the steel dude and the alu jock such as ride quality/feel and nuances in geometry will only become apparent after riding them in the wild, I suppose.

Occasionally I doubt the feasibility of me climbing the local hills day in and day out, and start checking electrical bikes. Mostly though I have the hubris to assume it can be done without the extra push.

Thanks for the feedback regarding the e-bike option. Your articles are very interesting (the links don’t work so well, had to find you on
LinkedIn myself), both for the e-bike stuff and regarding winter commuting. Not at all the wrong thread, at least; I asked for this.

At the moment I am inclined to give the old school regular bike a shot. Hills will definitely be an issue - I’m very heavy and out of shape - but hopefully that will improve over time. If it turns out I overestimated myself,
I can always turn around and make the investment into electric. I have seen some of the research on the training efficiency of e-bikes.

Browsing all over the place atm, will check out the e-bike forum.

Lots to consider; apparently steel isn’t real after all, 1x is a gimmick, the future, or something in between, and 650b wheels may or may not be a good idea on the road...

Hills suck so bad. But you can always jump off, walk alongside your bike for a bit, and jump back on. I find that gives me a much needed boost, of course doesn’t work as well if it’s a really steep hill but it does on moderate grades. The trail in ride most often is uphill for several miles, it’s not steep but it’s definitely long and steady. When I first started I would start at the bottom of the hill and would stop and rest all the tome. I’d ride a short way up the hill, getting passed by runners, and then ride back down wishing I could keep up with my husband who would ride all the way up the trail and back. I just kept at it and I slowly got faster and stronger and now I can do that hill without evening thinking about it. It gets easier so fast if you just stick with it.

Lots of useful feedback here, thanks.

Interesting article, thanks. It’s a given that “cross chaining" in 1x11, if that is even a relevant term in such a setup, is just a fact of life. On the plus side, you’re guaranteed to always be on the best available front chainring...

Thanks for the specific recommendation. I’ll make sure I try both for sure, looking at feel and comfort, and differences in geometry. The reason for your Cannondale recommendation is mainly due to your preference for Al, the 105, or something else?

I’ve been checking a lot of threads all over the place, including the "What are you riding" one. Many of the sweet rides in that thread are rated for the slightly more delicate Clyde (sub 250) it seems. YMMV, I guess, but there is no lack of ideas. :)

Thanks for the encouragement and the advice. I intend to go super slow. No illusions about going from zero to hero in a day. Short trial rides, combining public commute with riding part of the way, riding once a week, etc. are all in my "cunning" plan to start slow and not fail before I've begun. I also have no qualms about dismounting to walk up hills when needed.

I intend to keep use of my knees, back and neck for a while yet. My backside though, based on experience, will likely be a lost cause for a while.