jlaw

If you're in Mass. there are quite a few shops that are shown on the Breezer website - but that doesn't always mean they have them on the shop floor.

https://www.breezerbikes.com/wheretobuy

Also, I agree that the Doppler Team is a very good-looking bike with a component list that is attractive. The only thing I would change is the 48-32 crank. A 48T is a little too big (IMO) to do most of my riding (rolling hills) by running up and down the 11-34 cassette. I'll need to shift down to the 32T ring more than I like. Not a huge issue because you do get a 32-34 low gear (moderately low).

My preference would be 39-26 crankset (or something close). With a 39T ring I can do most of a ride without having to shift the front derailleur and I still have some very low gearing for the steepest hills with the smaller ring - and a 39-11 high-end combo still allows you to pedal with a comfortable cadence up to 20+ mph.

You could get an MTB double crankset (39-26, 38-24, 40-28, etc.) and a new bottom bracket (if nec.) for about $125 to $150 with a little searching and your brifter should still be able to properly shift the front derailleur. You would need to move the FD down a little.

Overall the Doppler Team is a solid choice with a decent price - $1749. A good test ride (5 - 10 miles, not just around the parking lot) will be nec.

If price is an issue, the $1049 Radar Expert has a good spec. and you could put fenders and some road-ish tires on it yourself for about $100 - $150.

Piperflyer

Jimbosays

Picked up a new Surly Troll a few months ago and loving most everything about . . . 300 lb. rider plus panniers for touring.

maletero

A while ago I was looking at weight limits for various bikes, and found out that gravel bikes just give you the extra tire clearance, but not necessarily the extra frame strength that you might be looking for. Most have the same 250-275 lb posted weight limit as the metal road bikes. Touring bikes are almost universally rated higher, most around 300, as I recall.

There are a bunch of threads on the forums about what the weight limit actually means. But if you really want a bike rated for your weight, I'd tend towards touring rigs.

fishboat

Given the OP's weight & description of needs..this is not a hard decision..a near no-brainer actually. Re-purpose an older, higher-end mountain bike. Hard-tail, non-suspension fork. The right choice will give you braze-ons for rack & fender attachments, relaxed geometry, 26 inch or 700c(in hybrids), ability to run good-sized road-friendly or trail-friendly tires, gearing is typically a triple-crank that'll get you into the low 20s in gear inches, and there's a bazillion of these bikes available at VERY low cost. If straight bar isn't your thing, then trekking bars are an inexpensive conversion. If drop bars are better..then a few more dollars (and CHEAP compared to some of the options discussed above) will get you there. Shifting..trigger, twist grip, bar-cons, and STI are all possible..whatever you like.

There's tons of starting bike options (see links below), but the 900 series Treks are a good start. There's tons of them out there. Any higher-end make/model is the place to start.

See:
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...nversions.html

https://www.bikeforums.net/cyclocros...nversions.html

cobalt123

While there is a part of me that likes the idea of doing a build myself... I know me. It will NEVER get done. It will get 85% done and then... life happens.

fishboat

..compared to the $$$ bikes that have been suggested..get done what you can and have a LBS finish it off. You'll have a good bike and still be way ahead.

kingston 

A dirt drop conversion is a fun project for someone who enjoys that sort of thing. A lot of time goes into it between sourcing all the parts and putting everything together. Just get a new bike if that's not your thing.

Wattsup

Salsa Vaya, a "light touring" & adventure bike.

PDKL45

Unfortunately the Specialized AWOL is on the way out, it seems. All stock is now exhausted, and there had not been an update of colorways and specs since the 2017 models. I have heard from a few sources that the model is now all but discontinued. Just a heads up to any AWOL owners who are still running the stock wheels, please check the spoke holes in the rims for cracks. It has emerged as a problem common to many AWOL owners, while the spokes and hubs have been a lot less problematic. Another thing to look out for is cracking in the thin piece of metal above the derailleur hanger, as well as in the chainstays. Specialized are honoring warantees, but without a stock of AWOL framesets (they were discontinued for the 2018 year model) Spec are providing Sequoia frame sets instead.

All of the above suggestions are really good, I would go for any of those frames as a fellow clyde. If you're planning to build anything up from a frame, have a look at the new DT Swiss Hybrid components. They're designed for ebikes, but DT Swiss also recognize their utility for loaded touring bikes (and us Clydes). They're slightly more rugged versions of their existing products that would make good replacement wheelsets on a range of bikes.

Boyd64

After reading the references to the Doppler bikes in this thread (and being 6'2 and 240lb) I thought I'd have a look and see if we have them here in Australia.
Easily bought. I think one of these machines will find it's way into my garage and live happily beside my Merida Big Nine and my Cube Hyde. Thanks for the heads up on these folks.
Boyd