el nicho

Hi,

I do not browse this forum too frequently as I am not a clydesdale guy myself, but I was talking to a family member recently that is interested in getting a bike and asked if I could help him find the right one. My uncle is a big guy...6'4'', a bit overweight and he's a farmer so he has a thicker build and some back issues.

Anyway, he doesnt want a bike to go for group rides or race...just to hop on the local MUP with my Aunt and get in a fitness/leisure ride. His chief concern is comfort due to back issues and he had a bike years ago that absolutely didn't work for his back, so he's skeptical...but I don't think he was on the right bike, or it wasn't the right size, or one of the many variables that can give fitness/leisure cycling a bad rep.

I know bike frames & technology are always improving, but I really don't know the "comfort/cruiser" world at all. Can anyone give me two or three bike brands & models that I could start looking at so I can find the right bike for him? He is in the $750-$1000 "lightly used" market - I just need a few ideas to search for on ebay/craigslist.

Any advice is appreciated!

MRT2

It would be helpful to know what bike he had that didn't work before making any recommendations. Second, why would you assume that Clydesdales specifically would ride cruisers?

el nicho

Not making any assumptions and I apologize if you took offense to what I wrote. Let me be a little more specific: Can any clydesdales that can remember starting completely new, or had a bad experience with a bike due to weight/back issues, provide a recommendation regarding a cruisers and/or comfort oriented fitness bike provide any recommendations?

I do not know what bike he had before...I suspect it was a cheap mountain bike a la Wal-Mart or garage sale special.

For the record: I know that "clydesdale" is not synonymous with "overweight" and I seriously do apologize if I came off that way - I would say my uncle is overweight and looking to become a clydesdale. I'm just hoping that a specific audience here can give me a better recommendation than in other areas on this forum.

MRT2

Its all good. I guess I would say that what looks comfortable isn't necessarily the most comfortable. Your uncle might need to consult with an orthopedic specialist, and perhaps a physical therapist. Depending on the nature and severity of the problem, he might even need to consider a recumbent.

Penny4

What brands do nearby bike shops sell? All the major brands have nice "comfort fit" bikes. He has a nice budget for that type of bike! They usually run around $500 or so. Look up the Trek Shift or Verve, or Giant Sedona. "Fitness" bikes usually put you in a more hunched over position, so maybe those would not be good for his back.

JusticeZero

Depends on the terrain, too. Here, most people seem to ride cruisers, and those would fit the bill quite well. Here is flat and bumpy. Put an IGH on it and get it geared low if there's some mild hills. Make sure the fit is good. Doesn't sound like he wants or needs anything fancy.

Shellyrides

I second the bent idea! When my back is hurting I can still ride my bent. The only reason I don't ride it all the time is we have some major hills around where I live and the bent I have its hard to climb with.

Wooden Tiger

If he just wants to get out on a path and ride, a cruiser would probably work for him. I just bought my parents cruisers. I got my dad a '12 Schwinn Signature Series Panther and got my mom a '13 Schwinn Signature Series Hollywood. They're both very nice bikes and priced reasonably. They've been very reliable.

Prior to getting bikes, neither of them were really interested in biking. My mom did mention at one point, "It would be nice to have a bike in the house so one of us can ride with the kids (grandchildren)." My dad got his bike back in March for his 70th birthday and he's been riding every day he gets the chance. My mom got her bike for Mother's Day and she's been joining him. They're absolutely loving it, far more than going to the gym and riding stationary bikes.

cplager

Depending on his back issues, a recumbent might be a very good choice. The downside is that they are harder to find and generally more expensive.

A crank forward bike is similar to a cruiser, but the cranks are even a bit more forward (e.g., Electra Townie). These are easier to find and priced more moderately.

As suggested above, finding out what didn't work the first time is important. Everybody's bad back is different and what works for some may not work for him.

Good luck,
Charles

Bill Kapaun

"Back issues" vary far too much in their nature to recommend a specific bike without knowing more details and having "medical expertise" in "back issues".

Personally, I could never ride a road bike or a "bent". It's very upright type bikes for me or nothing.
Others may be very different.