General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Tri / Road / Hybrid Bike for 6'8" Rider Rss Feed  
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2014-07-22 5:05 PM


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Subject: Tri / Road / Hybrid Bike for 6'8" Rider
height: 6'8" (I hit my head on doorways)
weight: 185 lbs (not technically Clydesdale, but when I add muscle I will be)
Sternum To Floor: 1666 mm
Arm, shoulder to wrist: 635 mm
Inseam Length, crotch to floor: 990 mm
Thigh Length, seated back of bottom to knee: 700 mm
Lower Leg Length, top of knee to floor: 635 mm
Shoe: 12
I live in a world 2 sizes too small.

My wife and I have begun the journey to our first Tri. I've been spinning at the gym this first month but have been looking out for a bike.

I looked on the web for bikes and quickly found a plethora of used and new road/hybrid/fitness bikes for a reasonable price for my wife. Looking for the same for me proved impossible.

The complication in my case is two fold:

1 - How do I do it for less than a rent check? We have 2 kids and things are tight economically. If I have no other options, I'll either buy what's close and suffer, or just swim. Giving up and just hitting the pool (where tall is good) has crossed my mind more than once. Any advice or options?

2 - I'm hoping to find something used but it would more than likely need to be in the ~64-66 cm range. I just don't have the product knowledge to make an educated decision. (Computers, guitars, cameras sure) To be clear, I'm not adverse to putting it together piece-mail. I'm a manufacturing engineer, so bikes aren't at all scary, I just don't know what the components will cost nor which is best to get.

The common answers on the web for my problem:
A - Look for a Japanese bike from the 80s or 90s because they made some huge frames back then. They are few and far between locally and buying sight unseen or with just photos is kinda sketchy too.
B - Custom (my wallet just whimpered)
C - KHS 747, which at $1700 isn't bad, but I'm not looking to spend that quite yet as I'm not sure of my level of involvement. (If I was 5'10" I'd have bought a bike on craigslist already)
D - Custom Lennard Zinn cranks on a standard XL bike. The danger there is the top tube length and it's still hundreds more.

What have other upper 1% height people done?


2014-07-23 1:50 PM
in reply to: Cuandoman

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Champion
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Chicago, Illinois
Subject: RE: Tri / Road / Hybrid Bike for 6'8" Rider
What are you triathlon goals? Funny how that is the first question but really the most important one.
2014-07-23 8:02 PM
in reply to: chirunner134


2

Subject: RE: Tri / Road / Hybrid Bike for 6'8" Rider
Short Term: Sprint Tri a few months out.
Long Term: Olympic Tri next summer.

I currently do not own a bike. I likely have not owned one that fit me since I was 10.
2014-07-23 10:04 PM
in reply to: Cuandoman

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Champion
6993
50001000500100100100100252525
Chicago, Illinois
Subject: RE: Tri / Road / Hybrid Bike for 6'8" Rider
Well then all of those would work.

My first Bike I got was a trek hybride 7.2 fx. nice hybrid that cost me 375 at the time. It was not too bad. thought it might be a little small.
my Fuji Roubaix 64cm which I road a lot. I am 6'6" and it might be a little big for me. did a lot of race about $1200 at the time.

Hybrid if you can find one might be good to see if you like the sport. Road Bike would cost atleast $1k but will be useful for everything.

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