trek carbon for a clydesdale?

[bike187]

looking into getting a roadbike. right now i'm looking at getting one from either trek, specialized, bianchi, litespeed, airborn.
most recently i've been looking at the trek 5200 which is the usps bike from a few years ago, minus the top shelf parts. i like the idea of carbon having a long fatigue life but i'm skeptical about the durability of it. i weigh 260 lbs and am not quite sure if i want to risk getting a carbon frame. i'm very skeptical about the strength of it. i believe last year lance snapped the chainstay in a small crash and he's a heck of a lot lighter then me. i don't know what model frame he was using though. i believe either the 5900 or the 5.9 madone if it was out by then. anybody have any experience with carbon frames for clydesdales?

another bike i was checking out was the 2300 from trek, which has carbon seatstays, but that got shot down when i found that it had an internal headset.

an other clydesdales out there that have any suggestions for a good bike that holds up well?

[Sci Teach]

I weigh in just around 210....and I just picked up an '03 Lemond Zurich (steel frame)...rides real nice...seems like it will put up with my fat @$s very well.....

I looked around and rode around quite a bit....I looked at (for bang for buck) the Lemonds, Jamis, Litespeed ($$$ ) Giant, Trek. I liked the ride of the Lemond...probably more from geometry than material...but the Jamis were real sweet too. Check out everything you can lay your hands on. Have fun!

[C.P.]

Hey Yeti,

Been eyeing carbon for years myself, I've been told that a trek will be able to hold up fine, however, there are some considerations that you may want to look further into - being a clydesdale will be the reasons.
Since I'm 225, I like xtra tire clearence for 700 X 25 or even 28c tires. Most road bikes you look at (like the 2200) will come standard with 700X23's, and trust me, as a clyde, 23's are often not enough for support for those rough roads - IE bottoming on the rim on big cracks etc...even when runnin 120+ psi - at least not for the rear wheel.

I too lust after the treks (and the new specialized carbon roadies too)

I have a Croll. It's a US Handmade custom. Simlar to IF... Steel frame/straightblade fork...it rides nice, and inspires confidence - b/c it feels bulletproof. I used to have a Litespeed Classic, (TI) and it was flexy as a noodle...esp when I hammered - I got major chain rub/der noise the BB flexed so much...not for me...

Hope this helps

[ArmOnFire]

Hey Yeti,

I'm 6'3", 220lbs. Been riding road bikes for 12 years.

I have 2 road bikes: A Trek aluminum and a Pinarello steel .

Steel is the way to go, great for long rides, sprints, climbing, etc. Better all around bike for our build.

That's my 2 cents.

ArmOnFire