What's a good mountain bike for a 350 pound person.. wanting to do some hardcore trail riding?

Question

by good i mean one that won't break on me when i hit a large pothole or something

Answer 1

Get an 18 " bike itll be awesome for a man of ur stature

Answer 2

Entry level or midrange hardtail mountainbikes should be suffice...look for more popular brands such as Trek, Specialized. Those companies have good quality frames. Hit the rail trails to get used to the bike. Get some good riding time under your belt to adjust to your bike before hitting the off road trails.

I believe that most bikes can handle no more than 300lbs on the off road trails, however biking is a low impact sport that promotes rapid weight loss. Also make sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated..

Good luck!!!!

Answer 3

I agree with the sensible answers above that suggest looking at the major name brands you will find in a bike shop (not Target or Walmart). It's also a good idea to perhaps spend some time in a general fitness program to prepare yourself for the rigors of off-road riding. It will make your experience more fun.

Even assuming some weight loss, it might be a good idea to look into a bike that has downhill-like characteristics, especially when it comes to the wheel set. Downhill bikes are made for high-stress riding down very steep hills with lots of drops and bumps along the way. Accordingly, they have a great deal of suspension travel and have very strong wheels/rims to handle the extreme forces they encounter being slammed around going downhill. I am about 200 lbs. and I beat the h**l out of my cross country wheels doing some fairly demanding cross country riding, so if you want to get to that kind of "hardcore" trail riding, I'd suggest looking for a bike with downhill characteristics.

Ask you local bike shop about it and they can help you with specifics. On the wheels: the stronger and thicker the metal, the better, the more numerous and thicker the spokes the better. Unfortunately, this often means much more expense.

Answer 4

Very important.... bikes with suspension (front and/or rear) are set up from the factory for people 140 to 170 pounds. Going outside this range will require the removal of the suspension or upgrading it by swapping springs, etc.

That being said, VERY few companies make bikes for "clydesdales" (big people) so you need to be acutely aware of what people are trying to sell you.

Answer 5

Stay away from department store bikes.  Dangerous for a person of your size.  Also, no carbon fiber frames for you until you drop some weight.

Cannondales are historically strong and dependable.

Answer 6

I'd say it would probably be a good idea to consult your doctor and someone from a good bike shop in your area.  I don't think most bikes can hold that much weight so you may need to get your weight down before making a purchase.    Or at least before you go riding.