Frame advice- rider is 6'8" and 20 stone

What type of riding will he be doing?
Commuting to work, at least initially, so a short distance- Clapham to Southwark

Does he like steel bikes, or no preference? Geared or single-speed/fixed?
No preference given

What is the budget?
Three to four hundred quid

What is his cycling experience?
Last bike was a huge Specialised Rockhopper back home in the West Country

I think he needs to try a few out, but bike shops don't tend to keep huge frames as they so seldom sell them.

He might well get a bargain on eBay however.

Dammit, offer stands for a go on my 62cm cross check, might not be the perfect fit but is probably closer to the right size than anything you can walk into a shop and test ride these days.

JDB that's very kind of you, I shall speak to him and get back to you- what sort of pedals do you have on it?

JDB that's very kind of you, I shall speak to him and get back to you- what sort of pedals do you have on it?

I've got Times Attaks on at the moment, and live in Wandsworth so nice and close to Clapham.

Your mate is welcome to come and try any of my bikes for size too (listed in my post above). I live just off Peckham Rye, and work on Hatton Garden, so reasonably convenient for him.

I'm 6'8 and ride 62cm with the seat up quite a bit. New frame is currently being made (64cm), but even this will be technically too small for me. I just prefer it that way...

I'm 6'6 and ride a 62cm c-t track frame that is just big enough for me, it has a lot of seatpost showing. If he's just wanting something for commuting to work he might be best looking at hybrids as some of the big companies are bound to do a larger frame. I find mountainbikes easier to get to fit, I ride a 19" but with a seatpost waaay up.

Loads of very big people on here, has anyone looked at Zinn cycles? They make complete bike with long cranks especially for us giants! On there website it says I should be using 210mm cranks on my road bike!

It's good to hear from so many normal sized people.

I am 6'5 and no longer the 100kg from my rugby playing days, but stil a hefty 82kg.

I think I am equally proportioned in arms/legs/torso.

I share some of the frustration felt by those looking for a frame that fits. I have several bikes ranging from 62cm to 65cm, all are traditional horizontal top tube and fit reasonably well.

62cm frames need a 14cm stem, although the top tube length varies and can be a more important measurement than seat tube.

I have tried smaller frames, 59/60cm but found that the longer seatpost (350mm to full extension) didn't look right, although if the top tube/stem length is right they feel good to ride.

I have been looking for a new bike (or two) for a while and narrowed the search down to

1. Track frame-http://www.bobjacksoncycles.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=307
   
   

Standard off the peg frame up to 25.5 inches, amazing value at £345 considering some of the second hand prices at the moment

1. Road bike-http://www.koga.com/uk/bike.asp?collectionid=10&segmentid=80&id=4295421&Geometry=1
   
   

66cm centre to top Aluminium frame with horizontal top tube. Don't think you can buy the frame /fork separately.

if looking at the lower end of the market then check the frame warranty. giant and marin have decent warranty departments and are (i think) 5 years or lifetime. at least if he does break a frame they will give him a new one.

I was 19st when I first started cycling again on a Giant road bike. Ended up braking a lot of spokes on the rear wheel, and cracked the frame.

Giant payed for my lbs to rebuild the wheel and replaced the cracked frame under warranty.