Hey folks and thanks in advance,
Per title breezer [thunder](https://www.breezerbikes.com/collections/adventure/products/thunder-21) vs [cafe](https://www.breezerbikes.com/collections/adventure/products/radar-cafe-21).
I am really trying to get my head around estimating my body posture on the bikes. I want a medium posture, neither aggressive or sitting straight up. What else will I notice if I were able to compare the two side by side? I am also open to alternative suggestions. Here is some additional potentially relevant info:
– I am a very experienced cyclist.
– Ideally under $2k, but i’d go up if there is legit value in going up. I don’t care about brands. I am open to used, but I need an XL frame and I really, really want a steel frame (see below for why). That leaves me with very few used options. Come one my fellow big dudes, don’t yall ride?
– My intentions would be commuting, fitness, and exploring. I LOVE getting on my bike and finding every nook and cranny between points A and B (or C,D, and E). Parking lots, stairs, drops, gravel, creek crossing, mud are a plus.
– Everything except very technical single track. Heavy preference for off-road, but I live in ATX and most of it here is either gravel or really technical. My dream would be miles and miles of fast flowey single track.
– Austin, TX
– I am 6’4″, 260lbs, and in my 40s. I look like a line baker (I don’t lift, it’s just my genes) and I played sports most of my life including water polo. My fitness level is moderate especially for my age. I have no marathons in my future but I still quite spry on my feet.
– Why steel: I like it, given my weight and riding style I am SUPER, SUPER hard on my equipment, and finally I will likely convert this bike to a e-bike. So saving weight to reduce durability (steel > alu > carbon) is a no go.
Cheers!
edit:formatting
by Cee-a-vash
1 Comment
I can be of medium help here. I have the Radar Expert, which is the drop bar version of the Cafe with a 2X drivetrain. I’m also big, tall mostly. 6’3”, 240. I have a shorter inseam, 32”, but long in the torso/arms. I also use my bike for mostly fitness and exploring. For that the Radar excels. I’ve had it for a while now and put some miles on it and it’s a great bike that will take you anywhere you want to go short of mountain bike terrain.
Off-road, the Radar is great until you hit a lot of rocks and tree roots, which is very much the terrain here in New England. I imagine the terrain different in Austin so if it’s mostly fast and flowy, you should be fine. Riding on dirt or gravel roads is the Radar’s sweet spot. The bike is held back off-road by the lack of a suspension, which would also be a problem on the Thunder. But mountain biking isn’t what this bike is about so I can’t really fault it there.
It’s way more versatile than a true road or mountain bike. You mention exploring nooks and crannies and that’s what I use mine for. I like checking out random paths and dirt roads. As for sizing, I got the XXL, which, if you poke around online people might say is a bit large. But, I like a little longer reach for a more roomy cockpit. Standover is right at my anatomical limit so a bit high, but again, I prefer a bigger bike. I’m on tippy toes at stop signs but I would rather that than feel cramped.