I am an mtber and have been doing it hardcore for a year now. College responsibilities are starting to take away from my mtb time (driving to the trailhead etc) so a few days ago I saw a leg of a triathlon as I was driving here in MD and the roadie bug bit me. I was considering a road bike for some time but never really thought about it seriously until I test-rode a Jamis Exile and some others at a local shop. SO....I need a road bike.

Me:
-6' 2" and ~210 lbs in full riding gear (less for roadie :cool: )
-Not a good sprinter but I can do loooong low-gradient uphills with a solid cadence (more endurance vs. raw speed)
-I pack lots of leg power so I have problems with ultralight or twitchy BBs. (a bad mtb experience)

The area:
-A bit hilly so a granny is a must
-Occasionally rainy (adverse conditions)...its MD and HIGHLY variable lol
What I want to do:
-Amateur racing with UMBC's Cycling team under ACCC sponsorship
-Local triathlons
-Around 40-60 miles a week to start depending on weather so durability is a must

What I am looking into (feel free to ask about other things which will help in my choice):
-Large road bike with:
Al frame (I am not sure if its a smart idea to ride carbon at my weight). I would like carbon stays though because my butt does begin to hurt when riding on a full Al roadie as per the road test(s) I did.
HQ RD and shifters to start with
Strong wheels (yes, at a sacrifice for some weight)
-Hopefully something that could be used for tri racing (aero).

As you can see, I am looking for something which is capable to handle my large size yet be raceable...any ideas? I wish I could be a weight-weenie but thats not the best idea here so I'm also looking for parts that offer the better weight-durability ratio.

If nothing else, I'd love to start with a good frame and build up...but as always I'd love a good bike to start with.

Thanks in advance to all who respond.

If you are only going to be doing triathlons, get a tri-specific bike. This online tri magazine

http://www.slowtwitch.com/index.html

has some reviews. Keep in mind that tri bikes are built for aero position, not comfort.

If you are going to race I think you should stay away from a triple up front because you are slightly more likely to drop the chain. If you really think you'll have trouble with hills, get a taller gear in back or a compact crankset or both.

There are tons of manufacturers offering great bikes at low prices. Since you're concerned about stressing wheels you might want to find the best bike shop in town and let them make some recommendations.

Alternatively, you can call Mike at oddsandendos.com and let him build a set of very reasonably prices wheels specifically for your needs. Lots of RBR members rave about him. Should the wheels fail under the conditions you specified, he'd stand behind his work. Not sure you'll get that from other retailers.

Some online retailers like coloradocyclist.com have closeouts on Ti bikes that might fit you and your budget. You could beat the hell out of it and the frame won't ever let you down. Lightweight aluminum and a heavy rider are a bad combination. Heavy aluminum will last but it makes for a jarring ride. Also, I don't think you should necessarily rule out carbon. Just make sure the frame has a good warranty.

Finally, if you know your size you might get lucky and find a frame that fits you here:

http://www.spectrum-cycles.com/55.htm

I bought a new Ti frame from them for full price that I absolutely love, but I also got an unridden steel frame in my size that one of the owners built for himself and would have cost over $3000 new due to all the internal cable routing and multicolor paint job, for $500.

If you go that route, you can put whatever you want on it.

I am an mtber and have been doing it hardcore for a year now. College responsibilities are starting to take away from my mtb time (driving to the trailhead etc) so a few days ago I saw a leg of a triathlon as I was driving here in MD and the roadie bug bit me. I was considering a road bike for some time but never really thought about it seriously until I test-rode a Jamis Exile and some others at a local shop. SO....I need a road bike.

Me:
-6' 2" and ~210 lbs in full riding gear (less for roadie :cool: )
-Not a good sprinter but I can do loooong low-gradient uphills with a solid cadence (more endurance vs. raw speed)
-I pack lots of leg power so I have problems with ultralight or twitchy BBs. (a bad mtb experience)

The area:
-A bit hilly so a granny is a must
-Occasionally rainy (adverse conditions)...its MD and HIGHLY variable lol
What I want to do:
-Amateur racing with UMBC's Cycling team under ACCC sponsorship
-Local triathlons
-Around 40-60 miles a week to start depending on weather so durability is a must

What I am looking into (feel free to ask about other things which will help in my choice):
-Large road bike with:
Al frame (I am not sure if its a smart idea to ride carbon at my weight). I would like carbon stays though because my butt does begin to hurt when riding on a full Al roadie as per the road test(s) I did.
HQ RD and shifters to start with
Strong wheels (yes, at a sacrifice for some weight)
-Hopefully something that could be used for tri racing (aero).

As you can see, I am looking for something which is capable to handle my large size yet be raceable...any ideas? I wish I could be a weight-weenie but thats not the best idea here so I'm also looking for parts that offer the better weight-durability ratio.

If nothing else, I'd love to start with a good frame and build up...but as always I'd love a good bike to start with.

Thanks in advance to all who respond.

I don't have much in the way of specific advice as far as your questions go, but I did recently go through the shopping & buying a first road bike drill, also in Maryland. I live in Montgomery County, so I can provide some feedback on a bunch of the shops in this area.

FWIW I ended up getting a leftover '04 Lemond Buenos Aires for a great price. It's a steel/carbon frame, their "spine" design. Not the lightest thing in the world, but the ride was so much noticeably smoother than the other bikes I rode it wasn't even funny. Ultegra-105 mix, nothing too fancy in terms of components.

jeff