Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - The Over 200 Pounds Thread: Clydesdale-O-Rama

Welcome to Clyde's, dean!

Your Campag is making me drool!

Welcome Dean..
Honestly we all get stuck here and there. Just keep at it. So long as you are enjoying riding your body will be happier for it. :)

I am from St. Louis, i was wondering if anyone knew of any good places to ride around here besides creve couer and forst park. Also I started riding in Late June i started on a MTB and weighed around 305, and now i am currently down to 280, through cycling, eating better not always to healthy, and weight lifting. I just ordered a new road bike a Fuji Roubaix Pro 2006 and i cant wait to get it since my 15 year MTB quit on me a couple of weeks ago.

Oh yeah and im around 6'2 or so

Pike,

Check out Routeslip.com. Dozens of routes all throughout the St Louis area as short or long as you want 'em. Also, Trailnet.org has a schedule of many organized rides.

Hey all! 37yo M 5-9 / 225 here. Last summer I was down to 215 and did ok in my first road race (30mi Tour De Loop, Oswego, NY). Well, after a full year of cycling, CTS training dvds and riding in the spring / summer I actually gained 10 more pounds and was back to 225. I want to get to 185 possibly 175 if I got crazy. I love cycling and really dig it sinc eI got a new saddle which eliminated NUMBNESS in all the wrong palces.

I did the Tou De Loop again last weekend and actually had a much SLOWER time, my back tightened up early in the race, I cramped up and I just dont know what to do. I was very depressed. I think I am going to start wiht a diet to get back down to 210 and then go from there. I just feel SO SLOW and HEAVY when I get on the bike. I dont feel fast at all. Anyway, its good for my heart as my Polar index went up to 47 and I am just into feeling better and riding with some more consistent speed.

I also have a question on wheel flex as when I get out of the saddle, I hear the front brakes touch against the rim as I pump away. I have a giant OCR C3. and i also get numbness in the hands.

OK, the back issue:

My suggestion would be to FIRST warm up your muscles and then get stretched properly.

Hand issue, likely too much pressure on your hands, which can be caused by either weak core muscles, no gloves or bike fit not right.

The wheel flex is the nature of the beast if you are running low spoke count. If you are a Clyde, I generally recommend at least 36 spoke wheels and a beefy rim like the Velocity Deep V.

Tom: how usual is it to develope a sore neck, neck 'pops' when i turn my head, etc. could it be from posture, etc?

Tom: how usual is it to develope a sore neck, neck 'pops' when i turn my head, etc. could it be from posture, etc?

That would depend. If you are tightening up then it's easy to have happen. If your cockpit is too short or your position is too aggressive then yes, you can get a sore neck as well as a sore back.

Are you in the drops continually or riding an aerobar all the time? I'm not sure what setup you have right now, so I can't be real specific. PM me if you want so I don't lose track of the Q&A's, OK?

I am getting some issues as well.
I went through on my own and fit myself to my bike. My seat was way to low, and I tweaked my seat a little back. I am riding a mountain bike, and I get numb hands and a sore lower back after about an hour and a half in the saddle. If I can clean that up then I will be good to go. I am riding on the road but on a MT bike, go figure.. :)
I do have a planned road bike purchase in my future, but I a saving up right now. Going to get a Pedal Force RS2 with Champy Erus wheels and full SRAM rival Grouppo.

I am getting some issues as well.
I went through on my own and fit myself to my bike. My seat was way to low, and I tweaked my seat a little back. I am riding a mountain bike, and I get numb hands and a sore lower back after about an hour and a half in the saddle. If I can clean that up then I will be good to go. I am riding on the road but on a MT bike, go figure.. :)
I do have a planned road bike purchase in my future, but I a saving up right now. Going to get a Pedal Force RS2 with Champy Erus wheels and full SRAM rival Grouppo.

If you are getting numb hands and a sore back, your bars are too low and perhaps they are too close also. If you are riding flat bars you have no variety of hand position either. Investigate Rivendells website on bike fit at Rivbike.com.

6'3" was 240 in August of '04. Bought a hybrid..did not like it. Traded it in for a Giant OCR1..got down lower...stopped riding due to knee pain.

stopped riding due to family commitments and have re-joined the Clydes..currently up at 212.

Tell me all about it.

I weight 210 lbs. now. Used to weigh 340 though. Used to have a Gary Fisher mt. bike, I loved it, then it got stolen. Now I ride a Trek 1220 road bike that I inherited from my dad. Looks like this:
http://images.craigslist.org/0101090102000103102007091157c38b71c7006ae9f5002b83.jpg

I am Austin Wolfclaw and I weigh about 200 lbs.

I ride a 2004 Huffy Howler bicycle. Don't ask how a cheap Ch**k bike can last that long....

I ride a 2004 Huffy Howler bicycle. Don't ask how a cheap Ch**k bike can last that long....

I ride a BCA mountain bike my Dad won in a raffle in 1988. Having problems with the rear shifter, but it's holding up just fine. I didn't change the tires for 18 years of intermittent use and never had a flat.

I win! :)

I ride a BCA mountain bike my Dad won in a raffle in 1988. Having problems with the rear shifter, but it's holding up just fine. I didn't change the tires for 18 years of intermittent use and never had a flat.

I win! :)

I'm pretty certain that bike was made in the USA....

this bike was made in china.

Anyway, I was browsing throug the forums today and was reading about people who broke spokes. I had a 2002 quazar raptor bike which broke 1 spoke but it was rideable. Then in march 2004, i broke another spoke and it was dead. Right there and then.

Read all about it here. http://austinwolfclaw.livejournal.com/2004/03/26/

I got my Huffy Howler bike in April 2004 :)

I ride a BCA mountain bike
I'm pretty certain that bike was made in the USA....

Actually, this bike is not made by the company BCA that's making bikes these days. I called them up, and they confirmed that it's not their bike.

Sorry about your bike! What are you planning to replace it with?

I had the same problems on my mountain bike when I rode on the road. I installed a set of bar-ends that allows me to sit further forward and also change my hand position. It also helps tremendously with riding steep uphills. This may be a good short-term, inexpensive solution till you get your road bike.

Wingkeel

Checking into the Clydesdale Club at 6', 220 lbs. ... but my Mom says that I'm just "big boned". ;-) Seriously, I've got a 46" chest so I'm never going to be like one of those 155 lb. toothpicks you that are just barely wider than their seat.

5'10", 250 lbs. Need to drop 70 lbs. :-/

Yes,
This is a funny thread. I like many of you I am a bit big. Not just tall but yes fat. While my friends are cutting grams off their bikes I just diet and I can drop 10-15 pounds in a month. I ride a ton but it never drops the weight it is all about the diet.
I started riding single speed mountian bike becasue I got sick of breaking my trek fuel and it costig $50 every time I rode . My redline monocog never breaks. I rode a 26 for 3 years now I got a 29" . The 29 rides smother but its hard to get the "spin" up for hills, You just gotta crank it.
My favorite breaks are bending seat posts to a 90o angle and the time I broke the axle on my bottom bracket in half and had to ride home with only the chainring pedal crankin.

Checking in at 6 feet one inch and 267 pounds. My 50th birthday is coming up in just a few days. I'm not especially fit or trim, but I'm in reasonably good health. I have no aspirations to enter races, go on long bicycle treks, or wear tight lycra cycle shorts (maybe after dropping 60 pounds). My goal is to reverse the trend of weight gain so I can become more fit and sexay!

So I'm buying a bike. Two, in fact, since my partner wants to ride too. But he's quite a bit lighter and younger than I am, so probably needs a different kind of bike. I have no idea what to buy yet. Just doing research, and that is why I joined this forum.

Welcome aboard, okra! We'll be glad to help any way we can ;)

Checking in at 6 feet one inch and 267 pounds. My 50th birthday is coming up in just a few days. I'm not especially fit or trim, but I'm in reasonably good health. I have no aspirations to enter races, go on long bicycle treks, or wear tight lycra cycle shorts (maybe after dropping 60 pounds). My goal is to reverse the trend of weight gain so I can become more fit and sexay!

So I'm buying a bike. Two, in fact, since my partner wants to ride too. But he's quite a bit lighter and younger than I am, so probably needs a different kind of bike. I have no idea what to buy yet. Just doing research, and that is why I joined this forum.

Well here's my 2cents I started back on my 10year olf mongoos mtb about june of 07 at around 246lb. and now here it is late sept. and just weighed in at 222lb today so I am losing w/ would I say a pretty strick diet I'm 6'1 and looking to go down below 180lb by nov. or dec. is this to fast I freel I eat good and drink plenty of H2O so I don't know feel great has inprove my breathing and also try to get my ride in by 5am and then go to work for 8 hrs. any comment our much appriciated thx guy and gal's. ~D

Well here's my 2cents I started back on my 10year olf mongoos mtb about june of 07 at around 246lb. and now here it is late sept. and just weighed in at 222lb today so I am losing w/ would I say a pretty strick diet I'm 6'1 and looking to go down below 180lb by nov. or dec. is this to fast I freel I eat good and drink plenty of H2O so I don't know feel great has inprove my breathing and also try to get my ride in by 5am and then go to work for 8 hrs. any comment our much appriciated thx guy and gal's. ~D

Sounds like you are doing well, Diezel! Good on ya and welcome to CLyde's!

Hello there everyone just thought I would get in on this thread. I am 31 and got back on the bike about 2 years ago at 370# and rode 2000 miles my first year and now I am down to 310# and have over 3000 in for this year so far ( I have rode in 5 century rides in 07) and my goal is 4000 miles and I seem to be stuck on my weight loss for almost a year now.
I am looking for suggestions if anyone has any. I ride about 80 miles a week and keep to a 1000 calorie a day diet. Any ideas would be great. Thanks :)

Here is a pic of my road bike


http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/02/cusa/model-2RR7USA.html

THESE COLORS DON'T RUN... THEY RIDE!!

Welcome weeks52806. That looks like a nice bike.

I hope someone else has some suggestions for getting off the plateau in case I hit one eventually.

Hi Gang
I am a newbie and in another forum they suggested I ask this question here. I am 5'11" weight 275 and would like to know what size bike would fit me. I have a 18" Trek and a 14.5" Trek Navigater 300. Any infomation you can give me will be greatly appreciated. My daughter left the two bikes here when she moved.

Thanks

Joe

The industry is just waking up to the bigger rider.
Spec the build yourself. I was 340 and now 240. I break nothing now but have become an awesome wrench.
I would love to help any larger rider with tech ??'s
Ride well

Hello all! I've been posting throughout the forum for a short time now, and just noticed this particular thread. I used to ride a lot back when I was a teenager. Got away from it for many years. Then, back in about '97 a friend I worked with introduced me to trail riding. It was new to me, as most of the riding I did was on the road. I rode to get places. Sometimes it was to school. Sometimes, it was to go visit a friend. I lived about three miles out of town, and sometimes had to ride in for band practice in the summer. However, I never rode just for the sake of riding. In retrospect, it seemed like those three miles took FOREVER.

I rode a mountain bike for a few years, but was never really comfortable. I came across some information on some strange things called recumbents back in '99, and liked the idea, as I was ready to get away from the trail bikes. So I've been dabbling in 'bents for a few years, though never riding as much as I really wanted to.

I've gotten myself back on to a Specialized Expedition, which is more of a comfort bike, but I am enjoying my rides a lot more, and riding more. Part of my riding more has to do with the proximity of my house to the Pere Marquette Rail Trail, which starts here in Midland. Those in Clare would say that it starts there. But it is a very nice, paved trail, which allows me to ride with no fear of cars. And it is easier to get the family out on a ride now.

So, riding more, feeling much better, losing some weight. But more importantly, just enjoying riding. Oh, and yes, I am DEFINITELY over 200 pounds.

Hopefully, the pic of my current ride will post with the rest of this.

180cm 105kg
starting to ride 10km each way to work down hill ther and uphill back
Lost 11kg and want to get to 95 kg (not sure about this pounds stuff)
Just bought a shogun road bike a few years old but better than my Holstar 10yr old hybrid
Looking at doing a 50km ride this weekend

I'm new to this forum. I'm 5'10'', and I'm about 265. I'm a college student, and I've been over 200 since I was about 14 years old. I'm sick of being fat and out of shape. I like the whole Tri scene, but my favorite is biking by far. I did a tri this year to give me a good starting point, and now it's all about shaving off the minutes and the pounds.

Welcome aboard, both of you!

I'm new to this forum as well and might possibly be the biggest guy here. I have not been through all 54 pages in this thread yet to confirm that, but I am 6'1" and am currently 427lbs. I am going to be having Laparoscopic gastric bypass weight loss surgery before the end of the year, but have already started to go out riding as it is so much fun.

I have a 2005 Giant Sedona DX bicycle and so far, it seems to be supporting my weight just fine. I have only been out riding on some local trails and I try to be as gentle as possible as to not damage the bike. Is there anyone else on this forum that is anywhere near my weight? If so, I would like to hear from you :)

I'm new to this forum as well and might possibly be the biggest guy here. I have not been through all 54 pages in this thread yet to confirm that, but I am 6'1" and am currently 427lbs. I am going to be having Laparoscopic gastric bypass weight loss surgery before the end of the year, but have already started to go out riding as it is so much fun.

I have a 2005 Giant Sedona DX bicycle and so far, it seems to be supporting my weight just fine. I have only been out riding on some local trails and I try to be as gentle as possible as to not damage the bike. Is there anyone else on this forum that is anywhere near my weight? If so, I would like to hear from you :)

I started out in the 450+ range after a Roux-N-Y procedure. Good fortune and it will help change your life for the better :D Remember though that it's a tool and you have to continue the change as a lifelong thing.

This
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o260/TomStormcrowe/Project1.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o260/TomStormcrowe/Bicycle001.jpg

to this
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o260/TomStormcrowe/MichiganTrip081.jpg

Thank you so much for replying. I am glad to see that you have been so successful with your weight loss. I hope to have similar success too. If everything goes as planned, I should be having my Roux-N-Y surgery by the middle of December. I wish it could happen tomorrow, but I will patiently wait.

Did you previously have any problems with your bicycle(s) or gear due to your weight? If so what did you do to fix or correct the problem(s)? Would you suggest that I upgrade my tires, tubes or rims to help prevent any weight related damage or blowouts?

Thank you for any advice you can offer :)

-Bill

Thank you so much for replying. I am glad to see that you have been so successful with your weight loss. I hope to have similar success too. If everything goes as planned, I should be having my Roux-N-Y surgery by the middle of December. I wish it could happen tomorrow, but I will patiently wait.

Did you previously have any problems with your bicycle(s) or gear due to your weight? If so what did you do to fix or correct the problem(s)? Would you suggest that I upgrade my tires, tubes or rims to help prevent any weight related damage or blowouts?

Thank you for any advice you can offer :)

-Bill

Spec heavy and don't worry much about saving weight. High Spoke counts, 40 rear and 36 front. As you lose weight, they can be eventually switched to lower spoke ct and lighter weight wheels. Since the bike is doing well so far,m don't sweat it, but pay attention to your wheels. Watch for broken spokes, etc, and ride "light". Don't drop off curbs and avoid potholes. Other than that, see how the wheels you have do. ;)

Meantime, keep riding ! :D

It's great to see all of us Clydes' out there cycling. I figured it's about time I contributed a pic of meself, even if it looks goofy as heck.

Here's one from back in July, on vacay in the South of England, arriving back at the house from a ride up to West Dean, Sussex, on a rented Claude Butler road/rail mix bike.

Aside from the rigid fork (fine for some, but a little rough on my herniated disks at the time), it was perfect for the network of road, trail and dirt road routes that criss-cross the area.

At this point I was in the 196-201 range, down from a high of 219 lbs in 11/06. Goal is having fun getting to 183.

http://www.h2omen.com/mixbikes/rog-uk-607.jpg

5'11" 220lbs. is too damn much. I donated a kidney 5 years ago and have gain a few pounds every year since. I stepped on the scales a couple of months back and hit 225! That was it. I started riding to work and now I'm in the gym 3 days a week as well.

My commute is pretty short so I built a fixie to ride to commute with. I figure that not being able to coast has to have some benefits. Besides I wanted to prove that you don't have to be a 130lbs vegan scenester to ride fixie!

I'm trying to drop to 200lbs by next July and ride the Creampuff 100. I'll probably be the only guy over 200 to try it. :) Here is my daily ride. I have fenders and risers on it for winter.

http://www.5point7.com/1/back_sm.jpg

Hi, I'm Deamer and I've been lurking around for a while, but figured I should go ahead and introduce myself.
I'm not always over 200, but at 6'2" - with the shoulders and chest I inherited from my grandfather, I still consider myself a clyde.
I've been riding pretty much since I got my first bike for my 5th birthday, a 20 inch huffy with blue tires, that must have weighed 50 pounds. When I was about 7 I took it apart to figure out how it worked and the "wrench bug" I found inside bit me. Twenty some odd years later, I ride a Fisher Marlin named Daisy that hasn't been in a bike shop since I bought her. (Okay, once but that was when I was working in one)
Anything else you want to know just ask.

Welcome aboard, Deamer! At 6'2", guess what......

You're a Clyde ;)

Hi, I'm Deamer and I've been lurking around for a while, but figured I should go ahead and introduce myself.
I'm not always over 200, but at 6'2" - with the shoulders and chest I inherited from my grandfather, I still consider myself a clyde.
I've been riding pretty much since I got my first bike for my 5th birthday, a 20 inch huffy with blue tires, that must have weighed 50 pounds. When I was about 7 I took it apart to figure out how it worked and the "wrench bug" I found inside bit me. Twenty some odd years later, I ride a Fisher Marlin named Daisy that hasn't been in a bike shop since I bought her. (Okay, once but that was when I was working in one)
Anything else you want to know just ask.

Hey everyone. I have been surfing the forums for awhile, soaking up all the great info and riding experience, but this is my first time posting. It's really great to see all us bigger guys getting out there and turning those cranks, so I just had to post. I am 24 years old, 6' 4", and 225lbs currently and I started riding seriously about 8 months ago. I am really new to the bike world, but for the most part I find it to be a very supportive, fun-loving group of people. I always like the smile, nod, and wave you get from other riders as you they ride the other direction down the trail or road.
I rode mountain bikes when I was in high school briefly, but as all my friends were twigs they shot way ahead and I quickly lost interest. I got back into cycling almost by accident or fate if you believe in it. I had to get a bike for getting back and forth to school and work so I went down to one of the many great bike stores we have here in Chico California. I promptly bought what I thought to be the coolest looking cruiser and rode it out a couple days later. The first time I rode the bike the tire POPPED, blew some of the sidewall with it. I brought it back, they put a new tire on, and again, pop! It happened three times in a row, and it's never fun walking your bike home. So I decided to return the bike and look elsewhere. The number one thing I remember from the cruiser is that I hated how slow I was on it. So I looked at the complete opposite side of the spectrum, road bikes.
I really love riding and it has completely changed my life in the last year. I started working out routinely 4-5 days a week and riding as much as I can between classes. I have lost almost 60 lbs. at this point with just far better nutrition and a lot of great exercise. I am hoping to get down to about 190 in the end, but I am in no hurry. I have also jumped back into mountain biking as of a couple months ago. My commuter is a Klein Quantum from the early 90's, my fun roadie is a 08' Bianchi 1885, and my mountain bike is 08' Trek Fuel EX 9.
It's great to read everyones stories of success on two wheels. Keep riding towards your goals.

Welcome aboard 2wheel! Glad to have ya here!

Welcome to all the new folks. We are a pretty friendly group.

Whoops, been here since June 2007 and forgot to introduce myself. My name is Mark, I go by the nickname of Trolley guy because I drive the vintage trolleys on McKinney Avenue in Dallas TX.

I began reading this forum after reading that bicycling was a great form of exercise (which I already knew), and that an hour of biking could equal 500 or more calories. I had ridden a Schwinn Super Sport in the very early 70's and had used it to go everywhere. Well, life, marriage, career, etc managed to get in the way and I eventually worked my way up from 155 to 273. After a second heart attack and subsequent quadruple bypass surgery, something had to change. I had dropped to about 260 but wasn't getting any further with it. I was beginning to have chest tightness AGAIN and realized that If I don't do something NOW, there won't be a later. I had thought of swimming since I had gotten a scholarship for it in college, but even here in Dallas, the options for lap swimming year round were limited or very expensive.

I then went over to an LBS and test rode a Trek 7100. The salesman teased me about the 11 year old boy look that had spread over my face. I knew what I was going to do. I started saving up to buy a bike, but something always came along that required the funds. Then my wife suggested we look at a pawn shop. We went there and I found mostly old dirty xmart junkers. But one was clean. It was a Mongoose Sahara hybrid that looked like it had never been ridden, ie. the tires still had those rubber things that stick out. My wife talked the guy down to $100 and it was mine.
I started out slow, but my endurance rapidly increased. Most surprising was the way I felt. I felt like I was in my 20's instead of 53, rolling back the clock! No more chest tightness, pulse of about 50-55 per minute and endurance like I didn't think possible. I'm seriously hooked on this stuff now. Saved up and got a Trek 1000 Discovery road bike and even got my wife a Specialized Expedition since she has shown an interest. Now she is working up her endurance on our stationary bike and doing short rides with me.

Sorry about the length of this, but I wanted to express my gratitude for this forum and for the difference bike riding is making in my life.

Mark Whigham

I'm back after a hiatus of a few months. I fell off the wagon and lost hope for a while.

Two months ago, I decided I'd had about enough procrastination and began the South Beach Diet. I was concerned at first that my cycling would suffer at least temporarily during the strictest introductory phase. You see I do two endurance MTB races each year but up untill now, I've just concentrated on finishing but not really been serious about weight loss. I'm 5'7" and had ballooned to 243 lbs as of two months ago. I could still ride well enough. In fact, I log 2000+miles in an average season.

The good news is that the pounds have started to come off. I'm now at 226 lbs and have improved my time at my favorite trails by about 10%. My goal is 175 by the end of next season. I'll probably need to refine it from there but I have not weighted 175 since the sophomore year of college.

The better news is that after the first two weeks or so, my energy on the bike is improved. I'm very much in touch with my blood sugar and the best way to fuel the rides without wrecking a decent eating plan. I have my season ending race in two and a half weeks and will probable beat my time and average speed goals by a few percent.

By the way, I got a bit tired of wheel problems and learned the skill. I now build my own wheels and help friends and family with theirs. It's really not that hard once you get into it. I just put a new one together for the mountain bike two weeks ago and the wheels on my road bike have been good for 4500 miles.

Here's to saying goodbye to the 230s for ever for me. Next goal - 218 by new years.

OK just found this forum, I am definitely a clydesdale started working out in February after hitting the scales at almost 300, I am 6'2" now around 235 lifting, running and now biking and rowing round out my fitness activities.... want to train to ride the hottern'hell hundred next year......

Hi guys. First post. I'm 6'9" around 290 so I guess I qualify. I ride a 70cm C-T-C Serotta Colorado I had made around 1987? I also have a 25" Giant Yukon MTB. Looking forward to poking around.
Antelope 70cm

I started out in the 450+ range after a Roux-N-Y procedure.

Good on you, mate! You're an inspiration.

I'm checking in. 5-11, 214. I've been breaking spokes like mad ever since I started cycling again a few years ago. I went from 291 in 2003 to 209 in 2005. Right now, I'm just trying to keep my commuter bike rolling. It's amazing how much power you develop when you're heavy. I was talking to a Cat 1 guy I know the other day who regularly wins pro races and my peak power is higher than his. I didn't tell him, of course! I'm sure 99% of you are the same way. I just wish I could just get back under 180 like I was in college. Oh, well, I eat too much Mexican food and ice cream, I guess.

It's been a long time since I posted here... It's good to know this thread turned into a Sticky, then turned into a Sub-Forum. "BIG PEOPLE RIDE... AND RIDE A LOT!"

I just started a Bicycle & Coffee shop just west of Madison, WI in the Village of Cross Plains. It's a labor of love that takes me off the bicycle too much :( But, I get to do 2 things I love... fix bikes and make great coffee. If you're in the area stop in, or ask where I'm located.

I'm hovering around 225 right now and want to keep it no greater than that through the winter. I'm going to ride every nice day through the winter (that I'm not in the shop). I need excuses to ride, so anyone who wants to ride in the area look me up. uphillgrind.net