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

Good evening all:

Been lurking here awhile. I'm definitely a Clyde, 5'11", around 350 right now. Was an avid adolescent rider growing up and just stopped as college came, work ,etc.

2 kids and some hurtin' knees last fall got me back into the gym 2x a week with a trainer and 1 day with the Mrs.

My wife and I bought bikes back in '04 (I got the Navigator 300, wife got a Boulder SE). We did a small bit of riding, but Mr. Type-A here got a bit self conscious.

I was thinking during this very snowy Wisconsin winter about doign some riding this spring. I was doing some research on replacing the seat stem with the shock in that came stock on my Nav and found this forum. What an eye opener! I definitely now feel some confidence in getting out there and getting going.

My back is obviously a bit tender due to my weight, so I grabbed a Lime (I'm a gadget geeek and work in IT so I've wanted one since release). During our meltdown this weekend I took it out and had more fun "working out" than I've had in a LONG long time.

Decided to keep the Lime for the rides with my wife and son (now 4 and on his first bike). I'm going to take the Nav in to the LBS and get it tuned since it's been a bit dormant.

Many thanks to all of you for all your postings. Seeing this forum really was a positive eye-opener and I know that even though I'm a bigger fella I shouldn't feel out of place taking a ride. Already have plotted a nice AM route to take when the family heads off for the day (I work at home as a software project manager so I can work out a bit before sittiing down at the desk).

Ditching the suspension seatpost is probably the best alteration you can make to the Navigator. It now rides like a new bike, doesn't it?

Looking good Neal

Who is "Neal?"

Neil B.

Just Damn. I thought I had the spelling right. Sorry Neil.

I am 33 years old and 6' 1" and have allowed my weight to grow to a peak of 329 pounds this past Christmas. Most of my family is overweight and after listening to everyone complain about being overweight at Christmas this yar, I decided it was time we did something about it. My family is very competitive, so I challenged all of us to a biggest loser competition over the next year.

I decided that the only excercise that I really ever enjoyed was biking. I started looking at bike prices and decided that the 11 year old department store MTB in the garage would burn just as many calories. My first ride in january, I could barely do 3 miles. I am riding three days a week now, and my longest ride as been 16 miles. I am still riding the MTB, but am shopping for a descent road bike.

Along with the riding, I have eliminated about 1/3 of the calories from my diet, just by using common sense. I eliminated sweets, soft drinks, and the bulk of the Sweet Tea that I was drinking. I weighed in this morning at 299.5 pounds. My goal is to be at 225 by the end of the year.

@ Neil, its all right man sometimes we go back a few steps. What counts is that you recognize that you have slipped and take the measure to regroup and move ahead. 20 pounds over winter isn't bad compared to what you have accomplished. I try and go to the gym when the weather is foul and sweat it out in the sauna plus swim Lapps. Don't worry hang in there spring is around the corner.

@ Jax yeah anything south of palm beach looks just about the same down to Kendall, I actually live In Pembroke Pines aka; Ft Lauderdale!

I'm a little different than most 220+ pounders. I've been active in extreme sports most of my life and even made it a career for 5 years as one of Uncle Sam's Misguided Children. Unfortunately for a few years I was mixed up in a bad relationship and gained some weight, up to 255lbs, pictured (but that was a new woman, not the old).

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/mdphoenix/Mikes%20Surprise%20Party/DSC07879.jpg

Now, I'm alot slimmer but at 221lbs, have realized I will never be beneath 200lbs. My lowest was 204lbs and that was a stretch before I picked up biking. The following pic was taken a year later, a few months ago. I don't really have too many other pics of myself.

http://a368.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/69/l_4ec4757e74cf8fd0aa7c3265ddf6a2e7.jpg

At 6'0" 232lbs I guess I'm a Clyde. Used to ride a lot as a kid, stopped for quite a while and I'm trying to get back into it now. Bought a Fuji Newest last week and have put almost 20 miles on it so far. Starting out with 10+ mile rides for now, hoping to work up to much, much greater distances by the end of summer.

Time for me to step in and acknowledge I'm the one eating all the pork rinds and Andy Capps fries.

I'm a Clyde at 29yo, 6'1" and up to 245 now. Yes, so far this year I've tacked on another 15 pounds and another pants size. And the worrying thing is that the 40" pants are getting snug some days.

In early 2005, at a svelt 230 pounds I picked a Trek 7200 and before long I was riding 60 - 80 miles a week with a decent amount of hills thrown in. I was doing pretty good and joining some local clubs for 40 - 60 milers and able to hang with them, barely. They tend to ride 18-20 and I'm usually around 15 so I get left behind.

About a year ago I started a series of downturns. Herniated disc in my neck. Back, neck, shoulder pains. Loss of feeling in my right arm, dropping things, tingles, memory problems (much of the last year is hard to remember. Even the big things), Arthritis in my shoulder, cracked a few ribs twice and massively bruised ribs for months on end and depression. So many days were spent mulling through work in the day and in a dark apartment at night.

With almost all of that passed me and while still not healed all the way, I'm back well enough that I can get on the bike and ride comfortably. Only have a few kinks to work out of the bike and I'll be more comfortable on the long rides.

I realized last week that I had signed up again for the local Tour De Cure and it's fast approaching. My weight has been going back up and the weather is getting better. So what better time to get back on the bike and get my ass back in shape and out of the dark spot I've let myself get into and stop feeling sorry for myself.

So my goals are to be ready for the Tour De Cure in June, loose these extra 40 pounds by the end of the year and be ready for a Century by the end of the season.

I'm glad I'm not the only big guy riding out there.

Mike

Im not much of a Clydesdale but I am above 200 pounds. And at 5'9, i guess im pretty heavy. From 215, im down to 205. Then I plan to lose 30 more in 3 to 4 months. Ill keep you guys updated.

Thanks

Please delete my account and all associated information with it - thanks!

Welcome aboard, Dorkieshe! We're glad to have you :D


LMAO!! Some people who I can relate too!

Although I can't imagine that'd I'd be a Clydesdale (I am a fem) or an Athena. . . I'd say I am a Haflinger Mule mare (http://www.cindonmules.com/P9260088.JPG). . . I'm a horse/mule trainer by trade. . .

Ok. Enough horsing around, right?

Found this over in an old thread. . .
Name: DorkieShe (http://myspace.com/shewhoisdork)
Age: 24, 25 in May
Marital Status: Taken <3
Height/weight: 5'4". . . **cough**300-ish**cough**
What bike do you currently ride: A $70 Magna from Target. Hey, it beats $4 a gallon, right?
How long have you been riding?: I used to be that punk teenage girl on the BMX bike. . . Haven't really ridden since. Bought this bike about 3 weeks ago. . .
Are you currently trying to lose weight, and how are you going about it?: I am but I'm not. I wanna get fit, not skinny. And I need to improve my cardio. I vocal training coming up!
What is your ultimate goal?: To weight 150, 160 and be able to hold a note for days <3
How often do you ride and for how long?: If I don't ride to work (6 miles, each way) I ride for about an hour on the American River.
What is your favorite thing about riding?: Wind in my hair, sun on my shoulders and loud ass music in my ears! I love being out side <3

Here to keep motivated and stay healthy. I have no clue what I am doing. I fill up a water bottle, jump on my bike and go. The only pain in my arse is, well. . . the pain in my arse. Going to buy a gel seat soon! Yay!

Always looking to make new friends, too!


Anyways. . . that's me.

<3,
D*S

Hello,

I am newly registered and I guess at 6' and 255 (down from 300+) qualify as a clydesdale. I have not ridden for over 5 years (two back surgeries and a nerve damage in right leg) and am looking forward to getting back. I use to ride a Cannodale and now have Felt Z35.

If it ever stops snowing on Ohio I might get out and see how it goes. I have a trainer and spin on it so I hope my leg will hold up on the road... Peddle stroke is a little awkward as I do not have full control over my calf and foot but it feels good to spin. The docs did not give it much chance but so far I have full quad power and hamstrings. Good to be here. Latter Gerry.

Welcome, Gerry! Hey, even if you don't recover 100%, you'll still be able to ride. If all else fails, and you start to have too much in the way of pain issues, there's always a recumbent bike or recumbent trike.

Tadpole
http://atomiczombie.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/streetfox13.jpg



My wife's Delta Trike
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o260/TomStormcrowe/Cardinal%20Greenway%20and%20other%20rides/ridepicsandWabashflood003.jpg

Hi all. It is good to find other people wjho are not the typical bike shop 160 lbs runt to talk bikes with. I am 6'2" and weigh anywhere from 215lbs. to 230lbs. depending on the season so I definitely am a Clydesdale. I just posted a pic of my almost finished new ride in the Clydes ride adn will work on getting pics of my other two up as time permits.

Scott

I'm new around here, too. My intro pretty much says it all. 56, 6'5, 273. Summer of '73, when I was riding my still-had-the-new-car-smell Raleigh hard everyday around Philippi WV, I was a steady 183. Don't expect to match that again but I'd like to do and feel a lot better than this. The Raleigh can still do it, why shouldn't I?

Welcome aboard!http://www.comicguide.net/images/smilies/radler.gif

Great to see we are getting some new folks on the board! As Tom said, "welcome" and feel free to ask anything here about bikes and weight, we are a friendly bunch!

Well, "Clydesdale" certainly seems to divide up between people who are on the "husky" side & those who are just really tall. I guess when it comes to evaluating strong equipment, it's all the same. For me, I've just started getting back on a bike after 10 years of bad health, and I'm certainly doing it partly to lose lots of weight despite bad knees. Of course, with the weird adjusted BMI (body mass index) chart they have, I'm quick to point out that I've always been "overweight" to "obese" for my height. That includes back when I was so "ripped" my legs looked like overcooked turkey and my doctor tried to get my body fat up as a treatment for hypoglycemia; as well as these days that I have trouble tying my shoes!

Welcome aboard!! The Clydes label was never meant to drive a wedge, just more of an observation as to the abuse we put our parts through :D

Gee, I'm about 6 ft, and weigh 325 pounds. So what do you call me? (Be gentle).

I'm trying to get back into shape by buying a bike.. haven't ridden in over a decade.

I'd appreciate any recommendations and insights... especially from anyone in the Lewiston, Maine area.

You're a Clyde, just like the rest of us! Welcome aboard!


Gee, I'm about 6 ft, and weigh 325 pounds. So what do you call me? (Be gentle).

I'm trying to get back into shape by buying a bike.. haven't ridden in over a decade.

I'd appreciate any recommendations and insights... especially from anyone in the Lewiston, Maine area.

I thought I might be a super duper, heavy clyde...

I thought I might be a super duper, heavy clyde...

Here's the first post on the Weight Loss: Before and after thread, me....

I'll start this off. 359 pound weight loss, 32 inches of waistline gone!

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

After (Pardon the dancing!):
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o260/TomStormcrowe/Front_Back_Animation.gif
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o260/TomStormcrowe/FatPants004.jpg

and me now: Down 371 pounds from my high of 581 pounds, 3 years later. ;)
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o260/TomStormcrowe/Spring%20Break%202008/SpringBreak_2008026.jpg

Welcome johnnyburst79, I can totally relate, I never hit 260 but I can't seem to get below 210, My goal is 199.

Tom, that's just flat stunning. You even had an oxygen bottle (I assume that's a wheelchair in the photo, not a welding cart).
Gotta go ride.

Yep, that's a wheelchair.
Tom, that's just flat stunning. You even had an oxygen bottle (I assume that's a wheelchair in the photo, not a welding cart).
Gotta go ride.

Hello Everyone!

First Post.

My Real Name is Stephen, and i live in New Braunfel's Texas. I just went through a divorce and am putting my life back together. (just kicked that severe clinical depression out of my life as well!)

I started a new job in October, and my new boss is an avid cyclist. He got me interested in joining the company cycling team and doing the BPMS-150 Houston to Austin ride, which occured just last weekend.

So... let me give you some specs:

Me:
6'5" - 342 lbs. (I weighed 397 in March 2007)
Now, I am obviously no small boy, and even w/ the weight loss, I will never not be a clyde. I am very heavily boned, and pretty heavily muscled (under my padding! :) ) One of my new found hobbies is weight lifting. My Goal weight for the 2009 BPMS-150 (next April) is 250 lbs. If i reach that, the math says i will be at 9% body fat, assuming i reach my muscle gain goals as well. at least that is what my trainer says.

My new ride:
2008 Cannondale Synapse 6 (compact)

Modifications:
Salsa low profile bars (they are also wider to accomodate my wide shoulders)
Shimano Ultregra Pedals (spacers inserted for those big legs), Sidi shoes, Ultegra Clips
Wheels: Mavic OpenPro 622 x 16, wrapped in Ultra Gatorskins (these were made for guys like me)
Saddle: Serfas Touring <-- not sure i like it, but minimal pain so it stays for now.

So... my experience so far:

I bought a Trek 4300 a couple years ago and played around on it, nothing serious. did some fun trail riding on it. Destroyed the rails on several seats. :)

Last October I started training for the BPMS-150 w/ 15 mile rides through New Braunfel's TX, which is in the Texas Hill Country. Didn't take long to get up to 20 and 25 mile rides. Finally bought the Cannondale and did my first 35 mile ride, forgetting my camelbak. This was a very bad thing since i drink H20 like it's going out of style, and sweat like the world doesn't have enough of it. By the end of that 35 miler, I was severely dehydrated. Over the next week i developed a sinus infection. I kicked that, got the flu. kicked the flu, got another sinus infection. In the middle of all that, was the holidays, and the team didn't do practice rides. By the time i was able to get back in the saddle and do some serious practice rides, the MS-150 was just around the corner and I was hurting on every ride.

Finally a few weeks ago, i broke into the 50 mile range, and were not talking a flat 50 miles, were talking massive and repeated elevation changes... 100s of feet up or down, short but steep hills. there is still one hill i can't ride up, its so steep i have to walk it. :( luckily there was nothing like those ont he MS-150... train hard so you don't have to play so hard. :)

So, the Day of the MS-150 rolls around, and I am nervous, fidgiting around like a jackrabbit.

My team of 44 people leaves a hotel in Katy TX, and rides 7 miles to join up w/ the Day 1 route, or 'the herd' as i have come to call them. I was promptly outpaced by the more experienced riders, and promptly outpaced the ones who hadn't done any training. Team cohesion apparenlty isn't big for our group. :)

I rode mostly alone (but in the pack) for the first 47 some odd miles till I hit bellville for lunch. After digesting a tasty meal and taking an hours break (i started at 7:40 AM, and arrived in Bellville at 2:45... i took a LOT of breaks!!!) i got back on my bike, clipped in, and took 3 or 4 pedal strokes before the most oblivious woman in all of creation stood up, and walked out onto the road right infront of me and a few other riders.

I stopped w/o smearing her into the pavement, and twisted out of my left clip as fast as i could to stop the fall i feared was coming. (I have to this day never fallen while clipped in!) I did start to fall, and i caught all 342 lbs of me on my left leg, and hoisted myself back up. Now... the sad part is, twisting out of my clip, i twisted 'oddly' that is the only way i can describe it. I felt a twinge at that point, and it burned when i caught myself. but i was determined to finish the whole deal, so i shook it off and kept going. (The lady by the way never acknoledged she did anything wrong, shrudged, and walked off.) When out in bellville, a train came by, and this caused about 800 or so riders to bunch up and do the tippy toe dance after it passed. it took about 15 minutes for the herd to spread back out. every stop start was painful for my leg, but, i put it off.

I finished Day one in a little over 12 hours. I stopped at every rest break, and made a couple inbetween. I had a problem w/ my odometer, so i am not quite sure how far it was, but me and a friend are guestimating around 95 miles give or take. I was utterly exhausted, had sweated off my sunscreen, so i was burned, but... that last 10 miles was awesome.

Oh, i forgot... there was a brutal headwind the entire day, all the way, up till the last 10 or so miles. The route finally changed direction to head into la grange, and when it did, I kicked it into high gear and hauled it into la grange like God himself had reached down and strapped a rocket to me. I am PROUD of that finish!!!! Riding into Lagrange, w/ cyclists and volunteers lined up 2 or 3 deep on both sides of a single lane road cheering you in.. that was fantastic and a memory i will take to my grave.

So, several bags of ice, a disgusting shower, and more adult beverages than i care to remember later, i went to bed. I woke up the next morning (frost was on our tent.) and i couldn't stand up out of my cot. I finally managed to get up, and walking didn't hurt at all. But i could tell i was stiff, so i planted my toe in the ground and applied a little force... almost fell on my hiney. :( I knew at that point my day was done, but i still tried. I walked around for 45 minutes trying to loosen up the leg, took about 1200 MG of motrin, but in the end, i couldnt even balance myself properly to get into my riding shorts. :( I had to bow out of day 2.

So, I rode the company van to Austin and cheered on my team. When I went from our team tent to the finish line to grab some bikes and lead our team members back to the tent, I felt utterly robbed. Not a muscle on my body was sore, not even saddle sore. There was a cool wind blowing through the finish area, shadowed by Austin high rises, and the cheers of hundreds of people were continually encouraging riders to go those last few steps. I decided then and there, i was going to do it next year.

Two hours later, i decided i was going to do the 'triple' all three Texas MS-150's in 2009. I am addicted. :)

My Riding schedule for the rest of 2008 (that i know of so far):

May - Tour de Cure
August - Hotter N' Hell 100

I have been to the gym three times now this week, and i am allready progressively adding resistance on the recumbant, stiffness is almost gone, just a little twinge of pain right before the downstroke. I plan on being back on my cycle by next thursday.

So.. that's my cycling experience in a nutshell (rather large one.. sorry.. but hey, i am a clyde.)

I hope to learn a lot here in the next few months, and i hope you all can help me hold myself accountable. I plan to be 250 by the next MS-150, 9% bodyfat, and capable of keeping up w/ the best riders on my team.

Hello, my name is Charles and I am a Clydesdale, I am 6 feet tall and weighed 259lbs at my Cardiologist visit last month. Main malfunction Hypertension. See my introduction to the forum below. I just bought my first new bike in 20 years to return to biking, mainly started as means to commute. I think I can achieve many goals above just commuting.

Hello All
My name is Charles, I am 48 years old and am 2 weeks into my rebirth as a rider. When my 2 children were young and we lived in West Texas (1986) I rode 40 miles a day after work. Somewhere along the way I stopped. Now I am a Clydesdale, I began consideration of riding again due largely to 3+ dollar gas prices. I have only a 3 mile commute and seems perfect to start again. I have now made 2 weeks daily riding to work, plus extra miles after work. Goals? Save the expense of commuting using a gas guzzling pickup, improve my health, loose weight, live longer for my 5 grandchildren. Goals will be added as I go along. I live in Houston TX, not the most bike friendly town, but the extra miles after work are easy to do using a bike path along Braes Bayoo in Houston. I did 20 miles this morning and since starting 2 weeks ago can already feel a difference in normal energy levels and levels while riding. Thanks for having this forum and allowing me to join.
Charles (Houstonsp101)

Started riding regularly @26 March, less than a month ago. Today did my first 30-miler, the Chisholm Trail Bike Ride out of Newton. Finished in 2/55 including roughly 40 minutes in breaks. Covered last 11.5 (edit: Wrong! Was just made aware of this, it was actually 10.5) miles with a tailwind in 31 minutes. I'll sleep well tonight. I'd sleep well right now if I allowed it.
This was also the first outing for my old Raleigh Gran Prix in 22 years.
Ho-ahh.

Hello everyone. I'm Bryan and I'm a clyde. I cycled in my younger years but life took over and I'm now carrying around 100 extra problems. That sounds like a recurring theme in here. I'm currently 5'8" @ 280. I want to get down to 180. I can't run so I've turned to biking and a total change in eating habits to help me do this. My family has a long history of medical problems associated with weight and I want to fix myself before I become another statistic.

I'm currently riding a Schwinn Trailways Hybrid that I picked up at Target. It's actually a pretty decent bike. I moved my look-style pedals, water bottle cages, computer (somehow it's still working after sitting unused for 5+ years), and saddle from my old cannondale r-300 (which has seen much better days) to the Schwinn. I purchased the Schwinn because of price ($200), a triple chain ring (not like I need it here in JAX, FL), and because it had 700c tires. I know there will be a lot of folks here frown at a big-box bike but for the price it was a great deal. I'm very comfortable with working on the bike and I assured it was assembled properly before riding. Besides, I don't think with me being so far overweight that I deserve a decent ride at this point. I need something that works for now so I can reward myself later.

I just started riding this week with short 10 mile circuits every other day. Ride 3 will be tomorrow morning. All-in-all it's going quite well so far. I've started a blog to track/journal my progress. Just click on the banner below to see it.

Naw, if you know how to work on your own bike, then some box store bikes are workable. Heck, Walmart is even selling a decent full on CF bike with decent components online....:p (Similar in quality to Bikesdirect, but more expensive).

Welcome to our new Clydes, and feel free to check in on the before and After photo thread. :D

Uhhg. I guess I can post here.

I am 5'10'' to 6ft, depending on my posture. I weigh 215lbs. I am 18. I ride bikes.

I'm new to the forum, I am 6'5", and weigh in at 270lbs. New bike is a cannondale RW3. enjoying the heck out of it, I really appreciate the links to the biggie boy clothing..

Lurking here for a long time - inspired by the stories I see here.

I'm 5' 10", currently ~235 lbs. Was down to 210 about 2 1/2 years ago, and have put on 10+ pounds over each of the last two holidays. I'm a commuter, mostly - 30 mile round trip. Have just gotten back to it after a year or so layoff for, um, motivational reasons... Feeling very motivated again, as gas prices go up and my pants don't fit... Bought a new steed in the Fall to help with motivation, and have just recently been spending lots of time. This is it (bad pic...) http://lh5.ggpht.com/todd.pickett/SAZHbnikbOI/AAAAAAAAAV0/2fH_8mdl5tE/IMG00047.jpg?imgmax=512

Surly Crosscheck, Bontrager Race Light hardcase tires, mix of Rival/Ultegra replaced the stock components...

Hello, everybody.

I've lurked occasionally, but never posted here before.

I never thought of myself as a Clyde, but it seems I'm skating on the ragged edge of Clydeness at 205 pounds. I used to ride every day, rain or shine on a stock Diamondback X-Link FS/XC rig, and I kept my weight down to a svelte 185, but that was during my 20's and early 30's.

Now I'm staring 40 in the face and things are starting to look downright flabby, which is why I pulled my old bike out and started replacing parts in order to make it a commuter rig. It's perfect for the abysmal road conditions we have here, with rough pavement, debris of every conceivable description and tons of potholes.

Here she is with the OldManMountain rack, my two-wheeled Jeep:

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q293/doubleclaw/DBR008.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q293/doubleclaw/DBR001.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q293/doubleclaw/DBR007.jpg

Riding in Mississippi is an adventure, simply because the folks around here aren't very friendly towards or very knowledgable about bicycles. It has it's perks, though; I see wildlife in huge abundance on my daily rides, and I get to actually see the countryside at my own pace, rather than watching it whiz by in a blur.

I started riding again back in Febuary, and I started out in not-too-great shape and about 210 pounds. I ride about 90 miles a week and another 20 or 30 on the weekends. I plan to one day get back to around 190 pounds, but that's going to be the work of long rides and a better diet.

I applaud all the people I've seen here for their gumption and stick-to-it-iveness. I have friends who are suffering from the various maladies associated with obesity, and I plan to shoot a link to this page to them and tell them to quit coming up with excuses. The time to live is now.

Welcome to the group, and nice ride BTW

I can't figure out how to get Picasa Images to open on this page so here are some links. The bike is an
extra long Longbikes Slipstream (4" longer frame) with 40 spoke wheels instead of 36 spoke. I weigh in
around 270lbs, and riding this is like pedaling in my living room chair. it's a dream -- seriously!

http://picasaweb.google.com/drum.player/LongbikesSlipstream/photo#5194388636895337074
Color is custom to me, no other Slipstream in this color...

http://picasaweb.google.com/drum.player/LongbikesSlipstream/photo#5194388602535598690
front to rear view

http://picasaweb.google.com/drum.player/LongbikesSlipstream/photo#5194388443621808706
rear to front view (color got washed out here)

I can't figure out how to get Picasa Images to open on this page so here are some links.

Was having the same issue with links from Picasa, so I right-clicked the image in my browser (using Firefox), clicked "copy image location", and pasted that into the insert image dialog in BF - worked fine...

Just finished a great read today. It's called "Heft on Wheels" by Mike Magnuson. Picked it up at Barnes & Noble over the weekend. Especially relevant for us Clydesdales who are desperately working towards non-Clydesdaleness. I'm pretty sure I'd be dead if I approached it as he did (and he's lucky he's not), but it was certainly inspirational none-the-less. Anybody else read it? Long story short... he lost 75 pounds, stopped smoking, and stopped drinking, all within the span of three months by immersing himself in cycling.

Finished this book in early March and had the same observation as you, BUT laughed at myself for thinking it. 19 years ago when I turned 40 (weight 248 and 5'11", 48"waist) I was thinking to myself that I had never thought that I would live to be 40 (smoking since I was 13, drinking not quite like Magnuson--just generall unhealthy sluggo lifestyle), and if I was unlucky enough to live another 40 years at this rate I'd be a helpless stand-in for Jabba The Hut. My daily schedule was: get up, go to work, eat lunch, come home, eat dinner, watch TV, have some ice cream around 9:30pm, go to bed by 10pm, and start over the next day. I know that my Guardian Angel came awake at that time and whispered in my ear the following highly illogical (for me) reasoning: "You know (says I to myself) I stay at 248 neither gaining when I eat or losing when I don't, so if I maintained my usual eating habits and did just a little bit of "moving around", I called it, then I might lose some weight. So I did like all normal humans, went to Sears and bought al ill-fitting bike that I started riding almost every evening after work (during the summer with daylight savings, and 2 years post divorce, so I didn't have the usual impediments). What I enjoyed most of all was seeing things I never saw at that time of day, and this got addictive to the extent that weight-loss was relegated to the back of my mind, so I chased no goal. The damned angel was right----The first time I realized I was changing was about a month later: one morning I got up to go to work and in putting my belt on realized that I had no hole to put the prong in; I had lost 2 belt holes without knowing, and had to look down and realized that my pants looked "pleated" all the way around as well ---but damn, I could almost see my waistline. This spurred me on like Magnuson, and 3 months later I found that I weighed 205 lbs with a 40" waist.

Been hooked for years since then, my body wants to stabilize now during the winter at 190, and with the increase of spring activity I can ride and starve to 178, which is less that I was as a sophomore in high school.

I never raced like Magnuson, but fell in with "bad company" in the local bike club, keeping up in speed and distance with a bunch of late 20's early 30's "tourists".

My motivation is all in my head now, since over the years with developing families, the poor job market in the 1990's and then Katrina's forced exile all those people have moved away from the New Orleans area. So I do about 150 average miles a week, and look forward to riding in BRAG (Bike Ride Across Georgia) in June.

Yea, Magnuson was crazy..

I just started getting back on the bike. I am 5'10.5" and weight about 220 at 25 years of age. I used to bike atleast 20 miles a day but injured my back in a car accident when I was 21. Of course it was difficult to ride but not impossible although I still used it as an excuse for myself to stop working out like I used to. In two weeks I leave for my glorious bicycle trip across America. I'll admit, I have not trained as much as I would like, and I'm leaving a few weeks earlier than I intended but I have successfully been able to ride 50-60 plus miles with minor discumfort considering that I just starting getting back into the swing of things. I think if I can go 60 miles with three power bars and no sleep for two days prior than I'm on my way to being ready! ha ha. Anyway. To all you who are striving to get on that bike and move, I say go for it! dont give up! And just know that there is always a place you can come to vent out all your frustrations so you an get right back on when you fall down. Thanks for all your great information and advice. In three months I will post my final weight after I return home. Until then... Go Clydesdales!!!!!!

I just started getting back on the bike <snip>
In two weeks I leave for my glorious bicycle trip across America.



Blimey, good luck :)

6,3 240lbs 2008 trek madone 4.5

Hi all...6'1" 238 lbs, down from 280 about two years ago when I started cycling. I started like a lot of folks on an ill fitting big box bike (Schwinn Ranger). I quit smoking fifteen months ago, and quit drinking nine months ago. With the 'vice money' that I saved I bought a Trek 7300 hybrid, and I just love it. About the same time that I bought the Trek I added some minimal weight training and yoga type posture stretching exercises to my daily routine. I gotta say that I feel better now than I have in twenty years...

Oh, yeh...I'll be 53 in a month.

Is there any such thing as a girl Clyde? Or Athena Plus? If I were a willowy little 175 again, I'd be delighted... I'm 230 at 5 foot 8 inches. :)

Am poking around the forum after joining today, hoping to find inspiration AND some links to size 18-20 women's bike shorts -- anything but horizontal stripes, which I fear would make my butt look big (teehee). I don't have a specific weight loss goal, but I figure that getting stronger, building endurance and getting some fresh air will be a nice counterpart to quitting drinking and trying to eat well. And if I slim down in the process, so much the better.

I love my bike -- a Bianchi Eros -- and if she's still speaking to me after being ignored for 5 years (save for annual spring services), we're going to have a helluva summer!

Cheers -- Emily

I'm 6'1" 235lb. New to this site. I like to trail ride, biking and hiking are about the only thing I enjoy that could be considered exercise. I used to have a 2000 Trek 4500 and rode all the time but stopped about 4 years ago.

I wanted to get back into biking so bought a 2007 Mongoose Blackcomb from walmart, bottomed out all the suspension so put on a Marzocchi front fork. Worked for a few months but the bike was too heavy and I being out of shape it was just too much work and I still bottom out rear suspension.

Finally this week I upgraded to a brand new 2008 Giant Reign 1 and am very VERY happy, the under 30lb weight was a massive change. I look to do alot of rides here in the Pacific NW over the summer. Hopefully I wont be in this forum long =)

How's it going, I am 5'11 220Lbs and Have been Cycling on and off for about 7 years now. I first go into it while I was stationed in Italy (that's how I fell in love with Bianchi). I tried to keep biking when I came back to the states but the Climate Change from Sicily to Rhode Island was a bit drastic so I took some time off. Now that I am in Virginia, the weather is much more bearable. Also Since my Ship is in the yards I am commuting to the shipyards (I live in Hampton). My shipmates think I'm crazy but I see much nicer bikes then mine parked in the racks so I guess I'm not the only one chancing it. I hope to get under 200 by October, and I think the cycling will help out a lot.

Welcome aboard!

I've been lurking on the forums for quite a while, but just started posting a few days ago. I'm 6'2" and am currently right at 300 lbs. I have a 2002 Gary Fisher Big Sur, though the frame had to be replaced last year, so now it is a 2007 Big Sur with 2002 parts, if that makes any sense. I also have a 1993ish Serotta Colorado Legend CRL. I haven't ridden the Serotta, as it needs some new wheels. The Big Sur has been great, and got me through 50 miles of charity ride just this past weekend. That said, I'd really like something that is a bit more road friendly. If the LBS can't make the Serotta hold me with confidence, I will likely look at something else. I've been considering a Salsa Caseroll, Surly Crosscheck, Soma Smoothie ES, and a few other possibilities, but I'm having trouble deciding.

6ft tall, 203 lbs (just now weighed, that's in full clothing with shoes). I WAS 225 lbs a few months ago, but I've lost weight by eatting better (somewhat better). I still need to lose more though, and I plan to! When I get my new bike I hope to be getting proper exercise again and get back to around 170lbs or so. Currently I had a mountain bike (an old Huffy Ecoterra) but it's broken right now and needs new tubes as well, so no pics of that because it's embarassing. lol :D

Welcome!!