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

Thanks! :)

My weight fluctuates a lot, so on any given day i can be between 195 and 210, but usually just over 200. At 6'0" i don't look huge, so most people put my weight at a lot lower than it is.

I was a collegiate lacrosse player up until this last school year, but i can't continue due to the overwhelming time commitment, and personality conflicts with teammates (in fact nearly half our team is not returning due to the same personality conflicts) I had only biked commuting to and from class, which, when you have to deal with people on beach cruisers that are barely able to keep from falling over, requires the right mind frame to enjoy, and until i spent a few weeks commuting through downtown SF and much of Berkeley did i realize that i prefer the beach cruisers to SUV's on cell phones.

Additionally, my days were incredibly hectic, and the only peace that i really could get was riding my bike between activities. In the pursuit of peace i figured i might as well just keep riding, and so i have.

I am a clyde..... 6' and 263 or so..... ideal weight for me is 200 (doctor had do a simple test, to see if I can reach around my wrist based on that he said 200 and big bones)

Far cry from 20 years ago..185 and doing triathalons.

I have been in a bit of denial...but no more, I am an offical BF Clyde and proud of it.

I love food, don't get enough exercise and stress eat.

now the blood pressure is borderliine 90/150

so the plan is the basics:
Get more exercise (commuted 3 days this week....10 mile round trip avg 12-13 mph) More exercise is the single thing that is most different from 20 years ago

Watch my food....smaller plates, bowls....no eating when standing up....more veggies

be aware of the stress eat and bring alternatives to the m&m jar at work

thanks for listening

I have been in a bit of denial...but no more, I am an offical BF Clyde and proud of it.

I love food, don't get enough exercise and stress eat.


You're not the only one of us in that place, and accepting it is a good start.

Great to have you onboard :)

Clydesdale .... Dang, and I thought the spare tire I carry at my waist is handy as a table to rest my coffee on :lol:

Yep, my weight is typically in the 215 - 220 range.... was 185 when I graduated from high school in 1973 (yes, I am over 50 :50: ). I'm 6' 1" tall

I have for years avoided walking, as I develop nasty calluses on my feet which feel as if I have stones in my shoes. Then the wake up call ...... My brother went in for emergency bypass surgery.

So, I figure biking shouldn't be as tough on my feet. Picked myself up an Ironside Warrior August 4, have worked my way up to roughly 12-13 miles a day, and now have 150 miles on the bike in the past 17 days.

Oh, and I've trimmed off 7 pounds if my scale ain't lying :thumb:

I live by an escarpment in the Niagara region of Ontario. One of these days, I'm gonna tackle that hill :backpedal:

Welcome Grandpa! Hey, I love it up around the Escarpment. We used to call it the mountain when I was a kid and we'd go visit family in Hamilton, Stoney Creek and Grimsby. My family hails from Ontario! My Mom grew up in Dundass.

Welcome Grandpa! Hey, I love it up around the Escarpment. We used to call it the mountain when I was a kid and we'd go visit family in Hamilton, Stoney Creek and Grimsby. My family hails from Ontario! My Mom grew up in Dundass.

Ha:thumb: The other nice part of this region is you can hit numerous wineries, with free samples. Probably not the best thing to do if you are riding a bicycle up and down the mountain:twitchy:

Yep, my weight is typically in the 215 - 220 range.... was 185 when I graduated from high school in 1973 (yes, I am over 50 :50: ). I'm 6' 1" tall



Welcome. I graduated from high school in 1957. Somehow I still think of myself like this:

http://cdn.overstock.com/images/products/L10789796.jpg

Enjoy the group. A good bunch of folks.

Hi, I am so happy I found this forum!

I want to start ridding becasue I want to loose weight, I am closing on 32 in a couple days and want to change my lifestyle.

While in HS I played just about everysport and was lean, married life got to me and I weigh 260 lbs now @ a short 5'6".

I am looking to buy a bike in the next week so I can start riding. I would start riding to school and then possibly start trail ridding. Any suggestions on bikes?

These are my options so far:
Cannondale F2 disk
Scott Sportster P4
& Scott Aspect 55.

I have been lurking on this forum for a week or so. I must say I am truly inspired by some of the stories I have read. As for me, I find myself at age 44 weighing 256.6, 5'10". The sad thing is that only five years ago I was 178, riding 150-160 miles a week and racing, albeit just at a Cat 5 level. Well life happened, I was in a job with extensive travel and expense accounts, and the pounds kept adding up while my exercise level diminished to almost nothing.

The good news is I no longer travel, am only 4 miles from my job, and have begun commuting by bike to work each day. In addition I squeeze in at least a 30 minute ride during lunch whenever possible. On the weekends my goal is 20 mile fitness rides. Between diet and exercise I hope to lose 2-3 pounds a week until I return to my goal weight of 175-180. I did this once before- going from 270 to 175 in eight months and maintained that weight for two years before sliding back into bad habits. I just purchased a Cannondale BadBoy Street that will be my commuting bike. I'll let you know how I like it. Kudos to all of you who are out there either staying fit at whatever weight you like, or making the effort to get back to a weight you want.

didnt even know what this section was about, i guess i'm a clydesdale too!!

well, so the story goes...i was a sophomore in highschool, 6'2" and 302 lbs. i decided, at 16, to change up my life, so by graduation i was 202 lbs :) lots of bmx, less soda, the normal routine.

now i'm 21, an inch taller, and hover right around 205lbs. i've got a huge frame so my doc says to stay there, i've got about 10-15 lbs of extra skin too i guess. i maintain by riding about 15 miles a day, usually about 25 if i ride into school...eating as healthy as i can for a college kid (and drinking healthy, no beer!). after i lost all my weight i still had 26" thighs to deal with because of cycling!! haha, it's worth it. i get to have my belly chopped off next summer, so i'm very excited to get as fit as i can before the surgery.

just wanted to say that i was reading through and good luck to everyone loosing weight! i remember working up my stamina mile by mile, soon you'll go on your nightly ride and be going to other towns! it's slow, but very fun to get your distance up, and the rewards are very nice as well.

Wishing you positive outcomes with next week's procedure.
Keep on pedaling.

I'm pretty new to BF....I've been browsing and posting (occasionally) for a few months. I'm definitely a Clydesdale. Currently 42 years old, 5'10", 220. Down from 250. I don't really have a set goal for weight, but I'd like to get to 205-210 (my fighting weight back in my 20's when I was a gym rat). I started riding in April after 15 years off. What a blast!! I'm having a great time. I've logged 1100 miles on my road bike this season. My goal is 2000 before I hang it up for winter. My style of riding is pretty much a "masher". I ride as big a gear as fast as I can for 20-30 miles about 4 times a week. I sprinkle in a few cardio workouts at the gym. I used to run and pump a lot of iron, but I've never lost weight so quickly as I have cycling. I have two main concerns right now: 1) when should I buy new suits; and 2) how much weight will I gain back over the winter? Anyhow....this is a great forum. I've been inspired (and motivated) by all the success stories. I've found this to be a wonderfully supportive community. Glad to be aboard.

I am truly surprised at how quick this biking trims off the pounds, and inches. I haven't been in a 40 waist for years, now need a belt to keep the forty's from creeping to my knees:lol: I suppose that since none of my back road routes are flat, lots of long gradual grades I gotta scale, helps with enhancing the exercise value of my rides which now average 12km (7.5 miles). EDIT: Should mention I am logging approx 15 miles/day now. Not bad for a Mountain bike with 26" nobby tires:speedy:

I just bought a suit for my daughters wedding 6 weeks ago (wedding is Sept 13), and had the 40 waist let out. Best find a belt:thumb:

Hey everyone, I have posted in the Clydes forum before but not in this thread.
I've been riding for about 5 months now but only seriously for about 3. Today I did my first 20 mile ride and I weighed myself and I'm down to 249 from 265!
My goal is to get down to 210 by December.
Usually I ride between 5 and 10 miles a night depending on what time I start and what the weather is like outside, but after riding the 20 today I'm SORE, I definitely need to get some padded short. My local LBS is having a big sale to celebrate getting a new manager so I'm going to pick up some padded shorts for me and a set of fenders for the wife.

Hello, My name is Hotwheels and I.......I am a Clydesdale. You've got a great thing going here. Look, I know I need to drop some Lbs/ Kgs but my approach to this is less quantatative approach and more of a Lebensphilosophie. The approach I am crafting is one of finding the purpose/utility/ joy of cycling and walking and eating healthy and continuing to integrate these practices with all of my life. It's hard but I find that it is working well. I wish all the best in their endeavors.

Over 225, and 5'11". So I definitely am in the Athena class.
It's difficult to exercise due to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but it is doable. Having my bike on a trainer for those off days really helps keep me in the game, because more than two days off the bike, and I start getting weak and the muscles get creaky again.
Was a bit too skinny all my life and didn't have a weight problem until about 15 years ago, and the weight has been sneaking up on me. I just want to be strong enough to ride a bike a few hours at a time so I can tour, some day.

Hey there. Like WPeabody, I was skinny all the way through college, so it's weird to be overweight. I'm 38 now, 5'10" tall and holding around 208lbs, though I guess I don't look like it. I didn't realize that being over 200lbs was any sort of anything in regards to riding a bicycle...I just ride my old (1988-ish) Cannondale MTB and never had a problem with it. Cheers, everyone!

At 6' and 260 pounds, I guess I'm in the Clydesdale "Budweiser class." Haven't seen too many people topping even 250.

I've been commuting to work since June. I lost about 15 pounds immediately but plateaued out quickly and then started to gain weight! I guess my legs are bulking up faster than the "fuel supply" is being used up.

I'm riding a Giant Cadex carbon fiber/aluminum lugged mountain bike converted to an urban assault bike. My commute is 100% downhill in the AM and 101% uphill in the afternoon so low gearing is definitely my friend. I'm not breaking any speed records but I'm riding 60-100 miles per week and I don't ever plan to stop. Seeing my uphill speeds go from 5 to 13 mph and level sprints go from 18 to 28 mph is truly a 90-day miracle for me.

My company is relocating in a couple years and I actually hope they move a little farther from my home so I can ride more.

Looks like I have everybody beat-5'6" and 260. I'm fat! But I just bought myself a Specialized Rockhopper Comp because I want to lose weight and attend the prison guard academy. I was in the Army for 8 years and spent 3 of those on the Army Boxing Team at the 180 LHW division. When I got out, it just all went to hell.

The Rockhopper doesn't seem to mind me riding it-the wheels haven't folded over yet, but the sprocket does creak.. It's a trusty steed.

Looks like I have everybody beat-5'6" and 260. I'm fat! But I just bought myself a Specialized Rockhopper Comp because I want to lose weight and attend the prison guard academy. I was in the Army for 8 years and spent 3 of those on the Army Boxing Team at the 180 LHW division. When I got out, it just all went to hell.

The Rockhopper doesn't seem to mind me riding it-the wheels haven't folded over yet, but the sprocket does creak.. It's a trusty steed.

Folks use those Spec mtn bikes for touring with loads up to 50 pounds. Your measly 260 won't begin to bother it.

I think that I have most everyone beat here, I am 6'1" and tip the scale at 317 lbs.

I can also say that due to my size and get a lot of comments from my club members that they can not believe how strong I can ride. Especially on the downhills!! Just dont grade my performance on the inclines and we will be ok. So as far at fat on this thread right now, I will take that award with honor!!!
I have been riding again for 3 years and have logged a little over 10,000 miles and next week I will be doing my 4th century ride of the year. I should be able to count one of them as double , it is the quad city bike club's TOMRV and it is a 2 day ride with a total of 200 miles and more than 10,000 feet of climbing!!

So for all my other clydes out there keep at it, and wear you spandex with pride!!! RIDE ON

Here are some photos of my bikes.
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/5679/dsc00294cg.jpg

.


Just an anecdotal note: I don't believe I've ever used that gear! Is your house on a horrible hill?

I'll be 34 in November, 6'0". 315lbs... I ride trackbikes and fixed gear in the city and occasionally out on a bike route/path. I have degenerative disk disorder with 3 herniated disks and horrible sciatic pain sometimes lasting for months at a time. When I'm on my bike, I feel no pain or discomfort. Dismounting is a different story some days LOL. I ride these:

http://velospace.org/files/ConceptAndComp2.jpg

I turn 35 in May. I am 6'2" 320# (down from 388#). I am engaged to woman several years younger than me in teriffic shape (5'4" 130#), so I want to make sure she isn't the only one who looks awesome next september when we walk down the aisle. I've been competing in 5k, 10k and even a half marathon as a (fairly quick) walker, but I want a way to mix up my training with less impact on feet and knees. The less it hurts, the longer I can work out. I also play hockey weekly, so my cardio isn't terrible.

My concern is that I'm on a budget. Originally, I planned on picking up a cheap bike to beat on for a while until after the wedding, but I don't want to go the $100 big box store route, only to see it not hold up to my weight for long. My fiance and I are getting ourselves bikes as our big christmas presents (along with Sony PSPs), so I'm now looking at a budget of around $300. I've heard about the Kona Hoss, but that's the limit to my research thus far (and it sounds like financially it's out of reach). I want something that will hold my weight, a seat that doesnt kill my big butt, and can serve as a bike that I can ride a few miles to work say once a week or so in the spring.

I grew up on a bike as we lived in a semi-rural area, and until I turned 16 it was the only way to get anywhere. But that's the beginning and end of my biking experience.

6'4" 225. I have a large frame so I can carry it pretty well. Back in my intense running days I got as low as 180 - stayed at 185 for a long time. All I heard was, "are you sick?" Ran 3 marathons in 2007 and decided my 50 year old body didn't want to take the pounding anymore. Sat out from any kind of exercise for about 4 months, tried a bit of running, then went and bought a 'fitness' bike - a Giant FCR3. I was hooked. In July my wife upgraded me to a Fuji Roubaix - nice road bike for a newbie - and I love it. I was 230 when I started riding - down to 225 now. Commuting to work 10 miles each way 3 or so times per week. Carry a heavy backpack so I usually ride the Giant - but often (including in about 15 minutes today) ride the Fuji and pray that the 24 spoke rear wheel doesn't disintegrate on the 2 steep hills I have to climb. Biking is cool......I can blast out and sprint at a fast (for me!) 33 MPH - or I can putz along in a low gear. I try to average 16 MPH on my rides and the real joy is that, unlike running, when I really get tired I can coast a while.
This forum is great and the Clydesdale/Athena section is inspiring. God Bless all.

Yes Cyclingfatty I do live around some really big hills, not sure why I left it in that strange gear combo. Apparently you have to change what you eat ....and.... bike a lot to get off the Clydesdale section, still 260lb. But I can ride 25-30 miles with my skiny friends at 18 to 23 mph (not on the Klein in the photo but on the new road bike).

I'm 6'-1, 290, but stocky, i carry it well. I rode in my first official half-century saturday, finished all 50 miles on a fixed gear schwinn i built up from a frame. My legs were fine throughout, but man o man did my crotch take a beating...I think some of it can be attributed to the less-than-20 miles Forte Pro Carbon SLX saddle I put on 3 days before, but I enjoyed the ride a lot, and I want to be able to ride a century in October...anyone have saddle suggestions for 280+?

So we're called Clydesdales. I'm 6'5" and weigh a trim 210 lbs. I've never been a fast rider but have terrific endurance at the low end. Disadvantage is that I am very hard on wheels. My old Nishiki's Chrome Moly frame has served me well but I'm on my third set of wheels. Somebody else in this thread mentionned a back problem and that cycling felt terrific. Amen to that. Bulged disc problem at the S1 location and I feel better on the bike than anywhere else.

Thewalrus has the plan. 5' 11" and currently hovering around 230 down from 250 or so before I started riding. I keep a closer eye on what I eat and try to put in around 150 miles a week. although I've lost a lot of fat, I gained a lot of muscle in my legs. Seems like there was an offset early on, but I can only lose more if I ride more.

I have lost from 300 lbs down to 208 lbs so far. It took me about 1-1/2 to get this far. I have a 1976 Schwinn Superior that I haven't ridden in 15 years. I also have a Schwinn Aluminum Comp 21 speed 18" bike that I can ride much easier for now. It hard to ride after so long and I have to force myself to get some riding time in.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i19/cutacroshorty/Bicycle/P1010109.jpg

This is my favorite bike.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i19/cutacroshorty/2006%20Honda%20GL1800/P1010141-1.jpg

I have lost from 300 lbs down to 208 lbs so far. It took me about 1-1/2 to get this far. I have a 1976 Schwinn Superior that I haven't ridden in 15 years. I also have a Schwinn Aluminum Comp 21 speed 18" bike that I can ride much easier for now. It hard to ride after so long and I have to force myself to get some riding time in.

This is my favorite bike.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i19/cutacroshorty/2006%20Honda%20GL1800/P1010141-1.jpg

Okay, what is it? Looks like one of those motorcycles with the big engine, that gets cage type gas mileage. When my brother-in-law was first looking at a motorcycle, he was looking at some of them, and they were rating them at 25MPG, heck some cages get better then that. He eventually traded his Trek 4300 for a Kawasaki Ninja and promptly put on 40lbs, I think he's added another 20-30lbs since then......

I'm inching towards the 200 mark (down to 209 from anywhere between 220 and 235 over the last 15 yrs!)...I have my scale set to kg, keeps me confused, and hence not as easily discouraged. Plus one kg = significant weight loss!:)

Now, if I can just walk past those Drakes Fruit Pies......

Hello all I am a Clydesdale i am 6' 246 I was 254 around the beginning of Aug. I started to ride my bike as a commuter, and to help loose my 30 lbs I gained going from my construction job of building Cell phone towers to sitting at a desk but as soon as I started riding I had no idea how much I would love it. I love cars to. I have two projects in the works and ever since I have picked up my bike I haven't even touched my cars.

I started out just going 6 miles round trip but after a while that just wasn't enough, so instead of driving to the train in the morning I ride that extra 5 miles so I get a good 16 miles in on the week days.

I have also gotten my father-in-law back into biking as well. We try to ride every Sunday together.


I think the last time I was under 200lbs was my sophomore year of HS. So that is my goal is to get to 200.

I have 2 bikes I ride I don't have any of my own pics right now so I will post some stock photos and edit them tomorrow.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k292/scionlove007/9090-61_ALLEZ_SPRTCOMPACT_SATINBLK-.jpg I took this from the Specialized web site
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k292/scionlove007/trek.jpg
this picture is from the Bikepedia web site.

this is my first post here so i would like say hello to everyone
I am 6'4" tall and weigh 355 lbs i still need to apprehend the odd bad guy in my line of work, usually involves a foot chase, not to many get away

One of the reason i think that i am still reasonably fit is that i never lost my passion for my bikes nothing does me any better good than going for a long bike ride after my shift
just recently finished a new bike fetish single speed frame S A 8spd internal rock shox fork avid bb7 7" frt 6"rear discs mavic 521 rims ss spokes with brass bushings at the hubs on tioga city slicker with horn proof tubes no problems in the 750 kms i have put on this season wheels are bomb proof

my take on all this YOU just want to have to ride

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i107/2088bob/img_04592.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i107/2088bob/IMG_0461.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i107/2088bob/img_04602.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i107/2088bob/img_04622.jpg

This is my favorite bike.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i19/cutacroshorty/2006%20Honda%20GL1800/P1010141-1.jpg

Where do you keep the pedals on that thing? :eek: I bet it's a bear to pedal uphill. :p (Kidding!)

Actually, it's a sweet ride.

This is NOT my first post here, but it's my first post here in a long long time. I feel like a slug. Due to a number of circumstances, not the least of which has been laziness, the bike sat stagnant in my garage, with a beautiful bike trail not 200 yards from my front door that travels north from my house nearly 100 miles, and equally as far to the south into Chicago. Shame on me.

Well, today that changed. Despite back and knee problems, I dragged my 360 lb. frame onto my Giant and took the first ride in several months ... 30 minutes of pure bliss. It was raining and chilly, and I decided to not wear shorts over my bibs to shame myself into reality and finally do something about it (sorry neighbors!). Anyway, I guess I'm just reporting, not bragging by any means, and hoping that someone else might get inspired. I read your posts regularly, and finally did something myself. I know there are lots of people who are in the same boat. I guess I'm not one of those guys who's way ahead of the pack ... I'm a brother in arms. Let's do this together.

I've been a Clydesdale all my cycling career. In college I was 210lb and now at 52 years of age I weigh in at 230lbs. Over the years I've acquired a stable of horses and true to an Irish phrase I heard about a certain set of sisters, "Each is more fair than the other". Just as in horses, bicycles, and people, weight does not determine the beauty nor fun each has during its life. Its the heart and passion and his/her/its engagement in life.

Cheers,
Highwheel
- Specialized Expedition steel
- Gary Yokota titanium
- Land Shark steel
- Trek Madone carbon
- Schwinn Paramount steel
- Wright tandem steel
Turn of the century bikes
- Bayliss Thomas highwheel
- Windsor - safety
- Duchess - safey

hey everybody i guess im a clyde too, 6'2 230. i am 21 years old and play college baseball too

Hi all,

My name is Jeremy, and I am a clydesdale, I think.

6'3" 217.

I have been into cycling my entire life, but did not get into it in any serious way until about a year and a half ago. I started training for a tour across Spain (which didn't happen) and found a group of serious riders out of my LBS to ride with. I kept up with them easily on my rusty 70's Suntour, and they eventually convinced my to buy a newer bike. With the new bike, I was always in the front 3, which really got me addicted to cycling. Funny what positive re-enforcement does!

Right now I am training for my 1st century, in about a week and a half. I have never done more than 50 miles, but, quite a few times I have ridden 50 after three or four weeks out of the saddle, so I am not too scared, plus it is going to be in the hills that got me into cycling in the first place!

Hello, I as well am a "Clydesdale" 5'11" 250# at 41 years old. I started casually cycling about 6 years ago to rehab a bum knee, ended up with surgery anyway. I now am a 100% roadie and am riding a 2007 Motobecane that i overhauled with 105 9speed double components and Ritchey wheels, handles me just fine. I started this season at 285# and am down to 250#, its a struggle but I keep trying. I am averaging 100 miles a week and am keeping a 18.5mph pace, I think that's ok? (nothing more fun than keeping up with the little people! I have been training for our local corporate challenge (2 mile time trial) and would like to eventually try a race. Any suggestions from you big guy racers would be awesome!

Best suggestion: If you TT, you're racing against yourself. Set your baseline and improve on it, and above all, remember to just plain have fun. ;)

I'm 6'1", 220 lbs. My ideal weight is about 195. I ride a Trek 4300 MTB, primarily for commuting. I chose the MTB because of my weight and limited budget. I didn't want to spend tons of money upgrading wheels, fork, etc. It's been working very well for me. While I am not as lean as I want to be, I also am not as fat as I was 3 months ago. I was weighing in at about 235 before I started seriously watching my caloric intake and making a daily effort to exercise. My goal is to reach my ideal weight before next summer. I'm on track to do it as I am burning 1200 calories two times a week by commuting and burning another 300-400 two times a week by running.

Man I went to the Doc the other day and tipped the scales at 223. Cant wait to get some ride time in! Doc said I should be ok to start riding again :thumb:

Okay, what is it? Looks like one of those motorcycles with the big engine, that gets cage type gas mileage. When my brother-in-law was first looking at a motorcycle, he was looking at some of them, and they were rating them at 25MPG, heck some cages get better then that. He eventually traded his Trek 4300 for a Kawasaki Ninja and promptly put on 40lbs, I think he's added another 20-30lbs since then......

It's a 2006 Honda Goldwing GL1800/117HP. It gets around 48 to 50 MPG pretty close to the speed limit. Ha, ha!

25 years old
6' tall
I'm now 237 lbs, but I was 276 about 9 weeks ago before I started Weight Watchers (almost 40 lbs gone!). I'm picking up a Trek 7.5FX today as a reward and a way to continue to lose weight. My goal weight is 185. When I get below 200lbs I'm going to reward myself and buy a nice road bike. I'm doing this as a new a hobby and a way to lose weight and keep it off-sort of a lifestyle change. It's not fun being 25 and having aching joints and a bad back-I actually managed to pinch a nerve 2 years ago and I've since decided enough is enough.

Ultimately my goal is to enter some competitive biking events. I think that'll further give me reason to stay in shape. I used to race cars (autocross/open track) but that has become too expensive and didn't do anything to help me keep in shape. I run on an elliptical machine and lift weights on weekdays.

Hi everyone,
Real clydedale here 5'11" 293 last weigh in, down 24lbs since august 1. I am combining weight watchers with biking and now bike can't get the itch to ride out of my system unless i go minimum 15 miles a day. Fortunately I work 3 12 hour shifts a week and have four free days available. This gives me the ability to ride an average of 80 miles a week.

I live in Miami, FL and get to ride year round, i'm riding a cheap GT palomar department store bike i bought 2 years ago but haven't really ridden until recently. When I first started I could barely get around the block twice, now i can go 20 miles in an hour and a half on my mtn with huge knobby tires. I am looking to buy a new hybrid road bike that can go over large stumps and also handle some trail work. I was looking at and test road a jamis allegro 1x and really liked the bike. I think that will be my xmas gift this year. My goal is to do a century ride a year from today.

This was a great forum to find and thanks all.
Jess

Hi there, last April I was told to get a breathing test done by my Dr. to check for asthma, well when I showed up the test, they took my blood pressure, it was 185/105, that's when i decided to get something done and I was not going to ask for blood pressure meds ,instead, I got my 8 yr old Next mtb out and started riding the local river walk, about 7 mile round trip from home, then after about a month of that, I decided to get a newer cheap bike, I didnt want to spend big money till I knew for sure it was what I wanted to do, I went with a Walmart/Mongoose Paver, it did fine till about 400 miles it started to fall apart, I knew by then IO was ready for an upgrade.
I looked all over for a bike less than $500.00, that would be a good foundation to build upon. I was'nt happy with the pricing the LBS was telling me cause I knew if I stuck to my limit, I'd eventually find what I wanted, there are deals to be had.
I did find a 21inch Trek 820 that holds up well and is a good base to make a tourer on, I commute to work almost daily 25.5 miles round trip. I'm happy with the bike and I lost 20lbs since and my BP is near normal, AND I still love riding as much as possible!

Hi there, last April I was told to get a breathing test done by my Dr. to check for asthma, well when I showed up the test, they took my blood pressure, it was 185/105, that's when i decided to get something done and I was not going to ask for blood pressure meds ,instead, I got my 8 yr old Next mtb out and started riding the local river walk, about 7 mile round trip from home, then after about a month of that, I decided to get a newer cheap bike, I didnt want to spend big money till I knew for sure it was what I wanted to do, I went with a Walmart/Mongoose Paver, it did fine till about 400 miles it started to fall apart, I knew by then IO was ready for an upgrade.
I looked all over for a bike less than $500.00, that would be a good foundation to build upon. I was'nt happy with the pricing the LBS was telling me cause I knew if I stuck to my limit, I'd eventually find what I wanted, there are deals to be had.
I did find a 21inch Trek 820 that holds up well and is a good base to make a tourer on, I commute to work almost daily 25.5 miles round trip. I'm happy with the bike and I lost 20lbs since and my BP is near normal, AND I still love riding as much as possible!

Very Nice Post.
Now add some pics of you, your bike and your commute.
Its fun to ride and lose weight.

I am over 50, 5'7" and currently 207lbs........down from 230 this past January. Got into riding last year.....and now am addicted. ( Quit smoking 4 years ago and on came the weight!!) Ya don't have to be skinny and young to ride fast and hard!!!!!!!!!