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

Ok, I know there are quite a few riders over 200 pounds out there, who are you and what do your ride, we dont want the skinny twigs to have all of the fun :rolleyes: . Why do you ride or get back into riding, was it for exercise to loose weight or have you always been riding? At what weight exactly does one become a Clydesdale?



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

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/1897/dsc00046hd.jpg

http://img307.imageshack.us/img307/9538/dsc00038iu.jpg


Well I guess I dont have this photo posting thing down, sorry. Here is my story I am 40 years old now weigh in at 250 pounds and am six foot tall. I am also dealing with a fused left ankle(ankle does not move) and bad arthritis in my right knee so the doctor said about the only thing I could do for exercise was ride a bicycle or get in a pool. So the bike it was nobody needs to be subjected to me in a speedo the bike shorts are bad enough :rolleyes: .

OK... I top 200 in the winter... but I am 6'4" tall, do I qualify?

I'm at about 312, 6'5".

I ride a 2006 Felt F65. I started riding because of a shoulder injury (now turned into OA) that prematurely ended my short ice hockey career. My doc suggested this, or swimming, and I chose cycling.

My goals are to lose weight, get some sun, and enjoy myself, and keep myself healthy.

http://rob.lbox.org/DSC00135.jpg

6 ft 1 in. 235 lbs.
I've always thought that the Clydesdale category started at 200 pounds.
The problem with any criteria are the exceptions: a 6ft5in guy at 210 is probably
way leaner that a 5ft guy at 195.

I did a Google search on "Clydesdale Athena" and most sites agree that the
men's Clydesdale category starts at 200 pounds, and the women's Athena at 150.

When I was a runner I always appreciated the category just because it gave me
a chance to see how my times were in comparison to similar folks. Among bicyclists
the term "Clydesdale" seems to be a codeword for entree in discussions of stronger
wheels, frames, etc.

My Trek1100 couldn't keep the rear wheel trued, so the shop rebuilt it with a 3x pattern
and I've never had a problem since. I have re-geared all my bikes to help climbing; I think
most OEM bikes aren't geared for moving 230-pounders up hills.

6'4" tall. 215 lbs. Used to race sailboats. All the "skinny" little people used to Pi$$ me off! When you use the wind for power, and not your body, being light is a HUGE advantage.

Was also a marathon runner. Got tired of hurting my feet all of the time (overpronator). Got into triathlons about a year ago. Got a bike. Now I love the bike more than the other two sports. There is just something satisfying about sprinting out and watching the "skinny" people blow up (unless it's a massive hill of course).

I get a kick out of watching people fight to ride my wheel! Of course it's interesting when I get stuck behind a 5' tall 100 lbs girl on a group ride. In the words of Joey Tribiani' "how yuu doing?!"

I still have a lot to learn, but man, this sport kicks ass! Big guys can compete!

I am still learning which parts I can use, and which ones I can't. "...what do you mean I cant use that type of pedal!" Cracked the seat tube on my trek 2200 (carbon). Ripped the spokes out of my last rear wheel. Ocasionally I hear the sounds of my large chainring scrapeing the front deraileieur when I mash. Ah - it's good to be a clydesdale!

i'm a true clydesdale. I race at 220, off season weight is 245, as food and me during the holidays is hardly a recipe for fitness fidelity.

I'm only 5'9" and hate running, but I do triathlons following the 'Float, HAMMER!, Jog' mantra and can complete for top 5 in clydesdales.

Yes, my training wheels are 32 spoke, I have to use a compact for any climbing, Carbon frames & components are pipe dream.

*edit* everyone on my team says they can draft mw and not have a single hair move.

6'3" 225 lbs. Mainly from my enjoyment of beer! :beer:

http://cdn-48.cdn.buzznet.com/assets/users9/marinerfan/default/large-msg-1132519418-2.jpg

http://cdn-77.cdn.buzznet.com/assets/users12/marinerfan/default/large-msg-115350534454.jpg

http://cdn-03.cdn.buzznet.com/assets/users11/marinerfan/default/large-msg-114852156384-2.jpg

I'm 6' 205 lbs. I just got back into cycling after about a 20 year hiatus. I enjoy it and it is great for conditioning.

5' 11" 207 lbs, used to be 245 lbs at the start of the year, but a new exercise regime has put paid to that!

I have entered a triathlon for 2006, hope I have learned to ride my new bike by then.

6' 4" and I fluctuate between 210 & 220. My stable consists of a Kona Fire Mountain set up for touring, an old Cilo, Columbus tubed road bike, a Scattante R550, and a Surly Pacer that I'm building up. I've been riding regularly since I was 15 when I started commuting the ten miles back and forth to school. Then I was a messenger for seven years where I shrunk down to 175lbs. Now that I'm in Los Angeles I don't ride as often as when I lived in Seattle and there certainly aren't as many hills to keep me in shape.

As far as parts reliability I find I'm hardest on Seatposts and wheels. Which I think comes from too much seated climbing and bunny hopping potholes.

Great thread BTW.

-Marcus

Another clydesdayle here...6'1" and 215-220 depending on the day and time. I started cycling because of a knee injury from a motorcycle accident. I couldn't run on my injured knee for a while but my therapist told me it was okay to ride a bicycle and swim. I started cycling in September 2004 and have enjoyed every minute of it. Since I continue to weight train as I ride, my weight has actually gone up. Here are my rides:

http://kevinmcdade.servebeer.com/misc_bikes_rs/100_0742rs.JPG
http://kevinmcdade.servebeer.com/misc_bikes_rs/100_0744rs.JPG
http://kevinmcdade.servebeer.com/misc_bikes_rs/100_0746rs.JPG
http://kevinmcdade.servebeer.com/misc_bikes_rs/100_0749rs.JPG

What no post from Euro yet? :D

I too am a Clydesdale though I am trying not to be, currently 213 lbs down from 255 in Jan 04...too slow but getting there.

Here is me and my pair of roadies.

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeej440/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/john_at_rftr.jpg
http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeej440/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/salsa_side.jpg
http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeej440/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/dscn3488.jpg

Originally I got back into cycling just to get in better shape but now with a 1-year-old daughter thats walking I need the exercise just to keep up with her :) . This is a EURO free zone or until he gains another 100 pounds :D .

http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/6104/dsc0060firstbirthday5jr.th.jpg (http://img67.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc0060firstbirthday5jr.jpg)

10 days ago i could of posted in this thread. ;)

201 and 6'1"

Here is me and my ride. Was down below 190 for awhile there until I took a month off to nurse my back and the weight shot above 200 again and hasn't come back down yet.
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2878/1107/1600/Paul_01.jpg

I've ridden a Specialized Roubaix down from 149.5 lbs in Mid July to 220 today. I'm a little over 5' 11" tall.

I've ridden a Specialized Roubaix down from 149.5 lbs in Mid July to 220 today. I'm a little over 5' 11" tall.

? You gained pounds riding??

or you went from 220 to 150? Wow that is alot of weight loss. Good job!

I believe that I qualify for this category. Starting 7/26/05 a friend and I decided that we were tired of our current lack of fitness and upset that we no longer could fit into our motorcycle leathers, or walk to our deer blinds without almost passing out, so we challenged each other to lose weight. I had tried to lose weight but could not do the diet thing. I started riding a Walmart tank at 6'2" and 260:eek: on 7/26/05. On August the 2nd I bought this:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10/rhayward/PA010020.jpg

Today I am 37yrs old 232lbs and closing in on an original goal of 220. I believe I will be able to get to 210 before the new year. It is more than just losing weight now, I am hopelessly addicted and may try to compete when I have finished my base building. My friend is not riding and I have won the contest hands down. :D

I feel like a tub. I'm the heaviest guy yet!

I feel like a tub. I'm the heaviest guy yet!

lol thats a little harsh

I can loose 10lbs myself but I have almost no time to ride except weekends and I usually eat too much during the week

Im 5'10" and 201. I was 226 when I started riding again in June. Actually Late in June.
I got the bike in early June and looked at it for two weeks. That did not take off one ounce! I use the cycling to get in shape and for motivation. I give my self goals, Like I can buy this piece of cycling gear if I loose another 5 lbs. With me it was ice cream and TV that caused me to get overwieght. I 2 huge bone spurs in my shoulder, and it is close to useless, so my Doctor said cycling would probably work for me. He was so right, he usually is!

6'4" tall. 215 lbs. Used to race sailboats. All the "skinny" little people used to Pi$$ me off! When you use the wind for power, and not your body, being light is a HUGE advantage.

Was also a marathon runner. Got tired of hurting my feet all of the time (overpronator). Got into triathlons about a year ago. Got a bike. Now I love the bike more than the other two sports. There is just something satisfying about sprinting out and watching the "skinny" people blow up (unless it's a massive hill of course).

I get a kick out of watching people fight to ride my wheel! Of course it's interesting when I get stuck behind a 5' tall 100 lbs girl on a group ride. In the words of Joey Tribiani' "how yuu doing?!"

I still have a lot to learn, but man, this sport kicks ass! Big guys can compete!

I am still learning which parts I can use, and which ones I can't. "...what do you mean I cant use that type of pedal!" Cracked the seat tube on my trek 2200 (carbon). Ripped the spokes out of my last rear wheel. Ocasionally I hear the sounds of my large chainring scrapeing the front deraileieur when I mash. Ah - it's good to be a clydesdale!


funny. thanks.

Hello fat guys.

(This is NOT for those who are tall, such as 6'6" and built proportionately).

I'm 5-11 or 6-0 depending on how much I slouch.

In Feb. of 2004 I weighed 243 pounds... I bought a mountain bike, rode it like a madman for 10 months and by December I weighed 190. It just takes motivation, finding exercise you enjoy, and proper eating.

Now my weight has been steady at 165-170 for 4-5 months, I feel great, and my hill climbing is vastly improved.

Caffeine helps.

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.

Started riding again in May 05(at 232) got down to 195 in Aug '05, stopped riding due to family commitments and have re-joined the Clydes..currently up at 212.

6'3" 240

Some of it beer, but most of it from 25 years of being a gym rat.
I'd be happy losing about 20lbs of fat and getting to 100 kilo - but that means SLOW and steady.

I have no plans to be a competitive roadie, so I have no desire to lose my hard-earned upper body musculature. I just want to peel away the 1/2 inch of subcutaneous blubbah that keeps my 39-yo definition from shining thru :D

6'0" 260lbs, got back into riding last July, ridiculously short commute and weekend riding. Although work has killed a lot of weekends lately...

I ride a Fuji Ace, killed the stock rear wheel in short order, replaced it with a Mavic Cosmos which is holding up nicely despite only having 28 straigh-laced 3x spoke.

--v

6'6 200lbs 6%bf
IF i qualify cool ,if not meh

i don't consider myself a Clyde - i'm a smidge over 6 ft, and fluctuate between 200- 215 lbs. but pressed to guess my weight, most folks think i'm around 180-190. have no idea what my % body fat is, sorry. but that's up from my low of 120 in college.

i ride an essentially stock '05 Bianchi Eros. haven't broke nothing yet.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b353/jhota42/newside.jpg

i also ride a '91 Trek 930 SingleTrack. i've broken lots of stuff on this over the years, but nothing i'd consider extreme.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b353/jhota42/trekside.jpg

to the OP (Motophoto): i love the Klein - seriously old-school saddle! plus, i can't remember when i last saw a frame with bottle mounts below the down tube. what year is it?

oh, btw, cross-chaining is often considerd a bad thing.

i don't consider myself a Clyde - i'm a smidge over 6 ft, and fluctuate between 200- 215 lbs. but pressed to guess my weight, most folks think i'm around 180-190. have no idea what my % body fat is, sorry. but that's up from my low of 120 in college.

...numbers don't lie...over 200# = clydesdale...now if you flucuated 199-215, you might have an argument. :)

As for me...6' 2" 225 (down from 270# playing football) ride a stock motobecane steelie...looking for a tri-bike next year...

your bike doesn't know what your body fat level is. I think the bikes today can carry us clydesdales but......if you insist on super light weight parts you may have troubles. And why would you want to spend the dollars on a part that saves you a quarter of a pound and will probably fail?

Finally some bikers I can relate to. I'm 250 pounds at 6 feet. Had triple bypass in July 2000 and I'm type 2 diabetic. Started biking last summer to lose weight with 5 mile trips. Worked my way up to 20 milers but I'm still 250 pounds. It appears for now I will remain a Clydesdale. Will reach my goal of 1000 miles this year but guess I better go for 2000 miles next year. And I should probably not be eating the oatmeal raisin cookies on my desk. My current ride is a Trek 7200fx hybrid with seat number 11. Pic from a trip the son in law took me own at the Lehigh Gorge, PA. Although I'm not to keen on driving 80 miles to ride 18 miles. Young people are strange like that.

6'1" 240-lbs here. When I cut back on the beer the weight drops. I'm happy with my cardio (my cardio is better than many of my normal weight friends) but I would like to drop 20- to 30-lbs. I guess I had better cut back on the brews...

6'1" 260# 1999 Trek 2100 stock Rolf Vector with 700x25 Maxxis tires as pictured. Running Panaracers at this time.

Use to tour as a kid. Got out of it when I got married. Single now and had some Cardio problems. Doc didnt have to twist my arm to hard to get me back in the saddle. 3200 miles this year so far. Three centurys. One 200k brevet. RAGBRAI and TOMRV too.

I enjoyed dropping pace lines on RAGBRAI. My Max speed on RAGBRAI was 47MPH. Its always a blast to blow pass pace lines. Just to see there exspressions. My legs are no match for there tooth picks. Ok they can take me on the up hills. But they better be outa my way on the down hills and straights.

Go Clydesdales!!!

And they thought horse racing was only for quarter horses. HA!!!!!!

19 years old, 6' and 225lbs. Not healthy. I picked up an old Giant Rincon last spring and rode it around, but really wanted a roadbike. (The Rincon was $40 and fit, so it was hard to pass up.) Spent the summer working, found the time a month ago and went to the bike shop. Fitted for a 54cm (Trek sizes) frame, but they had no 1000s in, which was all that was in my price range. I'd ridden a 1200 and was hooked. Two weeks later, they had the 2006 Trek 1000 in in my size and I didn't waste a minute in getting there. Two weeks from then is now and I love it. I don't get as much time to ride it as I would like, as the weather's nuts here. No mileage goal this year, but I would love to break 100.
Overall goal: Health, weight-loss. Short-term: Sprint-length triathalon in spring and a 9 mile mountain biking portion of the Ski-To-Sea in spring as well.

5'6" and was 224 last winter. After mucho hours on the trainer (I know the Spinervals videos by heart), and a lot of miles this summer I'm down to 180. But here's my Specialized that got me there with no problems at all, even with the low spoke count Shimano wheels. It's a Specialized Allez Comp Cro-Mo triple. And I thought I'd post a cheesy pic of me and the wife and the little one as well. My weight loss has really been a combination of biking, strength training twice a week, and eating right. "Abs are made in the kitchen" as they say......

5'7" about 260. Started riding again after about 20 years this morning. I lasted about 15 minutes. Looking simply to do 30-45 minutes 4 times a week. Going to try going in this New England winter. After all, i have the insulation.

My goal is simply to get back into shape.

Lemond big Sky SL.

Clydesdadle doesn't necessarily mean fat, it means BIG!

Take a look at the "Clydesdale" video put out by Spinervals. Some of those guys and gals are some of the most muscular in-shape folks you will ever see on a bicycle (several are personal trainers) but they are all BIG!

They also have some folks who are overweight, but Clydesadle means BIG, not always overweight.

I am big, muscular and overweight!

5'11", 205--I ride an Airborne Zeppelin with Mavic Ksyrium Equipe wheels. No Problems with damage to wheels or bike, 2400+ miles this summer (I live in Michigan--the riding season for non-Eskimos and masochists is April-October). Last year started on a Giant OCR 3 at 255lbs, broke the spokes in the back wheels twice--had a heavier, stronger wheel built and no problems. Of course I dropped about fifty pounds over that summer as well--so that may have had something to do with it ;) I am a Clydesdale and proud of it. Rode a Century in under six hours this year, ride at 18-20mph on my own and at 20-22 in a group. I may be fat--but I'm fit...can't climb worth a s**t, but I go downhill like a bat outta hell...Dropping another 15lbs this winter should help with the climbing...

It never gets easier--you just get faster...
GL

5'9" 210lbs down from 231 in January. I ride a Specialized Roubaix Elite. I think as the riding decreases into winter I am going to have to cut out the pizzas. what do you think?

I find the "inter"cydesdale rivalry amussing. Anyone had someone give you abuse for not being over a certain weight? Before one race, a guy gave me hell saying that 215 wasn't really a Clydesdale. I weighed 212 at that one. What in your opinions is a REAL clydesdale? 225? 250? Puts several wheels in the pit planning onusing them? Owns a pizza joint with a bar?

I always assumed big guys were slow. Met a guy who weighed 225 and ran a 42 minute 10K. His bike split was obviously fast too. We can accomplish what we allow our mind to believe we can. We can sprint. We can climb. We just need to believe it's possible.

So I am assuming KirkeIsWaiting is a woman:

"How yuu doing?!"

Just kidding! I take it you are 5' 100 lbs?

Clydesdale does not mean fat. thewalrus, I used to weigh 255lbs no muscle. Now 215 all muscle. 6'4" tall does not disqulify anyone from the fat catagory. We just have more places to put it. Like when my daughter cleans her room and puts the mess in the closet. It's still a mess. We all reached a point where we decided we wanted a different life. I applaud the fat people in the gym and/or on the road. They decided to take action. The ones on the couch, are the ones who we should worry about. (Ben and Jerrys while watching football were a favorite of mine).

i think it's not just a weight thing - height and body type has a lot to do with it, imho. sombody 6'6" that weighs 200 lbs isn't a Clyde, they're just tall. a buddy of mine in college would have probably been a Clyde, and he didn't weigh 200 lbs - only 190 or so. but he was 5'2". wasn't fat, just built like a tank with broad shoulders and a lot of muscle - kind of square, actually. if he rode, he'd probably break "normal" parts all the time - if they were chosen for the average cyclist his height.

Slightly over 6ft. 225 lbs. Type II diabetic. 38 yrs old.

Doc told me to take insulin or exercise. Poking holes was not my idea of fun, especially with my sedentary (IT consultant/PM) lifestyle and Indian food intake (curry, spices, rice, ....)

Ride a 2004 Fuji Bordeaux. Got it for exercise, weight loss, get-away-from-home for two hours, etc ... (Riding the Harley does not give me the exercise. DOH). Changed the seat coz my a$$ was big. Have the Naviion cyclo-computer for tracking miles and hills. Done one round of truing (abt 250 miles in abt 4 weeks). That's it. And thoroughly enjoying my new found hobby/exercise/sport/toy/2nd wife/etc ... :D Love it, love it, love it ... Absolutely loving it. (Even though the weather is miserable.) Plus the support on this forum has been awesome.

Changed my diet, drinking lots & lots of water, experimenting with what to eat and when to ride, what to wear, how to look kewl ;), how to pedal uphill, use the drops, etc ... Having a blast all around ... a painful fun thing. Feeling exhilarated at the end of every ride. Fun fun fun fun ...

Loving it,
M

These are great stories! Way to go magesh! It just gets better!

i think it's not just a weight thing - height and body type has a lot to do with it, imho. sombody 6'6" that weighs 200 lbs isn't a Clyde, they're just tall.

Your bike wheels don't care if they're carrying 200 lbs of muscle or just fat, the stress levels are the same. So equipment threads for Clydesdales are insensitive to body type. Weight loss discussions are another issue, and one where Athenas can contribute even though their equipment issues aren't the same unless they've reached the full Clydesdale.

very true. I was over 360 when I started riding and 24 spoke wheel died. no idea why :rolleyes: :D

6' 2" at 260#! Current rides:

Outback road bike - full Campy WITH Vento wheels (bulletproof!)
Converted fixed-gear bike - still playing with gear on this one
Kona Dew Deluxe - currently in conversion to internal-gear-hub commuter

Future bikes:

Touring frame from Nashbar with various spare parts
Recumbent of some sort or other

Lost 15 pounds at the beginning of 2005 when I re-started cycling, then gained 10 pounds back! Currently riding 10-20 miles/day and a single 30-40 mile ride once per week. Can anyone say "DIET?" :mad:

5'7" and about 220# as of this morning, down almost 10 lbs from when I started riding again this year in April or so. Only started riding cuz I had pain in my achilles heel when I walked and noticed it didn't hurt when I rode. Now the heel doesn't hurt as often unless I don't ride for a few days and I can do other exercises like use my x-country skier and rollerblade/ice skate. Goal is to keep eating healthy, lose wt. at a normal pace and keep riding all winter along w/ doing more skating and skiing.

Haven't broke anything on my bike due to my wt., but it's a Haro mtn. bike and even w/ the craptastic bottom of the line Shimano components, it's been bullet proof, although I am detecting some "give" in the bottom bracket between when I start to pedal and when it engages the crank. The bike's 15 yo so I guess it's time to replace the bb.

6' tall and I get up to 205 in the winter. I call it my Hibernation Weight.
I'm planning on dipping below 185 next year, though. So my Clydesdale classification may be taken from me. So be it.

http://www.geocities.com/bohemiancycleworks/r400-01.jpg

"Junior" Clydesdale at 6'2" 195 lbs (was 210 4 months ago).

Gotta love this ad:

Down to 205 for the Ventura Triathlon. It's amazing how quick you get skinny when you swim, run, and bike on a regular basis. Now that my wife is pregnant and winter, such that it is in Los Angeles, has set in. I'm back up to 220. Building up a new bike to get the momentum goiing again.