General Cycling Discussion - I have several newbie questions...

Hello,

I have decided to look into getting a bike primarily for fitness, but also for recreation. I know very little about modern bikes, and I didn't realize bicycles were such a complex thing. Bikes have come a long way since I rode one last as a kid. Because of this I'm finding choosing the right bike a little intimidating, and I'd like to get some suggestions on where I should start.

Here are the relevant details regarding my 'needs':

I am a BIG guy. I am a touch over 6'3" tall and I weight about 305lbs. I worry that most bikes won't handle that kind of weight. I plan to lose AT LEAST 75lbs, but thats what the bike is for so I need one to start with until my weight falls into a more normal range.

I plan to ride on the established bike trails in and around Cedar Rapids, most of which are paved, and, to a lesser extent, on roads and city streets. I would also like to ride on groomed dirt bike trails in some of our nearby parks.

I plan to start out riding maybe 3 miles a day and work my way up as my stamina improves, and I'm not really concerned about how fast the bike will go. My primary purpose for the bike is excercise.

I would like to spend about $300 or less on the bike as I can't afford much more, and I'm also planning on buying a bike for my wife too. I don't really have a problem buying a used bike, but I would prefer a new one if the price is right.

Thanks in advance for your help,

Mike

If you can only spend $300, then you can only spend $300. But IMHO, that is really close to the minimum people as a rule-of-thumb will need to spend to get a bike that is of any quality and will stand up to even moderate use. I mean, you don't need to spend $500-600 to get a good bike for yourself. But IMHO, you'll have a lot more choice if you can bump that up to even $400.

Be that as it may, since you're just starting out, it might be wise to spend your money on something not as expensive anyway. People might rip me for saying this, but bicycling isn't for everyone and just like any exercise, most people will simply abandon it within a fair amount of time. Until you know that cycling is for you, you might be well advised to spend less money on something.... and until your weight decreases.

I'm 5'11" and 230 pounds (not fat, but very muscular). Clearly, I'm weigh a fair amount less than you. But I still weigh more than most cyclists. What I've found is that rims are my biggest concern when it comes to how well my bikes hold up. If I'm not careful about curbs and the like, I can pop a spoke pretty easily. But other than that, I don't worry about my mass being an issue with bike wear. I think you'll probably find the same thing.

What I do do, though, is use very high-pressure tires since my mass tends to make my tires pretty flat and as any physicist can attest to you, flatter tires translate into more peddling energy wasted. That might be something to pay particular attention to because while you clearly want to expend calories, there isn't any need to do it needlessly and slow yourself down if you don't need to.

I would not suggest you go the used bike route. You don't know the history of the bike or how well it was maintained. Personally, I would be concerned with frame fatigue with so much mass. I would take a pass and get a new bike.

Anyway, the best place to start is probably your good old LBS (local bike shop). Ten minutes of dialog with someone there is worth an hour of forum text here. Plus they can help fit you correctly to a bike and show you real-life examples of bikes that might work for you.

Good luck!

As far as bike styles go, for general urban riding with some light trail riding, a "hybrid" or an MTB are both fine. Im always a bit dubious of suspension systems on lower-end bikes, especially for one which will be highly stressed by a big rider.
I would suggest an Al frame, the kind with fat tubing. In large frame sizes, this gives you the frame stiffness you need.

The main point of failure for bike is in the wheels. Look for ones with 36 rather than 32 spokes. A good bike shop will check and tune the spoke tension if neccessary. Bad ones dont. A good LBS will also swap out components and upgrade critical ones. On an MTB you could change the tyres to a faster on-road pattern. If you want a suspension seatpost, you could change to a reliable well proven one. Most cheap ones seem to wear out within a year or 2.

There are lots of good brands, so you are probably better off chosing your bike shop first. They will help you get a bike which fits you properly, and you will need to go back there for repairs and maintainance help.

Try and take a test ride on some models. If you need any more advice, get back.

I started riding @ 330 on a $98 Roadmaster P.O.S. Mountain bike. I quickly moved up to a used roadbike for which I paid $125. Now I'm @ 280, and I have a brand new roadbike that I paid about 1100 for. Don't worry about the bike so much. Most of them will hold you. Just dont get anything with the ultra low spoke count wheels.

I have a Specialized Hardrock that I paid $300 for that I really love. I just added slicks to it and it doesa lot better on trails and roads and could still do a bit off offroad. The bike has a compact geometry and might not work for larger riders, but you may want to look into it. I also looked at the Trek 4300 when I bought mine and it seemed like a pretty good bike all around bike.