Can someone be to heavy for a bike?

[macteacher]

My cousin is trying to lose some weight...i'd reckon he's about 280-300lbs+ The bike he would be riding would be an ironhorse. Is there a possibility he might break it due to his heavy weight?

[Little Darwin]

I have weighed between 365 and 300 (up and down) and put 3,000 miles on a Giant Sedona DX (2003 model)

Other than a broken spoke, I have had no problems.

Which Iron Horse?

You may want to urge him to get online and read the Clydesdale forum for a while.

EDIT: I broke a frame at the seatpost as a teen, when I weighed 150, so it has a lot to do with how you ride... perhaps just as much as weight (other than on elite lightweight bikes).

[Abneycat]

At 280-300, yes, thats over the designed capacity of a lot of bicycles. There are some bikes out there that will carry him though, as Little Darwin says the Clydesdale/Athena forum would be a good place to get information.

[macteacher]

Thanks for the response. The bike is an Ironhorse Maverick

[StephenH]

It really depends on what you're doing with it, etc. I bought a $100 mountain bike when I weighed about 280. I bent a couple of rear wheels the two times I had it off road, but for general riding around, it was fine.

[Juha]

Don't let me interrupt anything, I'm just moving this from General Cycling to Clydesdales/Athenas.


--J, a Forum Mod

[Mazama]

I've been riding at 325-350 for two years/8,000 miles now. I'm not sure about the Ironhorse, but there are plenty of choices out there. Spend your money on a hand-built set of wheels with 32-40 spokes. He will be fine.

Tell him to join Bike Forums and go to the Clyde section. There is a WEALTH of information there in the stickies, and friendly helpful folks!!!

[HandsomeRyan]

Short Answer- There is always a possibility but it is unlikely that he would destroy the frame. At 300lbs he may (possibly) need to replace the stock wheels with stronger ones but there is no reason he can't ride the bike as-is and replace stuff with beefier components as it (or if it) breaks.

[DieselDan]

Get a strong set of 36 spoke wheels and he'll be fine. I'm in that weight range with a Cannondale R500, but with handbuilt 36 and 32 spoke wheels.

[bautieri]

Your cousin will be fine. Do you know what year and what maverick version he will be riding? I checked them out at the iron horse website (http://www.ironhorsebikes.com/home.php?country=us) and they looked pretty nice. (Warning aggravating flash website, NSFDU (not safe for dial up :))) I can't say I would recommend a dual suspension version, go with a hard tail if its not too late. That leaves you with the Maverick 1.0, 3.0, and 5.0. Looking at the 3.0 (only because its the middle model) you get a pretty decent set up. the front fork is adjustable but does not have a lock out. Your cousin may want to ditch that fork for one that he can lock out. Other than that, he may want to change the fat knobbies out for some slimmer semi slicks with a high PSI rating. He'll be ok, being less than 300lbs the only thing keeping him from riding is himself.

Bau

[Air]

What ^^^ said :)

Also check out the links in my sig - a few people started off here north and way north of 300# and were able to find bikes to ride and rode them they did!

[barndoor]

Like others have said.....get really good, strong wheels....32-40 spokes

Your frame should be ok...

[Trucker_JDub]

I'm actually riding a folding bike at 340lbs (Montague Paratrooper). When I got it I was a long haul trucker and I needed something that I could keep in my truck and still hold me. Now I have decided to take a local job so I'm home at night and dedicate more time to getting healthier by ridding more and not eating at the truck stops. Just don't ride hard off curbs, big pot holes, mountain trails until the weight comes down.

[cohophysh]

Make sure you get something that fits. I have been to several bike shops and not one of them I was to heavy for most bikes, including road bikes (which I am purchasing soon), they just suggested building up the wheels