General Cycling Discussion - New to biking - need advice

I am an overweight 23 year old male, interested in taking up cycling as a hobby and a regular workout routine. Some friends of mine are doing a two-day bicycle marathon next year, and I would like to train toward that, though if I can not get into shape by the time the event comes up, I would consider not doing it to avoid injury. I am wondering what kind of bike I should get - road, mountain, comfort? Also, what features should I really be looking for in a bike? I am trying to spend less than $500 - is this unreasonable? Thanks in advance for any help.

Given your price range and level of experience, I would suggest looking at a hybrid bike. It has larger wheels than a MTB -- 700c, the same size as a road bike -- and a more upright riding position than a road bike.

It can be difficult for a novice to adapt to the position of a road bike at first and, if you are overweight, you might experience some back pain until you slim down. If you don't enjoy riding, you won't ride.

The other thing is that, while it can be difficult to find a GOOD new MTB -- and impossible to find any new road bike -- for @ $500, there are a number of quality hybrids at that price point. If you find you REALLY love cycling, you can upgrade to a more expensive bike later on.

[BTW, you might find that, as you become passionate about cycling, you spend a WHOLE lot of $$$ on it. I have a riding buddy who puts it this way: "I don't live to work... I don't even work to live... I work and live to ride."]

Welcome to the forums, and welcome to the cycling world.

The first thing to ask yourself, is what type of riding will you be doing? If you are going to use the bike primarily on the road, but for short distances only, then a comfort bike or hybrid would be the way to go. If you're going to do some off road riding, then obviously a mountain bike would be for you. If you're riding on the road, but for long distances (or long periods of time) then a road bike is the ticket.

When you say overweight, what do you mean. I'm an overweight 32 year old, and I love to ride. What is overweight for you? I'm about 215 lbs, and want to get down to 190 or just below 200. Last year at this time, I weighed close to 260 lbs! Most bikes can handle the extra lbs, but if you're over 300 lets say, I'd stick with a mountain bike or a comfort bike. They'd be more comfortable for you. A road bike forces you into a "leaned" over position which is more umcomfortable for bigger guys.

What kind of marathon is it? Probably a long distance road ride or is it a 24 hour mountain bike race? Find out and use that as a starting point.

You can get a decent bike for your budget. Go to all (and I mean all) your local bike shops and test ride as many bikes as you can before you buy!

Also, check out some cycling books regarding fitness. I'm in the process of using Lance Armstrongs 7 weeks to the Perfect Ride. It's a 7 week excercise program that utilizes heartrate training. The training itself is easy, the hard part is finding time to ride 6 days a week, even if it's only 30 to 45 minutes each day and an hour to an hour and a half on weekends. I'm forcing myself to get up early and ride before work. I've actually gotten used to it, and miss it on my rest day!

Give us more information and I'm (and many others here) will be glad to help!

velocipedio-

I appreciate the post. I've seen hybrids at some bike store websites but wasn't sure what they were. One thing: I'm not up on the shorthand, so I'm wondering what "MTB" is. My assumption is mountain bike, but I could certainly be incorrect. Thanks again for your help. I'll post what I end up getting soon.

Yes MTB = Mountain Bike sometimes called ATB or All Terrain Bike.

As an overweight and unfit 30 yr old I bought aN MTB and fitted it with semi - slicks to use largely on road but with occasional light off-road use. It's certainly comfortable enough for a 20 mile ride, I don't know about longer.

Richard

a2psyklnut -

Thanks to you too - I appreciate the post. I'm not above 300lbs. Somewhere around 240ish, and I should also be working to get down to under 200. The marathon is a road race (Texas MS150 from Houston to Austin) in April, which is why I originally considered road bikes, but I read some literature somewhere that advised against heavier people getting a road bike and actually suggested a comfort bike - I guess because of the posture and the fact that the bikes are so much lighter. But then I read somwhere that a comfort will be too heavy and too much work on a two-day marathon, so I got confuddled. That's why the previous poster's recommendation about a hybrid made sense to me - best of both worlds, right? Also, from what I've seen, road bikes are prohibitively expensive. I certainly value my health and having a good daily activity, but $2500 for a bike? Spending that kind of money on a hobby is not how I was raised. :) Of course, maybe it's time to rethink that. Thanks again for your help.

latakiahaze -

Thanks for the clarification. Hadn't thought about the customized MTB idea. I will be training on road and light off road (bike trails through a park, etc.) and the race is a road race, so it seems that your setup would also make sense. So many choices! Thanks again.

Well, first of all, $500 is a decent budget. You may not get the best for that much, but then again have you priced golf clubs lately? $250 for a driver. Yep that's one club, who in their right mind you buy a set of Ping clubs for $2000.00? Hey did you see my new road bike? Only spent $1500. I guess it's all what you're into and how much you're willing to spend.

What I would recommend, is to do what Latakiahaze did. Since you're 23 and not sure what direction you will eventually head. Buy a decent mountain bike, swap out the knobby tires for slicks. (Most shops will do this for nuthing or just the difference in cost) A comfort bike is essentially a mtb with road tires. Some new tires for mountainbikes are very thin, down to 1.25 inches and can be inflated to 90 and even some upto 110 psi. That's as much as a road bike tire. (Tyre for you euro guys) I'd ride it as much as you can. That way if your buddys go off roading, you can switch back to knobby tires for the day. If you find yourself on the road all the time, then sell your bike and buy a used road bike.

A hybrid is a 700c tire (Road bike size) with a bike you ride in an upright position. It's a comfort bike, only backwards. If that makes sense!

Good luck!

I don't regret going down the MTB with slicks route, but I do wonder whether I should have stretched my budget further, and got an even better MTB.

Of course I now want a road bike as well :D

Oh... and a Tourer

... and a folding job for the odd day I do catch the train...

Richard - :) Addict :) after only a few months :D

I would suggest that you get a properly sized used hybrid to start with. You could start with a road bike, but if you are really overweight, it will probably fall apart very quickly. Besides, people with fat @$$es generally don't like the way a road saddle feels, at least not at first. Loose the pounds first, then upgrade to a good road bike.
Expecting that you will be able to go from a sedentary life to doing marathon road racing in a matter of merely months is extremely ambitious, to say the least. Try not to be unrealistic.

Hi NewCycler, welcome to the forums!

I also would suggest a hybrid, for the reasons D*Alex mentioned.

I've done the MS rides a few times on my hybrid, and it was no problem. I've got it set up with thinner tires than it came with, and aero bars (additions to the handlebars that allow you to get into a more leaned over aerodynamic position), but other than that it is stock, and has served me well on the road and light off road on paths, for 7-8 years now.

I do also have a road bike that I use on longer rides now, I didn't have it when I went on the last MS ride.

BTW, I wouldn't describe the MS ride as a race or marathon. It's the type of ride you can do at your own pace, the important thing is to get there. Some people turn it into a competition, but that's their choice, other just go with the flow.

d*alex and aerobat -

Thanks for each of your posts. I've gotten some really good info from this site today, and I appreciate it - I'm psyched to get started. Yeah, a friend of mine who's done the MS150 before said the same thing - it's more an at-your-own-pace ride, and that it's more about completing than it is about racing. My friends and I all plan to stick together and make an enjoyable trip out of it. You're right, d*alex - it might be aggressive to think I can prepare for the ride in 4-5 months - that's why I'm just going to train in order to get in shape, and if I feel ready for the race when it comes, great, and if not, I will just continue getting into better shape. Thanks again for all of you guys' help!

NewCycler,
Welcome to BikeForums and to a great sport. I started out heavier than you on a Giant Cypress hybrid comfort bike. It would be quite adequate for you right now and costs less than $300. Don't get the slightly more expensive model with the suspension front fork. You don't need it. The lower model comes with a suspension seat post which helps soften the ride a little.

Be aware that no matter what you get, you will experience discomfort in your rear. This will last for a week or two until you get used to riding. This is normal; don't let it discourage you. Just ease into cycling with short rides and gradually build. If you jump on and ride 10 miles, you will hurt and get discouraged. You need time to adapt.

Is commuting by bike feasible for you? I have found it an excellent way to get in miles.
Regards,
Raymond

Just wanted to add a caveat to my last post-you should look for a decent hybrid, not one of those mass-retailer specials (Magna, Free Spirit, Diamondback, Wal-Mart Mongoose, etc.). A bike shop might be the best place to start. Buy one more for practicality-it will be your 'rain bike' in a year or 2, so make sure that it can mount fenders, etc.

I think you'll find that roadies -- guys who ride road bikes -- will tend to suggest hybrids, while mountain bikers will recommend MTBs with slicks. It comes out to tyhe same thing in the end. If you see yourself riding almost exclusively on pavement, with occasional excursions on groomed hardpacked dirt trails [in parks, etc.], a hybrid would probably be a better choice; if you see yourself being more adventurous off-road, you might want to consider an MTB. Either way, you'll have a decent bike.

As for cost... I think of $3000 (US) as an EXPENSIVE bike. $1000 is an inexpensive bike, and anything from $1200-$2500 is "affordable." That's not everyone's range, but the truth is that you can get a pretty good, even race-able road bike for about $1000 these days. Start with the hybrid... if you like cycling and you want to move into the roadie world, start saving. Incidentally, cycling is probably the best exercise for losing weight. Period.

BTW, I have a friend who thinks of $4000 titanium bikes as "affordable." I guess it's one of those perspective things.

D*Alex - thanks, good advice. I was planning on going to a Sun & Ski Sports and possibly a few of the exclusive bike shops I've seen around to look for my new ride. It is certainly tempting to get the $99 Wal-Mart mongoose special, but even I must admit that spending that little on a bike is foolish. I appreciate the post.

velocipedio -

Yeah, the more research I do the more a hybrid seems to be in line with what I'm looking for. This will mainly be a way to exercise for me, and the occassional bike marathon or whatever will be just an extra diversion. I'm looking for some physical activity to jump into long-term, and I HATE jogging. I agree with you on perspective with regard to cost, and I can even see how $1000 could be considered an inexpensive bike based on some of the manufacturer sites I've visited. However, I must be sensible, and as with anything I am just starting, I don't go in full force until I'm sure. I took my first piano lesson a few months ago with a girlfriend of mine, and I certainly didn't go buy a grand piano just because I turned out to be kinda good at it. You friend, on the other hand, may just have money to burn. If that is the case, feel free to send some my way. :) Thanks for all your help today!

Here's a new topic we can discuss - and I may have to limit this to Texas residents or frequent visitors who might know. Is it a law that cyclers must wear a helmet at all times? What are the details - i.e. only when on a street, or only when in traffic, or no exceptions to the rule, or is this not a law at all? I've wondered about this for a while and never did hear a solid answer. I know it's a safety precaution, but if I'm just tooling around my mom's neighborhood on visits home, is it really necessary? Thanks.

Helmets are a must! I once bought a new motorbike and the guy gave my helmet a whack with a club hammer. Wrecked the helmet.
His comment was something similar to
"You don't blink when you spend a thousand dollars for your arse why not spend 50 for your head"
Geddit?

Harry -

Point taken. Rest assured that I am going to buy a helmet and plan on wearing it all the time. My question really pertained to rides on small roads with little or no traffic, where I will not be going fast, or in parking lots where there are no cars, etc. Basically, just wondering if it's OK to get the bike out of the garage, drive it a few houses down and turn around and come back without the helmet or if I will be ticketed for that. Thanks for your post.

NewCycler,

Lots of good advice, here. Welcome! ;)

Whatever bike you choose, the most important things are:

1) Quality. Don't buy department store bikes. The initial quality is absent and they are assembled by who-knows-who. Most bike shops provide ongoing basic maintenance at no charge as part of a sales package. You won't be sorry.

2) Fit. The frame size must be exactly right for you, as assisted by a qualified bike shop attendant. Never buy an oversized or wrong-sized bike just because it's on sale.

3) Type. Get the type of bike designed for the type of riding you will be doing. Road riding = road bike or hybrid. Trail riding = mountain bike. Sidewalk = walking shoes (ha, ha, that's a joke, son! ;) )

4) Learn. Take "Effective Cycling" courses, or learn by joining a cycling club.

5) Have fun. :)

6) The helmet thing. Do it. (It may have saved my brain...some may dispute this claim.)

P.S. If you are just starting out and plan to do lots of mileage at once, remember that it takes some patience to develop your heart and blood vessels, also your leg muscles, before you will be ready to attack long distance rides.

I agree with all who post here..
If I may add MY 2cents and say do the leg work stay with local bike shops take the time and visit as many as you can and ask
question about the gears, brakes etc..
find a bike that is comfortble to you. dont look at brand names.
try them all no matter what the cost. learn why they cost so much.
when you get your new bike ride it
you have to build muscle, your heart will work more, and your lungs will grow. this will hurt if done to much to soon..
go slow at first... join the local bike club that offers rides that fit your level..
but beware that once you get bit by the bike bug.. it will be in your blood...
have fun and good luck........

K

Ba-Dg-Er - nice research skills! I tried and couldn't find that section of law on texas.gov. Thanks for your help.

I wanted to add a comment about helmets. Get one and wear it all the time! I used to think, "well, if I'm just riding around the neighborhood at slow speeds, what can happen?" Well, lo and behold I got whacked! I was cruising along and this older lady pulled out from a sidestreet. We even made eye contact! And she just started moving forward. I had no place to go and no time to stop! Cartwheeled over the front of her car! I was o.k., but before I left, I felt invincable. Nothing will happen to me, I ride too smart! Now I wear my helmet always!

BTW, here in FL the rescinded(sp?) the helmet law for motorcyclists. How stupid is that? Oh yeah, helmets are mandatory for kids under 16, not required for adults! Another stupid piece of legislature. I guess adults heads are stronger than kids heads.

Also, as a parent, I always wear a helmet when I go riding with my boy! Tis better to teach by doing, than by saying!

Pete Clark and ahuman -

Thanks for each of your posts. Last night I went to a Sun & Ski Sports here in Houston and looked at their hybrids. Luckily the size I needed in the bikes he was recommending will not be available - I am generally a pushover at the point of sale - so I just asked a lot of questions and test drove a few bikes and really learned quite a bit. I will go to some smaller independent shops today and tomorrow to comparison shop and ask more questions about features, etc. The two bikes that he seemed to think were comparable in quality and good for a new cycler like myself were the Cypress DX and a model by Gary Fisher (spelling?), the name of which escapes me at the moment. The only difference he could point to between them was that the Gary Fisher has a trigger gear shift while the Giant has the thing where you turn the whole handlebar forward or backward. In my mind, that trigger did not justify the additional $60, but I will do a little more research over the next couple of days to determine which I really prefer. Both had front and rear suspension, which I know someone here has said is not worth the money, but it's only a $30 difference over the lower models in each case, and I would love my *** to be as comfortable as possible - it's a very important part of me. Anyway, thanks again for the help so far. I'll keep everyone posted on how this all turns out!

Is this the Gary Fisher you were looking at?
If so, it's the ZEBRANO, check out www.fisherbikes.com for more info.

a2psyklnut -

Well, I've heard it too many times on this message board and in other places to ignore it. I will wear my helmet all the time, despite the lack of legal pressure to do so - I promise. That's interesting about the motorcycle helmet law. I've always been a bit of a Libertarian, so I have never agreed with any law forcing you to make smart choices, but I think any smart person should wear a helmet for the sake of self preservation. And if they don't, maybe that's Darwinian. At any rate, thanks for your post. Any suggestions on helmets, anyone? At this point they all look the same to me.

a2psyklnut -

That's exactly it! The Zebrano. From what I gathered, its fork, frame and tires (wheels?) are of a quality similar to those of the Cypress, and the gear shift is the only difference between the two. I personally think the Zebrano looks a bit cooler, too, but we don't buy based on appearances alone, right? :)

Or This one? This is the Nirvana.

First off, thanks to the helmet unadvocates for leaving this young impressionable boy alone. His mum would thank you.

Second, to add to Pete's comments. One item left out that takes precedent over all others is color.

The color must be right. It will be the one attribute that will boldly stand out and truely display your core purpose on the bike. Avoid dark colors for they say "I'm dark and mean". Vibrant color says "I'm a great person, let's ride!".

Size and fit take a back seat to neon.

Sorry guys. ;)

Nope - it was definitely the Zebrano. He initally tried to sell me the Utopia, which is undoubtedly better, but when I laughed at the $750 he wanted for it he got the point and moved on. I know - I'm a cheap-***.

Appearance, to me anyways, is a major consideration. It doesn't rank as high as fit and value, but if you're going to chose between two bike with all else being equal. Why not choose the one you think looks better.

As far as the Grip SHift vs. Rapid Fire (trggers), you will get accustomed to either one. I've had both systems on my bikes, and my preference is the GS. The GS is easier to use and the shifters have less moving parts. However, which is better is debateable and is a topic of many cycling related discussions.

a2psyklnut -

You are quite the wealth of information - thanks for all your posts! If it comes down to all else equal, I will certainly go for the better looking bike. However, if it is a difference of $60, I will suffer the grey despite the fact that I really prefer the red and silver. $60 is $60 :D

On an unrelated topic, it just occured to me that I have been using "cycler" in my posts and even in my screen name when I know good and damn well that the word is "cyclist." I am just disgucted with myself. Lest you all think I am an idiot, I thought I would point this out before someone else did. :o

Hey Newcycler eeerr Newcyclist, Whatever, I wouldn't worry about being grammatically correct. I don't think a2psyklnut appears in any dictionary I've found! Plus, I usually think faster than I type and rarely use spell check!

NewCycler, i did the ms150 on my steel hardtail gt mtb. The only thing special i did was put slicks on it. It's a lot of fun. I'm probably going to do it again in 2002 if i can get it in between races.

Originally posted by Ba-Dg-Er

Looking at the current laws affecting cyclists in Texas I couldn't find anything that states the bill had been passed since it was proposed in 1999. Usually if there are helmet laws it only affects minors, or those under the age of 18. So you would be safe from tickets without a helmet, but theres too many other things to worry about that make wearing a helmet very worthwhile.

Hope this helps... if you want to see all of the laws affecting Texas cyclists check out http://www.biketexas.org/cycling_rules.html

The only laws that exist are for kids but, The MS150 requires that you ware a helmet and all of the training ride organizers require that you have one also. It's also a really good ideal:)
P.s. most of the off road trails also require that you have one.

Toninator -

Thanks for the info. I was definitely planning on wearing my helmet in the MS150. I take it you're in Houston - whereabouts? I live close to downtown and was wondering where you think the best places to ride are on a day-to-day basis. I was considering just going around the small River Oaks streets - little traffic, shady with trees and nice scenery. I know lots of people ride around in Buffalo Bayou park, but the prospect of cycling along Allen Parkway makes me nervous.

NewCycler if you haven’t actually bought the bike yet. Try the BikeBarn on Kirby. It's an awesome shop and they always have great deals going on, like 2001 closeout's and the like. They carry trek, Specialized (which is what I have) and Kline. Also Northwest cycles on 290 and Jones road is also another great shop. The carry Giant and Cannondale and a couple of others. They also have a great club for which I race. They also sponsor weekend ride and some of the biggest rides in the state, (bluebonnet and the Katy flatland.)

Originally posted by NewCycler
Toninator -

Thanks for the info. I was definitely planning on wearing my helmet in the MS150. I take it you're in Houston - whereabouts? I live close to downtown and was wondering where you think the best places to ride are on a day-to-day basis. I was considering just going around the small River Oaks streets - little traffic, shady with trees and nice scenery. I know lots of people ride around in Buffalo Bayou park, but the prospect of cycling along Allen Parkway makes me nervous.

I live in the heights. I bike down the White Oak bayou hike and bike trail to Tc jester down to memorial park. I go though the off road trails out there then ride down memorial to downtown and the back up Allen parkway then home, it's about 20 miles.
There is a trail along the bayou and you never actually have to get onto memorial or Allen parkway.

I would recommend that you not wear a helmet only if there is nothing inside your head worth protecting.
The drivers in Texas are among the worst I've ever encountered, and you wouldn't catch me riding there without one.

Originally posted by D*Alex
I would recommend that you not wear a helmet only if there is nothing inside your head worth protecting.
The drivers in Texas are among the worst I've ever encountered, and you wouldn't catch me riding there without one.

I've been hit 6 times so i defenetly agree with you. But i actually used it more on the trails than anything. Damn those branches come from no where's, ohh and the ground is really hard. But they did help when i got hit. I would never ride any where's without it. You will also get a little weird vibe from all the local riders because we are all pro-helmet. No one will be rude but you will know something's up.

Originally posted by The Toninator


I've been hit 6 times so i defenetly agree with you. But i actually used it more on the trails than anything. Damn those branches come from no where's, ohh and the ground is really hard. But they did help when i got hit. I would never ride any where's without it. You will also get a little weird vibe from all the local riders because we are all pro-helmet. No one will be rude but you will know something's up.


Nice signature tone. I do attend class. But I did most a of my senior school last year, during my junior year, so I don't have much this year.:D

Never ride without a helmet. No questions or excuses.

Cycler... My mom has a Giant Farrago, which is, I think, the Canadian version of the Cypress DX. She loves the bike [yes, I come from a family of cyclists] and, to my eye, it's a nicely made, well-specced machine. You could do a whole lot worse.

A word of advice on shopping for bikes... Leave your credit cards, cash and bank debit card at home. Do not buy a bike the first time you see it. If you like what you see, go home, get your money and go back to the shop. There's a lot to be said for sober reflection. Also, as someone else suggested, try a more expensive bike just to see what the difference is. It will make you feel better about buying the bike you buy.

Thanks to everyone for your opinions on the helmet issue. I had no idea cyclists were so pro-helmet. In fact, I always thought it was a law thrust upon you that was resented by most - I stand corrected. Anyway, I appreciate it, all.

Toninator - hit 6 times? I hope you have a good attorney! I personally would have sprawled myself on the street the first time and moaned until I got paid in a big, big way! :D

velocipedio -

Good advice, and I appreciate it. The one thing I did not do yesterday was test drive the expensive ones. I immediately dismissed them and moved on. I will do that today and see what I like. Don't know why I didn't think of that, but I guess that's what you guys are for! :)

Glad to know the Cypress is not a piece of crap! When I compared it against other bikes of what I believe to be similar quality, it seemed to be a pretty good value (in my mind, value = what you get divided by what you pay).

Thanks again for the help!

If you are going to be using your bike on paved surfaces, get a road bike.

If you are planning to do long-distance rides, get a rode bike.

If your main riding is to be done on the road everything else, including cross-bikes or hybrids, are a compromise.

Cycler... Most serious cyclists are pro-helmet, I think. There are some serious anti-helmet hardcases out there who think helmets are part of a global conspiracy, but they probably also believe that an alien spaceship crashed at Roswell and Elvis was assassinated by a CIA death squad. The issue for a lot of people, however, is not the helmet so much as being compelled to wear one by law. The way I look at it, if you WANT to be an organ donor, it is your RIGHT to be an organ donor.

Having said that, I admit that there are times when I take my helmet off and hang it on my handlebar, though. There is one ride in particular in my neck of the woods where there is no traffic OTHER than bicycles, the road is wide and in good repair, where I'll do that. It's probably stupid, but I do it anyway.

Get a helmet. Wear it. It's not a question of law, it's just good sense.

You mean that Elvis is dead???

Well, this thread seems to be trying to get dead just like old Elvis, so I thought I'd re-thank everyone who chipped in their $0.02 to help out a young idiot such as myself pick up the sport. I will be around, and will make sure to keep you all posted on my progress. And yes, I will wear my helmet at all times. :)