Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Joining the party

Since I just acquired my first bike in 17 years, a Trek 520 (see this post (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=446313) over at the commuting forum) I figure it's time to introduce myself here at the Clydesdale forum, as I am 5'11" and 250 lbs. My goal is to get below 200, but not too far since I'd like to keep the muscle that I worked hard for doing Olympic lifting, kettlebells, sandbag lifting, and general weightlifting since I left aikido training 8 years ago due to grad school finances. I possess a wide and deep ribcage with broad shoulders - hitting a more typical weight for someone of my height would leave me skeletal :). Along the way I plan on a 25 mile round trip bike commute, hence my starting out in the commuting forum.

Today I did a 2.1 mile ride at lunch (including a bit of trails in the woods) that wiped me out. I have a long way to go, and my plan is to work up to the commute sometime in September. Cheers!

Congrats on the new bike. I am really jealous. The 520 is a sweet ride. Where are you in Eastern Mass. I commute 20 miles round trip into Boston from Melrose and can share some potential routes with you if your are north of Boston as well.

Keep up the good work. Also pics would be great.

Congrats on the new bike. I am really jealous. The 520 is a sweet ride. Where are you in Eastern Mass. I commute 20 miles round trip into Boston from Melrose and can share some potential routes with you if your are north of Boston as well.

Keep up the good work. Also pics would be great.

I'm off to the west - living in Waltham, commuting to Burlington. I have a route mapped out that should work well, once I get to that point. Right now I don't have any ambitions to do longer rides since my two little boys keep my wife & I busy on weekends and I need to start with moderate goals to get some success under my belt :)

Pics are harder to come by. Our digital camera met a sad fate when I dropped the 3rd row seat in our Honda Odyssey on top of it in the dark a while back...if nothing else I'll snap one of the bike at work tomorrow with my super-crappy cellphone cam.

Welcome aboard, there's plenty of room. ;) Pull up a chair and order a bit of your favorite libation. ;)

Welcome aboard, there's plenty of room. ;) Pull up a chair and order a bit of your favorite libation. ;)

Thanks Tom! I've been checking out your blog, your story is inspiring :)

Here's a pic of the Trek 520:
http://buphy.bu.edu/~bgregor/bike/trek_520.jpg

Welcome to the club!

I think you will be able to work up to it quicker than you think. I know I have as my longest ride since I acquired my first bike in nearly 20 years at the end of May just occurred yesterday when I commuted to work for the first time (14 miles RT). Prior to that my longest ride was only 5 miles total! BTW, I am at 410 lbs...I have worked my way down from 430 in just 4.5 months and really have not changed my poor eating habits except for cutting out most of the regular *evil* sodas.

Good luck and keep riding!

Welcome to Clydes. I'm over by the chips and dip.

Congrats on the bike, but for pete's sake, get yourself back on the mat while you're at it.

Congrats on the bike, but for pete's sake, get yourself back on the mat while you're at it.

I wish! Alas, now that I could afford to train again my spare time is mostly taken up by my two little boys, 4 and 2. The old dojo (http://www.shobu.org) even rented a space for a time a 10 minute drive from my apartment just to taunt me (they've recently moved further away). In a few years I'll get back to that...one thing at a time!

Welcome aboard!

I absolutely love the bike. I long for a nice 520.............................