Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - New to the Forum. Question included.

First of all I would like to say hello to everyone on the forum and thank you for taking the time to read this. It is very important to me. I have been shadowing it for a few days and decided to register today.

My name is Austin Vuichard and I am from Coulterville, IL. I am studying Pre-Pharmacy at Southern Illinois University.

The main reason I am writing today is because I have a simple (or not so simple) question to ask. I am only 18 and am 6', 350lbs. Obviously I fit the Clydesdale category :) . I recently decided that I need to do something about my health. Both parents are diabetic and have high blood pressure. I am asthmatic and I was told a while back that I had high blood pressure by my H.S. nurse. After going to a doctor, he said I did not but I don't want to chance it. With the diabetes in my family, to try and avoid it would be hard without losing weight. I have basically taken soda out of my meal plans (now water and tea). I am trying to eat healthier but that is hard at times.

What I want to ask is this. What bike would be good for me? I have read around and a Kona Hoss keeps coming up. Is this a good choice?

Thanks again everyone

Forgot to add:

My goal is to end up around 200. I would be happy if I ever saw 250 again.
Also, I would mainly be riding out by my house since I live out in the country. The roads are mostly oil and chipped.

Welcome. Hopefully, you can dish out drugs, not take them. I lost about what you aim to, 330 to 210, by riding and counting calories. I found quiting sugar was the key to stay on plan and not feel hungry. That would help with the diabetes threat, too. I started the plan to control my hbp without pills, and it worked.

The bike you choose is not as important as riding. That Hoss looks like a well equiped bike; pretty sweet, actually. But you could get a similar used bike for much less, or a better used bike for the same money. Then, if you want to change bikes in a year or so, you won't get clobbered. Either way, the commitment is the issue, not what you ride. Good luck, and have fun.

Welcome. Hopefully, you can dish out drugs, not take them. I lost about what you aim to, 330 to 210, by riding and counting calories. I found quiting sugar was the key to stay on plan and not feel hungry. That would help with the diabetes threat, too. I started the plan to control my hbp without pills, and it worked.

The bike you choose is not as important as riding. That Hoss looks like a well equiped bike; pretty sweet, actually. But you could get a similar used bike for much less, or a better used bike for the same money. Then, if you want to change bikes in a year or so, you won't get clobbered. Either way, the commitment is the issue, not what you ride. Good luck, and have fun.

Thanks a lot for the advice. I know I can cut part of the sugar because I went nearly a year without soda. Any advice on what type of bike to go after if I buy used? Mountain or road?

First of all I would like to say hello to everyone on the forum and thank you for taking the time to read this. It is very important to me. I have been shadowing it for a few days and decided to register today.

My name is Austin Vuichard and I am from Coulterville, IL. I am studying Pre-Pharmacy at Southern Illinois University.

The main reason I am writing today is because I have a simple (or not so simple) question to ask. I am only 18 and am 6', 350lbs. Obviously I fit the Clydesdale category :) . I recently decided that I need to do something about my health. Both parents are diabetic and have high blood pressure. I am asthmatic and I was told a while back that I had high blood pressure by my H.S. nurse. After going to a doctor, he said I did not but I don't want to chance it. With the diabetes in my family, to try and avoid it would be hard without losing weight. I have basically taken soda out of my meal plans (now water and tea). I am trying to eat healthier but that is hard at times.

What I want to ask is this. What bike would be good for me? I have read around and a Kona Hoss keeps coming up. Is this a good choice?

Thanks again everyone

Welcome to the club in more ways than one. I'm a pharmacist, old enough to be your grandfather but I've only been riding for a couple of months. For me a lot of the decision was based on what was avaiable from my local bike shop. I was fortunate to find a clyde at the bike shop who helped me make a decision. Important thing is this doesn't have to be the forever bike. You need something that fits that you can get riding now. Ride hard, study hard ,get through school, skinny pharmacists can afford nice bikes.:lol:

Welcome to the club in more ways than one. I'm a pharmacist, old enough to be your grandfather but I've only been riding for a couple of months. For me a lot of the decision was based on what was avaiable from my local bike shop. I was fortunate to find a clyde at the bike shop who helped me make a decision. Important thing is this doesn't have to be the forever bike. You need something that fits that you can get riding now. Ride hard, study hard ,get through school, skinny pharmacists can afford nice bikes.:lol:

Haha. I don't want to spend a whole lot if I don't have to. I just know that a Hoss is supposed to be good. Would it be cheaper to build a bike than buy one?

Hi Austin,

Welcome! I am from SI too. I live down at Anna but know your neck of the woods well. Great area for cycling, reasonably flat and long country roads.

As far as a bike goes, there are three shops in Carbondale and I have shopped all three. One caters heavy to the young (which you are), adrenaline bikers (which I don't think you are). The other shop is kind of disjointed (remember, this is just my opinion). But I think if you go to Phoenix Cycles (the third shop) and tell Doug the owner exactly what you are wanting in a bike, and give him your budget, he will make sure your get what you need and will make sure it will fit. I can certainly tell you that the service that I have gotten after the sale has been nothing short of fantastic.

I know that cost is an issue (college student, young and hungry) but don't let it keep you from getting a bike that will be there for you. In the long run, the benefits that you will get by getting in control of your health are priceless. I guarantee you that whatever you pay for a bike, you will laugh at the idea that you were ever worried about expense after you have lost about 30 lbs and you start to feel great.

Good Luck and give me a shout if I can be of any local assistance.

Jay

Haha. I don't want to spend a whole lot if I don't have to. I just know that a Hoss is supposed to be good. Would it be cheaper to build a bike than buy one?

Very rarely. If you've already got the parts,then you can save money buying a frame, and building it up. But the bike companies buy lots more components than you do, and get much better pricing.

My suggestion, based on your saying that you're going to ride on chip and seal roads, get something that can take tires that are at leas 28 mm wide. I've got lots of chip and seal roads around here, and the roadies on 23 and 25 mm tires hate them. I'm riding on 32s, and don't have a problem with roughness or flats, but I do lose a couple mph on them.

Good for you on deciding to lose weight. I started two years ago at 400 and I'm down to 302. I did it by combining cardio and weight lifting. When I got down to 365 I started riding. I'm 5'11" btw.

I'd start with a mountain bike. If your in school find something used, but make sure it the right size! My first bike was one size too small and as I started to pick up the pace it became more of a problem. We big guys need to be very cautious about injuries. An injury can simply put an end to all that diet an exercise for a very long time. I've been there.

Btw, I highly recommend the weight lifting in combination with cycling. I lose more weight faster and feel better when I lift. Go slow and expect the first 3 months to be un-fun to say the least. Once your body adapts you'll be fine.

John

I'm with you too. I was 6' 320# and I dropped sugary drinks for a year with no exercise and lost 30 pounds. After that exercise was important to lose more weight.

I got stuck at 260 and have started biking in the last couple of weeks.

As for bikes, if you haven't ridden in a couple of years, or never ridden anything besides a one-size fits all, go to a bike store or two and sit on as many saddles as you can. It is hard to say what bike you want without having an idea of how it feels. If there is a bike that you like, but can't get it locally, find a bike with similar geometry locally and ride it. If it feels good, then you should have a good idea if that other bike will fit you.

The route I went was to get a Diamondback Insight I at a local sporting goods store. The store has its own maintenance guys, and they offered a 3-year comprehensive warranty for everything on the bike. This way, any mistakes I make are covered as the warranty covers idiocy, normal wear and tear, and just about anything else short of a wreck with a car. Also includes free yearly tune-ups. For $50, this is a sweet deal for a newbie that doesn't feel comfortable wrenching yet.

If you have any department-style stores that sell bikes, give them a look as well.

Hope this helps, and good luck. In the end it will be well worth it.

Austin, good job on cutting out soda. Diet soda (aspartame) actually contains chemicals that stimulate your appetite and regular soda is just a bunch of calories for no apparent reason.

Here's some advice: Become a cyclist. Get into it and learn all about bicycles and always try to extend the speed and distance of your rides. Don't fixate on your weight loss, fixating on weight loss is a miserable way to spend your days. Instead, become obsessive about bicycling. The pounds will melt away if your cycling improves.

Also, I'll tell you what I tell every body: When you first start to ride, you will suck. You will feel fat and bloated and weak and stupid. Your initial rides will be pitiful. But you will improve rapidly. Go on Google Earth and scope out all the cool places you want to go. It wont take long but you'll be knocking down 20 mile rides with ease. Bicycling will transform your life. You're still a very young man. By the time you're 21 you'll have a hard body. But between now and then you must ride THOUSANDS of miles.

Welcome to the forum. Check back here often and fill us in on your bicycle adventures.

Here's some advice: Become a cyclist. Get into it and learn all about bicycles and always try to extend the speed and distance of your rides. Don't fixate on your weight loss, fixating on weight loss is a miserable way to spend your days. Instead, become obsessive about bicycling. The pounds will melt away if your cycling improves.


Sage advice if ever there was any.

Finding a bike that fits well, you are comfortable on, and like is the key. If every time you are starting your ride you find yourself loathing the machine for what it is, it becomes a hurdle to your objective. In the beginning, you may curse the machine out of anticipation for the work out that's coming, but that will will quickly be replaced by anticipation of the fun that is about to be had.

Austin

Hi and welcome! I'm just ahead of you at 290#, down from a starting weight of 325 a couple of months ago. Take in less, use up more.

Like Jay said, feel free to contact me if you need any local help. I'm all for talking bikes and 22lrs! Don't know a whole alot, but that has never stopped me! LOL

You are blessed with three great bike shops in C-dale. I'm over in Johnston City, but I coach club volleyball in C'dale, so I'm over there weekly. I've talked to all three shops, and all three was going to put me on a nice (and cheap) hybrid/commuter for under $425. They took the time to explain the diff in price and conponts and whatnots. I went with a closer LBS in Benton, just because I past them daily going to work. If not that, I would have bought from any of the three in C-dale. The Bike Surgeon, down the street, was going to set me up on a Raliegh Passage 3.0 or 4.0. And If I had to do it all over again, I would have gotten the Passage over my GT Nomad. Nice seat and setup for the price.

PM or e-mail me. I'm going to be over in C'dale tonight at Barnes and Noble and Dick's. Need to get a book and take back my Park Multi Tool.

Jerry

Thanks for all the kind words and help guys. As for Jay and Jerry, I'm sure I'll in touch with you eventually. I may go to Phoenix since I drive by there everyday on the way home from SIU.

Sage advice if ever there was any.

Finding a bike that fits well, you are comfortable on, and like is the key. If every time you are starting your ride you find yourself loathing the machine for what it is, it becomes a hurdle to your objective. In the beginning, you may curse the machine out of anticipation for the work out that's coming, but that will will quickly be replaced by anticipation of the fun that is about to be had.

Agree with this and Richard_Rides completely.

Ride because it's fun. It gives you a different perspective on the world, and you get to spend time outdoors. Think of the weight loss an added benefit.

Mrs. Zoxe and I started riding in mid/late July. We ride low miles compared to many here, but we are losing weight and having a blast. If you focus only on the weight loss, or the # of miles you did (or didn't) do, it may be frustrating. Just go ride, strive for excellence in the ride, set your own pace and enjoy.

As for what bike, hit the Clyde's Rides thread and see what others are riding. Pay attention to how many mountain bikes you see with street tires. :thumb:

Thanks a lot for the advice. I know I can cut part of the sugar because I went nearly a year without soda. Any advice on what type of bike to go after if I buy used? Mountain or road?

I chose a Gary Fisher for ride and components. I don't know the physics behind genesis geometry, but you can lean over the bars, zig/zag, brake hard, etc, and always trust it. With slicks, it is fast enough for commuting (for me). After 10,000 miles of no mercy riding, I replaced the wheels; no other issues.

Mountain bikes are more versatile, but slower. They will handle obstacles, hard turning + stopping, etc. Flat bars = steady handling on rough roads, no road, one hand reaching for water bottle... Upright riding position is easy on your back, better for seeing and being seen. If you want to go fast in a straight line on good roads, ask one of those carbon and spandex blurs what road bike to get. :innocent:

Any bike like the Kona sounds good to me. The Deore components are not flashy, but dependable; I have them. With a fairly priced, well-equipped used bike, that fits you and feels good, you can't go wrong. Get back your investment if you change your mind. Good luck, and post updates when you get rolling.

Upright riding position is easy on your back, better for seeing and being seen.

Easy on your back, maybe. Not mine. Upright position makes my lower back throb after about 5 miles or so. I can't ride a flat bar bike for more than a few minutes; only one real place to put your hands, and it's a spectacularly uncomfortable, unnatural wrist flexing one. Clearly, not everyone agrees with this. Ride position is a matter of personal preference, not doctrinaire statement. Ride lots of bikes, both road, mountain and "hybrid".

Welcome aboard. Lots of sound advice here, and I'd echo what other people have said about sticking with it. I'm about 4 months into my 'recovery' (I started at 385lbs) and it's been slow but very noticeable progress. I'm *really* starting to enjoy things now I can actually ride far enough to see new places, and am more able to tackle some of the hills without having to stop. It's been hard work, but completely worth it. I can't even imagine any extended time away from the bike any more - even having a few days off during this week while my bike was in the shop has left me itching to go for a ride.

Easy on your back, maybe. Not mine. Upright position makes my lower back throb after about 5 miles or so. I can't ride a flat bar bike for more than a few minutes; only one real place to put your hands, and it's a spectacularly uncomfortable, unnatural wrist flexing one. Clearly, not everyone agrees with this. Ride position is a matter of personal preference, not doctrinaire statement. Ride lots of bikes, both road, mountain and "hybrid".

Upright helped put the comfort in 'comfort bike', no? Moses didn't carry it down the mountain on a rock, but Sheldon B. said:

"The original runaway popularity of mountain bikes was mainly related to their greater comfort for casual cyclists, compared to the drop-handlebar , skinny-tire sport-touring bikes... Typical comfort bikes resemble mountain bikes in wheel size, brake and gear equipment, but also differ in several ways:

Shorter top tubes, for a more upright riding position.
Taller, often adjustable, handlebar stems, also for a more upright riding position.
"Riser" handlebars, also for a more upright riding position..."

He makes it seem like upright = comfort. All that said, the back is a tricky thing. For me, road race position is less comfortable. It could easily be different for others. I don't doubt your discomfort a bit, and I am sure you are not alone. Your advice is good--ride them all, get what works for you.

Also, for Austin, the folks who said to ride for fun are dead on. Ride because you want to ride, and the miles come and the pounds go. If you dwell on miles or pounds, it feels too much like work, and you may give up. Enough blather for one day; I want to go ride.

I used to love riding. Unfortunately, until a few years ago, I had nowhere to put my bike so it'd set out all winter and everything would freeze up. The last one I had had a tree fall on it. However, now I am better off. I have two sheds at my house to store it in.

I really do want to have fun riding.

Not all back pain is the same. I happen to be a bit sway-backed - my lower back bends forward a bit more than is normal. When I started commuting on a hybrid "comfort" bike with a very upright Mary Poppins sitting position it nearly killed my back. Then I started riding my old touring bike with drop handlebars and the pain went away instantly. For others whose back is sensitive in the other direction drop handlebars are torture and upright is the way to go. I've found a middle ground is best in the long run for me, not fully forward but not back on my seat either. But my back overall has gotten so much stronger from riding it isn't much of an issue anymore.

I was just over the posted 200-lb Clydesdale level before starting to ride and do yoga stretches. Almost 30 pounds lighter now, normal for my height, and holding steady eating pretty much what I want (within bounds of reason). Concentrate on having fun and being comfortable rather than logging miles and "training." Find a bike that not only feels right but looks cool and gets you psyched to be on it. Easy and frequent is better than hard and seldom. Even a leisurely ride burns tons of calories. If you like to bike, you'll bike a lot, and the rest will take care of itself.

Consider a steel touring bike. They're solid and fun to ride and built to carry weight comfortably over long distances. The Surly Long Haul Trucker or something like it would rock I think. But you could probably find an older touring bike in decent condition for not much money that would do about as well.

HI,
Most problems are related to set up and seat height, another very important item is pants, I wouldn't enjoy riding very far without some good bike pants. most good pants are pretty expensive, but a sore but isnt' fun.
I have black trunks that have nice spandex liner thats hidden under the trunks and a very important piece of lambs wool that goes a long way to preventa sore behind..:thumb:
Doug
Welcome to the forum, biking is the best exercise for your heart, My BP has dropped almost 50 points in only 3 mos, my doctor asked me whats up, and took me off one of my meds.
Thats pretty good news for and older guy.

Upright helped put the comfort in 'comfort bike', no? Moses didn't carry it down the mountain on a rock, but Sheldon B. said:
.

First, Austin, sorry we're hijacking your thread.

Second, there's a big difference between what appears comfortable, what's comfortable for a two mile ride on a bike path with a top speed of ten miles an hour, and spending an hour or three in the saddle.

Comfort bikes are marketed at people that haven't ridden a bike since they got a driver's license. Most of them want a bike to ride a couple miles on a bike path, or around the neighborhood with their kids. For that, they're fine. but if you try and ride one all day, you discover it's very comfortable to have a plush saddle, to have all your weight on your rear end, and not have different ways to hold your hands. There's a reason so many people that ride mountain bikes long distance have bullhorns and other ways to get hand positions. Riding bent over does require some muscles in the back and the arms, and so new riders often find it uncomfortable.

Again, I don't care what anyone rides, or how they ride it. I just like to see people riding.

That's ok dscheidt. Everyone's entitled to there own opinions so it doen't bother me to see them.

By the way, I'm remiss here, Austin, first off, welcome to the herd!

OK, as to the type of bike......

Ride all types you can and buy the one that yu love, and I don't care if it's a road, hybrid, or mountain bike. If it's a road bike, I would suggest you upgrade the wheels right at purchase so you can get the tradeback credit right at the outset. I'd suggest something like the Velocity Deep-V and maybe a set of Soma Everwear tires in 26mm width. Make the wheels 36 spoke, and hand built, with either Alpine or DT Swiss spokes.

Cyccocomute will tell you double butted, but I've had better luck, personally with 14 ga straight gage spokes, myself, your mileage may vary, though. The straight gages will give you a stiffer wheel laterally, but the multigage will give you a little softer ride, and less road shock transmitted to the spoke elbows.

Hello Austin.

I graduated from SIU (way) back in 1978. I had a 10 speed Schwinn bike that was my primary mode of transportation. The campus and Carbondale were nicely set up for cycling back then. Back in those days the C'dale police dept. mandated that all bikes be registered with the city, and issued little license plates for them. They paid attention to cyclists too - I got pulled over for speeding on Walnut St. once. Thinking back, the speed limit couldn't have been more than 25 mph. Back to the subject - get yourself a bike and enjoy life in Carbondale. In my case, weight loss was achieved by burning up more calories than I consumed. I used this tool when I was training for my first MS150 http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/ . Take a look at the Harris Benedict Equation link on the page (a formula that uses your BMR and then applies an activity factor to determine your total daily energy expenditure (calories). I would also recommend getting a heart rate monitor (I'm spending your money here,aren't I) - this will let you keep up with the calories that you burn with each workout as well as help you set goals. The short version here is A) Spend your calories wisely B) Exercise. It will take a while before any results start showing, but when they do, well, thats where the fun starts. Good luck with it. Feel free to send me a PM if you have any questions.

Thanks for the advice Tom. I try to remember that.

GreenRiver, SIU is still set up pretty well for cycling and now you must have the bikes registered but they issue stickers instead of plates. I'll try that BMR Calculator. Also, thanks for the advice.

Cyccocomute will tell you double butted, but I've had better luck, personally with 14 ga straight gage spokes, myself, your mileage may vary, though. The straight gages will give you a stiffer wheel laterally, but the multigage will give you a little softer ride, and less road shock transmitted to the spoke elbows.

If you're worried about durability, go triple butted. These have the thickest bit at hub end, and have better hub hole to spoke fit. Spokes have rolled threads, not cut threads, so unlike common bolts and screws, the threads are larger than the nominal diameter of the wire. To fit through the hole, the hole has to be at least as large as threads. Double butted and straight gauge spokes then have a fairly large gap at the hub hole. Single and triple butted spokes have the hub end of a larger gauge, so they more closely fit the hub hole, which reduced fatigue failures. Triple butted are also thinner in the middle, which means they can bend slightly to absorb localized shocks, like a clyde hitting a pot hole.

+1 Bike you choose is really not that important. Just ride. Some of us are big fans of steel framed bikes, others like other types.

I would get the first one used (thats always my recommendation). One reason, that way, if you really get into riding, you can upgrade/change/ or whatever without taking a large hit on resale.

Also, if you get into it, you will probably join the N+1 folks (people that always add just one more bike, and then repeat). So again, buying the perfect bike just isn't that important.

The first bike I bought late last year was a Trek 800, rigid mountain bike, used. It turned out to be a poor choice for me. No problem, I resold it for more than I paid for it, and picked up another (and another). But it got me started.

+1 I am a big fan of the steel, rigid mountain bike. Install street tires (slicks) and you are ready for the road. I really like my older Trek 950. I am into the vintage bike thing...

As another Saluki Alumni, I add that focusing on the miles ridden is the way to go.
One thing that comes with miles ridden is a gnawing hunger.
Of course, this being Carbondale, there are plenty of fast food places, and bars.

With Diabetes and high blood pressure in your family, check with the school physician to make sure you don't cause a heart attack. Also, see with him/her on setting up a healthy diet.

Thanks again for the all the help guys. I highly appreciate it.