Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - YAAAAYYY for me!!

I FINALLY got my bike!! I'm gonna get slammed for this but I settled on a Schwinn Sidewinder 2.6 FS from(((GULP!!))) WALMART!!! I know I should have gone the LBS route and spent more for a better bike but I couldn't justify the $300+ price tag to my wife for something that she says is 'just a phase'. I'm happy with my choice and, if all goes well, I'll get a better bike next summer/fall. I'm so giddy right now I can hardly contain myself, I want to go out right now but it's 5a and 30 degrees outside! Here are the specs for my new ride, please be nice...


Specs:
Frame: Schwinn ride-tuned steel frame with bend seat stays
Fork: RST Omni 191 suspension fork
Handlebar/Stem: MTB riser handlebar and Schwinn stem with 2-bolt faceplate
Shifters: SRAM grip shift shifters
Derailleurs: Shimano TY-32A front and Shimano TY-22-7 rear derailleurs
Brakes: Pro Max alloy front and rear linear pull brakes
Levers: Pro Max alloy 3-finger brake levers
Crank: Alloy 24t/34t/42t MTB crank
Freewheel: Shimano 7-speed 14-28T freewheel
Rims: 26" x 1.5" 36-spoke alloy black with ground sidewall anodized rims
Hubs: Front alloy quick-release
Tires: Schwinn 26" x 2" Black MTB tires
Seat: Men's Schwinn sport saddle

Are you a Clyde? That bike may not last until next summer.

Anyway, welcome aboard and happy riding!

I'm more of a fat cow and I know it may not hold up but my goal right now is to just get back on two wheels and get in better shape, something besides round. I know the bike has alot of things against it but it has one BIG plus, it's mine and it's the first bike I've owned in almost twenty years.

Congrats on your decision to get in shape and on the new ride. Enjoy the journey.

Just get on your new bike and ride. The change in your health and well being will be so obvious to your wife that when you've had enough time to decide what kind of bike you want for N+1, she'll be all for it. At least that was my experience I've gone in 6 months from "a ride around the block how can I possibly ride six miles to work" to a genuine poseur (I've got the full carbon road bike and all the clothes but I'm still a little clueless). Regardless of what you call it I'm having a ball and you will too.:D

enjoy it

Congratulations and have fun with it! :thumb:

Much better than buying a New TV.
Ride Safe.

Go for it. Have fun. Congratulations on your new bike!

Who cares where it came from, get on that bike and rock. You'll have a blast. If you do start having issues with it just take it to a LBS they'll get it tuned up for ya. You know that you will now have an addiction, before you know it the little lady will wonder who you are all skinny and such, she won't be able to resist you in spandex on a roadbike. At least mine likes it better than round on a cruiser...lol

Woo Hoo - Enjoy - Be sure and post your ride reports! Show em all how you llose a ton of weight or become less round on your Walmart bike - and I am sure if we met on the road you would drop me like a hot potato!! Have fun!!

30 degrees- requires for me - long running shirt, heavy biking shirt, biking wind breaker, and a fleece, long underwear and tights, a bacalva (Fleece face mask), long fingered gloves, glasses, oh and booties to cover my shoes and make sure no flesh is showing from my feet at the end of my tights...then I am off! So..... get dressed, bundle up and have some fun!

I FINALLY got my bike!! I'm gonna get slammed for this but I settled on a Schwinn Sidewinder 2.6 FS from(((GULP!!))) WALMART!!! I know I should have gone the LBS route and spent more for a better bike but I couldn't justify the $300+ price tag to my wife for something that she says is 'just a phase'. I'm happy with my choice and, if all goes well, I'll get a better bike next summer/fall. I'm so giddy right now I can hardly contain myself, I want to go out right now but it's 5a and 30 degrees outside! Here are the specs for my new ride, please be nice...


Specs:
Frame: Schwinn ride-tuned steel frame with bend seat stays
Fork: RST Omni 191 suspension fork
Handlebar/Stem: MTB riser handlebar and Schwinn stem with 2-bolt faceplate
Shifters: SRAM grip shift shifters
Derailleurs: Shimano TY-32A front and Shimano TY-22-7 rear derailleurs
Brakes: Pro Max alloy front and rear linear pull brakes
Levers: Pro Max alloy 3-finger brake levers
Crank: Alloy 24t/34t/42t MTB crank
Freewheel: Shimano 7-speed 14-28T freewheel
Rims: 26" x 1.5" 36-spoke alloy black with ground sidewall anodized rims
Hubs: Front alloy quick-release
Tires: Schwinn 26" x 2" Black MTB tires
Seat: Men's Schwinn sport saddle

Congratulations. If you are looking for a budget bike, the Sidewinder may be a good choice. A Bike Forums poster rode his Sidewinder on a tour from South Carolina to Texas a couple of years ago.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/poorguyonabike

Now ride, ride, and ride again. And don't let anyone here trash-talk your bike. :)

Welcome... and please note that pictures of one's pride and joy are customary, no matter how humble the bike! And please beware of creeping bikelust! :thumb:

"It's not about the bike." I believe I've heard that somewhere before. Just get out there and enjoy the heck out of it. Over 80% of the bikes I see around cities, small towns, and colleges are of the store bought variety. Good maintenance is the key to making a bike last. It doesn't matter if your bike cost five bucks, or nine grand it will fail without proper care.

Glad to have you aboard,

Denny (not of Boston Legal)

Congrats on the new bike. You won't get any flak from me. Expensive bikes are nice, but by no means neccasary for a good ride. Enjoy it. Ride the tires bald then get new tires. When I decided to get back into cycling about a year ago, I bought a schwinn road bike from target. I don't regret it at all. It sure gave me the bug to ride. Do beware of bike lust though. Before long you will be calculating how much you will save on gas by commuting and running erands on that fancy bike you will find yourself drooling on, and trying to convince the wife how spending a grand or more on it will be a money saving move. Trust me. I know. When you get to that point, just remember. With wives, it is sometimes easier to get forgiveness than permission.

The important thing is to ride!
Once you've proven to your spouse and, more importantly, yourself that you'll keep up with the riding...you can always move up a notch in quality. Just check and make sure bolts and screws are tightened and brakes adjusted well.
Now GO GET 'EM!!!!!

Enjoy! And be careful... bike riding is very addictive.

An easy and sneaky way to divert (save) household money to go towards the inevitable new bike is to save pocket change in a jar and stash it away. I do it all the time and I'm amazed by how much cash accumulates over a year.

The two most important things I read were, "It's Mine" and "I'm giddy". 'Nuff said.

The best bike in the world is your bike that you want to ride. Yea, some will bust on a Walmart bike, but if it's gets you out riding it's a helluva bike.

Welcome to the madness! As stated earlier, it is customary to post pics of the new pride and joy, no matter where it came from!:thumb:

I started biking on a military exchange Schwinn Volare 14 speed just over a year ago. I got the fever and then upgraded to a Trek 1.5. It got me started though. Keep your eyes on Craigslist. People clean out the garage on a regular basis and sell decent bikes for a really good deal sometimes.

Happens where I live all the time. People go out in Okinawa and buy expensive bikes, ride them twice and then sell them before they transfer for half of what they paid for them.

John

Several guys at work bought new Schwinns from Wal-Mart. Although I dont let them chain it up next to my Centurian, they are really quite pretty. :D


naw, just kidding. Ride that pride and joy and post pics of it if you would.

You owe me for one Jelly Doughnut!!!!! Ride that steed and shed them pounds. I started the Day after Columbus day and have lost 30 pounds so far. Congrats on your decision.

Welcome to the world of two wheels! Enjoy yourself and do post some pics!

So long as you enjoy your ride it doesn't matter what it is. Right now it is a good chance for you to get out and about without having to make a big investment. In addition to this, if you are so inclined, your current bike is great to learn to wrench on. That way there when you do buy the 1k bike you won't be as intimidated by it.

So, where are these pictures? Action shots are best :thumb:!

Ride it until it falls apart underneath you. That's all any bike can ask to have happen: To die a good death.

Bauteri's right... Where's the pix?

Thanks guys, I'll post pics as soon as I can pry my camera away from my daughter. I was so excited to get home from work this morning and make a lap around the block but alas it was not meant to be, we are under a winter storm warning, the wind is blowing like crazy, and they are calling for icey conditions tonight!!

Yay!
Great to see someone getting into the sport. Earlier this year when I started riding a MTB on the road, I impressed the heck out of myself with 8 to 9 mile rides. I thought I was really doing something impressive. Now it takes me 10 miles just to get warmed up. You will get there too.

If you stick with it, you will lose weight. If you watch your diet, you will really lose weight. The more you lose, the faster and farther you will go. Once that starts to happen, you will upgrade your bike. I realized this need in about 2 weeks and bought a Schwinn Circuit. It is a solid and on the heavy end of the scale as road bikes go. Everyone wants me to upgrade to a better bike as my capabilities are greatly exceeding the bike but my goal is to be under 200# before I upgrade. That will be in the middle of next year I suppose.

The good news is that my contract goes away in February which means I will be unemployed. The better news is that I have enough in savings to cover all of my expenses for next year.
The best news is that I will be able to ride every single day next summer.

I got back into riding seriously about 6 yrs ago. I bought a Mongoose MTB at Wally World on clearance for $90. I gave it to a nephew a couple of years ago when I bought my Sirrus. I really miss it. Just keep the pedals rolling in a circle and enjoy.

Good luck with the new bike. Don't worry about where it came from. You have taken a positive step towards creating a healthier life for yourself. Thats what matters!

Thanks guys, I'll post pics as soon as I can pry my camera away from my daughter. I was so excited to get home from work this morning and make a lap around the block but alas it was not meant to be, we are under a winter storm warning, the wind is blowing like crazy, and they are calling for icey conditions tonight!!

Eventually those winter storm warnings will just be an excuse to put the studded tires on your bike and go ripping around in the snow. I used to live a bit north of ya, up in Cincinnati. Riding in the snow around there was awesome. Really freakin' cold sometimes, but awesome.

Forget about where you got it, just make sure you are fitted for the bike. Nothing worse than a bike that is too small or etc. Knee problems, and stiff neck and shoulders. Even if you cannot find a friend to help you fit it yourself take it to a LBS and pay to have it fitted. Hopefully, you got the right frame size. Regardless of the price of the bike, if it fits it will be fun to ride.

That is the same bike that got me into cycling :thumb: I put on slicks (really helps!)...I was only able to ride 500 miles before it was stolen :rolleyes: The thing is...I didn't have ANY trouble in those miles. No maintenance, no gear-shift problems, no wheel/tire problems...pretty awesome for something that cost $150. I've attached a picture...it's an older model, but Corvette colors! I absolutely LOVED that bike.

I think you'll be happy with the Schwinn. Congratulations!!

-Jordan

I'm already looking at road tires on ebay for it, I bought a a Cateye Opticube the other day and a new seat that has motion activated LEDs on it. I'll post pics this weekend.

My first one was a Huffy mountain bike, which I still have in the garage. I don't really like riding it like I did when it was new, but it served its purpose and it still gets used occasionally when there is something bike-related I need to do but may not be so good for my nicer bike (the latest use being a hookup to one of those trail-a-bike deals for pulling the kid).

What a few others have already said is probably going to be true. If you actually ride the Schwinn regularly, get back into shape, and actually start to wear it out, the wife will be more supportive of your next purchase and won't consider it 'a phase'.

My wife is nagging me to go out and buy a new one. I just can't decide what I want to get. So many choices. When I started riding at the park, she thought it was a phase. When I got strong enough to ride to work and started commuting, she thought that would last no more than a week. Now I am shaped a lot more like the guy she originally married and she supports it completely. I even have a trainer in the living room!