Living Car Free - Weight limits.

Hello sorry if I am posting this in the wrong area but I'm trying to give up the car for good but before I do I just had one question. I weight about 300 pounds and was wondering if I need to look for a specific type of bike or tire. Any information anyone can offer would be very much appreciated.

It depends on a lot of things I would think. Are you 300 pounds tall or 300 pounds wide? Its always good to check the weight limits of any bike you purchase but in general a bike that is the right size for you should be able to hold your weight. I Would imagine also that after riding it a while you will... shrink! However, suspension bikes may wear out faster than with a lighter rider, ditto for brakes. However, that is true for more aggressive riding styles as well. I would recommend against carbon fiber bikes because if the do fail, they fail big. Steel maybe the way to go for a heavy rider but Im sure there are lots of good aluminum bikes out their for bigger people.

I am 5'7" and weigh 155 so please feel free to ignore me because I have no experience with it. Just my initial thoughts.

I'm now 370 lbs (down from 400 and rebounded from 360).
Any bike frame (other than carbon or folder) should be OK.
What you DO need to pay attention to are the wheels. Get at least a 32 - 36 spoke wheel, and have someone make sure the spokes are properly tensioned.
Suspension (Front or Rear) should be out...trust me you'll be happier. If you can't find anything without front suspension...get one that allows you to lock it out.
I've also found that suspension seatposts are more annoying than effective. Many of the newer bicycles come with these posts...you may want to change that item before leaving the store.

One of the most popular bikes for those of us who are (ahem) larger is the Specialized Hardrock. (see the Clydesdale and Athena forum for more recommendations)

Hope this helped.

Generally, you should be fine. Shy away from the low spoke count wheels and you should have little to worry about. As mentioned above just be sure to have your wheels trued by somebody who knows what they are doing.

I check in at around 335 and absolutely love my Surly Long Haul Trucker. It's another clyde favorite and is fantastic for a car-free life style.

I agree a MTB or Utility bike are your best bets. Good 26 inch MTB wheels are a lot stronger than the average Road bike wheel. But whatever you get sooner or later you will discover N+1.

A solid mountain bike, a hybrid or a touring bike will all work well. Touring bikes are designed to carry a lot of weight. Hybrids and mountain bikes without shocks or suspension systems are also good utility bikes, which means they can handle a heavy load.

The only bikes I'd avoid are bikes specifically built for racing, especially carbon fibre bikes.

Get a rigid frame mountain bike, with a rigid fork. 36 spoke count front and rear. A nice tire like the Schwalbe big apple and you are good to go.