Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Brand new to cycling!

Hi! I'm Jeff from Massachusetts? I'm 31 years old and new to cycling. I am hoping at first just to have fun and lose some weight and eventually to become involved in group rides and amateur competition. I am 6'1" and 275 pounds. I am probably pre-diabetic. I really need to lose 60-70 pounds and I remember really enjoying my bicycle as a kid.

I'm concerned however about my weight and the type of bicycle I should buy. I plan on speaking with the local bike shop about this but I'd like to get some of your opinions as well. My research has led me to the Trek 1.1 or 1.2 road bikes but I do not know if my weight will break these bikes.

Also, how effective is cycling for weight loss. I have read posts from people who say that they cycle many miles per day or per week and do not lose weight at all or lose it very slowly.

Thank you for your time, I look forward to your responses.

- Jeff

Welcome, Jeff. You stated that you're interested in a road bike and provided some examples. You may want to consider a cyclocross bike as a starting point. They are more forgiving than purpose-built road bikes and their wider tires will make your ride more comfortable. Many posters here swear by them and use them for commuting, touring, and riding competitively. One of the most highly recommended bikes in this genre is the Kona Jake (http://www.konaworld.com/bike.cfm?content=jake).

http://www.russhays.com/img/pr/jake2010.gif

Cycling is very effective for weight loss; it is a cardiovascular workout and it works some of the body's largest muscle groups. Like any form of exercise it must be combined with a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle to achieve the biggest gains (or in this case, losses). If you are starting from a sedentary lifestyle you will probably notice the greatest changes in the first few months. Hitting a plateau is natural and should not discourage you; just keep riding and change things up. Try for distance one day and speed the next. With a cyclocross bike you could also challenge different muscle groups with some trail riding.

Good luck and ride safe! :ride:

There isn't an aluminum framed road bike out there that won't work for you. The weak point will be wheels.

Trek offers a pretty good warranty to original owners for frames and wheels. The warranty on the wheels isn't forever, but is long enough to allow you to save up to upgrade from the wheels that come with the bike. You can also inquire at the time of purchase about switching out the original wheels for something with a higher spoke count.

Trek offers a life time warranty on the frames and does not list a weight limit for thier bikes.

As far as weight loss and cycling goes it follows the same rule as any weight loss effort. You must burn more calories than you take in. Folks who ride a ton of miles and experience liitle or no weight loss most likely need ato address how many and what kind of calories they take in.

There is also the plateau conundrum when your body adjusts to your effort level and your diet choices. The best way to bust out of a plateau is to change up your riding style, throw in some cross training, and juggle your diet a bit.

Welcome to the madness!

welcome!!

i agree with everything stated her thus far.

i would recommend a cyclocross bike as a good starting point as well. they are very versitile and forgiving machines and with a set of 700x23 tires they are very close to a full blown road bike. if you do get into a little racing it will serve you well and if you start racing a lot and buy a race pig it would make a good backup/training bike.

being new to the sport i would recommend finding a local shop that offers a warranty (like trek)

like already stated, wheels will be your biggest concern at your weight. txvintage mentioned getting wheels with a higher spoke count which is great advice, but more importantly, i would avoid ANYTHING with paired spokes at 275lbs. i have seen multiple brands of these wheels have hub flange issues with bigger riders.

i would find the shop and the bike you like, and if it doesn't already have them, ask the shop about trading your wheels for a pair with 32 3x spokes

welcome!!

i agree with everything stated her thus far.

i would recommend a cyclocross bike as a good starting point as well. they are very versitile and forgiving machines and with a set of 700x23 tires they are very close to a full blown road bike. if you do get into a little racing it will serve you well and if you start racing a lot and buy a race pig it would make a good backup/training bike.

being new to the sport i would recommend finding a local shop that offers a warranty (like trek)

like already stated, wheels will be your biggest concern at your weight. txvintage mentioned getting wheels with a higher spoke count which is great advice, but more importantly, i would avoid ANYTHING with paired spokes at 275lbs. i have seen multiple brands of these wheels have hub flange issues with bigger riders.

i would find the shop and the bike you like, and if it doesn't already have them, ask the shop about trading your wheels for a pair with 32 3x spokes

I would strongly recommend you avoid 700 x 23 tires. Those are extremely narrow! I'm 215 pounds, and I don't ride anything narrower than 28mm wide tires. At your weight, you should probably stick to 32mm (i.e. 700 x 32C) tires. Pump them up to 95 or 100psi and you'll go as fast as with the narrow tires, only more comfortably and reliably.

32 spoke or even 36 spoke wheels will work for you just fine. I use 36 spokes on the rear of my bikes and never had an issue.

For burning calories, biking isn't any better than walking. Since biking is a much more efficient method of transportation than walking, you have to ride a lot more miles than you'd have to walk...but since biking is also faster than walking, you'll do the miles in less time; and since biking is also much more fun than walking, you'll be likely to spend more time doing it.

A 700 x 23 tire will be fine. It will ride a bit harsh but once you get used to them they are perfectly capable of supporting you and doing a darn fine job of it. Just make sure you inflate them before every single ride. I rode 23's from 245lbs down to a low of 195lbs on the stock rims no less. I really feel that the hype about upgrading rims ASAP is a bit unfounded unless your body weight is really up there. At 275, your weight is really not all that bad. If you make sure you keep your wheels true, avoid potholes, have the wheels retention at 300 miles, and ride light in the saddle you probably won't have any trouble.

Welcome to a very expensive hobby.

I would strongly recommend you avoid 700 x 23 tires. Those are extremely narrow! I'm 215 pounds, and I don't ride anything narrower than 28mm wide tires. At your weight, you should probably stick to 32mm (i.e. 700 x 32C) tires. Pump them up to 95 or 100psi and you'll go as fast as with the narrow tires, only more comfortably and reliably.

32 spoke or even 36 spoke wheels will work for you just fine. I use 36 spokes on the rear of my bikes and never had an issue.

I am with Jeff.
700 X 28' tires with 36 spoke wheels is the way to go to start.
You will have more comfort and stability in your riding with the 28's.

Wow! I'm blown away by all of these great responses! Thanks for taking the time to help out a newbie!

Wow! I'm blown away by all of these great responses! Thanks for taking the time to help out a newbie!

You posted in one of the more civilized forums. It is still possible to get a good answer to an honest question here. Don't go to the road forum alone...

Op mentioned a desire to eventually try his hand at some racing. For this reason I would say go with his original idea and to not be afraid of the 23mm tires. The same rims can handle 25mm tires and they will offer a bit more cushion for rough surfaces.

Of course this is all assuming that he can buy one bike and and use it to meet all of his goals.:roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2: Good luck with that. If you are successful you are a better man than I:o

The wheels that will come on a new Trek should carry at least a one year warranty, and possibly even a two year warranty. Ride them and warranty them until they tell you they won't warranty them anymore. Then buy new wheels.

You posted in one of the more civilized forums. It is still possible to get a good answer to an honest question here. Don't go to the road forum alone...

Or after dark...........

Partial thread Hijack/ JK, any word on your hub assplosion/warranty?

Welcome to the fun trek... I am riding 23's now. Started at 252, down to 239 now, no worries with this size wheel at all.

As far as miles vs weight loss, I would also like to know what kind of effort they are putting into those miles... I can cruise all day at 8-10 MPH on my hybrid and would not get my Heart rate out of the low 100's. Best advice so far for weight loss, input has got to be lower than output... Best of luck...

Welcome, Jeff.
Are you pretty much set on getting a bike for the road, or have you explored other types of riding in your area. There may be mountain trails or rail trails nearby that would give you more options.

I'm new to this myself. I was looking for a rail trail bike a few months ago and ended up being steered towards a mountain bike. I'm glad I was, as I really enjoy it. I bought a new entry level (Specialized Hardrock 29er-very sturdy) mountain bike that works well for my 6', 220# frame. I still like riding the rail trails, so I bought an older Giant on Craigslist and converted it into a hybrid for that type of riding.

What's your budget? You may consider buying a used bike and use that until you figure out what type of riding that you like for sure, before you commit a lot of money to a bike. You'll learn a lot and perhaps become interested in other types of riding as you get more experience and more fit. You may find that your better off with two used bikes for different types of riding, instead of one new one. Of course buying used presents its own set of problems/questions, but your in the right place to have those answered.

Good luck,

Bill

A 700 x 23 tire will be fine. It will ride a bit harsh but once you get used to them they are perfectly capable of supporting you and doing a darn fine job of it. Just make sure you inflate them before every single ride. I rode 23's from 245lbs down to a low of 195lbs on the stock rims no less. I really feel that the hype about upgrading rims ASAP is a bit unfounded unless your body weight is really up there. At 275, your weight is really not all that bad. If you make sure you keep your wheels true, avoid potholes, have the wheels retention at 300 miles, and ride light in the saddle you probably won't have any trouble.

Welcome to a very expensive hobby.

like i said, switching wheels is totally dependent on what he is buying. if its a trek with paired spoke wheels i wouldnt ride them around the block at that weight. failures on those are a dime a dozen:
http://felixwong.com/news/wp-photos/broken_bontrager_hub.jpg

reviews (http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/wheels/wheelsets/bontrager/PRD_104396_2490crx.aspx)

Op mentioned a desire to eventually try his hand at some racing. For this reason I would say go with his original idea and to not be afraid of the 23mm tires.Ehh, I disagree. At this point I would focus on getting a comfortable, enjoyable bike and work on losing weight. By the time he's ready to race he can buy a race/road bike and will know what style of bike works for him. I think most people who start out (esp Clydes) do not enjoy being hunched all the way down over race handlebars (until the core muscles get built up). Cyclocross or Rando bikes are a more comfortable option and they are still capable of plenty of speed.

hey jeff i took a look at those two bikes and the 1.2 has better components and is 9spd instead of the 1.1s 8spd. if you can swing it, the 1.5 has even better components and the shifters are MUCH more user friendly. shimano's bottom of the line levers have a funky little thumb lever that is not near as ergo as ergopower.

edit: Trek is awful proud of their Gary Fisher cross bikes...

Great info guys! Nice to find an active and supportive forum. I went to a local bike store today and looked at some gary fisher mountain bikes and the trek 1.1, 1.2 and 1.5. It was really cold today and I wasn't really ready to test drive. I really love the 1.5. Other than having ridden it which I know I need to do, it is everything my newbie mind imagined I would want in a bike. I really feel more drawn to road biking than mountain biking at this point. I like the idea of travelling long distances and challenging myself and finding adventure that way. I'm going to go to two more local bike stores before I decide where I'm going to make my purchase because I want to find the one with the friendliest and most expert people. The store I visited today wasn't bad but it did not overly impress either. My wife is calling me, apparently she made meatball subs. Bye for now!

Trek, You are in the same boat (close to anyways) as me. I'm 6'4 & 235. I ride a Trek 1000. The frame carries a lifetime warranty (to the original purchaser) and everything on the bike will be covered for 1 year. The bike runs great. The only issues I have had were the rear wheel. The factory 32 spoke (25mm tires) rim wasn't liking me when I was cranking out hills and would pop spokes. Once my warranty was up, I had (and STRONGLY reccomend) a Mavic CXP 33 HAND BUILT with new spokes (14gu. ?) on my stock hub.I've had no problems in the last 5 months, other than finding a comfortable seat past 30 miles. I usually average from 80 to 100 miles a week and linger between 17 / 18 mph on my rides.

Trek, You are in the same boat (close to anyways) as me. I'm 6'4 & 235. I ride a Trek 1000. The frame carries a lifetime warranty (to the original purchaser) and everything on the bike will be covered for 1 year. The bike runs great. The only issues I have had were the rear wheel. The factory 32 spoke (25mm tires) rim wasn't liking me when I was cranking out hills and would pop spokes. Once my warranty was up, I had (and STRONGLY reccomend) a Mavic CXP 33 HAND BUILT with new spokes (14gu. ?) on my stock hub.I've had no problems in the last 5 months, other than finding a comfortable seat past 30 miles. I usually average from 80 to 100 miles a week and linger between 17 / 18 mph on my rides.

Nice! Has weight loss been your goal? What weight did you start at? I'm looking forward to sitting on a trek finally but I still think those thin wheels are gonna bend when I sit on the bike, despite what the dude at the bike shop tells me lol.

like i said, switching wheels is totally dependent on what he is buying. if its a trek with paired spoke wheels i wouldnt ride them around the block at that weight. failures on those are a dime a dozen:
http://felixwong.com/news/wp-photos/broken_bontrager_hub.jpg

reviews (http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/wheels/wheelsets/bontrager/PRD_104396_2490crx.aspx)

If this info. helps, here is the specs on the wheels from the Trek website on the 1.5:
WHEELS: Alloy hubs; Bontrager Approved alloy rims.
TIRES: Bontrager Race AW, 700x23c.

As I stated previously, I weigh 275. Can these tires handle my weight reliably?

First off welcome TrekMedic. Don't be afraid to test out as many bikes as you can (Road, Touring, Cyclocross, etc...). First get something that fits and is comfortable. Once you start riding you will have a better idea of what kind of riding you will do.

Your first bike is the bike you learn on. Get some miles under your saddle first. A bike can be as specific as you want it to be. It can also serve more than one purpose. It's best to get something you enjoy riding and thats usually a result of a fit and feel. Don't be to specific and buy for something you "hope" to do. Rather buy for something you "will" do. As you get into it you will have a better idea what will suit your riding purposes.

As far as weightloss goes its usually a lifestyle change. Cycling will definetely help you lose weight if you are going from a sedentary lifestyle to an active one. But in time your body will become accustomed to riding unless you change it up from time to time. Changing your diet can also help. Just don't make drastic changes. Look at what you are currently eating and make changes that are manageable and beneficial.

Hi Jeff, welcome aboard. You mention you like the idea of traveling long distances, and you say you are looking for a road bike. Have you researched touring bikes yet? They usualy have more upright geometry than the typical road bike, 36 spoke wheels are common, and they tend to be on the heavy duty side, since they are designed to carry a rider and lots of gear. Surley, Trek, Cannondale and Novara are some popular ones. Ther are lots of others out there too. I have a Novara Randonee and I love it. It's smooth, comfey, and compared to the mountain bike I was commuting on, fast. You also mentioned possibly racing in the future. A touring bike might be a disadvantage due to weight, that would give you an excuse to buy a new, faster bike when you start racing. Win win situation if ever there was one...

[QUOTE=EasyEd;10206813]Hi Jeff, welcome aboard. You mention you like the idea of traveling long distances, and you say you are looking for a road bike. Have you researched touring bikes yet? They usualy have more upright geometry than the typical road bike, 36 spoke wheels are common, and they tend to be on the heavy duty side, since they are designed to carry a rider and lots of gear. Surley, Trek, Cannondale and Novara are some popular ones. Ther are lots of others out there too. I have a Novara Randonee and I love it. It's smooth, comfey, and compared to the mountain bike I was commuting on, fast. You also mentioned possibly racing in the future. A touring bike might be a disadvantage due to weight, that would give you an excuse to buy a new, faster bike when you start racing. Win win situation if ever there was one...[/QUOTE

LOL! If there is one thing that I know after talking to a few cyclists it's that as soon as I've been in love with my first bike for a while, I'm going to want a new one! ;)

LOL! If there is one thing that I know after talking to a few cyclists it's that as soon as I've been in love with my first bike for a while, I'm going to want a new one! ;)

Note my signature from the great philosopher bautieri.

Trek, the wheels don't break when you are sitting on the bike! If they give you trouble it will be while under load / being pressured. With me it was usually when I was out of the seat cranking away to sprint or pull a hill. I'm not saying you will definitely have problems with your wheels, but I wouldn't be surprised. For my money, time & lack of inconvenience, a good hand built wheel will outperform the stocker any day of the week.

Why do I ride? I like to stay active & riding was a replacement for jogging (which was about as fun to me as digging hoes). I've lost maybe ten pounds since I have switched but don't look @ the scale much. Where I noticed it more was with my dimensions - pant size, shirt, etc.........

Oh, and one more thing. Allow yourself money for some bike shorts, a helmet, pedals & shoes. Nothing is cheap.

Hello everyone.
I've been lurking here for a short period of time - a week or two. This seems to be a friendly, accepting forum which is what decided my joining and delurking.

I have a Schwinn that my sweet, well-meaning husband recently bought me. Have done a small amount of riding when the weather allows. It's cold and pouring today. This small amount of riding has me convinced that I'm either WAAAAY more out of shape than I thought (very possible) or that I need a different/better bike (probable).
I know I'm out of shape. I've been a fairly athletic person prior to this and know the current state of my health. But I'm hoping a different bike will at least allow me to ride my way back to health again.

I'm not completely sedentary. I have a very physical job and have an elliptical that I hop on and can go 30 minutes at a stretch on a routine basis.

My riding area near home is mostly asphalt (broken) with some thin gravel on top. Very thin. Decent amount of hills (okay, this is Louisiana and it's not foothills or anything, but it gets my blood pumping). Of course, I am 5'7"-5'8" and fluctuate between 215 and 220, which I know accounts for some of that!

All that background does have a point! I am eyeing a Giant Cypress that I can get my hands on for a really reasonable amount. It's been ridden only a couple of times and was purchased from the shop that is nearest me and they have been terrrific the couple of times I've been in.

Funds are definitely limited just after Christmas and I'd be getting this bike for about 1/2 of retail. So with that said, does this sound like a reasonable bike choice or would I do better to make do with the current bike (which really hurts my backside even after much adjusting) or go with the Cypress since it's reasonable and probably would be good for the terrain I'm working with?

Any input greatly appreciated.

End thread hijack :o

Hello everyone.
I've been lurking here for a short period of time - a week or two. This seems to be a friendly, accepting forum which is what decided my joining and delurking.

I have a Schwinn that my sweet, well-meaning husband recently bought me. Have done a small amount of riding when the weather allows. It's cold and pouring today. This small amount of riding has me convinced that I'm either WAAAAY more out of shape than I thought (very possible) or that I need a different/better bike (probable).
I know I'm out of shape. I've been a fairly athletic person prior to this and know the current state of my health. But I'm hoping a different bike will at least allow me to ride my way back to health again.

I'm not completely sedentary. I have a very physical job and have an elliptical that I hop on and can go 30 minutes at a stretch on a routine basis.

My riding area near home is mostly asphalt (broken) with some thin gravel on top. Very thin. Decent amount of hills (okay, this is Louisiana and it's not foothills or anything, but it gets my blood pumping). Of course, I am 5'7"-5'8" and fluctuate between 215 and 220, which I know accounts for some of that!

All that background does have a point! I am eyeing a Giant Cypress that I can get my hands on for a really reasonable amount. It's been ridden only a couple of times and was purchased from the shop that is nearest me and they have been terrrific the couple of times I've been in.

Funds are definitely limited just after Christmas and I'd be getting this bike for about 1/2 of retail. So with that said, does this sound like a reasonable bike choice or would I do better to make do with the current bike (which really hurts my backside even after much adjusting) or go with the Cypress since it's reasonable and probably would be good for the terrain I'm working with?

Any input greatly appreciated.

End thread hijack :o

Hello and welcome!
I think that you would probably like the Cypress. I really like mine.
Here is a thread I started about it.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?593496-My-bike-and-why-I-like-it&highlight=

Hi SG,

If it's the pain in the backside thing that makes you think your current bike doesn't fit I have some possibly bad news. Unfortunately, the price of starting out is the process of overcoming the pain in the butt from the seat. It's sort of a right of passage.

That being said, very few bikes come with a stock saddle that is very comfortable. A bike saddle is very personal selection item and no one saddle works for everyone. With regular riding it should only take a week or two to get past the adjustment period so that you can figure out if your saddle fits you or not. It's a bit counter intuitive, but the larger and softer the saddle, the worse it is for you.

On the other hand, I would never talk someone out of adding to the stable if you think you can swing it and the bike fits. Giant makes a great bike, but if it isn't the correct size you will never be comfortable on it and that means not riding as much as you might otherwise.

Oh, and sorry about that whole first loss thing with the Saints. Well, not really, but it seemed the polite thing to say, lol.

Hi Southerngirl, welcome to the forums!

Tell us a little more about this Schwinn that your sweet, well-meaning husband bought for you. Schwinn is an interesting manufacturer in the sense that in the past they were awesome, then they sold out to Wal-Mart/Target/K-Mart etc., then they had their high end bikes which are awesome…all while still wh*ring themselves out to X-Mart. Now, even if this bike was from X-Mart that is not necessarily a bad thing. For you are lucky in the sense that you are 5’7’’ 5’8’’, those are roughly the height requirements for a medium size frame which most X-Mart bikes are. The current bike you have is probably pretty darn close to fitting you. It’s just going to be a matter of setting the seat height and reach. Now, counter to what mom and dad taught you as a little girl learning to ride your first bike, the seat should not be so low that you can touch the ground while seated. The seat needs to be high enough that your knee is almost (but not quite) locked out at the bottom of your pedal stroke. This will make you more efficient on the bike as well as reducing knee pain. Reach adjustments are probably best left to the bike shop. For a fee I’m sure they wouldn’t mind fitting you to the bike you currently have.

Pro-tip:

A good bike shop will never turn you away just because you didn’t buy your bike from them. Don’t go in demanding anything, and expect repairs that will cost a large percentage (if not more than) the original purchase price. A good bike shop knows that they make much more money in repairs and service than they do on the showroom floor.

Next, are your tires inflated to max PSI? A tire that is 10-15lbs short of max will feel squishy and slow on the road. If it still feels slow and pudgy, consider swapping your tires out for a high PSI slick or semi-slick. Your LBS should be able to help you out on this one.

Now to the Cypress. It’s a very nice bike and should be perfectly suitable to what you are looking to do with it. The only thing you need to be mindful of is the fit. Is the frame the right size? As I mentioned earlier, a medium is probably right for you (that is of course without seeing you so this may not be 100% accurate). If the frame is not the right size for you, then skip it and put the money towards a bike from the bike shop that actually fits you. Trek/Giant do have a credit card which you could apply for. For awhile they were offering 0% financing for 6 months. I don’t know if this promotion is still on but it might be worth checking out. If you can put 50% down and pay off the balance before you get hit with interest then it could be a viable option.

Also, don’t rush off to buy a new saddle because of some butt pain. Give your posterior time to adjust. If after several weeks it still hurts, then look into new seats. I’ve done several thousand miles on stock saddles and never had any issues. I’m from the camp that believe that the ass is mightier than the saddle.

Once again, welcome and keep us posted on your adventures. Stop and take some pictures of the scenery along the way. I sure could use some nice sunny pictures this time of year. Brrr.

Bau

Note my signature from the great philosopher bautieri.

Aw shucks TX, you're making me blush :lol:

like i said, switching wheels is totally dependent on what he is buying. if its a trek with paired spoke wheels i wouldnt ride them around the block at that weight. failures on those are a dime a dozen:
http://felixwong.com/news/wp-photos/broken_bontrager_hub.jpg

reviews (http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/wheels/wheelsets/bontrager/PRD_104396_2490crx.aspx)

And like I said, "probably won't have any trouble" which was after a list of things not to do and some basic maintenence. Your picture appears to have been from an impact of some sort. I'd say whomever was riding that bike was leaned into a right hand turn and hit a pothole. Course that is hard to say either way and there could be several contributing factors. Still, wow.

If by chance that was your wheel, how did the warrenty claim go? Did Trek do a good job of taking care of it's customer? This would be some very good information for our new friend Jeff.

All things considered, I still say it is in bad taste to throw money at an anticipated problem bike related or not. Ride the wheel until it fails then consider upgrading. I don't put much value on online product reviews because 95% of the people writing them have an axe to grind.

Hi Southerngirl, welcome to the forums!

Tell us a little more about this Schwinn that your sweet, well-meaning husband bought for you. Schwinn is an interesting manufacturer in the sense that in the past they were awesome, then they sold out to Wal-Mart/Target/K-Mart etc., then they had their high end bikes which are awesome…all while still wh*ring themselves out to X-Mart. Now, even if this bike was from X-Mart that is not necessarily a bad thing. For you are lucky in the sense that you are 5’7’’ 5’8’’, those are roughly the height requirements for a medium size frame which most X-Mart bikes are. The current bike you have is probably pretty darn close to fitting you. It’s just going to be a matter of setting the seat height and reach. Now, counter to what mom and dad taught you as a little girl learning to ride your first bike, the seat should not be so low that you can touch the ground while seated. The seat needs to be high enough that your knee is almost (but not quite) locked out at the bottom of your pedal stroke. This will make you more efficient on the bike as well as reducing knee pain. Reach adjustments are probably best left to the bike shop. For a fee I’m sure they wouldn’t mind fitting you to the bike you currently have.

Pro-tip:

A good bike shop will never turn you away just because you didn’t buy your bike from them. Don’t go in demanding anything, and expect repairs that will cost a large percentage (if not more than) the original purchase price. A good bike shop knows that they make much more money in repairs and service than they do on the showroom floor.

Next, are your tires inflated to max PSI? A tire that is 10-15lbs short of max will feel squishy and slow on the road. If it still feels slow and pudgy, consider swapping your tires out for a high PSI slick or semi-slick. Your LBS should be able to help you out on this one.

Now to the Cypress. It’s a very nice bike and should be perfectly suitable to what you are looking to do with it. The only thing you need to be mindful of is the fit. Is the frame the right size? As I mentioned earlier, a medium is probably right for you (that is of course without seeing you so this may not be 100% accurate). If the frame is not the right size for you, then skip it and put the money towards a bike from the bike shop that actually fits you. Trek/Giant do have a credit card which you could apply for. For awhile they were offering 0% financing for 6 months. I don’t know if this promotion is still on but it might be worth checking out. If you can put 50% down and pay off the balance before you get hit with interest then it could be a viable option.

Also, don’t rush off to buy a new saddle because of some butt pain. Give your posterior time to adjust. If after several weeks it still hurts, then look into new seats. I’ve done several thousand miles on stock saddles and never had any issues. I’m from the camp that believe that the ass is mightier than the saddle.

Once again, welcome and keep us posted on your adventures. Stop and take some pictures of the scenery along the way. I sure could use some nice sunny pictures this time of year. Brrr.

Bau

Okay, y'all rock. Thanks for all the replies. Here's more info on the bike. It's a Schwinn Suburban comfort bike (haha). Found one on Sears website. Here's a link: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00630016000P?keyword=suburban#specs Seems the same except for color.

One thing that concerns me a bit about the bike is that when changing gears I feel like the chain is going to pop off at any moment. It did do that once. My husband adjusted the thingy (I think it's the derailleur?) and it has been better. But is still noisy and clunky sounding and feeling. Maybe that's normal? Now, his mountain bike I can ride more easily than mine. I have to have my gears lower (?) just to ride on a flat street with mine. Just seems I'm working way harder with mine.

About 30 minutes ago, I went for a SHORT bike ride with my husband - like 10-20 minutes. My butt is not only sore, it was numb and radiating down my legs. Started within five minutes of being on the bike. Put weight on pedals and stood some, but it is definitely hitting nerves in there. Yep, it's got that big ol' cushy saddle that looks like it should be comfy. I may try adjusting it further. It was originally tilted up in the front which KILLED all the girl parts. It's more comfy now than it was, but not by much. I feel like we've got the saddle height right now. I raised it several times til it felt like I was getting more stretched out. My knee has a slight bend - just short of locking out at the bottom. I do have to step up on the seat from the pedal, but it feels right.

They cypress is in fact a medium. The bike shop where I went had told me a medium should be right. Pulled one off the rack so they could see if it would fit. Right on, Bautieri :) Told them I was looking at the used cypress and I looked at a Sedona while I was there. The guy there was great. Told me to come back on a day with good weather (I did mention cold and rainy yesterday I think!) and ride both (or however many I wanted) before I purchased the used one so I would have something to compare it to. Minimal fee to fit me on a bike not purchased there if I wanted to. The cypress is EXACTLY what I would purchase new from the store even down to the color if that is in fact the type of bike that would work for me.

The tires on my current bike were definitely squishy when I got it. It is inflated and rolls well now compared to at first.

Just hate to spend money on another bike if I don't have to. But maybe after the test drives the clouds will part, the angels will sing and I'll know for sure! Will definitely let ya'll know what I decide. I'll be on here lots trying to not sound like an idiot and learn the actual parts of my bike and what they do.

Thanks again!

Hi SG,

If it's the pain in the backside thing that makes you think your current bike doesn't fit I have some possibly bad news. Unfortunately, the price of starting out is the process of overcoming the pain in the butt from the seat. It's sort of a right of passage.

That being said, very few bikes come with a stock saddle that is very comfortable. A bike saddle is very personal selection item and no one saddle works for everyone. With regular riding it should only take a week or two to get past the adjustment period so that you can figure out if your saddle fits you or not. It's a bit counter intuitive, but the larger and softer the saddle, the worse it is for you.

On the other hand, I would never talk someone out of adding to the stable if you think you can swing it and the bike fits. Giant makes a great bike, but if it isn't the correct size you will never be comfortable on it and that means not riding as much as you might otherwise.

Oh, and sorry about that whole first loss thing with the Saints. Well, not really, but it seemed the polite thing to say, lol. The bike definitely fits and I could get it for $250.00. This particular one retailed for $380.00. Literally was ridden once. If it will keep me riding, it's worth it to me. If it were only a matter of the saddle with my current one, I wouldn't consider it. But there are other things that give me cause for pause. I just don't know for sure if it's me and my fitness level (or lack of) or the bike. Maybe we're just not a good match. Wanted some more input :)

Oh, and 'bout the Saints? LOL I'm not worried about one little loss. Better now than later! :) My 8 year old son likes the Cowboys too, so he ribbed his daddy a good bit over that one! But he still wants to paint his room black and gold. That's my baby!

Welcome also SouthernGirl. My advice is always ride as many bikes as you can. It is a good start that you have a current bike which allows you to feel the difference when you ride other bikes.

My opinion at this point is that your current bike (Schwinn) has most of the weight of your body supported by your rear. For quick jaunts around town or short trips it might not be a problem. However going over the surfaces you described it sounds like you are unable to move around a bit and relieve pressure. A different style bike would allow you to move around a bit and unweight your rear or change hand positions if necessary.

I think you should test ride as many bikes as you can as stated earlier. When you do it will become clearer to you which bikes will feel comfortable. Also it allows you to build a good relationship with a LBS which could prove beneficial down the line. When you come across a bike that just "feels" right it is an epiphany type moment.

Hi jeff! Sort of a newbie here myself! At 341 (ish) - weight is also an issue for me. As a beginner, you may wish to consider a 'stepping stone' like a 'comfort bike' - I just had a knee replacement, so will need to start out a bit slower than some of the others. The key that I read here is pick a bike you are in love with that makes you want to jump on and ride! As the best bike in the world has little value if you do not ride it often.

See if this picture will stick - I have a 2010 Giant Suede DX with upgraded tires (2 inch wide) - and the riding position is very comfortable - I may need to upgrade to a different style down the road, but for starting out, this bike simply reached out and grabbed me!

130818 - added Fenders, a rear rack, a nicer seat, and the upgraded Marathon tires.

Just a thought - much different than what you've been talking about though.
HTH

Thanks again everyone for your replies. When the bike store is open in the next couple of days, I plan to ride a few before I decide on the used one and making my final decision.

Has anyone had a chance to check out the link to the bike I'm currently riding? Would like some opinions about my current one and if the gear stuff I'm experiencing is to be expected with this bike or if it's unusual.

I'm shifting my weight as much as possible during my short rides by sliding forward or back on the saddle and tilting a bit as well as standing briefly on the pedals. It's bearable. I did feel the urge to try to put weight on my hands or arms but am unable due to the position on this bike. I kept thinking if I could rest my forearms on the handlebars for a few minutes it'd feel way better.

One thing I didn't think to mention before but today made me think of it - I have a really long torso in proportion to my legs. Well, I'm not Popeye or anything, but I'm definitely more body than legs. Wonder if that has anything to do with the urge to lean forward? That and lots of gusty wind today that made me think the resistance of my body was really hindering my speed and ability to feel like I'm flying over the ground. :D

OMG, my legs felt like noodles within a few feet of my driveway today! Haven't been sore, but as soon as I started going, I was aware of the muscles I've worked over the past few weeks especially 'cause of the hills I've been making myself tackle. :) Very short ride today as the cool wind was killing my ears. Sore throat and stuffy head started a few days ago. Bleh. Can't wait to try different bikes out to find the perfect fit.

'preciate the warm welcome everyone. Thanks for your time and input.

Your bike is fine. You do not need a new bike. (Whether you WANT one is another story. The old joke goes that the proper number of bikes to own is n + 1, where n is the number of bikes you already own.)

The gear issues you're experiencing are pretty standard, especially if you got a bike that's sold from Sears, since department stores aren't generally known for their attention to detail and care with bike assembly. You may have stretched out the cables a little bit (this is standard in the first hundred or so miles of riding), so you may want to try adjusting the barrel screw at the back of your rear derailleur slightly, or bring it in to the bike shop for a tune-up.

Saddles usually need to be replaced. Finding the right saddle may take a while. Talk to a local LBS, some of them will let you trade them back in until you find the right one. This helps. I love my Specialized BG Sonoma, other people LOVE Brooks, it's a very individual decision.

If I were you, I'd start with 3 things:

1. Get your bike tuned up and shifting properly. You and your husband can do this if you watch the various youtube videos and search online and are patient and make small adjustments, or you can roll up to the LBS and have them do it.
2. Get a saddle that is comfortable. Sometimes it takes a week or two to get used to a saddle, but if it's been longer than that, replace it.
2. Buy a multi-tool and get your bike dialled in as you ride it. Seat height / angle / fore-aft position, handlebar height / angle / etc. You should not need to be shifting your weight as much as possible, you should be able to sit comfortably and ride. It may take a while to get it completely comfortable, so make friends with the allen wrench.


Thanks again everyone for your replies. When the bike store is open in the next couple of days, I plan to ride a few before I decide on the used one and making my final decision.

Has anyone had a chance to check out the link to the bike I'm currently riding? Would like some opinions about my current one and if the gear stuff I'm experiencing is to be expected with this bike or if it's unusual.

I'm shifting my weight as much as possible during my short rides by sliding forward or back on the saddle and tilting a bit as well as standing briefly on the pedals. It's bearable. I did feel the urge to try to put weight on my hands or arms but am unable due to the position on this bike. I kept thinking if I could rest my forearms on the handlebars for a few minutes it'd feel way better.

One thing I didn't think to mention before but today made me think of it - I have a really long torso in proportion to my legs. Well, I'm not Popeye or anything, but I'm definitely more body than legs. Wonder if that has anything to do with the urge to lean forward? That and lots of gusty wind today that made me think the resistance of my body was really hindering my speed and ability to feel like I'm flying over the ground. :D

OMG, my legs felt like noodles within a few feet of my driveway today! Haven't been sore, but as soon as I started going, I was aware of the muscles I've worked over the past few weeks especially 'cause of the hills I've been making myself tackle. :) Very short ride today as the cool wind was killing my ears. Sore throat and stuffy head started a few days ago. Bleh. Can't wait to try different bikes out to find the perfect fit.

'preciate the warm welcome everyone. Thanks for your time and input.

I agree with bigvegan, you don' need a new bike. Bigvegan's advice is pretty sound. I don't think body length would be a big factor in a comfort bike because there is more leeway in the upright riding position.

I wouldn't be "tackling any hills" at this point in your riding career. I would concentrate on feeling comfortable on bike and getting a good fit. Once you have some "bike fitness" and experience on the bike you will have a better feel of what you like and want in a bike. Chances are the bike you like this week won't be the same one in a few months of riding. For the price of the Giant you can get a used bike in a few months that might suit the the "new biker" (you) better.

Welcome to the forum. As a side note, saddles as mentioned are an individual choice. I find that when I haven't been riding much nothing feels good, when I got the miles in and riding a bunch I can ride most anything. The key for me in finding a good saddle fit, is to have plenty of miles in.

Thanks Bigvegan. You're right, I do want more than need. My husband's bike rolls better/easier. Thought about snagging his. LOL That'd just be wrong though. We have been making adjustments and it's getting better rather than worse. I have shifted my saddle position numerous times (forward, back, up, down). That's better as well, but still with lots of discomfort and at times down right pain. On the bright side, I don't feel bruised when I sit down off the bike anymore.

Didn't realize the LBS may let me trade saddles. After I get the bike or no bike question answered and feel I have made the adjustments til it's as good as it gets, I will prolly look at the saddle if it's still an issue.

I'll ask my husband to look at the derailleur and see what magic he can work.

Being a bike owner again after many, many years of not riding, it's just surprising to me how much tweaking a new bike needs. Wanted to make sure it's within normal limits, I guess.

But yeah, I still want a bike so that I can go fast, be comfortable and get that *zing* when I walk up to it. Uh, oh yeah, and have a healthy activity I can enjoy solo or with the family.

Thanks Bigvegan. You're right, I do want more than need. My husband's bike rolls better/easier. Thought about snagging his. LOL That'd just be wrong though.

If you end up with a nicer bike than hubby's you wouldn't be the first on here. Seems it works that way more often than not. And I haven't heard one husband complain.

I agree with bigvegan, you don' need a new bike. Bigvegan's advice is pretty sound. I don't think body length would be a big factor in a comfort bike because there is more leeway in the upright riding position.

I wouldn't be "tackling any hills" at this point in your riding career. I would concentrate on feeling comfortable on bike and getting a good fit. Once you have some "bike fitness" and experience on the bike you will have a better feel of what you like and want in a bike. Chances are the bike you like this week won't be the same one in a few months of riding. For the price of the Giant you can get a used bike in a few months that might suit the the "new biker" (you) better.

Welcome to the forum. As a side note, saddles as mentioned are an individual choice. I find that when I haven't been riding much nothing feels good, when I got the miles in and riding a bunch I can ride most anything. The key for me in finding a good saddle fit, is to have plenty of miles in.
LOL Should have worded that differently. I'm sort of forced to tackle these hills right now as they are unavoidable in my neighborhood. Though I could cut out a couple by turning around and re-tracing part of a route, but that doesn't seem at all right. At least not all the time. By anyone else's standards, they may not qualify as hills, but they definitely are to me.

The Giant I've been considering (right now anyway) is used, though barely. Still mulling it over. If I don't love it, really love it, I will definitely wait, see and save. I understand exactly what you're saying about wanting something different after a few months of riding. Just want to make it a few months and as has been mentioned, if you love the bike, you're more likely to stay with it. Guess that's where I'm coming from. LOVE the feeling of riding and want to enjoy it and stick with it as much and as long as possible. I love challenges and the feeling of freedom with riding, so I feel it's a good match and wanna keep going.

I so appreciate everyone's input and advice. None of it is being ignored and is definitely being taken into consideration. Time, experience and personal preference will all have impact.

If you end up with a nicer bike than hubby's you wouldn't be the first on here. Seems it works that way more often than not. And I haven't heard one husband complain.

heehee somehow that doesn't surprise me. And nope, my darlin' definitely wouldn't complain either. If I'm happy, he's happy - and vice versa. Now it's on to learning all about the different bikes, the pros and cons and different styles and all that good stuff.

I don't know if you need a new bike or not but try tweaking the bike you have. Comfort on a bike can be a personal thing and what one person feels, another person the same height may not feel. This is all due to different body dimensions (long/short arms, long/short legs, long/short torso's etc.). Here is a good overview on bike fit: http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm. I'm sure there are other good places to look such as Sheldon Brown's site.

For tweaking your bike you might find that the suspension seatpost is robbing you of energy while pedaling. Perhaps a solid seatpost would work best. As for saddles Bigvegan is right that it is an individual thing. The big names I can think of that most like are Brooks, Body Geometry, Terry, and WTB. You will also want to make sure your tires are properly inflated as they have a lot to do with comfort, speed, and safety. Also check your reach as you don't want to be to stretched out or feel to cramped up. Also along the lines of what bigvegan stated perhaps bring your bike into the shop for tuneup or learn how to do the work yourself (which is never a bad idea anyway).

All in all small changes can make a world of difference. However if you constantly find yourself spending more and more to get your bike "just right" maybe a new bike won't be so bad. Happy New Years and good luck to you SouthernGirl.

Hi jeff! Sort of a newbie here myself! At 341 (ish) - weight is also an issue for me. As a beginner, you may wish to consider a 'stepping stone' like a 'comfort bike' - I just had a knee replacement, so will need to start out a bit slower than some of the others. The key that I read here is pick a bike you are in love with that makes you want to jump on and ride! As the best bike in the world has little value if you do not ride it often.

See if this picture will stick - I have a 2010 Giant Suede DX with upgraded tires (2 inch wide) - and the riding position is very comfortable - I may need to upgrade to a different style down the road, but for starting out, this bike simply reached out and grabbed me!

130818 - added Fenders, a rear rack, a nicer seat, and the upgraded Marathon tires.

Just a thought - much different than what you've been talking about though.
HTH

Thanks for your input Peter, I'll look into those bikes! By the way I've been reading your posts and I find them quite inspiring. Keep on keeping on man, one day at a time. Hope all is well.

Welcome! Where in MA are you?

Hello and welcome!
I think that you would probably like the Cypress. I really like mine.
Here is a thread I started about it.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?593496-My-bike-and-why-I-like-it&highlight=

BTW, I have read this thread and it's very encouraging, 'cause I keep adjusting my Schwinn and I'm just not in love with it. I'm really trying to love it, but the slightly used Cypress is still calling me! I'm checking it out, but still trying to be happy with my existing bike.



I don't know if you need a new bike or not but try tweaking the bike you have. Comfort on a bike can be a personal thing and what one person feels, another person the same height may not feel. This is all due to different body dimensions (long/short arms, long/short legs, long/short torso's etc.). Here is a good overview on bike fit: http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm (http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm). I'm sure there are other good places to look such as Sheldon Brown's site.

Okay, that website has answered oodles and oodles of questions for me. Given me a better idea of how to tweak my bike to fit. Much better understanding of specifics for comfort for the type of bike and the function the rider wants. Excellent. Thank you!


For tweaking your bike you might find that the suspension seatpost is robbing you of energy while pedaling. Perhaps a solid seatpost would work best. As for saddles Bigvegan is right that it is an individual thing. The big names I can think of that most like are Brooks, Body Geometry, Terry, and WTB. You will also want to make sure your tires are properly inflated as they have a lot to do with comfort, speed, and safety. Also check your reach as you don't want to be to stretched out or feel to cramped up. Also along the lines of what bigvegan stated perhaps bring your bike into the shop for tuneup or learn how to do the work yourself (which is never a bad idea anyway).

Okay, again, the link given has helped with alot of this. I think the saddle will be replaced sooner rather than later, but not quite yet. I want to make sure I have the fit right before completely judging the saddle.


All in all small changes can make a world of difference. However if you constantly find yourself spending more and more to get your bike "just right" maybe a new bike won't be so bad. Happy New Years and good luck to you SouthernGirl.

I'm still trying to love or at least like a lot, my current bike. In the next couple of days, I will be test riding some others including the cypress. If I'm totally blown away, okay. It would be worth the money. If not blown away, I'll keep tweaking and looking around till I know what my preferred style of riding and bike will be. I like speed and pushing myself, and I keep wanting to lean forward. Maybe I'll try getting closer to that position and see how it goes. :lol:

When I figure it out, I'll post.

Thank you everyone for the welcome and for the great advice. I'm all about learning. So, any suggestions for where to get accurate information, I'm open to it.

Thanks again