Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - New Nashville Clydesdale here...

Good evening,

After too many years of ignoring my spreading waistline due to my job at the time(truck driving)and apathy, I have decided to take my health more seriously and start exercising. Unfortunately I am the type of person that, if I don't like doing a particular activity, won't do it, no matter how good for me it is. The only physical activities I enjoy are swimming and riding bikes. There's a third... but............. never mind!;)


This afternoon I purchased a used Trek SU200 from a craigslist ad, and I think I made a wise choice. The bike's got some miles on it, evidenced by the amount of wear on the components and tires, but everything is true and in reasonably good shape. My immediate plan is to get my body used to doing more work, starting with short rides around the neighborhood and an empty mall up the road. As I get into better shape I would like to start on longer rides, but that is several months away.

I like road bikes a lot, and I used to own a '93-94 Giant Perigee I also bought from a CL ad. I carried that bike in the truck with me, riding it whenever I had a few hours to kill at a terminal or warehouse delivery. The problem I had with it, indeed, with all road bikes, is that I am 6ft 1in, and in the neighborhood of 300lbs. I've never been comfortable on such skinny tires, nor with the 100PSI in them. I always feared hitting a bump or pothole and then vanishing in a cloud of smoke.


Anyway, it's going to be a long road for me, literally and figuratively. I eventually want to start riding to school 9 miles away, and am going to need some advice on rear racks, panniers, fenders, or anything else I may need.


I like what I've seen of this forum so far!!


Thanks!

Welcome to the herd, Ironhand. :D

I think you'll be surprised how soon your completing 18 mile rides.

You made a good decision ...bikes are fun and healthy.

I know!! when I was a kid I rode a 10-speed Schwinn(I think, were they sold at K-Mart?)to death before replacing it with a Ross Mt. Washington mountain bike. Anyone remember them? Oddly, there is one for sale in my local CL for almost the same money as I spent on mine in 1983. This was all before I discovered motorcycles, of course.

My body is strange, in that it tends to respond quickly to exercise, even as my 40th birthday is now only 3 weeks away. This is especially true since I quit smoking almost 7 years ago. What's been bothering me is the damage I've done to my joints over the years, and how it's all starting to catch up to me now. Knee surgery at 16 for torn ACL. MCL, and cartilage, back surgery in '98 for a herniated disc in my lower back I sustained in a fall, ankle sprains, you name it... If I shed the pounds at least my joints will feel a little better.

Welcome Ironhand You've truely found a great forum to help you achieve both your interrelated goals. In this forum we have people beginning the journey, people near their original goals, and everything in between. If you haven't done so already let me suggest you check out the before and after thread. There are so many pictures of people showing what is possible. Let me also suggest that you replace "If I shed the pounds...." With "As I shed the pounds..."

Welcome Ironhand You've truely found a great forum to help you achieve both your interrelated goals. In this forum we have people beginning the journey, people near their original goals, and everything in between. If you haven't done so already let me suggest you check out the before and after thread. There are so many pictures of people showing what is possible. Let me also suggest that you replace "If I shed the pounds...." With "As I shed the pounds..."

Agreed.

Welcome aboard. I've got close family down in you're neck of the woods. Maybe we can ride next time I'm down.

Welcome Ironhand You've truely found a great forum to help you achieve both your interrelated goals. In this forum we have people beginning the journey, people near their original goals, and everything in between. If you haven't done so already let me suggest you check out the before and after thread. There are so many pictures of people showing what is possible. Let me also suggest that you replace "If I shed the pounds...." With "As I shed the pounds..."

Best advice so far!

Good evening,

After too many years of ignoring my spreading waistline due to my job at the time(truck driving)and apathy, I have decided to take my health more seriously and start exercising. Unfortunately I am the type of person that, if I don't like doing a particular activity, won't do it, no matter how good for me it is. The only physical activities I enjoy are swimming and riding bikes. There's a third... but............. never mind!;)


This afternoon I purchased a used Trek SU200 from a craigslist ad, and I think I made a wise choice. The bike's got some miles on it, evidenced by the amount of wear on the components and tires, but everything is true and in reasonably good shape. My immediate plan is to get my body used to doing more work, starting with short rides around the neighborhood and an empty mall up the road. As I get into better shape I would like to start on longer rides, but that is several months away.

I like road bikes a lot, and I used to own a '93-94 Giant Perigee I also bought from a CL ad. I carried that bike in the truck with me, riding it whenever I had a few hours to kill at a terminal or warehouse delivery. The problem I had with it, indeed, with all road bikes, is that I am 6ft 1in, and in the neighborhood of 300lbs. I've never been comfortable on such skinny tires, nor with the 100PSI in them. I always feared hitting a bump or pothole and then vanishing in a cloud of smoke.


Anyway, it's going to be a long road for me, literally and figuratively. I eventually want to start riding to school 9 miles away, and am going to need some advice on rear racks, panniers, fenders, or anything else I may need.


I like what I've seen of this forum so far!!


Thanks!

Welcome to the herd....

The SU200 is a good, getting started bike, it's fine for booting around town, as I have said before and will say again, this is your first bike, it's not your last bike, let me explain that, as you get stronger and lighter and want to go further, faster you will add to the bicycle collection. A good investment is a proper fitting, the better a bicycle fits, the more likely you are to ride it. The first two things most people replace on a bicycle are the saddle and the tires. A saddle can be a literal pain in the a**, if it is, change it out, don't assume that the foot wide pillow-top saddle will be comfortable. They usually are, but only for short rides, and even if your derriere is wide, that doesn't mean you need a wide saddle. What a lot of riders do is they get a professional fitting done, this will adjust the bike to fit the rider. Do not be surprised though if the fitting cost more then the bike did, if they need to change out parts.

Welcome to the herd....

The SU200 is a good, getting started bike, it's fine for booting around town, as I have said before and will say again, this is your first bike, it's not your last bike, let me explain that, as you get stronger and lighter and want to go further, faster you will add to the bicycle collection. A good investment is a proper fitting, the better a bicycle fits, the more likely you are to ride it. The first two things most people replace on a bicycle are the saddle and the tires. A saddle can be a literal pain in the a**, if it is, change it out, don't assume that the foot wide pillow-top saddle will be comfortable. They usually are, but only for short rides, and even if your derriere is wide, that doesn't mean you need a wide saddle. What a lot of riders do is they get a professional fitting done, this will adjust the bike to fit the rider. Do not be surprised though if the fitting cost more then the bike did, if they need to change out parts.


I'm not surprised by any of this. I bought the SU200 as a way of getting the weight off first, and as time and finances allow,getting a better set of wheels. I eventually want another road bike, as even though my old Perigee was low-tech compared to some of the rod bikes today, I absolutely LOVED the speed and handling! I figure I will pass on the SU200 to my 14 year old son when I finally upgrade.



Got my helmet today, and the bike's at Trace Cycle in Pasquo getting a tune-up.

Good bike to learn some discipline on. I hope it fits you well.
You want skinny tires, but are afraid of them folding under you.

Think about finding a touring bike. Dropped handlebars, Strong wheels, more narrow tires (down to 700c x 28, but often 32 or 35), lower gearing than a road bike but higher than a Mountain bike.

You can have patience and watch for one on CL. Find out about fit because as you get into biking, bike fit becomes more and more important. Infact fit is always important because if a bike doesn't fit, a person always finds excuses not to ride it.

Good luck, and go for it!

Welcome Ironhand You've truely found a great forum to help you achieve both your interrelated goals. In this forum we have people beginning the journey, people near their original goals, and everything in between. If you haven't done so already let me suggest you check out the before and after thread. There are so many pictures of people showing what is possible. Let me also suggest that you replace "If I shed the pounds...." With "As I shed the pounds..."
x 2 :thumb:

Welcome aboard Ironhand :)