Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Help Me Get Back on the Road

I'm a 360lb 45 year old, who needs to get off his butt and get some exercise. About the only thing I've ever liked to do was ride a bike, so after 20+ years I decided to look into getting back on a bike. I hit the web and found this site which is an amazing resource - thanks to everyone here I've learned a lot about getting back on the road.

I'm comparing 2 options; rehab my old road bike or purchase a new hybird bike. Fixing the old road bike will be cheaper, but I have some concerns about riding comfort given my size. (Money isn't a major concern in the decision). I'll be sticking to roads and bike trails, not going off-road.

Option 1) Old Road Bike

I have a 1982 Peugeot UO-10 road bike which has 27" x1.25 rims with 36 spokes with 1" tires. It would need a complete teardown since it has been sitting for 20+ years. I could get this bike overhauled, wheels trued and tensioned and possibly replace the tires with 1.25" tires. I figure this would take around $200 to complete. I have a few questions though:

1) Are the wheels 36 spoke because they are 27" and not 700's? (I guess I am asking if this is equal to a 32 spoke 700c wheel since the 27" wheel is taller) Would they be strong enough? These are Rigida alloy rims.

2) Can the 1" tires be replaced with 1.25" tires?

Option 2) New Hybrid

The advantage here is the more upright riding position and the fact that the bike will be new. I tried a Trek 7.1 (LBS didn't have a 7.3 in my size) and a Specialized Sirrus Elite Disk. I was much more comfortable on the Sirrus. If purchasing I would probably order a Sirrus Sport.

Any input/experience would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

I suggest both if money isn't a major concern. Get the hybrid and turn getting the road bike in running condition into a long term project. Perhaps make it a reward for weight loss.

And when you have a bike look me up. I'm in SE PA and I love to ride with people.

Rehab the French bike. Stick with the 1.25 tires and ride for awhile. That allows you to figure out what you like and don't like about the Peugeot and spend wisely when you're ready. I run 700C X 32 on 36 spoke rims on my 23 year old Bridgestone and enjoy the ride. Sometimes I think I'd like some skinny tars but haven't had a flat in many miles. Take your time and enjoy.

I won't offer an opinion on which bike to choose. I'll leave that to the more experienced riders here. I just want to encourage you to get out and ride! I've lost 30+ lbs since getting back into riding and I'm feeling better every day. So, no matter which bike you choose, get out and ride and you'll be thankful you did.

I had the same dilemma when I got back into riding last year.

Rehab my mid-80s Raleigh or buy a new bike...

The new bike gave me a trouble free ride and incentive to just get out there and ride. The old bike is nice but it's an ongoing a project, so every issue would have been an excuse to not ride. It's like a classic car, fun to have and nice to take on an occasional journey, but not a daily driver.

I suggest both if money isn't a major concern. Get the hybrid and turn getting the road bike in running condition into a long term project. Perhaps make it a reward for weight loss.

And when you have a bike look me up. I'm in SE PA and I love to ride with people.

Neil, are you back in PA yet or still riding around Ohio? I'm leaving for florida for 2 weeks but let's set something up after I get back.

Neil, are you back in PA yet or still riding around Ohio? I'm leaving for florida for 2 weeks but let's set something up after I get back.

Back for a week now. And I'm not planning on going anywhere for a while.

While you're debating which bike to get, I suggest walking. 20 minutes a day/ 3 times a week is a great beginning. Now for my byline: What you do isn't as important as forming good habits.

Ha! Go ask this on the C&V forum! On second thought don't!

Rehab your old bike, it really should be a keeper.
Get it 100%+ redone. Even if it's double the 200 dollars it's cheaper than a new hybrid.
That frame should be able to handle 1.25 tires.

XR2 has it about right.

Thanks everyone for your input, I pulled the old bike out of the basement, put some air in the tires and tried to get on. The saddle took a nose dive so I got off tightened it up and lowered the seat post. Got back on... It made my decision - I need to go for the hybrid at this time, there's no way I can handle the riding position right now. So back to the basement for the Peugeot. Now I need to decide between the Sirrus Sport and the Sirrus Elite. I'm leaning to the Sport due to the carbon fiber fork on the Elite, but some of the components on the Elite are a step up from the Sport.