Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Another Noob checks in

This is just a first post to say "Hi" and thanks for a forum full of great advice for beginners and a mountain of motivation for anyone interested in cycling to help with weightloss. While I'll be happy to join the ranks of Neil_B's new spiders, truth is I've been lurking here for a couple of months soaking up some helpful advice.

In my case the "discovery" that I had a problem came after going for a ride on a MTB that we'd brought for one of our sons who had wrecked his car and was still recovering. I think I made about half a block before running out of breath and out of legs. Now, my last memory of riding a bike was a 30 mile trip from home to the local rifle club and back again. However a bit of mental arithmatic forced me to concede that this was 42 years and uncountable packets of cigarettes ago coupled with a great number of years in a pretty sedentary job. So here I am at 5'9" and 250lbs, having quit smoking over the last two months, and with a well fitted Trek FX7.1 (bottom end I know, but it rides just fine with a B17 on it !! ) that I've just managed to ride 115 miles for the month. I'm over the moon with this as a first serious month of riding.

And if there are any ex smokers I'd sure like to here your experiences, as the lack of lungs is a definite issue at the moment.

This is just a first post to say "Hi" and thanks for a forum full of great advice for beginners and a mountain of motivation for anyone interested in cycling to help with weightloss. While I'll be happy to join the ranks of Neil_B's new spiders, truth is I've been lurking here for a couple of months soaking up some helpful advice.

In my case the "discovery" that I had a problem came after going for a ride on a MTB that we'd brought for one of our sons who had wrecked his car and was still recovering. I think I made about half a block before running out of breath and out of legs. Now, my last memory of riding a bike was a 30 mile trip from home to the local rifle club and back again. However a bit of mental arithmatic forced me to concede that this was 42 years and uncountable packets of cigarettes ago coupled with a great number of years in a pretty sedentary job. So here I am at 5'9" and 250lbs, having quit smoking over the last two months, and with a well fitted Trek FX7.1 (bottom end I know, but it rides just fine with a B17 on it !! ) that I've just managed to ride 115 miles for the month. I'm over the moon with this as a first serious month of riding.

And if there are any ex smokers I'd sure like to here your experiences, as the lack of lungs is a definite issue at the moment.
welcome, and congratulations on both returning to cycling and quitting smoking.
Since you admit your last cycling adventure was over 40 years ago, I'm sure you are qualified to join us over on the 50+ forum as well.
I am an ex smoker, although I quit almost 35 years ago when I was still in my 20s, so I can't really relate there.
You'll find lots of support and encouragement both here and on the 50+ side.
Look forward to hearing about your progress.

Welcome.

I've never been a smoker, but according to former smokers I know the lungs, if they haven't gone past the point of no return, will 'repair' themselves with time. Keep working to gradually build up your stamina.

Welcome aboard! First off... great job on quitting smoking. I quit 16 months ago and it's the best thing I ever did! I definitely notice a difference now. I don't get as winded like I used to, and my biking has improved probably 100%.

From what I understand, it takes about 2 years smoke free to get your lungs back to a non-smoker status. But it's so worth it!

Keep up the good work, and keep pedaling! I started on a Trek 7.2. I still have it and use it as a commuter/grocery getter. If you're like me, you'll get bit by the road bug, and want a faster bike. I just got a Trek 1.2 and love it!

Best of luck!

Welcome aboard!!!!

Quit the smoking thing back in the late 70s, they cigs were getting too expensive for my wallet, wife and I both quit back then. Have a lot of scarring in my lungs, but due to chemicals and fumes from work....................we did not use to use things like respirators back then. Still get winded easily, but getting better as I ride more and more.

Thanks all for the kind welcome. On the quitting smoking issue I have to say I feel much better in just a couple of months so I'm looking forward to seeing how this goes in the long term. As an engineering guy I'm forever trying to measure stuff so it's nice to see that just two months off the smokes and a serious month of pedaling have made a measurable improvement in my BP figures. Who knows, maybe by next year I can get rid of the BP medication entirely.

And yep, I'll have a look in the 50+ forum for sure although I haven't to date. At 59, you're right, I certainly qualify.

Subzero; please please please don't mention a roadie !. I love the 7.1FX but the choice of a 7.1FX was deliberate. I discovered that there are an endless variety of other good add-on bits to buy so I find myself at the LBS almost every week. Last week it was a fender kit. This week a rear rack etc etc. However lately I seem to be hovering around a Madone 3.1 in my size before I get out the door. It's beginning to worry me.....

I still have my 7.2 and still love it!
235666

Not pictured are the bar-ends, and new fenders.

Welcome! I quit smoking a little over 7 years ago and it did take a while for the lungs to come back. I am certified for wearing a respirator and have to take annual tests for lung capacity. I was always a bit above average but a couple of years after I quit the tech giving the test was amazed at my lung capacity. I think cycling has a lot to do with it as well.

Enjoy riding and don't be surprised when the N+1 bugs bites and you "need" to get another bike.

Thanks all for the kind welcome. On the quitting smoking issue I have to say I feel much better in just a couple of months so I'm looking forward to seeing how this goes in the long term. As an engineering guy I'm forever trying to measure stuff so it's nice to see that just two months off the smokes and a serious month of pedaling have made a measurable improvement in my BP figures. Who knows, maybe by next year I can get rid of the BP medication entirely.

And yep, I'll have a look in the 50+ forum for sure although I haven't to date. At 59, you're right, I certainly qualify.

Subzero; please please please don't mention a roadie !. I love the 7.1FX but the choice of a 7.1FX was deliberate. I discovered that there are an endless variety of other good add-on bits to buy so I find myself at the LBS almost every week. Last week it was a fender kit. This week a rear rack etc etc. However lately I seem to be hovering around a Madone 3.1 in my size before I get out the door. It's beginning to worry me.....

I'd post a photo of my 7.5 but I already have a mammoth reputation for vanity. :-) The fx series are great bikes.

Welcome.

I've never been a smoker, but according to former smokers I know the lungs, if they haven't gone past the point of no return, will 'repair' themselves with time. Keep working to gradually build up your stamina.I know this is true from personal experience. I smoked for 18 years, and quit in 1979. The lungs come back within a few months - certainly less than a year.

Never smoked tobacco so I can't offer much insight there. I have known enough folks who have smoked and paid the price to understand the powerful grip it has on people.

I heard on the radio the other day of a study that concuded that tobacco smoke decreases lung capacity mut marijuana does not. I am not suggesting you swap your pack-a-day habbit for a J-a-day habit, but I thought it was interesting.

I think your basic hybrid bike with a cool saddle sounds like you upgraded where it will make the most difference. The rest of your bike is actually quite good, no matter what the bike-snobs say!

Now get out there and ride!

no matter what the bike-snobs say!

Hey I'm a bike snob, I just don't comment about other people's bike choices. But I do lust silently over the nice ones.

Neil_B. You have a mammoth reputation alright but I'm not sure it's for vanity. I really like the FX7.5 or the FX7.4 which at least has 32 spoke wheels, but I chose the FX7.1 after a talk with the guy at the LBS who quite rightly asked " now do you think you'll still be riding this in 3 months ? If you're not sure, go with an entry level bike. If you hang it up in the garage, you haven't invested too much and if you're still riding in 3 months you'll have a much better idea of what you really want." I thought this was sound, honest advice. As it turns out I've since spent more with him on accessories than the initial purchase price of the bike.

The B17 was another story. I found the original saddle on the bike unbelievably uncomfortable and couldn't ride it except with a gel saddle cover. I spent nights sifting through posts here on the forum and decided that while there were folks who'd had no joy with Brooks saddles, I'd give it a try. My bum will be eternally grateful. I like it straight out of the box and I expect it will just get better.

As for trading tobacco for marijuana I figure I had enough of a job quitting tobacco. I tried about a dozen times over the years and failed. Aside from the issue of more or less smoke damage to the lungs, I'm beginning to develop taste buds again which is interesting. And we just won't mention the fact that a packet of cigarettes here is about $17.50 making a packet a day habit worth about
$122.50 / week

Now if I keep saving that amount each week I might just "need" a new bike in a few months !

About the B17, some people love them, some people don't. See if there is an LBS that has a trial period on saddles, or good return policy.

Meadowbrook QLD

sweet , Holmview/Edenslanding QLD here, good to see more Aussies around .( we will rule the forum soon)

welcome .

In regards to smoking while i don't and wont ( i hate the smell) Tictac's apparently work well. When you want to smoke just suck on the tictac it helps with the whole putting something in your mouth :lol: thing.

what bike store did you go to ? i went to sonic cycles down near Slackscreek

Maybe when i am not as slow as water going up hill we can go for a ride.

Hi tergal; Edens Landing isn't that far away at all. I think there are a few Aussies that post on this forum. I'm not quite sure how I stumbled across it. Must have been somewhere in my searches for "large guys on bikes". I'm sure glad I did though. I suspect that there are too few of us for a takeover bid though <grin>

LBS was Sonic Cycles. Spoke to Ashley's Dad, Les who is 10 years older than me and has been riding since he was 10 I think. I'd checked out a few others but they were either pretty patronizing or just weren't listening when I tried to explain what I thought I wanted.

What do you mean "when you're not slow as water going up hill" . I try to track all my rides with Endomondo on my phone as well as the bike computer and to date my average speed is 16km/h ( 10mph). I'm more trying to learn how to maintain a reasonable cadence, so at the moment, I don't go anywhere in a hurry !! But I sure enjoy going there. There are some nice bike ways close to here.

cyclist2000, too late on the Brooks I'm afraid. I brought it online and so far it looks like I'm joining the "I love Brooks" camp. But I know what you mean. They aren't cheap and it could easily have gone the other way. Took me about three weeks of reading lots other peoples opinions, both the good and the bad, before I ordered it.

Welcome aboard, Ken. I'm a relative newbie on the forum, but not on the bike. I've been on and off the bike my whole adult life, but off it enough to be a clyde now. Congrats on quitting smoking. I'm one of those "never smoked" people, so I haven't a clue how hard it is.

Neil_B. You have a mammoth reputation alright but I'm not sure it's for vanity. I really like the FX7.5 or the FX7.4 which at least has 32 spoke wheels, but I chose the FX7.1 after a talk with the guy at the LBS who quite rightly asked " now do you think you'll still be riding this in 3 months ? If you're not sure, go with an entry level bike. If you hang it up in the garage, you haven't invested too much and if you're still riding in 3 months you'll have a much better idea of what you really want." I thought this was sound, honest advice. As it turns out I've since spent more with him on accessories than the initial purchase price of the bike.

The B17 was another story. I found the original saddle on the bike unbelievably uncomfortable and couldn't ride it except with a gel saddle cover. I spent nights sifting through posts here on the forum and decided that while there were folks who'd had no joy with Brooks saddles, I'd give it a try. My bum will be eternally grateful. I like it straight out of the box and I expect it will just get better.

As for trading tobacco for marijuana I figure I had enough of a job quitting tobacco. I tried about a dozen times over the years and failed. Aside from the issue of more or less smoke damage to the lungs, I'm beginning to develop taste buds again which is interesting. And we just won't mention the fact that a packet of cigarettes here is about $17.50 making a packet a day habit worth about
$122.50 / week

Now if I keep saving that amount each week I might just "need" a new bike in a few months !

Had I to make the purchase over again I might have gotten a 7.2 or 7.3. I could have put a front rack on the bike and used it for touring. The carbon fork on the 7.5 isn't the sort of thing I want to clamp a rack to.

Anyway I'm glad you like the 7.1.

BTW, add Rowan to the list of Aussie posters.

Hi tergal; Edens Landing isn't that far away at all. I think there are a few Aussies that post on this forum. I'm not quite sure how I stumbled across it. Must have been somewhere in my searches for "large guys on bikes". I'm sure glad I did though. I suspect that there are too few of us for a takeover bid though <grin>

LBS was Sonic Cycles. Spoke to Ashley's Dad, Les who is 10 years older than me and has been riding since he was 10 I think. I'd checked out a few others but they were either pretty patronizing or just weren't listening when I tried to explain what I thought I wanted.

What do you mean "when you're not slow as water going up hill" . I try to track all my rides with Endomondo on my phone as well as the bike computer and to date my
it.


never to few, we just have to find something to hold over the rest of the forum :innocent: i think i saw Neil saying he wanted something called a turkduken wrapped in bacon can we use that as leverage.

I spoke to Ashely actually he has helped me out a lot in regards to purchases. Going to try a LBS a bit closer to my house for a check up on my bike this weekend , but i don't hold high hopes for them matching Sonic cycles. ( i need a place close to home not close to work for weekend check ups :) )

I will admit it i am slow i am on a trek 4300 with 1.75 tires for road riding, is a very nice ride i tend to want to take my time because of it i think. 14-17 is my average i think for my ride to work .


Quick Of topic question for you , have you done any of the rides around the bike paths near Brisbane river ?

EDIT : Kms not miles

never to few, we just have to find something to hold over the rest of the forum :innocent: i think i saw Neil saying he wanted something called a turkduken wrapped in bacon can we use that as leverage.


A turducken is an "only in America" dish - a chicken stuffed in a duck stuffed in a turkey. I don't think Australians can understand turducken. After all, this is your national food:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Vegemiteontoast_large.jpg/220px-Vegemiteontoast_large.jpg

A turducken is an "only in America" dish - a chicken stuffed in a duck stuffed in a turkey. I don't think Australians can understand turducken. After all, this is your national food:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Vegemiteontoast_large.jpg/220px-Vegemiteontoast_large.jpg

uck i hate Vegemite

how do you stuff a chicken in... never mind forget i even asked =/

uck i hate Vegemite

how do you stuff a chicken in... never mind forget i even asked =/

http://bacontoday.com/turbaconducken-turducken-wrapped-in-bacon/

http://bacontoday.com/turbaconducken-turducken-wrapped-in-bacon/

honeslty i am not sure what to make of that, part of me thinks it would taste great and the other part cant help but think i would be so sick :lol: .

i am really not sure.

meh each to their own :o

Yo, thanks for the welcome. I really think the smoking thing is licked now for good.

tergal mate I dont think we can hold turducken over 'em. I get to go to Oshkosh in Wisconsin in late July every year and they have much worse stuff; like cheese curds !.. Then again they have some really cool stuff like Leon's Frozen Custard. Deee..licious. We'll just have to chalk it up to cultural differences. Haven't been anywhere near the Brisbane River yet but have been down along the Logan River and all the Slacks Creek Bikeway which runs almost direct to Sonic from close to my place. 8km ride to the bike shop. I guess you still have issues after it landed drive side down ?

Neil you have just given me to think a bit about that carbon fork thing. I was looking at upgrading to a 7.4 with the carbon fork and 32 spoke wheels but I also want to tour at some stage. I hadn't really thought about the consequences of hanging front racks on there. Your right, it doesn't sound like a great idea at all. I think I need another upgrade plan....

Yo, thanks for the welcome. I really think the smoking thing is licked now for good.

tergal mate I dont think we can hold turducken over 'em. I get to go to Oshkosh in Wisconsin in late July every year and they have much worse stuff; like cheese curds !.. Then again they have some really cool stuff like Leon's Frozen Custard. Deee..licious. We'll just have to chalk it up to cultural differences. Haven't been anywhere near the Brisbane River yet but have been down along the Logan River and all the Slacks Creek Bikeway which runs almost direct to Sonic from close to my place. 8km ride to the bike shop. I guess you still have issues after it landed drive side down ?

Neil you have just given me to think a bit about that carbon fork thing. I was looking at upgrading to a 7.4 with the carbon fork and 32 spoke wheels but I also want to tour at some stage. I hadn't really thought about the consequences of hanging front racks on there. Your right, it doesn't sound like a great idea at all. I think I need another upgrade plan....

There's the alternative of a trailer instead of panniers front and back:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/165267_1658754321195_1607271639_1494913_6948790_n.jpg

Good idea Neil. Reading the Trek reviews leads me to believe that the carbon fiber front fork models are nicer to ride with less vibration, hence the possible upgrade to a 7.4 or 7.5. Haven't seen any trailers around here so I'm pretty clueless as to how it attaches etc etc.

Good idea Neil. Reading the Trek reviews leads me to believe that the carbon fiber front fork models are nicer to ride with less vibration, hence the possible upgrade to a 7.4 or 7.5. Haven't seen any trailers around here so I'm pretty clueless as to how it attaches etc etc.

You replace the rear skewer with one that allowed the trailer to attach.

Hi mate,

Yea my drive side was pretty bent up , i went to the bike store in Beenleigh today, 40 bucks everything is fixed and good. He also went over the bike and re trued my back wheel which i had not even noticed yet.

Very good service , i did get a good chuckle when he tried to test ride my 24" bike and he is about 5 foot 4 .

Will go back there i think, between them and sonic cylces i have two great groups of people.

Think in a few weeks i might try the Brisbane river, hopefully this horrible rain has buggered off.

tergal: Great news that your bike is fixed and that a there are now two bike shops on the OK list. Sounds like the guy needed to try my 17.5" Trek if he's 5' 4". :)
I may be 5'9" but I'm more torso than legs, so I ride a small frame and that makes Neil's suggestion of a trailer for touring pretty relevant. What part of the Brissy river are you thinking about ? now that all the rain's gone away. If you want to have a look at how soggy it got, have a look here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/Ken_onabike where I have started collecting a few ride photos.

Neil: Thanks for the trailer suggestion. Had a look at the BOB Yak on their website so I now understand the replacement skewer idea. I reckon this sort of thing will be the way I go a bit later down the track. What brand is that one in the photo ??

tergal: Great news that your bike is fixed and that a there are now two bike shops on the OK list. Sounds like the guy needed to try my 17.5" Trek if he's 5' 4". :)
I may be 5'9" but I'm more torso than legs, so I ride a small frame and that makes Neil's suggestion of a trailer for touring pretty relevant. What part of the Brissy river are you thinking about ? now that all the rain's gone away. If you want to have a look at how soggy it got, have a look here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/Ken_onabike where I have started collecting a few ride photos.

Neil: Thanks for the trailer suggestion. Had a look at the BOB Yak on their website so I now understand the replacement skewer idea. I reckon this sort of thing will be the way I go a bit later down the track. What brand is that one in the photo ??

It's a Yakima Big Tow. Yakima stopped making it after a lawsuit from the makers of the BOB trailers - it seems Yakima had infringed on some patents. The big difference between the trailers is the Yakima has a fairing and the BOB doesn't. This means the Big Tow has less road and trail dirt bouncing into it, but the fork can't swivel into the body of the trailer for transport.

Nice photos,

Was meaning to ask you how is that slacks creek bike path ? . Was thinking of ridding from slacks creek to Holmview and using that path as a Cheat to avoid Kingston/queens street hill.

I heard there was good riding paths up around Brisbane

http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCCWR/assets/bcc/pop-ups/riverwalk/html_map_pop.htm

More for relaxing rides than speed i think which sounds like fun.

It's a Yakima Big Tow. Yakima stopped making it after a lawsuit from the makers of the BOB trailers - it seems Yakima had infringed on some patents. The big difference between the trailers is the Yakima has a fairing and the BOB doesn't. This means the Big Tow has less road and trail dirt bouncing into it, but the fork can't swivel into the body of the trailer for transport.

Thanks Neil. Sounds like I need to start saving pennies as a BOB Yak here costs more than the bike.


Nice photos,

Was meaning to ask you how is that slacks creek bike path ? . Was thinking of ridding from slacks creek to Holmview and using that path as a Cheat to avoid Kingston/queens street hill.

I heard there was good riding paths up around Brisbane

http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCCWR/assets/bcc/pop-ups/riverwalk/html_map_pop.htm

More for relaxing rides than speed i think which sounds like fun.

Thanks. I'm no photographer but it's fun to take a few snaps now and then. The Slacks Creek path is really nice and runs through a fair bit of bushland that's very pretty. It starts about a 1.5km away from my place at the junction of Loganlea Rd and Queens Rd and heads through the bush to Paradise Rd. You can duck underneath Paradise Rd there and keep going on to Park Rd Slacks Creek.It's a really pleasant ride and I usually head up there after work. If you have some time we can go ride it together if you want. And as for Queens Rd Hill........mate that's about a 45 degree slope that I have notionally listed as the thing I'm going to attempt if I ever get fit enough ! Until then I'll avoid it like the plague

Looks like there a lots of nice rides along the river that are worth checking out though.

Thanks Neil. Sounds like I need to start saving pennies as a BOB Yak here costs more than the bike.


See if you can buy one second hand. My trailer was originally owned by another Bike Forums member.

I tried that hill once.....:( i may petition the government to have it listed as a black spot for ridding . I made it about 1/3 of the way up swore a lot then got off and walked.

I don't knock off work till 6 30 Monday to Thursday but plan on trying the slacks creek path on Friday when i finish around 1 30 . I never try a new path in the dark :lol:. My front light got trashed in my little accident before.


how much work would it be to build Ur own trailer ? some aluminum and pop rivets or steel and wield it . might not be as pretty but may save you a ton just a thought.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/796679-Finally-My-First-Tour-ever-!-The-GAP-This-June

he built his own and it looks awesome, and it fits a dog :roflmao2:

I tried that hill once.....:( i may petition the government to have it listed as a black spot for ridding . I made it about 1/3 of the way up swore a lot then got off and walked.

I don't knock off work till 6 30 Monday to Thursday but plan on trying the slacks creek path on Friday when i finish around 1 30 . I never try a new path in the dark :lol:. My front light got trashed in my little accident before.


how much work would it be to build Ur own trailer ? some aluminum and pop rivets or steel and wield it . might not be as pretty but may save you a ton just a thought.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/796679-Finally-My-First-Tour-ever-!-The-GAP-This-June

he built his own and it looks awesome, and it fits a dog :roflmao2:

If you want a two wheeled trailer, just get a baby chariot and modify that. The problem with two wheeled trailers, aside from added weight, is that on some trails the surface is so rough and uneven one side of the trailer will track higher than the other. For instance, on the C & O Canal Towpath, at Four Locks:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3649/3671108981_ef23b37a1a_z.jpg

But some people use 2 wheeled trailers with little trouble.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3168/2804353973_000ba5cd35_z.jpg

Thanks guys for the suggestions. No chance of building one after moving to the town house in Meadowbrook I'm afraid. Gone is the double garage and a good deal of the tool collection. :( Turns out that with a bit of searching there is always the universal Taiwanese knockoff solution. http://www.ooocycles.com.au/item-24.htm

This thing is made by TW Bents. Doesn't actually look to bad, and as I'm not planning on crossing the Gobi Desert with it at this stage it may be worth a closer look.