Lotts

So I am sitting right now and after a week of lurking around here and doing other research have talked to my Local bike shop (60+ miles away) on the first of July I am going to go down and get a new bike so that I can get back into riding a bike. It has been years since I have ridden seriously. Brief time I was in the navy used to ride all over Guam then I transferred and the bike I used there stayed in Gaum (its like Vegas, What happens in Gaum stays in Gaum) When I was in high school I was into cycling as a means of transportation but also for enjoyment in the Boy Scouts we did 20 milers every month a 50 miler once in a while and even a century. The last two times I tried to get involved I went down on a whim and bought a bike at Walmart and both times broke them beyond repair on the streets of San Diego. This time I hope to not do that. I am currently 301.5 lbs and would like to get down to 215. I have already started to address the intake portion needed to do that but need to work on the exercise. I no longer feel that at my size running is an option though it wouldn't be the first time I have taken up running at this size. I am just older and would rather not have the impact on the joints. So today I got tired of waiting to be able to afford a bike to get started and pulled the old stationary bike out of the extra room and logged 5 miles in 20 min on it. It is a start if nothing else. More to follow.

10 Wheels

Walking is also good to get you started.

Yendor72

Yup, you need to start some where. make sure you have a fan on when hitting the stationary bike. As a former Navy guy myself I hope you can continue to get on the stationary bike until you can get outside. Running isn't an option for me either.

scrming

Welcome! Sounds like you have a great attitude!

Glad to hear you are working on the food intake portion of your lifestyle change.... That is the most important part when I comes to weight loss... manage your food for weight loss, exercise for fitness...

I started out very similar... I was at 325 and basically I could climb a flight of stairs. I actually started out just doing brisk walks. Eventually started riding.... one thing that really made a huge impact on me was discovering The SuferFest cycling video... I've dropped a 100 pounds since last September.... and I don't think I could have done that without using he SufferFest videos and really embracing the philosophy behind them... Before I would have done mindless hours of low intensity, steady state cardio... Now I take more of a HIIT (high intensity interval training) approach with what I think are pretty amazing results

Keep the positive attitude and keep us posted!

winston63 

Welcome to the forum, and congratulations for deciding to take control of your situation! Personally, every time I've tried running I've done some damage to my knees so I just don't attempt that any more despite the fact that my wife is an avid runner. But as 10 Wheels said, walking is a very good way to get some exercise in addition to cycling, so that might be a good way to mix things up while you wait for your bike.

Keep us posted on your progress, there are a lot of folks here who are travelling down the same path.

Lotts

Quick note finished 5.1 miles on stationary bike. As I research and talk to riders I know I get conflicting information on the type of bike I should get. Bike shop recommend Trek MTB everyone else I talk to says that would be a bad idea that I should get a hybrid or road bike with most leaning towards road. Any suggestions with reason for or against?

Jarrett2

Congrats on getting back into it.

If you are thinking about getting back into that 50-100 mile range like you used to do, definitely a road bike. Anything else will be an expensive stepping stone.

At 301 and dropping fast, any road bike is fine. You just have to make sure the wheels are strong and dialed in properly. Meaning the rear wheel's spokes on the drive side are at least 32 spokes and are near or at max tension. A knowledgeable wheel builder can do this easily.

What brands does your semi-local bike shop carry? Trek only or others as well?

scrming

Take a bunch out for a test ride... if possible try a couple different shops and brands... It really is going to depend on the type of riding you want to do and what kind of bike YOU are most comfortable on... a bike you can get excited to get out and ride! A bike that is uncomfortable or makes you feel blah... well, chances are you're not going to ride it...

winston63 

Yes - this!

The most important thing is to get a bike that you want to ride, one that fits you well. That could be a road bike, but it doesn't have to be. You'll get a sense of what works after test riding some of them. And I'd recommend that you start test riding soon even if you are not yet ready to buy. When I'm shopping for a new bike I might spend a month or more visiting different shops, test riding different bikes and exploring different options. It's a process that has helped me decide on what I want and helped me decide which bike shops are worth my my time and money and which aren't. Best of luck!

Lotts

Hi all thank you so much for the comments and encouragements! I did another 5.1 on the stationary bike today. I will be visiting a few bike shops tomorrow as I will be in the DC area as well as going to the local (60 miles away) bike shop. Hope everyone has a great weekend and a Happy father's day.
This week so far
Stationary bike 15.2
()Bike 0

Willbird

Yea at 300 or so you will do fine on a road bike. The Felt V series are a great looking bike in some ways, they come with fairly big tires and will run even bigger. But a disk brake Fuji Sportiff will run at least 32's and by eye 35's might even fit though I have not tried them yet.

The Felt V100 is the cheaper of the two in the V series......I'd love to have one for a winter bike and put 700x35 carbide studded tires on it for winter :-).

It sounds like your a cyclist in remission like I was for twenty years :-).

If your going to go at this like a genuine badass, which you should :-)......start thinking about winter NOW, I rode every month but February last year, average temp in February was 1F here, but this winter I will be equipped to ride that cold too :-). Down to 16F is "easier" than below, hands and feet were the toughest :-).

largefarva

I read this thread last night and thought about making a recommendation for a bike but figured since I'm such a noob that I probably should just keep my mouth shut. But I'll go ahead and speak up and 2nd what Willbird said about the Felt V series. I just bought one last Saturday and I love it. I got the V100 and it's been great. It's basically a road bike that is a bit sturdier and has wider tires than a standard road bike along with 32 spoke wheels. I never thought I would like anything that resembled a road bike, but this thing has quickly changed that opinion. It's that nice to ride....I highly recommend it.

Willbird

When I saw they came out with them I was thinking they will sell lots of them, I kinda looked at cx bikes at first and it really shares a lot of virtues with them :-).

Lotts

Happy Father's Day to all Father's!!!! Thanks for the comments and encouragements! Quick note Did 6 miles yesterday on Stationary bike and 6.1 miles today on it. I also spent about 2 hours in a really cool bike shop yesterday. Rode some bikes and put a deposit on one. Will go back on the 1st of July or sooner to pick it up. Ended up "test riding it" for about a half an hour really liked the way it handled and felt.

Stationary bike 27.3

Lotts

Wasn't able to ride yesterday but got in 5 miles this morning

Chris in Idaho

Good job!

Lotts

First ride in 5 days this week was summer camp with my daughter from 8-1pm then work 2pm till midnight did get 5 miles in today felt good. Get the new bike on Wednesday.

Lotts

When biking what is better bibs or shorts. Will be using street clothes for the most part this month but budgeting for the future.


Also road the stationary bike again today 5.8

Stationary bike 38.1

winston63 

You'll get different opinions on this - I own both, and in my opinion bibs are better for the actual riding. The only thing I don't like about bibs is that they are a pain if you have to make a bathroom stop. And on my longer rides I usually do, so I'm often wearing riding shorts instead of bibs.

But if you are doing primarily "training" rides without stopping at the coffee shop etc., you'll probably find bibs are pretty functional.

ColaJacket

Bibs are better for most of us Clydes. Our bellies will cause the shorts to bunch up, whereas the straps on the bibs don't have that issue.

I just got my 2nd pair of Performance Ultra Bib Shorts over the weekend. They were $60.00 this past weekend, but they're still only $70 (MSRP: $100). (Got a deal, since they were 40% off. Found out that the shoes that I bought less than 90 days ago were on sale, so I got $30 of store credit, plus $10 in Team Performance Points, so they only cost me $20.)

What bike did you put a deposit on?

GH

kc0bbq

Yeah, bibs vs. shorts comes down to what you find comfortable and convenient. There's nothing wrong with either choice - the benefits of bibs show themselves a bit more on rides of a few hours or more, but the drawbacks are also a bigger deal. I almost always wear bibs. Just like them more, personally.

Lotts

Specialized 2016 Crossroads Sport Cross Bike

Lotts

Another 5 miles on the stationary bike

Stationary bike 43.1

Thanks for the responses thinking about bibs. Show my butt enough

Lotts

Got the new bike home did a quick ride around town before having to get ready for work. Loved it. Didn't get the distance but will run it again in the morning as a warm up. Want to limit myself to 5 miles a day for the first week as I get used to being on a bike. What are your thoughts?

GZ99

Welcome Lotts!

I just got back into cycling a few months ago after about a decade of not riding. I can't say I exactly eased into it... But one thing that definitely helped me at first was riding a local bike trail (paved and relatively level) with riding partners. Started out doing 4 to 6 mile rides and before I knew it I was doing 10 easily. I think I am at that point now for 20+ milers But 30+ are still tough.

My advice is to just get out and ride, and if you can... find someone to ride with. It makes the ride feel less like work.

Congrats on the new bike!