galeyg

Hey all!

I am a 44 year old female, 5'1'' and currently 228 pounds. I moved here (right outside DC) from Manhattan, and I was never brave enough to try cycling there! When I got here, I started at 270, and in the past 4 months, I've lost 42 pounds. This has been mostly through changing my eating and being more active in general. I've been somewhat limited because I had knee surgery (radial miniscus tear) 2 months ago, but I did physical therapy, and each day it's getting a little better.

I was concerned about balance/stability issues, since I'm so much heavier than my healthy weight (around 150) and so I took my almost 12 year-old niece's bike (yes, we are the same height) and practiced. It took a few times to get going, but I did. Now, of course, I really want to ride! I'm excited and looking forward to learning about bikes, riding, and just enjoying it.

I have gone to the two local bike shops, and have gotten different advice from each. One had me ride a Trek Verve WSD 2, as well as an Electra Cruiser. He was really stressing that I would enjoy the cruiser so much, that I would ride more, and that was the whole point, to ride.

The other shop had me on a few different hybrids similar to the Trek, and said that a comfort bike would be okay, but felt a comfort hybrid would be a good fit for me. I will be riding mostly on paved roads and in parks, where the paths are dirt, pretty packed. I am definitely nervous and wobbly a little, but I just started! I have no place to go but up! I don't know whether to err on the more cautious side, with wider tires, or not. I also don't know if the Trek Shift is a better choice for me. My neighborhood is definitely hilly, so that matters too, even though I feel like I may be walking ANY bike I get up hills at the beginning.

Lastly, I am also confused when looking at the levels of bikes, (for example, the Verve 1, 2, 3, 4). I know the components get better as the number goes up, but what else are the differences, and what do I need?? Someone said maybe the Verve 1 is good for be because it's a hybrid, but has no shocks (?) I think, so that it wouldn't slow me down??

I'm truly confused, and would very much appreciate advice. My ideal budget for a bike would be 400-600. Thanks so much in advance!!

Little Darwin

I avoid shocks, so a bike without them would probably be a good idea for the type of riding you do.

For your first bike, I would stick with the lower end bike shop level bikes, that way, in a year or two you will know what you want before going for more expensive bike. The more expensive models are typically lighter, and have better components that are often undetectable by a beginner. But, do include a higher level in your test riding if it fits in your budget, you may find that the better fork (or other components) make a difference to you.

Stability will come pretty quickly as you get accustomed to riding.

The Electra is set up different from most bikes, because they are designed to be able to stand flat footed while still seated in the saddle. I personally prefer to just get out of the saddle when I stop.

Test ride a few bikes and see which one you feel best on. This can be hard because you haven't bee doing any real riding, but it will tell you if the bike is comfortable for at least a while. It could also help you to choose between the various bikes available.

galeyg

Thanks so much. Can you explain why you avoid shocks?

Also, what makes a "better" fork? I don't even know what a fork is; so sorry. I'm brand new and know nothing about bicycles. That's why I'm here.

galeyg

Also, someone is selling the 2014 womens' Trek Verve 3 near me for 400- worth it?

Willbird

The problem with suspension (which includes shocks) is that on a fairly cheap bike, it adds complexity, and the parts are not so good.

It is more less that you get $400-$500 worth of stuff on a $350 bike (you honestly do if you added up the price of all the parts you get on a new bike) and $50-$100(just guessing) of that is the Suspension parts...and you would be far better with $100 better wheels (the weakest part of most bikes) and no suspension.

Just my .02 :-).

I really like Fuji bikes so far :-). Trek IMHO you pay a premium for all their advertising, the CUSTOMER pays for all that name exposure :-).

Giant Fuji

First of ,all congrats on the weight loss and the decision to get healthy and fit! Secondly, bike riding is awesome! Thirdly, good decision on going to a local bike store (LBS is the acronym btw) and looking at your options.

I really have no idea which way to point you, I started on a mountain bike and progressed to a road bike. It will come down to what is comfortable to you that is within budget. Also consider the level of service your LBS's are giving you. If they seem like they are pushing you to buy something, don't do business there. If they are patient, and willing to answer questions, buy from them.

Since you are in hilly terrain, you will appreciate the ability to down shift, trust me. In that price range the quality of components will be similar so go for how it feels to you. A front shock is unnecessary unless you plan on going off the beaten path. When you buy it, have them do a fitting, that is paramount to an enjoyable ride. I applaud you on this. It can be a lifelong change for the best. Go slow at first, build up your stamina and fitness. There is no pressure to achieve a specific goal right now. Happy cycling!

galeyg

Thanks so much for the kind words! So if I need the ability to downshift, does that mean a 10 speed?

Giant Fuji

Anything will be better than a single speed cruiser. You will likely be looking at 14-24 speeds in that price range.

Giant Fuji

Also, keep in mind that a 3 ring crank (front sprockets if you will) will give you the ability to shift into granny gears to make getting up hills easier. They make the bike heavier though, but at this stage we just need to get you peddling

Willbird

I was born in 1964 and "ten speed" was the bike of the day back then :-).

The nomenclature has changed some in the bike world, now we refer to the number of speeds in the back (usually 7-8-9-10, and even 11 now) and whether the front is a single, double, or triple. IN the new terms my old "ten speed" was a "5 speed" with a double up front, and would be now utterly obsolete :-).

So even entry level bikes are often "7-8 speeds" across the back, and triple up front, meaning 21-24 different selections, although the extreme right and left are not usually used all the way....IE you only use 6 of the 7 on a 7 speed with the left chain ring (up front) and the other 6 with the right one.

The triple up front as another said gives you a very low gear to handle any hill and any wind more or less.

Generally on fairly flat ground you just use the middle of the three up front....

There are a few models that are just single up front, and from 7-11 across the back, they will call those sometimes a 1x7, or 1x10. Some "Fat tire" bikes are coming that way now.

Bill

Giant Fuji

I like the big ring myself

Willbird

For most folks starting out though the "Big ring" means they have a tail wind, or are going downhill :-)....or are riding with a group (which is fun).

Giant Fuji

I know, lol. Just pounding my chest a little. Believe me, I used that middle ring a lot when I first started out with much assistance from the little ring. Now I really want to ditch my 3 rings for a compact crankset on my roadie.

galeyg

I would love to ride with a group! I'm not there yet, but that would be so much fun!

We had "10 speeds" then, and I'm not much younger than you! (1971)

So- any thoughts on buying the slightly used Trek Verve 3 for like 350 or so? I'm still confused about the differences between the 4 of them. And "granny gears" means it would be triple up front?

Also, what are "fat tire" companies?

Willbird

Some folks call them "fat bikes"...."fat tire bike" is probably less likely to be mis understood :-). They were originally as I understand made up to ride on soft beach sand, but get used for all kinds of riding now, they are the flavor of the moment more or less :-).

https://i426.photobucket.com/albums/p...pse23546c7.jpg

Not my picture, I just found it on the net...that bike has a 1xsomething..could be 1x7, 1x8 maybe on a cheaper bike, up to 1x10 if you spend more money. I guess they ride pretty good on grass..

jade408

I just got a new bike because I was having issues with hills. They hurt my knees! Thought I needed a lower gear, but the more I investigated, the more I realized a new bike was in order!

I recommend doing a test ride on hills similar to the ones you encounter.

I am about a week into my new bike, and it is amazing how much easier the hills are. Ones I could not make up on the old bike are doable. I am not powering up them, but I am not wiped by them either!

I am going from a steel bike to another steel bike. One thing to think about, is how else will you use your bike? My first bike, the goal was just to not use my car for the short trips (so wearing normal clothing was really critical) and I needed storage: racks and baskets! I need a place to put my purse.

Bike #2 had to meet those utility needs and be amenable to longer (30ish miles, when I build up to that) rides. But I am only keeping one bike! Only time will tell on the longer rides. I can revisit the handlebars if needed!

I didn't try out the hybrids for various reasons. But look for a bike you can add a sturdy rack to! You might as well multitask and grab some groceries or drop off your library books on your way home from the ride!

And yes to wider tires! Helps cushion you from bumps on the road! And they are sturdier.

Also, since my primary use case is city riding in normal clothing, I went for an internally geared hub. I now have 8 speeds which has enough range. Even 7 like my old bike probably would have been fine if I had a different position or a lower gear! I have also ridden 3 speeds that had plenty of range. Really the take away, do not get caught up in the number of gears, it is more important they cover enough range for your uses.

Also, you may find it helpful to take a class on urban cycling, They tend to be free and sponsored by the bike coalition. We also have cycling groups that do group ride classes. I am doing that next in a few weeks!

jade408

Oh one more tip. Do not let the bike shop people talk you into the wrong bike because they have decided based on your appearance you need a certain type of bike. There tends to be this idea that larger people can only handle cruisers! It sounds like the wrong bike for you!

I went to the bike shop looking for a bike more suitable to my hills, and some very specific aesthetic requirements. And feature I was looking for. Most of the shops got it wrong in their recommendations. They only focused on one of my concern areas and ignored the rest. Not too helpful! And I decided to write them off for not listening. They could have had a sale if they listened better and were solution oriented. I found a shop that listened and got my dream ride!

Willbird

Yes I agree that the bike shop may not be able to read "you". I had a bike but if I had walked in at 280 lbs they would have taken any bet that I would not ride 300-400-500 miles my first 3 months with the prior month zero :-).

DBrown9383

I too just got into cycling and was suckered in to buying a hybrid comfort bike with suspension. It is completely my fault as I bought the bike through Amazon.com and did NOT visit a LBS. To me (also a motorcyclist) a suspension seat post and suspension front fork (the forks are the two tubes that come down from the handlebars to support the front wheel) made sense for a smoother ride. The problems are many. My seat post (the post under the seat that supports it in the frame) has a spring in it. It does indeed give some comfort when hitting big bumps but because of it's design it also moves side to side a little which is very annoying. The front fork also has springs in it which make the handling somewhat unpredictable and less efficient although it does absorb big impacts but with very limited travel. Unless you plan to ride off road a lot or your paved parks and roads are extremely bumpy I would avoid a hybrid suspension bike. Also on a hybrid comfort bike you will have flat handlebars that seem very comfortable but after you get used to riding for awhile you'll see that you are confined to just one position. There is no way to decrease your frontal area to battle headwinds or make the most out of downhill sections. I hope I am not steering you wrong because this is all relatively new to me as well. You are already being smarter than me though because you started by going to a LBS and not shopping online to save money only to get the wrong bike. I still love my bike because it is making me a more healthy person but my next bike will be very different. My bike has the three chain rings up front and seven in the back. I do like the "granny gear" for uphill sections as I'm not fit enough (yet) to power up any steep grades. Best of luck in your hunt for the right bike and remember that whatever you choose, you can always upgrade later. The important thing is to get out there and ride. As you've already seen, it becomes quite addictive very quickly

ColaJacket

Good luck on your biking and finding a bike.

First, at your weight, most intro bikes (cruisers, hybrids, cyclocross, road) will be able to handle your weight. Your bigger problem may be in finding a bike that will fit your height. Do you know your inseam? For a lot of bikes, that can be just as important in finding the right size bike as your height. I'm 5'5", about 250#, with a 28" inseam. I got a road bike, because that is what I used to ride when I was younger, and when I road tested bikes, I was able to ride the road bikes without any issues (other than getting my legs over the top tube).

Second, what kind of bike did your neice have? Did you feel comfortable on it?

As far as your budget goes, I've seen a lot of Clydes/Athenas in this forum start off on cruisers, then go to Hybrids/Cyclocross bikes, and then finally to road bikes. One idea, if you want to start with a cruiser or hybrid might be to search Craig's List for a good used bike in your area. Because as you graduate to newer bikes, you'll see that the old bike will have depreciation from the new bike price.

The other advice that I would give is to go to several different LBS's in your area. I got my bike from a Performance Bike store, and I know that there are several in the DC area. Performance is a chain of bike stores, so some people don't consider them a LBS. I do, though, because all they do is bikes and accessories, and you can road test their bikes just like other LBS's.

When I bought my bike, I went to the Performance bike store where my wife had gotten her cruiser a few years ago (Schwinn Voyageur). I asked a good number of questions. I actually went twice, so I could get clarification on some of the questions. Since I knew I wanted an intro endurance road bike, that made my research easier. I picked out the LBS's around town. A few are local chains, so I picked 1 of each chain, and I went to their websites, to see what kind of bikes that they had. And I picked out 1-2 different brands from each store to road test. I ended up road testing Giant, Specialized, Trek, Cannondale, and Fuji. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any Raleigh's in my size around town to test. The Cannondale I tested was probably a size too big (54 cm). The Giant made me feel like I was stretched out too far. The Trek (52cm), Specialized (52cm), and Fuji (49cm) were the bikes that felt best to me. I ended up ordering a Fuji Sportif 1.3 C - 2014, because I felt like I got the most bang for the buck of the bikes that fit me with it.

You probably have a little more research to do, because you also need to determine the type of bike that you want to get (e.g. cruiser, hybrid, cyclocross, endurance road, racing road).

I agree with the others that say that shocks shouldn't be necessary, and the wheels are going to be the "weak" point of a bicycle for a clyde/athena.

As far as budget goes, don't forget some of the equipment you will need for riding a bike:

Safety Need: Helmet, Gloves, Tire repair kit, mini-tire pump/CO2 pump, Water bottles/cages,

Comfort Need: Biking Shorts (I got some MTB shorts)

Performance Wants: Clipless Pedal/shoes.

Comfort Wants: Biking Jersey, Biking socks to wick water away from you.

And you may want to keep track of your rides. I use Strava on my Android phone. It is free for the basic features.

I got the Needs when I bought the bike, and I've been working on the wants.

Good luck and happy riding.

GH

ColaJacket

Also, I got an e-mail that Performance Bicycles is having a sale this weekend. Some cruisers are half-off (from $399 to $199).

GH