chriskmurray

Some good advise above for sure. If you have the budget for it a custom built bike would be ideal. Most frames, even heavier duty frames will feel very "flexy" at 600lbs and could lead to the bike feeling unstable. Fit will also be hard to get right on anything off the shelf at 6'6" and if the bike does not fit right it will make ridding seem much less desirable. Look for a frame builder who has experience with tandems as they know how to make bikes feel good with a lot of weight on them. I had Eric Barr build me a frame and I can only say great things about it, he is also the welder for DiVinci Tandems so he has a ton of experience building bikes meant to carry weight. His website is down but he is still busy making bikes, you can reach him through his facebook if interested https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-G...091951?fref=ts

I would lean towards 26" wheels as you will have options for wider tires which are more comfortable and also help protect the rims a little more. Lots of good component choices for you there but a good build is key to making them last, off the shelf, machine built wheels are not up to the task in my opinion but you can get a hand built set of wheels pretty reasonably priced and if done right they should be good for many many thousands of miles.

Hope this helps!

baron von trail 

Holding 600# on two wheels without massive wheels or the bike itself weighing well over 100# would be an engineering achievement. I suspect a custom built dually-type trike with a reinforced steel frame might be the best choice.

Standard upright bikes are just not made for weight. I bent the frame on my MTB just by hauling a few hundred pounds in a trailer. I didn't notice it at first, but when I did, I was amazed. It must have happened when I took a sharp turn. I was amazed the rear rim withstood it and kept going. But, a few days later I noticed the frame was curved side to side like a banana.

chriskmurray

That is the thing, if you build it for the demands of the rider it CAN take the weight but that is why I suggest custom because I do not see anything off the shelf working well. The biggest issue would be balancing but it sounds like the OP is already fairly active so he may be fine in that department.

Not trying to say there is anything wrong with trikes but if the OP wants two wheels over three, it is doable if you are willing to do it right.

baron von trail 

I know, but building a two-wheeler to support 600 lbs is not going to be easy.

Wilfred Laurier

Worksman makes $400 bikes for 550 lbs. Making a $2000 bike for 600 lbs does not sound too difficult.

chriskmurray

cale

Even if you can get the trike to hold the weight, there's probably no way to stop it without dual disc brakes, on each wheel, up front. In other words, it wouldn't work out.

To the OP. You should talk to your doctor. Make sure you're healthy enough for riding and get on the road to weight loss before you take to the road on your bike.

plumberroy

I have seen some unbelievable loads put on a workmans trikes we used them in a factory I worked at . We put a pump on the back of my tool box that was close to 200 lbs (I had to be on the trike before the pump so it didn't flip) the tools and box were 100 lbs. At the time I was #350 (down to 315 ) that is where I would start
Roy

marilynwann@

In case it hasn’t been mentioned already…

Husky industrial tricycle T-326 has a 600-pound total weight capacity. Adjusts to 6’6” tall rider. Foam tires or puncture resistant tube tires. One gear or 3-speed Shimano. Lots of other options. Plus your little dog can ride in the basket on the back! I’d advise not worrying about your weight and enjoy the ride!

Leisesturm

I was thinking the exact same thing, except I had a stationary rower in mind. People vastly underestimate just how much balance and skill a cyclist loses from the time they last threw a leg over, till they get the inspiration to take it up again. A crash or crashes is just about inevitable when a long out of practice cyclist (or motorcyclist) falls victim to 'stuff'. It's hard for me to encourage them looking too hard for a two wheeler. 200lb to 300lb need to come off first. Seems to me that o.p. is practically a poster child for the new semaglutide formulations. I love my Concept 2 stationary rower. You can burn 300 to 500 or more Calories per hour without worrying about anything.

RH Clark

Regardless of your cycling decisions, you have to get your diet under control if you want to lose weight. Diet is at least 90% of the equation.

When I turned 50, I weighed between 360 and 380 lbs, maybe more after a big meal. I had lost and gained hundreds of pounds by that time in my life. Before I had always cut down on my eating and tried to get more exercise. It would work until I was tired of starving myself, maybe 3-6 months and I would be back to my same eating habits and gaining weight again.

At 50 I changed my dieting tactics and decided I would eat whenever I was hungry and eat as much as I wanted but I would not eat certain things. I quit all sugar, all bread, rice, pasta and potatoes. For 2 years I didn't consume a single bite. I lost 180 lbs. in those 2 years. I ate when I was hungry and as much as I wanted. My portions naturally decreased over time as did the duration between meals. I have now kept the weight off for more than 5 years. My best to you. Good luck.

shelbyfv

Well, it's been almost a decade. OP may have become a cycling stud, or not.