DawnRenee88

I'm 26 have not been on a bicycle in over 10 years and so totally want to get started riding again. I'm 6' 1" and 365 have not been on a scale in a while so its around there. And looking for a cheap bike that will hold. I can't spend 1,000 dollars maybe a few hundred if needs be.

I see bikes for sale on craigslist.org all the time I even seen a few cool looking ones today.

Is someone could please take a look at craisglist in wisconisn lacrosse area or just wisconsin in general please let me know if anything might work for me. I keep looking at the bikes at my local walmart. But I don't think they will hold.


Please any help at all.

Fly2High

I would suggest going first to a bike shop and getting guidance on sizing before hitting CL. Not sure if your bike shop has consignment offerings but they might have used stuff for sale.

Also, join a club if for nothing other than to get a newsletter since some will not sell on CL but will sell to those within a club and since you are new, some will offer a good price on their no longer needed bikes.

On another note, be prepared to replace whatever saddle that comes on the bike since everyone's rear is different so while you are at a bike shop, try some out and get measured for a saddle. Comfort is the most important thing when starting a new activity. You will ride if you are comfortable. Also think about some bike shorts(mountain or road) as well.

Best of luck on the weight loss. Just remember exercise will only energize a working diet. exercise alone will not lose weight but you will lose faster if you are already on a proper diet.

welcome to the addiction.

DawnRenee88

Fly2High How would I go by finding a bike club? Weird question I know.

kc0bbq

Wisconsin Bike Federation might be able to point you in the right direction, their website is bfw.org. If you were in MN I'd know the right answer. I think the Twin Cities Bicycle Club only stretches out as far as Hudson and Prescott.

Short Cut

Welcome Dawn. Frank is right on track in getting a bike that is comfortable. Take a look at the bars/grips in relation to the seat. Bars below the seat are not likely to be comfortable for you. Drop bars are primarily for aerodynamics which don't really mean squat if you are just into improving your fitness. Another thing to look at is wheel strength Try to find a bike that has 32 spoke wheels.

If this bike works it looks like a heck of a bargain. https://lacrosse.craigslist.org/bik/5045695722.html and one you could get started on. I'd recommend not getting too wrapped around the axle about finding a forever bike at this point.

Short Cut

Dawn, sorry I should have picked up on the fact that you are likely of the fairer persuasion? I can't comment on whether this is a good price or if it will fit you, but the style looks like it could be fairly comfortable and Fuji is a pretty solid brand of bicycle.

https://lacrosse.craigslist.org/bik/5036820956.html

DawnRenee88

I took a look at the bike and noticed its a mens bike but I don't mind things like that. Just something to get me started on is what I need most of all. I can't even find a exercise bike under 150 bucks that will hold my weight so if this can do it for awhile until I save up for something better then that's great. And I have another question lets say for example the frame works out for me great. How can I make the rest of the bike work out also.

I read there is something about 32 spoke wheels whats the big deal when it comes to spokes. I am new to bicycling I have always bought mine from walmart but that was like over 10 years ago and spoke count did not matter at that time.

I will message the person see if they still have it.

bassjones

Generally speaking, given equal builds, more spokes equal a stronger wheel. If you aren't jumping curbs, hitting potholes, and being hard on your wheels, a properly tensioned 32-spoke wheel should suffice. Stay away from Walmart/Department store brands and stick to bike shop brands (Cannondale, Specialized, Trek, Fuji, Felt, Giant) for better quality. Some brands (Schwinn, Diamondback) were great bikes but newer versions are department store junk. You can save money by buying older (80s and 90s era) bike shop bikes that will be much better than new bikes that cost the same amount. Take them to a bike shop for a tuneup - may add $100 or so to the price) and it'll last you years.

dr_lha

True for Schwinn, not for Diamondback, FYI. They've never sold in Department stores, they're sold online and in sporting goods stores like Dicks, REI and Sports Chalet. Their bikes are good quality, but given little respect because people seem to think they're Wal-mart quality when they're not.

DawnRenee88

I still have no response back from the bike seller. And I could not find out anything about local bike clubs. Maybe I could check facebook for local or Wisconsin based bike groups.

dogfather69

When I started I was 6'1" 380, I bought a GIANT ESCAPE 3 for just under $500, I had the rear wheel rebuilt with stronger spokes for $70 after popping 5
and put a seat with more cushion on it, so far I have ridden 840 miles with no issues

Judi

This one looks good: Mens Specialized Mountain Bike

It really doesn't matter if a bike is men's or women's. Some saddles are designed specifically for a man or a woman, but you'll probably end up replacing the saddle on any bike you get.

I was riding when I was between 360 and 400 lbs. I never had problems with the spokes on any of the bikes I used, but I was pretty careful to always check tire pressure before rides and I never rode off curbs or on unpaved surfaces. Replacing the tire tubes with thicker ones helps too. Everyone is different, but in my experience, riding every day without changing my diet helped me lose about 40 lbs. To lose more than that, I had to track my calories and make a big change in my eating habits.

Willbird

I did hear from the LBS guy that he had sold some men's bikes to women based on frame size for fit, but when they went for fittings quite often the handle bars were too wide.

Judi

That would probably be true for a woman who was tall and thin, but most of us get broader through the shoulders when we gain weight.

Willbird

really ? That is totally strange :-).....the skeletal dimensions change ? Honest question not being a smart aleck :-).

Judi

I don't know if it's the actual bones changing...trying to think of a way to explain it right. It's the reason that it's uncomfortable for an obese woman to push a very small shopping cart or an umbrella stroller. It's more difficult to get your arms close together in front of you. I have a shirt that I saved from when I was at my heaviest, a little over 400lbs. I measured the top shoulder seams of that shirt and an identical one that fits me now at 250. There's a 5" difference in the shoulder seams of the two shirts, and when the bigger one fit me, the shoulder seams stopped at the top of my arm, like they do now on the smaller shirt. My bones probably didn't get any smaller, it was probably the meat on the bones that required the extra space, but either way, my shoulders are definitely not as wide now as they were before my weight loss.

Willbird

Well we do stretches at work before our shift, despite static stretching starting to fall out of favor :-). One you are to more or less place your palm flat on your back between your shoulder blades, I'm pretty sure I could not have done that at 304 lbs :-).

elatrometer

I bought a men's bike, but that's mostly because I distrust products made for women. If it's pink and cute, in my experience it's more expensive, doesn't have the features I need, and/or wears out more quickly. (e.g. Trek DS and Neko are supposed to be men's/women's versions of the same concept. DS has disc brakes at nearly every price point; only one Neko has discs.) ...Bit of a tandem, but. As long as you're flexible enough to step over, I doubt you'll notice much of a difference.

Would you be able to travel a few hours? I'm still a novice, too, but this bike in Madison looks like it might fit the bill. It has a steel frame and 36-spoke wheels. Also, it's pretty.