robmckim2

I'm Robert and new to BF and I am a Clydesdale! I'm 5'7" and 230lbs at 37 yrs...
Food is why I'm a Clyde! I like my food waay too much sometimes plus I allow myself to think that if I run and ride, I can eat whatever I want!
So, I don't have a road bike yet and I've been riding a Schwinn Mesa on the road, previously only road the mtn bike on trails for recreation. I ordered an entry-level road bike from Schwinn and can NOT wait till it gets here! I have been running for a while, both for fitness (to lose weight) and to compete (at least with myself)! A few of my friends do traithlons (sprint distance) and have been trying to get me to do some. I really want to but first I have to start swimming and biking more. I hope to do a duathlon first, then maybe a tri. I also have goal to do a half marathon this year and maybe a full marathon.
I feel that the cycling is only going to help improve my overall fitness and run times, plus it's so much fun to ride with friends!

raindog1975

Hello, I'm Paul, I'm 35 yrs, 6' and 260 lbs. I always liked to ride bikes ( got my first bike when I was 5 and a russian Sputnik road bike when I was 15 which served me faithfully until 6 years ago when I run into the back of a car and broke the frame - I was ok and so was the car but the frame was beyond repair ). After spending 5 years ,,bikeless" my wife agreed to buy a Univega 5500 last year. It was the happiest day I could remember ( I rode the bike home from the shop in pouring rain ) . This year I managed to build myself a singlespeed from a trekking bike. For now my health is ok ( my wife is a GP so I get checked regularly whether I like it or not )but I think riding 15-20 miles every day can't hurt ( I might even loose a few pounds ).

IndyCommuter

I had never heard of a Clydesdales class before, but I guess I fit the profile. At 6' 1", 270lbs I' not exactly a small mammal. I'd love to be down to 220 or so, but unless I lose a limb I doubt I'll ever see 200lbs (at least alive. I'm told that weight loss happens pretty quickly afterwards...)

It's cool to see others on BH that aren't the stereotypical 5'10" 120lbs spandex wearing speed demons that I see racing around town

electroplater

Heya!

I'm Chris, I'll be 43 next month. I'm 6'0" and weigh in at 235 lbs and I am a Clydesdale. I was up to 255 at Thanksgiving 2009 and in the long run I hope to make it back down to 170.

I getting back into cycling to help lose weight and get off the blood meds. I used to do a lot of cycling back in grade school and high school. Didn't do any competitive racing, just short and long rides, 20 to 50 miles sometimes with my father and his friends. They all had Colnagos. Still have my 80's era bikes. One is a '77 Schwinn Volare and the other is a Peugeot. Both have the classic Reynolds 531 frames. The Volare is way too small for me now. It was cannibalized throughout the years and I recently restored it back to original equipment of 1st generation Dura Ace but could only find campy hubs with tubular rims. The peugeot frame is from '82 and is decked out with late 70's/early 80's campagnolo super record compontents. Just put on some KeO easy road bike pedals. Hopefully it will be easy getting used to them. Going out in a few minutes to try them out. Still need to get a few things before going out with the local bike club (hopefully a modern era bike )

I work 3rd shift and the club has a few rides that start around 9am during the week. Hope to be awake enough to finish those. Might get the nerve up to ride into work in the dark sometime.

-Chris

Evansville, IN

aflac222

I am 6' 270 ish. By all accounts I qualify as a Clydesdale, and I like the term. Anyway, I have a tall torso. My inseam is only 30". By the research I have done I should be riding a bike suited for a person who is 5'5". I am considering mail ordering a bike that is 52 cm., will this work?

Fixie Flyer

Yep! Im 5'11 and a solid 275 ! My prime weight is 230-240. Im big but have a lot of stregnth ! At 275 most folks think im 240, at 240 people think im 200 ! Last time I was under 190 was when I was 18 when I was 170. It bothered me a little in these years that I couldn't
ride 145 psi 23cc tires and a 16lb bike but I got over it once I realized that big riders are powerful climbers and are faster going downhill than any small, svelte riders! I just use longreach brakes and wider tires.
You don't have to go overboard though. 28 cc's are plenty wide on a racer and offer the same handling as long as they are 100psi +. Im 40 right now and my racing days are done but I still enjoy fast agile riding.
I'll probably ride untill I drop dead so im in it for the long haul. I maybe 275 {and I smoke}, but I have better wind and endurance than many 17 year olds. The only down thing with me is I have a bad back
{Note the 275lb weight}, so racing style bikes or any b ike with too steep a head angle just kills me ! Im more into my trekking bikes and my fixie more than anything. I do still ride my 1988 Schwinn
Traveler quite often though ! I just love the way True Temper 4130 chromoly feels ! Yep, I prefer steel over carbon and alumminum. I like titanium but can't afford it ! My alumminum trekking bikes with front suspension
aren't as comfy as my reynolds and Tru Temper Steel bikes.

LatinoHeat

Wow. I'm 5'6, and am 230 pounds at 37 years of age. LOL.
Go figure!! Hahaha
ANyway, I was working as an alligator wrestler in Orlando Florida until last year, when the economy in Orlando tanked, and it became a bit more cost effective to hire two younger new guys, then keep the senior gator wrestler for the same price. I have been unemployed and looking for work since then. However, going from wrestling 180-220 pound, 8 foot alligators, three to four times a day, to doing nothing but looking for work has made itself readily visible, as I am now a Clydesdale. I have rediscovered biking after not really riding for over 15 years, and am looking to get fit, have fun, and just ride.
I thought about taking up dance, but I kind've look like this when I dance:

, so I figured getting back in the saddle would be best. LOL.

aflac222

Here is my new to me 1998 Cannondale F400. I love it. Just did my first ride on it today. Good news, no broke spokes!

tonkatruckjk

Howdy y'all!

I guess I better get started somewhere. My name's Dan - currently reside near Phoenix, AZ. I was always a bigger kid, but never as big as I am today. In college, I played football - practiced 5 days / week, jogged 5 miles minimum per day, ate a LOT of pizza, drank a LOT of beer. Back then, with all the physical exercise, I was tipping the scale around 205. At 5'11, that was a good weight for me. When I graduated college, I dove headfirst into a career. Spent about 2 years near home, then packed up and moved to Arizona. I hadn't stopped eating so much pizza, nor drinking so much beer, but I had definitely stopped working out. Over the last 10 years, I've put on significant weight. I'm at a point in my career where I don't have to focus quite so heavily on the daily grind, and can make time for work/life balance (ooh..neat concept). I decided yesterday that I would buy a bike and take up cycling.

My weight this morning was 348lbs.

My goal is 205.

I'm going to make the time to ride.

Here is my vessel:



Newly purchased (last year's model) '09 Trek 4500. It seems to be the right thing. Rode for about 30 mins tonight. I won't forget that ride tomorrow, that's for sure.

Glad to find an area for the Clydes (and uber-clydes, as I believe I fit that bill) to talk about the ups and downs with others with a similar zeal for the sport. My Zeal wil be forthcoming.

Dan

sharky nrk

Knocked out my first century this weekend, 100.21 miles in 5h 47m. Not sure of my current weight, but last time I checked I was 215 at 5'11.

Sansa

I'm 280lbs at 5'11" I'm hoping to drop down 80 Lbs. I ride a Pulse by Kettler Men's Tivoli Comfort Bike it has 2" tires and is comfortable to ride. I just started commuting to work on it I'm loving it so far!

queenofoverkill

Female, 48, 5' 3". When I started cycling twelve years ago I weighed 180 lbs. and reduced to 150 within six months. I haven't been consistent at riding or going to the gym in the last few years. Life got in the way, long story, best told some other time (if at all). Today I weigh well over 200 but still do 25 mile road/trail rides or 60 minutes of stationary spin intervals with relative ease. I'm strong and have a lot of muscle mass (weight train when I drag myself to the gym, which is not often enough), doesn't matter, I'm still fat. I became apathetic about weight because I've been healthy otherwise, then I quit smoking and packed on more pounds. Now I have to get serious about losing weight because my knees are deteriorating. I have a lousy camera and need better photos than the few on my hard drive. I will try to take better photos during my next ride. In the meantime, here's a bad photo of my 1985 Schwinn. I look forward to getting to know you all. Ride on and be safe out there!

K.Jensen

Hi I'm KJ and I am 6' and 250lbs. I was 310 but have been losing weight. Looking at a new road bike as a way to keep my progress going!

talleymonster

Hey everybody. I haven't been here in about a year. I haven't been on my bike in that long as well =(.
Winter came, and I broke a shifter....so my bike's been hanging since last winter. Summer came and I was at a job a little farther away, so I didn't ride all last summer and through this past winter.

Well, I'm back up to about 235 lbs now. My Emeritus status has been revoked!

I dropped my bike off at the mechanic today, and I start commuting to and from work next week. Time to get back in shape!

Scott H.

Hi, I am a 36 year old male, 6' 4" 336 pounds down from 380. I ride because it is a blast! I have had psoriatic arthritis for years and now I am on chemotherapy for it and it is working. The arthritis has stopped progressing so now I am riding again. Bought a new 2009 Kona Stinky Six and I am riding 6 days a week. With a wife and five kids and college it can get pretty hectic. I ride everywhere I have to go, I don't drive anymore. I live in the small town of Pacific Grove, CA and the weather here is 50-65 degrees year-round, never snows, so riding is a daily activity regardles of the time of year. I found a bike that will hold me up without falling apart. It was on sale because it is last years model , what a bonus. This bike is a beefy freeride style, I haven't had to true the wheels at all. That's a nice change. If I ride a hardtail the axles bend and the wheels get wobbly, just from riding on flat pavement. So far this bike is doing the job. I am putting on a pair of Kena K-rads and a seatpost mounted rack and bag. This is a cool forum. Glad to be back in the saddle, and best wishes for everyone. Thanks for reading!

Mykymyk

So where to start; here I suppose. I am 5'11'' 232 and 46 and a pack a day smoker. I really started riding again last summer. 16 years before that I was a bike courier ~ I stopped doing that because I had survived 3.5 years but I felt the odds were stacking up against me.

Anyway, after giving up any serious riding the weight began to add up. In the first year after giving up riding I ate the same but did not burn the same amount of calories. Put on a lot of weight quickly and herniated a disk in my lower back. Got some exercise, felt better, stopped exercising.

Anyway, many years of weight up and down but with age the weight was always higher before I did anything about it.

Starting to ride last year wasn't really about health at first although I was kind of freaked out that 5 pin bowling (of all things) left me winded and sore. Mostly I wanted to do something more with my time (I have become a really early riser) in the mornings. So I thought I would go out for the occasional morning ride before work. I figured my old courier bike (still gathering dust in the basement) had a far too aggressive set up so I went out and got myself a Cannondale commuter bike. That was kind of neat and served me well. It kind of freaked my out that riding a few blocks was really taking it out of me but I continued and my morning rides got longer.

Having started with the new bike in late May, by mid June I had a hankering for something a little more performance oriented so I got a Cervelo RS. I was kind of worried that a carbon fiber frame would explode under my largely static weight but the folks at the LBS assured me the frame was up to the task. The other nice thing is that this was the first time I had a bike properly fitted. I had always rode with too much leg extension and my knees really paid the price (at the end of the courier years walking up stairs really hurt). My knees will still hurt from time to time but only on the bike or shortly thereafter.

By the end of last summer I would ride 20-25 miles every morning 5 out of 7 days. Usually out by 4:30 or 5:00 am and back in time to have a coffee and get ready for work. There is something magical about that time of morning, for some reason it is rarely windy and when it is wet does not seem to rain that hard. And, of course, since I live in the center of a big city, there is far less traffic. Unfortunately my plans to ride through the winter indoors sort of fell apart as I discovered that I really hate riding on a trainer ~ I tried but I just dislike it intensely. So not much exercise over the winter and I was up from the 205 lbs I hit last summer starting from 240 lbs in the spring. But summer is hear again and I am on the road starting from 232 so maybe by fall I will break under 200.

Things that have changed from when I rode to earn my bread. I am now almost entirely compliant with traffic laws all the time. My worst offense is pushing the odd yellow light and sometimes taking a right on a red when the sign says not to.

Things that have not changed, I don't like riding with others. I don't like getting passed.

Anyway, if you are out in downtown Toronto before the sun rises and you see a plump guy grooving along to his iPod, give me and nod and say "Hi"; and for the time being at least, you can call me Clyde.

Absenth

I'm 5'10" and #225 as of two weeks ago.
I'm riding a Trek 520 Touring bike from '84 I figure it was built to take a rider, and another 100# of luggage.

foreman8or

At 6'6" 280 lbs. "Clydesdale" is the nicest (and least common) way of describing my size. I have recently lost 85 lbs., and I feel great. I am an avid mountain biker and until recently rode a completely modified / upgraded 22.5" Trek 4300 with Sram X-9 and Juicy 7 Hydraulic Brakes. It was stolen out of my building and I have been SCOURING my city and mourning since.

With that said, i rode 58cm Cannondale Synapse yesterday in preparation for a sprint triathlon I intend to run in the fall, and I am in love with road biking. The problem is putting my "clydesdale" body on a road bike terrifies me (i broke a carbon mtb frame 10 years ago) and a VERY tight budget. I have had several LBS offer options, the most appealing was an offer to custom build a Storck Vision Light for $1200. This is TWICE what i was hoping to spend but it comes with a lifetime guarantee on the frame, fork, and wheelsets.

Please let me know what you think about this bike, or if you know anybody with a used road bike that would fit. I would prefer to buy a high end used bike, but I am feeling very limited.
I am holding off on replacing my MTB b/c I think I will be moving to Denver or Boulder CO, at which time I will be looking for a Full Suspension (another challenge, hopefully i'll be closer to 200 at that point) 29er.

Thank you, I am excited to hear back, and look forward to your posts!!

10 Wheels

But New and get the warranty.

Beerslinger

Hi Everyone, My name's Mike and I am a clydesdale.

I'm 6 foot, and about 250 lbs. I've lost 30 lbs since March by cycling, recently started doing 50 milers on the highway near here.

I ride a Kona Blast MTB, and a Norco CM2 Road Bike. I was riding my mtb for about 4 months when I decided to sign up for the ride to conquer cancer https://conquercancer.ca/goto/mbuchanan

It forced me to get off my ass and start riding long stretches of highway, and to use the trainer in my garage while watching videos of the tour to see how the pros do it.

sharky nrk

I need some help. I was riding alot recently. 100-150 miles a week at least. I put 1000 miles on my new bike from April to now with my boss who is/was my riding partner. Recently my boss stopped riding and I am finding it REALLY REALLY had to spend any time on the bike myself. I can get a quick 20 mile ride in but any longer than that and I get bored and loney. Any advice.

phixie

I suppose I'll relate my story as well. I was always pretty fit in grade school thru high school. I rode a bike constantly, studied martial arts for several years, played soccer and baseball and jogged. When I got to college though I didn't exercise much at all. Most of it was lugging my double bass to jazz ensemble rehearsal in the mornings, getting across campus for a class, playing tenor drums (quints) in marching band and the occasional ride on one of the local trails. It might sound like a good amount but what I was putting in my body wasn't all that great either.

I'm 5'10" and about to turn 31 and at my heaviest I was about 225. I've fluctuated a lot since then and my lowest was 175 (my ideal BMI). Right now I'm at 200 and am hoping to get back down to 175 by cycling, running, bodyweight exercises and further nutritional control. I already prepare a lot of organic, low-cal meals but since I moved up here to Astoria, it's been tough not eating out and indulging myself too often. There's so much great food here and much of it is decidedly NOT low-cal or low-carb. Plenty of proteins but lots of cholesterols too. My knees aren't what they used to be so I've been cycling a lot more than running but both have their merits.

It's great to hear everyone's stories. Best of luck to you all. Let's keep riding!

phixie

Wow! That's a good amount. I'm wanting to be able to do that much riding every week myself. Have you looked into any local groups that ride? I just found out about a group here that does nice long rides on the weekdays. I'm not sure how big Sullivan is or what's close by but perhaps you can find some people to ride with if you post on this site and other places like CG. Best of luck.

sharky nrk

thanks, unfortunately there are very few groups that ride in Sullivan. There are some in towns around here but they are 30min to an hour away from Sullivan and they ride before I could get there off of work. I will keep looking though. I am getting a lack of riding fever.

glycemicindex96

I think you are surely qualify for that! I think you should keep up the good work!