jethro56 

Welcome Rick458 and dwellman If you haven't done so I suggest you check the before and after thread. Many success stories.

rick458

Plan on it Jethro

Pilotac

I am 54, 6'3" and weigh 340 down from 500 10 months ago. I started riding hard, for me, about 5 mos. ago. I was sedentary for years. The weight along with my lack of mobility resulted in bad knees. While my knees hurt less with the weight loss, walking is still to painful. So I took up riding again. Money was tight so I relied upon that great bike clearinghouse, Craigslist. I have an additional problem, I need a 23" frame which limits my choices. When my last bike died, I jumped on the first 23 I found and old Schwinn 15 speed mountain bike. I live in a very hilly area. in the beginning, I had trouble riding up a 4 block hill but I kept at it. I would start by riding at a rapid pace, for me, and try to ride at least 40 minutes always increasing the time and difficulty. After about 4 months of this I changed my workout. I read a book titled PACE by Al Sears and modified my workout to incorporate his strategy. I have a steep hill by my house. I sprint up it for two sets of 5 minutes, two sets of 4 minute and one set of 2 minutes (times vary), getting my pulse to max heart rate as long as possible. Between sets, I rest until my pulse gets under 100 and start again. After the hill routine, I ride another hour or so, tossing in a few hill rides along the way. My old bike is feeling its age. I have already replaced the rear wheel, both pedals and the tires. A new bike is in the offing. The good thing about the PACE workout is progress is rapid. IF it gets easy I downshift, trying to keep my pulse rate very high. On an associated note, I was watching the broadcast of the Ironman a few weeks ago. They interviewed a participant who was 80 yrs. old and competing in his 20 race. When asked about his training regimen, he said he goes anaerobic every day. He sprints up steep hills until he maxes his heart rate and can barely breathe. It inspired me. The only downside of my riding is my sore ass. I am still tinkering with the seat adjustment with hopes of fixing the problem but I am seriously considering buying a Day 6 bike, day6bicycles.com. They have a new, heavier-duty bike frame with a 400 lb capacity and they have wide saddles that look very comfortable.

Keep up all the good work Clydesdales, unleash your inner thoroughbreds.

Greg

jethro56 

Welcome Pilotac. While my approach differs from yours, I must applaud the dedication you clearly have. I started riding in Oct.about 3 weeks before my 54th birthday at a weight of 275 Lbs. I've found that what I consider comfortable in a saddle has changed much now that my skin is catching up with my weight-loss. I'm on my third saddle and each time I've gone narrower with less padding. My goal for bicycling is to commute 25 miles round trip daily starting in March.

Again Welcome You're in good company.

Ironhand

310lbs here and just bought my first bike in several years this afternoon.


One 'a dees'...


https://www.bikepedia.com/QuickBike/B...U200&Type=bike


I'm going to be 40 in 3 weeks and my level of disgust with myself has finally reached critical mass. I'm a fairly muscular, powerful guy, but have about 60-70lbs of fat to get rid of.

CraigB

Welcome, Ironhand. That looks like it'll be a great bike to get you started down the path to weight loss and improved fitness.

Sometimes disgust with one's self can be the best motivator out there.

callmeclemens

Ive been around awhile never posted on here.

Names James, 6' 220lb clyde. I actually hit 198 last july but the winter and not riding at all have pumped me back up.

My Rides:
https://bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/clockwork.htm
https://bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/clockwork.htm

yes I only ride ss.

lopek77

I'm 6.2 and around 290 ... I gained a lot of weight after I broke my back in 2009, nobody called me fat yet... I'm wearing my weight the "good" way I guess
I'm very active and bicycling is filling my free time. I ride about 30 years now and I'm just several years older than that
My bike is a Raleigh Mojave 5.0 and frame is still in one piece
Am I the heaviest here? What's the prize? Chocolate cake?
I'm on the "no sugar" diet right now, and getting into shape before warm weather... Tried snow riding, but it's just to cold to have fun.

jethro56 

Welcome lopek77 Lots of people bigger than you here, so no prizes. May I suggest you check out the before and after thread? It will give you an idea of how amazing some of the people here are. We are here to help. We also need your help. So post away.

GumbyN

new here.
currently i'm 6', and somewhere between 215-225 (i don't own a scale).
40 yrs old, ex-military, always in shape, use to be a skinny rail until i got out of the military and became a defense contractor kinda guy. started lifting weights, got up to 195 lbs in '98 (from 162 when i got out in '96), then crashed my motorcycle and now i can't run due to the pounding on my spine. in HS, i use to love to ride my 18 speed for hours on end, i had huge legs... in Germany, '92-'94, i bought a Peugot MTB and rode often (they have mountains and trails and you don't have to drive for an hour to do it), and it was my way to work on post.

my set-up is:
old Trek 4300 MTB with road tires on a CycleOps Fluid2 trainer in my basement (live in the KC area).
will be getting a road bike this spring, leaning toward a Specialized Sectuer or Felt Z5... need to test ride them when the time comes.

will need to get a scale soon. been losing some weight by riding the trainer 3-4 times a week for about 30-60 minutes (depending on mood and intensity of the ride). i don't know what my starting weight was (not above 230), don't know what i am currently at.
goal is 175, but that'll take eating habit changes as well.

CraigB

Welcome, GumbyN. Good to have you here. Don't be shy about posting.

I came thiiiiis close to getting a Z5 last November when one of the local shops had one on sale at the end of the season. Sadly, I couldn't quite justify it.

jethro56 

Welcome GumbyN A new Bike Shop opened 20 miles south of me. They have Felt. I need to check them out.

Heavy Z

So, I have finally found a group of big guys, sort of. I am 6'1 and range from 248-254, depending on what I eat. This time last year I was 302 and unhealthy. I have had a bike for about the last 5 or 6 years, but only recently started riding a good bit. I rode 87 miles over the weekend and felt really good. Kept up with skinny guys for about 48 miles and then got dropped. I am really loving riding, it is just hard to find the timet o ride as much as I would like and to eat right. I am 33 years old with a 5 and 3 year old and a teacher and bus driver. It pisses me off to see these skinny bastards flying. I want to get where I can hang with them and piss them off. Glad to be on here. I ride a Cannondale System Six with Mavic Akisrium wheels and sram rival components. Seems to be hanging in there.

CrimsonRide

I'm 6'5 295. Like iceberg I had an injury that ended my ice hockey career. Bought a mountain bike to build leg muscles after knee surgery...been hooked ever since. Now I ride my brand new 2011 Specialized Secteur Elite Apex.

captainkanji

Got my new custom wheels made, finally. Sun CR-18 36 hole with DT spokes. Shimano DH-3n72 hub in front. Can't afford the light yet though
Pretty happy with them so far. Very solid. Don't worry about pinch flats anymore with Marathon Plus tires. Holds my 270lbs very well.

lmtada

Live in Edmonton Canada?eh? -23c out here right now. Looking forward to loosing weight riding. Currently 225 need to shed 50 lbs. Started on the stationary bike for 1/2 hr rides, this month looking forward to April when I can get out there and ride for more than 1-2 hrs.
Marc'o

Garilia

I read the first three pages of this thread, and then realized I could gain ten pounds just getting to the end of this thread!

I am 5'9" and about 230 lbs. About 9 months ago I was tipping the scales @ 275. I have more I want to lose, but I feel so much better being 45 pounds lighter!

I bought a 29er hardtail and that's been helping (but it's more of a reward for being lighter). It's all about the food I eat, and some moderate exercise (some Bowflex adjustable dumbbells, some situps, and some time on the bike).

I plan to buy a road bike soon, and am wide open to buying anything from a cyclocross to a thoroughbred. I'm looking hard at steel and/or titanium (Ti would have to be through an online retailer). I'm concerned a little about wheelsets for the 200+ rider. If there's a thread in this forum speaking about that I could use a link, meanwhile I'll keep trying search!

MyMonkey

Well folks. I am currently holding at a still fat 253 pounds. Got down to about 245. Stopped riding and eating not so great and bam. Creeping back up! I wanted to chime in again and take another shot at this. Might move up to a road bike from the hybrid too if all goes well this summer. Thanks.

"Clydesdale here. 6'0'' at 284 right now. Just got back into riding after a long hiatus. I am in shape at around 210. Would like to see that sometime. Used to be an in shape 248 pounds. Car accident resulted in an injured back and ruined all my weightlifting. I am averaging around 10 miles 3 or 4 days a week. Ride a Gary Fisher Tiburon. LBS recommended it for bigger guys. Hope it holds up. Thanks.

JJ" = MyMonkey

rick458

I finally picked up my Hard rock Sport Disc 29er yesterday, as well as a pair of Pearl Izumi shorts, Specialized Align helmet, gloves, bottles and brackets.
I rode around the Neighborhood (front to back side to side) once yesterday, and 2 trips today, I will keep pushing the time and length each trip.
I was 295 lbs Friday, and I gave up soft drinks 3 weeks ago.
I like how easy on the joints biking is, it does tend to remind my my athsma is still with my, and I have GOT to find a bit more padding for the saddle.
But I am on my way to fighting weight

10 Wheels

Rock on Rick..

LACamper

No riding for me for the last week or so. Too busy with Mardi Gras parades. Lots of walking though! (BTW, for those of you who have never experienced Mardi Gras, its a two week long party that ends with an all day event on fat tuesday... not a single day. Everyone should do the quarter for Mardi Gras once in their life... ).

Happy Mardi Gras everyone!!!

2Fat2Cat

The feel of the wind through your helmet...the joy of cresting the mountain top...the exhilaration of reaching 55 mph down the other side...the smug satisfaction hanging your bib number up on your personal “wall of finishes.”

Man I miss all that. A lot. I don’t miss the 3 concussions, which came on Benottos and Fuji’s...nor do I miss waking up in hospitals...but I hate even more the 100 or so pounds I’ve packed on since the last race I finished, some 20 years ago.

From 2 Fat 2 Cat -- from 274 pounds as I now type to Cat 5 racer, in less than a year. That’s my name, that’s my goal. I’ll need the help of this board to get there.

Long time lurker, first time poster. Lurked long enough, and hung out with enough bikers to know the first question you’re asking: 2010 Scott Speedster with Alex Race 28s 20/24, Shimano 105 drive train, Scott saddle (which I’m OK with so far). Love the aluminum frame, seems to hold my heft just fine. Compared to my Benotto/Campy criterium blitzer I used to race in the 80s, this new bike is about half the (adjusted for inflation) cost and twice the speed. The advances since, oh, I dunno, since LeMond was on Team Z, the advances in cycling technology are amazing.

Now I’m hoping that technology helps bring back the lean in me.

I know what technology I’ll be using to lose weight, so I ask you -- What technology do use to drop pounds?

mymojo

Oddly, I've never heard the term Clydesdale used to refer to guys our size before. I LIKE IT!

Names Mike. I clock in @ 6'2", roughly 280# (currently). I've been riding off & on for a dozen years. But no matter what hobby may distract me, I always come back to cycling as my true love. (corny right?). Well,the bug has recently bitten me again. So here I am.

I started long ago on a cheap Wal-mart special that I road into the ground. From there I moved into a GT ZR5000 that was a present from my brother - it was probably a 54cm frame. At that point I had no idea about frame sized and fitting. It didnt take long to learn that part. :-).

I then moved into a 60cm early 80s Peugout road bike that was a TANK. I rode that for a few years and then switched to 60cm 2001 Trek 950 with city tires on it that better suited the riding I was doing. Well at this point I want to ride more distance than the heavy 950 really allows me to. So yesterday I went and bought a 58cm Trek 1000 (2000 model year). Its in the shop getting a tune up as we speak. Im selling off some of my other hobby accessories to make some upgrades to the bike (better tires/wheels & maybe upgrade shifters/derailleurs).

Im thinking about entering a Century later this year, but its still a bit early to commit to that. Of course, I'm hoping for weight loss, but even if I never drop an ounce, I'll still love riding.

brandon41094

I'm 16 gonna be 17 in about another month...

I'm 5'5" and 210 lbs- hoping to get out of the Clydesdale group being I'm overweight and have competitive aspirations... Lets hope no trucks smack into me this year...

Recently had my...
A 2005 Giant OCR Limited. [yellow decals]
Ultegra 30 speed.
Mavic Aksium front wheel, 20 spokes.
STOLEN...

So for now I'm riding a...
Scott Speedster S30. Betty is my baby!


Major plans to become a competitive roadie, once I get rid of the love handles the spandex so brilliantly hides... Not.
I've got a sprinter's legs- due to major obesity of over 250 lbs earlier in the year, due to my broken ankle... as well as family genetics of massive legs.

Anybody have any tips on how to break through this plateau I've hit of 204? (Havent ridden much this week) Really want to get down to 160 by July... Thanks!

aflac222

Hello