misterbaseball9

At 6'0" 232lbs I guess I'm a Clyde. Used to ride a lot as a kid, stopped for quite a while and I'm trying to get back into it now. Bought a Fuji Newest last week and have put almost 20 miles on it so far. Starting out with 10+ mile rides for now, hoping to work up to much, much greater distances by the end of summer.

MikeinNaptown

Time for me to step in and acknowledge I'm the one eating all the pork rinds and Andy Capps fries.

I'm a Clyde at 29yo, 6'1" and up to 245 now. Yes, so far this year I've tacked on another 15 pounds and another pants size. And the worrying thing is that the 40" pants are getting snug some days.

In early 2005, at a svelt 230 pounds I picked a Trek 7200 and before long I was riding 60 - 80 miles a week with a decent amount of hills thrown in. I was doing pretty good and joining some local clubs for 40 - 60 milers and able to hang with them, barely. They tend to ride 18-20 and I'm usually around 15 so I get left behind.

About a year ago I started a series of downturns. Herniated disc in my neck. Back, neck, shoulder pains. Loss of feeling in my right arm, dropping things, tingles, memory problems (much of the last year is hard to remember. Even the big things), Arthritis in my shoulder, cracked a few ribs twice and massively bruised ribs for months on end and depression. So many days were spent mulling through work in the day and in a dark apartment at night.

With almost all of that passed me and while still not healed all the way, I'm back well enough that I can get on the bike and ride comfortably. Only have a few kinks to work out of the bike and I'll be more comfortable on the long rides.

I realized last week that I had signed up again for the local Tour De Cure and it's fast approaching. My weight has been going back up and the weather is getting better. So what better time to get back on the bike and get my ass back in shape and out of the dark spot I've let myself get into and stop feeling sorry for myself.

So my goals are to be ready for the Tour De Cure in June, loose these extra 40 pounds by the end of the year and be ready for a Century by the end of the season.

I'm glad I'm not the only big guy riding out there.

Mike

Equus

Im not much of a Clydesdale but I am above 200 pounds. And at 5'9, i guess im pretty heavy. From 215, im down to 205. Then I plan to lose 30 more in 3 to 4 months. Ill keep you guys updated.

Thanks

dorkieshe

Please delete my account and all associated information with it - thanks!

Tom Stormcrowe

Welcome aboard, Dorkieshe! We're glad to have you

gsorvino@zoomin

Hello,

I am newly registered and I guess at 6' and 255 (down from 300+) qualify as a clydesdale. I have not ridden for over 5 years (two back surgeries and a nerve damage in right leg) and am looking forward to getting back. I use to ride a Cannodale and now have Felt Z35.

If it ever stops snowing on Ohio I might get out and see how it goes. I have a trainer and spin on it so I hope my leg will hold up on the road... Peddle stroke is a little awkward as I do not have full control over my calf and foot but it feels good to spin. The docs did not give it much chance but so far I have full quad power and hamstrings. Good to be here. Latter Gerry.

Tom Stormcrowe

Welcome, Gerry! Hey, even if you don't recover 100%, you'll still be able to ride. If all else fails, and you start to have too much in the way of pain issues, there's always a recumbent bike or recumbent trike.

Zaskar24

Hi all. It is good to find other people wjho are not the typical bike shop 160 lbs runt to talk bikes with. I am 6'2" and weigh anywhere from 215lbs. to 230lbs. depending on the season so I definitely am a Clydesdale. I just posted a pic of my almost finished new ride in the Clydes ride adn will work on getting pics of my other two up as time permits.

Scott

hedgeapple

I'm new around here, too. My intro pretty much says it all. 56, 6'5, 273. Summer of '73, when I was riding my still-had-the-new-car-smell Raleigh hard everyday around Philippi WV, I was a steady 183. Don't expect to match that again but I'd like to do and feel a lot better than this. The Raleigh can still do it, why shouldn't I?

Tom Stormcrowe

Welcome aboard!

cohophysh

Great to see we are getting some new folks on the board! As Tom said, "welcome" and feel free to ask anything here about bikes and weight, we are a friendly bunch!

velolepus

Well, "Clydesdale" certainly seems to divide up between people who are on the "husky" side & those who are just really tall. I guess when it comes to evaluating strong equipment, it's all the same. For me, I've just started getting back on a bike after 10 years of bad health, and I'm certainly doing it partly to lose lots of weight despite bad knees. Of course, with the weird adjusted BMI (body mass index) chart they have, I'm quick to point out that I've always been "overweight" to "obese" for my height. That includes back when I was so "ripped" my legs looked like overcooked turkey and my doctor tried to get my body fat up as a treatment for hypoglycemia; as well as these days that I have trouble tying my shoes!

Air

Welcome aboard!! The Clydes label was never meant to drive a wedge, just more of an observation as to the abuse we put our parts through

soul_survivor

Gee, I'm about 6 ft, and weigh 325 pounds. So what do you call me? (Be gentle).

I'm trying to get back into shape by buying a bike.. haven't ridden in over a decade.

I'd appreciate any recommendations and insights... especially from anyone in the Lewiston, Maine area.

Tom Stormcrowe

You're a Clyde, just like the rest of us! Welcome aboard!

soul_survivor

I thought I might be a super duper, heavy clyde...

Tom Stormcrowe

Here's the first post on the Weight Loss: Before and after thread, me....
and me now: Down 371 pounds from my high of 581 pounds, 3 years later.

Nycycle

Welcome johnnyburst79, I can totally relate, I never hit 260 but I can't seem to get below 210, My goal is 199.

hedgeapple

Tom, that's just flat stunning. You even had an oxygen bottle (I assume that's a wheelchair in the photo, not a welding cart).
Gotta go ride.

Tom Stormcrowe

Yep, that's a wheelchair.

Texas_Cannon

Hello Everyone!

First Post.

My Real Name is Stephen, and i live in New Braunfel's Texas. I just went through a divorce and am putting my life back together. (just kicked that severe clinical depression out of my life as well!)

I started a new job in October, and my new boss is an avid cyclist. He got me interested in joining the company cycling team and doing the BPMS-150 Houston to Austin ride, which occured just last weekend.

So... let me give you some specs:

Me:
6'5" - 342 lbs. (I weighed 397 in March 2007)
Now, I am obviously no small boy, and even w/ the weight loss, I will never not be a clyde. I am very heavily boned, and pretty heavily muscled (under my padding! ) One of my new found hobbies is weight lifting. My Goal weight for the 2009 BPMS-150 (next April) is 250 lbs. If i reach that, the math says i will be at 9% body fat, assuming i reach my muscle gain goals as well. at least that is what my trainer says.

My new ride:
2008 Cannondale Synapse 6 (compact)

Modifications:
Salsa low profile bars (they are also wider to accomodate my wide shoulders)
Shimano Ultregra Pedals (spacers inserted for those big legs), Sidi shoes, Ultegra Clips
Wheels: Mavic OpenPro 622 x 16, wrapped in Ultra Gatorskins (these were made for guys like me)
Saddle: Serfas Touring <-- not sure i like it, but minimal pain so it stays for now.

So... my experience so far:

I bought a Trek 4300 a couple years ago and played around on it, nothing serious. did some fun trail riding on it. Destroyed the rails on several seats.

Last October I started training for the BPMS-150 w/ 15 mile rides through New Braunfel's TX, which is in the Texas Hill Country. Didn't take long to get up to 20 and 25 mile rides. Finally bought the Cannondale and did my first 35 mile ride, forgetting my camelbak. This was a very bad thing since i drink H20 like it's going out of style, and sweat like the world doesn't have enough of it. By the end of that 35 miler, I was severely dehydrated. Over the next week i developed a sinus infection. I kicked that, got the flu. kicked the flu, got another sinus infection. In the middle of all that, was the holidays, and the team didn't do practice rides. By the time i was able to get back in the saddle and do some serious practice rides, the MS-150 was just around the corner and I was hurting on every ride.

Finally a few weeks ago, i broke into the 50 mile range, and were not talking a flat 50 miles, were talking massive and repeated elevation changes... 100s of feet up or down, short but steep hills. there is still one hill i can't ride up, its so steep i have to walk it. luckily there was nothing like those ont he MS-150... train hard so you don't have to play so hard.

So, the Day of the MS-150 rolls around, and I am nervous, fidgiting around like a jackrabbit.

My team of 44 people leaves a hotel in Katy TX, and rides 7 miles to join up w/ the Day 1 route, or 'the herd' as i have come to call them. I was promptly outpaced by the more experienced riders, and promptly outpaced the ones who hadn't done any training. Team cohesion apparenlty isn't big for our group.

I rode mostly alone (but in the pack) for the first 47 some odd miles till I hit bellville for lunch. After digesting a tasty meal and taking an hours break (i started at 7:40 AM, and arrived in Bellville at 2:45... i took a LOT of breaks!!!) i got back on my bike, clipped in, and took 3 or 4 pedal strokes before the most oblivious woman in all of creation stood up, and walked out onto the road right infront of me and a few other riders.

I stopped w/o smearing her into the pavement, and twisted out of my left clip as fast as i could to stop the fall i feared was coming. (I have to this day never fallen while clipped in!) I did start to fall, and i caught all 342 lbs of me on my left leg, and hoisted myself back up. Now... the sad part is, twisting out of my clip, i twisted 'oddly' that is the only way i can describe it. I felt a twinge at that point, and it burned when i caught myself. but i was determined to finish the whole deal, so i shook it off and kept going. (The lady by the way never acknoledged she did anything wrong, shrudged, and walked off.) When out in bellville, a train came by, and this caused about 800 or so riders to bunch up and do the tippy toe dance after it passed. it took about 15 minutes for the herd to spread back out. every stop start was painful for my leg, but, i put it off.

I finished Day one in a little over 12 hours. I stopped at every rest break, and made a couple inbetween. I had a problem w/ my odometer, so i am not quite sure how far it was, but me and a friend are guestimating around 95 miles give or take. I was utterly exhausted, had sweated off my sunscreen, so i was burned, but... that last 10 miles was awesome.

Oh, i forgot... there was a brutal headwind the entire day, all the way, up till the last 10 or so miles. The route finally changed direction to head into la grange, and when it did, I kicked it into high gear and hauled it into la grange like God himself had reached down and strapped a rocket to me. I am PROUD of that finish!!!! Riding into Lagrange, w/ cyclists and volunteers lined up 2 or 3 deep on both sides of a single lane road cheering you in.. that was fantastic and a memory i will take to my grave.

So, several bags of ice, a disgusting shower, and more adult beverages than i care to remember later, i went to bed. I woke up the next morning (frost was on our tent.) and i couldn't stand up out of my cot. I finally managed to get up, and walking didn't hurt at all. But i could tell i was stiff, so i planted my toe in the ground and applied a little force... almost fell on my hiney. I knew at that point my day was done, but i still tried. I walked around for 45 minutes trying to loosen up the leg, took about 1200 MG of motrin, but in the end, i couldnt even balance myself properly to get into my riding shorts. I had to bow out of day 2.

So, I rode the company van to Austin and cheered on my team. When I went from our team tent to the finish line to grab some bikes and lead our team members back to the tent, I felt utterly robbed. Not a muscle on my body was sore, not even saddle sore. There was a cool wind blowing through the finish area, shadowed by Austin high rises, and the cheers of hundreds of people were continually encouraging riders to go those last few steps. I decided then and there, i was going to do it next year.

Two hours later, i decided i was going to do the 'triple' all three Texas MS-150's in 2009. I am addicted.

My Riding schedule for the rest of 2008 (that i know of so far):

May - Tour de Cure
August - Hotter N' Hell 100

I have been to the gym three times now this week, and i am allready progressively adding resistance on the recumbant, stiffness is almost gone, just a little twinge of pain right before the downstroke. I plan on being back on my cycle by next thursday.

So.. that's my cycling experience in a nutshell (rather large one.. sorry.. but hey, i am a clyde.)

I hope to learn a lot here in the next few months, and i hope you all can help me hold myself accountable. I plan to be 250 by the next MS-150, 9% bodyfat, and capable of keeping up w/ the best riders on my team.

Houstonsp101

Hello, my name is Charles and I am a Clydesdale, I am 6 feet tall and weighed 259lbs at my Cardiologist visit last month. Main malfunction Hypertension. See my introduction to the forum below. I just bought my first new bike in 20 years to return to biking, mainly started as means to commute. I think I can achieve many goals above just commuting.

Hello All
My name is Charles, I am 48 years old and am 2 weeks into my rebirth as a rider. When my 2 children were young and we lived in West Texas (1986) I rode 40 miles a day after work. Somewhere along the way I stopped. Now I am a Clydesdale, I began consideration of riding again due largely to 3+ dollar gas prices. I have only a 3 mile commute and seems perfect to start again. I have now made 2 weeks daily riding to work, plus extra miles after work. Goals? Save the expense of commuting using a gas guzzling pickup, improve my health, loose weight, live longer for my 5 grandchildren. Goals will be added as I go along. I live in Houston TX, not the most bike friendly town, but the extra miles after work are easy to do using a bike path along Braes Bayoo in Houston. I did 20 miles this morning and since starting 2 weeks ago can already feel a difference in normal energy levels and levels while riding. Thanks for having this forum and allowing me to join.
Charles (Houstonsp101)

hedgeapple

Started riding regularly @26 March, less than a month ago. Today did my first 30-miler, the Chisholm Trail Bike Ride out of Newton. Finished in 2/55 including roughly 40 minutes in breaks. Covered last 11.5 (edit: Wrong! Was just made aware of this, it was actually 10.5) miles with a tailwind in 31 minutes. I'll sleep well tonight. I'd sleep well right now if I allowed it.
This was also the first outing for my old Raleigh Gran Prix in 22 years.
Ho-ahh.

bikingtolive

Hello everyone. I'm Bryan and I'm a clyde. I cycled in my younger years but life took over and I'm now carrying around 100 extra problems. That sounds like a recurring theme in here. I'm currently 5'8" @ 280. I want to get down to 180. I can't run so I've turned to biking and a total change in eating habits to help me do this. My family has a long history of medical problems associated with weight and I want to fix myself before I become another statistic.

I'm currently riding a Schwinn Trailways Hybrid that I picked up at Target. It's actually a pretty decent bike. I moved my look-style pedals, water bottle cages, computer (somehow it's still working after sitting unused for 5+ years), and saddle from my old cannondale r-300 (which has seen much better days) to the Schwinn. I purchased the Schwinn because of price ($200), a triple chain ring (not like I need it here in JAX, FL), and because it had 700c tires. I know there will be a lot of folks here frown at a big-box bike but for the price it was a great deal. I'm very comfortable with working on the bike and I assured it was assembled properly before riding. Besides, I don't think with me being so far overweight that I deserve a decent ride at this point. I need something that works for now so I can reward myself later.

I just started riding this week with short 10 mile circuits every other day. Ride 3 will be tomorrow morning. All-in-all it's going quite well so far. I've started a blog to track/journal my progress. Just click on the banner below to see it.

Tom Stormcrowe

Naw, if you know how to work on your own bike, then some box store bikes are workable. Heck, Walmart is even selling a decent full on CF bike with decent components online.... (Similar in quality to Bikesdirect, but more expensive).

Welcome to our new Clydes, and feel free to check in on the before and After photo thread.