Gripperm

I plan on trying to do the RAAM in 2012 and right now I need to lose weight and start training to do the RAAM. What bike should I start with that would support my fat *** until I lose the weight and can buy a real bike? I am 6'4" 376 lbs

kensuf

This is a troll, right?

You know you need to qualify for RAAM, right? You can't just show up and do it. And 2012 is five years away, a lot can happen between now and then.

Gripperm

No I am not a troll and I know the rules quite well. I have been following the RAAM since 1982.

superslomo

Do you currently ride at all? Have you done so in the past?

Even five years out seems like a pretty tall order to go from zero to one of the most extreme physical challenges I can imagine.

I congratulate your ambition, and drive... just have concerns that it might be a bit of an impossible schedule. You might want to also check the triathlon and long distance forums here for advice.

Good luck...

Gripperm

Thank you for taking my question seriously. I use to ride a ton in the past but I got married and gained weight and let my dreams slip behind me. Then I turned 38 this year and had a "why did I not do the things I said I would do" moment and I have been working on them every since. I was originally thinking of 2014 but if I cant qualify by 2012 then I might just ride it without it being the RAAM but riding the course just to say I rode the distance.

ldesfor1@ithaca

i would get a true touring bike with big tires (700x42 marathons?) and really strong handbuilt wheels (36,40,48 spoke?) and a saddle that you like as much as possible (brooks b-67?). That way when you are 200# you can still tour on it. Awesome to hear you making plans that far in the future. I think 5 years should be plenty of time for you to prepare for RAAM even with a few of life's minor hiccups. Surly's got a built-up long haul trucker for under a grand. That might work.

mkadam68

As an intermediate goal, try completing one of Lon Haldeman's PAC-Tours. If you can't do one of those, you certainly won't be able to complete RAAM. He's got a website somewhere.

Wogster

First I think that often, the big sanctioned events like RAAM are over rated. Personally I would rather ride where I want to, rather then where some organization tells me to.

The place to start, is your doctors office, if your over 35, you need to consult with your doctor, and make sure that the old bod can handle it. The last thing you want to do, is go out on the bike, and have an MI at the end of the driveway.

Now, find a good, local bike shop, where they can make sure you get the proper fit. A bike that doesn't fit properly, ends up collecting dust in the garage. You might find something in the MTB hard tail range works very well, they tend to have heavier duty wheels, and more hill friendly gearing (it's lower then a road bike), get them to put on either slick or inverted tread tires, which are better for distance. Add a set of fenders, because it removes the biggest reason for not riding in the rain, if your training, you need to ride in all kinds of weather. You may also want to add a set of racks to your bike, so that you can carry a load, you want at least a rear rack. Add a pump, saddle bag and as many bottle racks as you can fit. Also, get yourself a comfortable pair of padded bike shorts, your fat *** complaining, is the second biggest reason to not ride, and the shorts will fix that. You can often wear other shorts, or pants over the bike shorts if your vain side takes over. Also, add a big freaking lock, so that your bike doesn't wonder off.

The next thing is to get out there and ride, you don't need to go 500 miles on your first outing, even around the block a couple of times is good. You build up distance over time, and that makes the process more enjoyable. The hardest thing is winter, if you live in a northern area, there may be periods where you can't ride. If this goes on for more then a month, you lose some distance, if it's 3 - 4 months, you need to start all over again.

oopfoo

Bump the last post. This is the best advice for just about EVERY new cyclist on BF.

To summarize, I think quoting Fausto Coppi said it best, "Ride the bike, ride the bike, ride the bike."

Live it. Love it. Comprendez-vous?

biffstephens

That Elite tour looks cool....Transcontinental in 17 days.....woooohooooo

DAMN!!!!!

Anyone on here done it?

mkadam68

Yeah...it reminds me (sort of) of the Tour de France, only we could call it Tour de US or something. It's like 120 miles a day for two weeks straight. I have not done it but I think maybe one day...? Ed Pavelka wrote up his experience doing it in Bicycling Magazine a few years back. And I think he has done it about every other year since. Great training. You might be able to read it online at bicycling.com.

kensuf

OK, well a lot of people show up on forums just to stir up debate, and your question seemed too much like a troll to take it seriously. Sort of like the guy showing up on a mountain climbers forum saying he's currently 376lbs and is going to tackle K2 in 5 years.

Now, if you're serious.. First you need to get the weight down and start cycling a lot. You need to be realistic and understand that you won't shed the weight overnight, and while it is quite possible to drop 200lbs it's going to take you some time to do it. However, since you've got a 5 year timeframe it seems reasonable as long as you keep your goals in sight, remember that it's going to take some time, and don't get frustrated; we've got one forum member who went from 400lbs down to 160 and now he's kicking ass and taking names in a bunch of tri's.

After talking with a doctor to make sure you're not going to have any major problems with exercising (at 376, you're a pretty big boy), I think the biggest weakness you'll find in a bike at your weight will undoubtably be the wheels. Go with some 36 spoke wheels, and bigger tires.

While most aluminum framed road bikes may be able to hold your weight, I'm really not sure how well carbon forks will work for you, so you may be better off going with a hybrid/comfort bike until you're closer to 300.

At the same time, if you're really serious about RAAM, you may want to think recumbent since that's probably the best way to go. When you get below 300 you should be fine on just about any bent out there (I know a guy who's 270 and rides a bachetta).

Good luck.

Little Darwin

Since you are talking 5 years out, I would say to get a bike to handle your weight for now, and worry about a bike for more serious racing later.

I am 6' and started riding again at 365. My bike of choice was the Giant Sedona DX. Until you lose some weight, the ability to ride a drop bar bike is inhibited (or it is for me). I haven't done so well on getting in the mileage since I moved from California, but I have taken this bike on a few metric centuries, and it has survived about 3,000 miles on roads and gravel rail trails. The only maintenance other than cleaning and lubing the chain have been two LBS tune-ups in 3 or 4 years and during one tune-up they discovered a broken spoke.

I updated to slicks two years ago, and a rigid fork last year. I prefer the setup now.

If I were to buy agaion, I would go with one of the bikes in Giant's Cypress line, or a similar line from the competitors... Plenty good for getting into shape, and will likely be a good puttering around bike for years to come. Then when you get into better shape you can look at a bike that may be enough bike to do the ultra-distance cycling you desire.

I add a vote to visit the Long Distance cycling forum here, there are some randoneuring (sp) types that hang out there.

Enjoy the journey.

Dewbert

I'm sort of a smaller scale example of this scenario. In 2005 I weighed about 320#. I bought a Giant Cypress DX and started with neighborhood rides. Later that same year I bought a Giant OCR2 and by the end of the year completed my first century. Last year I successfully completed the RAIN Ride (Ride Across INdiana). For me, that was my ultimate goal.

Turns out, though, I REALLY love cycling and will probably be on a bike as long as my body will allow it.

Good luck!