More hippo than clydesdale. Need advice(First Post)
06-24-09, 08:42 PM
#26
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I understand where you're coming from. I started lifting weights at about 400. I started riding at 365. I'm now down to 300. My first bike was from Dick's Sportingoods that I had bought 2 years before. A previous failed attempt to lose weight. It was a Diamondback Wildewood Deluxe. You can look it up on BikePedia, but basically its a mountain bike with front suspension, hardtail, and a suspension seatpost. If you road ride you can always switch the nobbies for smoother tires.
The real issue is wheels, wheels, wheels. If you have a good local LBS, then buy from them and have them tighten the hell out of your spokes. Ride the bike for a week or two and have them do it again. I'm a do-it-yourself kind of guy so I got the tools and keep my wheels tight and true myself.
If you go for a more road bike, don't let anyone tell you that you have to buy Dyad deep V's. They are good, but there are plenty of other rims that will work. Its how well they are built that makes the difference. Last year at about 330, I bought a cyclocross bike (road-ish with bigger tires). I killed the low spoke count rims in 120 miles and mail ordered a set of Mavic Open Pro's. I increased the spoke tension and retrued them once after a week or so, then didn't have to touch them. I got a thousand miles out of the rear one before I broke a spoke. I bought another one to replace it. The front one is still going.
Good luck!
The real issue is wheels, wheels, wheels. If you have a good local LBS, then buy from them and have them tighten the hell out of your spokes. Ride the bike for a week or two and have them do it again. I'm a do-it-yourself kind of guy so I got the tools and keep my wheels tight and true myself.
If you go for a more road bike, don't let anyone tell you that you have to buy Dyad deep V's. They are good, but there are plenty of other rims that will work. Its how well they are built that makes the difference. Last year at about 330, I bought a cyclocross bike (road-ish with bigger tires). I killed the low spoke count rims in 120 miles and mail ordered a set of Mavic Open Pro's. I increased the spoke tension and retrued them once after a week or so, then didn't have to touch them. I got a thousand miles out of the rear one before I broke a spoke. I bought another one to replace it. The front one is still going.
Good luck!
06-25-09, 11:05 PM
#27
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I went by the LBS again today. Bike shopping is fun
I rode a Raleigh 'comfort bike' and wow was it comfy. I felt like I could have sat on that seat all day. I spent about 10 min cruising around a giant parking lot. One problem with it was that it was hard to stand up on. I'm not sure why but when I'd try to stand to get some powerful pushes I just couldn't do it.
Next I rode a FHS Hybrid-x. Cool bike with a rack and fenders and a more 'sporty' feel. I rode that around for about the same amount of time but the seat HURT. I'm sure being brand new to cycling and almost 400 lbs doesn't help but I did not enjoy that seat.
I had the guy switch out the comfort bike seat with the FHS seat and it made a WORLD of difference. I was able to go pretty damn fast and I had no pain at all.
Regardless of what I get I think this is going to be my lbs. The man said he would switch out the seats free of charge and do puncture resistance for free.
What do you guys think of this bike? The rear tire had 36 pokes and had a double walled rim. I think it is sturdy enough but I need your guys advice. It is made in China but what isn't now a days.
I'm going to keep looking tomorrow but unless I hear some horror stories about this bike it's looking like the front runner.
ETA:
I did some googling for FHS Hybrid-X nd I'm not finding any thing so I think I have the brand wrong. I know it's three letters though.
ETA 2:
LOL. I had it all wrong. The bike is a KHS Urban-X.
I rode a Raleigh 'comfort bike' and wow was it comfy. I felt like I could have sat on that seat all day. I spent about 10 min cruising around a giant parking lot. One problem with it was that it was hard to stand up on. I'm not sure why but when I'd try to stand to get some powerful pushes I just couldn't do it.
Next I rode a FHS Hybrid-x. Cool bike with a rack and fenders and a more 'sporty' feel. I rode that around for about the same amount of time but the seat HURT. I'm sure being brand new to cycling and almost 400 lbs doesn't help but I did not enjoy that seat.
I had the guy switch out the comfort bike seat with the FHS seat and it made a WORLD of difference. I was able to go pretty damn fast and I had no pain at all.
Regardless of what I get I think this is going to be my lbs. The man said he would switch out the seats free of charge and do puncture resistance for free.
What do you guys think of this bike? The rear tire had 36 pokes and had a double walled rim. I think it is sturdy enough but I need your guys advice. It is made in China but what isn't now a days.
I'm going to keep looking tomorrow but unless I hear some horror stories about this bike it's looking like the front runner.ETA:
I did some googling for FHS Hybrid-X nd I'm not finding any thing so I think I have the brand wrong. I know it's three letters though.
ETA 2:
LOL. I had it all wrong. The bike is a KHS Urban-X.
Last edited by STO; 06-25-09 at 11:20 PM.
06-26-09, 12:29 AM
#28
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That looks like a pretty nice bike for the price. The shifters and derailers are low end, but that is expected at that price point. Just make sure you don't shift under load and it should do just fine. Having fenders and rack from the factory is a big plus.
06-26-09, 02:36 AM
#29
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How concerned should I be about this 'low end' stuff? How much will they be to replace is I completely destroy them?
06-26-09, 06:32 AM
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06-26-09, 07:30 AM
#31
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Shifting under load means...well...just what it sounds like, shifting while there is full tention on the drive train. Mainly this is an issue with hills, either upshifting or downshifting while you are mashing (muscling your way up the hill instead of spinning) the gears. You will hear some god aweful grinding noises most notably from the front derailure. To remedy this you will have to get used to a little trick that just about all cyclists pick up in no time wether they realize they are doing it or not. The trick is to back off the power when they are ready to down shift just a smidge. Notice I didn't say that tye stop pedaling altogether. It sounds harder than it actually is but soon you will get used to it in no time.
Oh, I didn't look up your bike but if it has those nifty trigger index shifters make sure you hold the thumb piece in until the front chainring has enough time to grab the chain. Enjoy the ride and post a few pictures for us when you finally take er home!
Oh, I didn't look up your bike but if it has those nifty trigger index shifters make sure you hold the thumb piece in until the front chainring has enough time to grab the chain. Enjoy the ride and post a few pictures for us when you finally take er home!
06-26-09, 11:54 AM
#32
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Just a word of caution on that "comfy" seat. It feels comfy at first and is nice for 5-10 miles but after that they can be pure torture. The reason being is that all that comfiness is pressing against soft tissue - flesh and muscle - and over time this is a bad thing.
The thin little seats put most of the pressure on your "sit bones" (don't remember the latin name) and as little as possible on the soft parts. Yes, this hurts more at first, but you WILL get used to it. Get the comfy seat for now since your rides will be short, but sooner than later start experimenting with "real" bike saddles to both build up your sit bone tolerance and find a comfortable saddle for you.
I have a box full of saddles in the garage that I tried in my search for the right fit. I ended up settling on the Specialized Gel Avatar. It's the most confortable to me.
Good luck in the bike search and weight loss and welcome to the forum.
MM
The thin little seats put most of the pressure on your "sit bones" (don't remember the latin name) and as little as possible on the soft parts. Yes, this hurts more at first, but you WILL get used to it. Get the comfy seat for now since your rides will be short, but sooner than later start experimenting with "real" bike saddles to both build up your sit bone tolerance and find a comfortable saddle for you.
I have a box full of saddles in the garage that I tried in my search for the right fit. I ended up settling on the Specialized Gel Avatar. It's the most confortable to me.
Good luck in the bike search and weight loss and welcome to the forum.
MM
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06-26-09, 05:05 PM
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Make sure you get a multitool, pump, and a couple spare tubes when you get the bike. If you are riding in town you will run through a lot of road debris.
06-27-09, 07:06 AM
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STO,
This is a great thread.
I'm more of a sumo than a clyde...thus the name. 6'5" and 450lbs....been looking around at bikes this week. My family is getting into riding and I'm losing weight and want to ride with them.
Funny you mentioned golf....recently bought an awesome push cart (clicgear 2.0) that really is awesome...now to find a bike that will work as well.
I'm really liking the Trek 4300....the dealer is really helpful and will tune it up for me as often as I need.....
The other bike that I was zeroed in on was the Giant Rincon, although I'm just not really fond of that dealer.
This is a great thread.
I'm more of a sumo than a clyde...thus the name. 6'5" and 450lbs....been looking around at bikes this week. My family is getting into riding and I'm losing weight and want to ride with them.
Funny you mentioned golf....recently bought an awesome push cart (clicgear 2.0) that really is awesome...now to find a bike that will work as well.
I'm really liking the Trek 4300....the dealer is really helpful and will tune it up for me as often as I need.....
The other bike that I was zeroed in on was the Giant Rincon, although I'm just not really fond of that dealer.
07-14-09, 06:13 AM
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Hi STO, I'm a newbie too, but I wanted to second what MikeM21 said about the seats.
I had the exact same thoughts as you when I got my bike a few weeks ago. I wanted a big soft cruiser style seat, but I kept hearing that I should give the smaller seat a 100 miles or so, and I would get used to it. I didn't have much faith.
Well, after the first 90 miles or so, I found that it wasn't that bad. Now that I have about 300 miles, it is comfortable.
My only other advice is to hurry and get the bike. It's so much fun!
I had the exact same thoughts as you when I got my bike a few weeks ago. I wanted a big soft cruiser style seat, but I kept hearing that I should give the smaller seat a 100 miles or so, and I would get used to it. I didn't have much faith.
Well, after the first 90 miles or so, I found that it wasn't that bad. Now that I have about 300 miles, it is comfortable.
My only other advice is to hurry and get the bike. It's so much fun!
07-14-09, 06:20 AM
#37
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First I'd like to thank everyone for their advice.
I know it's not top of the line but money is pretty tight for me right now. I was able to get the bike a computer and helmet for $425ish. Pump and repair kit will come next but I have loaner ones for now. I figure it can be my 'learn how to fix stuff' bike if things break. The only thing I'm concerned about is the pedals. I'd like to get some metal ones asap.
I'm also happy I went with the standard seat instead of the comfy one. My bum will just have to deal with being sore for a while.
I rode 4.6 miles today but I had to dismount twice up some steep hills. I plan on doing 6-7 miles tomorrow but it will be all flat. Tomorrow will be better exercise because I won't be coasting like today.
Don't mind the rifle. I took the pic for my home forum and it's the only pic I have at the moment.
So here she is....
Hello all.
I was referred here from my 'home' forum after asking some bike questions. I've been poking around and this looks like a great site.
I just turned 23 and I'm in the middle of a big move. I'm moving to the 'big' city (Albuquerque) and I'd like to be able to bike to work and school.
I have been exercising for the last few months and I think I've already lost 15-20 pounds. This sounds great but it's really a drop in the bucket. I'm a little over 6' but the last Weight Watchers meeting I went to I weighed in at 389 lbs. There is some good news though. I am actually very mobile for a guy my size. I walk 18 holes of golf at LEAST once a week and I was able to walk 6 miles the other morning because of to much 
(couldn't drive and wasn't going to sleep on hard wood floors).
I've been looking at getting a cruiser/hybrid type bike. It is some what hilly around here so I think gears will be a good idea. I'm also really skittish about riding on the roads. Any tips on overcoming this fear?
What kind of budget do I need to set aside for this? Any other gear I need to include in that cost?
The last bike I had was a Mongoose something or other from Wal-Mart when I was in seventh grade. I'm a huge noob so don't be afraid of sounding condescending.
Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks.
I know it's not top of the line but money is pretty tight for me right now. I was able to get the bike a computer and helmet for $425ish. Pump and repair kit will come next but I have loaner ones for now. I figure it can be my 'learn how to fix stuff' bike if things break. The only thing I'm concerned about is the pedals. I'd like to get some metal ones asap.
I'm also happy I went with the standard seat instead of the comfy one. My bum will just have to deal with being sore for a while.
I rode 4.6 miles today but I had to dismount twice up some steep hills. I plan on doing 6-7 miles tomorrow but it will be all flat. Tomorrow will be better exercise because I won't be coasting like today.
Don't mind the rifle. I took the pic for my home forum and it's the only pic I have at the moment.
So here she is....
Hello all.
I was referred here from my 'home' forum after asking some bike questions. I've been poking around and this looks like a great site.
I just turned 23 and I'm in the middle of a big move. I'm moving to the 'big' city (Albuquerque) and I'd like to be able to bike to work and school.
I have been exercising for the last few months and I think I've already lost 15-20 pounds. This sounds great but it's really a drop in the bucket. I'm a little over 6' but the last Weight Watchers meeting I went to I weighed in at 389 lbs.
There is some good news though. I am actually very mobile for a guy my size. I walk 18 holes of golf at LEAST once a week and I was able to walk 6 miles the other morning because of to much (couldn't drive and wasn't going to sleep on hard wood floors). I've been looking at getting a cruiser/hybrid type bike. It is some what hilly around here so I think gears will be a good idea. I'm also really skittish about riding on the roads. Any tips on overcoming this fear?
What kind of budget do I need to set aside for this? Any other gear I need to include in that cost?
The last bike I had was a Mongoose something or other from Wal-Mart when I was in seventh grade. I'm a huge noob so don't be afraid of sounding condescending.
Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks.
Congratulations on the ride! Now get it dirty. And tell us about it!
07-14-09, 01:58 PM
#38
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Hey :Welcome:
Advice from The Bee:
Don't shoot nobody!
Have fun!
Go Get em....
Miss B
Advice from The Bee:
Don't shoot nobody!
Have fun!
Go Get em....
Miss B
07-22-09, 08:29 PM
#39
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I posted this in another thread before I found this thread. (I need all the help / advice I can get) I hope this isn't bad medicine.
-----------------------
OK, here's my deal. I'm 6'-0" / 435 lbs. I wear a 32" inseam, and carry most of it high. (belly, chest)
Saturday, LBS made me a GREAT DEAL on a NEW 2008 Connondale F7 Disc (they recommeded it over the Rockhopper BTW) which is a beautiful bike, but it KILLS ME to ride it. I had asked about taller handlebars like a BMX bike, but he told me the idea was to devide my weight between seat and handlebars. Well, I crush the front forks nearly all the way down, which throws my considerable weight too far forward for my arms to hold up for long. They put a pretty good sized Specialized springy seat on it for me, but after 7/10ths of a mile I was litterally bleeding between the legs along the seams of my tighty-whities. The LBS owner was out when I took it back Monday, but the manager never mentioned locking out the fork. Does the Cannondale even do that?
Tuesday, I rode a Caloi 7 speed cruiser (ala craigslist) and I LOVED IT! Even though my privates were still sore, I rode around an entire block fairly comfortably. Now this particular bike had been left outside at some point and had rusty hardware here and there, plus the guy wanted $150 bucks for it so I had to pass, but my question is, why would I not want a cruiser like this instead of a mountain bike?
-----------------------
-----------------------
OK, here's my deal. I'm 6'-0" / 435 lbs. I wear a 32" inseam, and carry most of it high. (belly, chest)
Saturday, LBS made me a GREAT DEAL on a NEW 2008 Connondale F7 Disc (they recommeded it over the Rockhopper BTW) which is a beautiful bike, but it KILLS ME to ride it. I had asked about taller handlebars like a BMX bike, but he told me the idea was to devide my weight between seat and handlebars. Well, I crush the front forks nearly all the way down, which throws my considerable weight too far forward for my arms to hold up for long. They put a pretty good sized Specialized springy seat on it for me, but after 7/10ths of a mile I was litterally bleeding between the legs along the seams of my tighty-whities. The LBS owner was out when I took it back Monday, but the manager never mentioned locking out the fork. Does the Cannondale even do that?
Tuesday, I rode a Caloi 7 speed cruiser (ala craigslist) and I LOVED IT! Even though my privates were still sore, I rode around an entire block fairly comfortably. Now this particular bike had been left outside at some point and had rusty hardware here and there, plus the guy wanted $150 bucks for it so I had to pass, but my question is, why would I not want a cruiser like this instead of a mountain bike?
-----------------------
