Rudz

So my roommate started riding his road bike to the train station to get the his job in LA, then my other roommate was told he had to go on a diet, and since he lost a bit of weight, he bought a mountain bike to commute. So of course the first roommate wanted a mountain bike as well, and I followed suite and got a cheap mountain bike off craigslist.

I couldn't buy a new bike from the bike store like they did, nor can I afford to let the bike shop repair or tune my bike, so being mechanically inclined, I get to tinker with my bike for free. Already slimed my tires and replaced the shifters/brakes. Broke a pedal coming back from the post office, so I have to replace that. Luckily one of my roommates has his stock pedals sitting downstairs and he said I could have them. One of these days I'll get shimano pedals and those oh so expensive cycle shoes for my massive size 14 feet. Size 49 in EU I found out.

We are all clydes, all three of us over 200 lbs, we range from 250 to 280 lbs, me being the heaviest, which is why I decided to go on a diet and buy a bike too, I don't want to be out done of course. Got on the scale a couple weeks back and I was 296, never been over 300 in my life, so I quickly joined my roommate on his diet and I'm hovering right around 280 now, need to get back to my high school football weight and I'll be happy.

Slowly buying new things for my bike, lights, saddle bag, water bottle holder, new seat post, so I can actually ride correctly, need to buy a helmet, should have one soon.

My goal is to lose weight and eventually be able to build a better, lighter bike with parts I got for cheap on ebay, lol.

So thats my story

Pamestique 

Well welcome... this forum is very encouraging so don't forget to post your progress. I am always amazed at how cycling has changed someone's life and body...

PhotoJoe 

Welcome. And welcome to the nuthouse! Congratulations on taking your the first steps to a healthy you. Keep eating smart and riding, you'll be amazed at how fast the weight comes off! Keep us posted on your progress!

Rudz

New pedals installed and the mail lady just dropped off my seat post, unfortunately I just guessed at which one I needed, now I need to find someone to trade me a 25.4 for this 27.2 that I have

SammyJ 

Welcome, eBay and Craigslist are my friends!

Rudz

Yup, haven't bought anything from the shop yet. Bike came from CL, the seatpost, water bottle, water bottle mount, front and rear lights, extra brake cable, crimps, saddle bag and shifters came or are coming from ebay. Need to order a different size seatpost, helmet, grips and handlebar ends when I get some cash.

I have a detached retina in my left eye, so I don't have a drivers license or car, my bike is gonna save me bus fare.

The brake line and shifters gave me some problems when installing, but I can't afford to hire a professional, and I think i didn't do too bad. Don't mind getting dirty and I have most of the tools I need. Might need to invest in a chain whip and cassette remover though. Been thinking about replacing the old axles with some qd's, but then again, i'd be bummed if my wheels got stolen.

PhotoJoe 

Between YouTube and the Mechanics forum here, you can fix anything!

Rudz

I've been watching youtube videos for every modification I've done and the ones I want to do, lol.

chrism32205

If you are mechanically inclined, buy the parts/tools you need and do the work yourself. The only thing I've had done at a shop has been truing wheels. I did not have the know how or the proper tools (truing stand/spoke wrenches) to do it myself. (also didn't want to mess them up, haha)

You feel confident you can fix just about anything you may encounter if you have repair skills under your belt.

My goal for 2013 is to get a nice truing stand. I have tools for just about everything else so far.

Rudz

New brake cable should be here tomorrow, I marred one, learning curve

Got my seat post ordered, installed my saddle bag, water bottle cage and lights last night before our night ride. Took an easy ride today, don't want to overdo it until I get my new seat post.

Ohh and I weighed in at just under 280 ...woohoo!! Almost down 20 pounds

Rudz

Riding in the wind was a bad idea, but I mailed back the wrong size seat post and I'm getting the correct one Tuesday, no riding till then, because lets just say I know why theres a minimum insertion point on seat posts, and mine was waaaaay past that, it bend, just a little ....Okay, the freaking this is almost touching the rear tire! I felt it bending So I stayed off the seat and biked home standing, but when I did attempt to use the seat it bent all the way back. Its been bending all week, now its officially dead.

Lost my cheap little flashlight that was on my bars on the way back too, looking to get a nice 500 or 1000 lumen torch light cheap off ebay in the next week, that will work better than that 5 led light I lost.

Time to go eat some chicken and salad now

AbundantChoice

One other important thing is to not get discouraged early. The first few weeks are going to hurt a little, but you'll be shocked at how much easier it gets over the first few months, and how much longer you can ride without tiring out.

Rudz

Yeah, I was super tired today. Idk if it was me, the wind kicking my butt or what.

Gravity Aided

Good days, and bad days , are all part of the program .
Hard to know what the good days feel like ,
unless you have a few bad ones .
Bad days can be affected by diet , mood, and health ,
as well as wind and terrain and the bike itself.
but you'll find that as you ride more ,
you have less and less bad days .

bwilliams

I struggled bad today,head wind and slight uphill the first 8 miles kicked my butt,I did manage 14 miles on the MUP here but it was probably the worst I felt since i started riding..

TrojanHorse

Rudz, maintaining your own bike is pretty easy but there are some goofy tricks that won't be obvious to you unless somebody tells you or you see it somewhere first. I highly recommend finding somebody nearby who can validate your work until you get it all. Trial and error is fine but it can be expensive. Obviously it's a lot easier in 2012 with youtube and parktools.com and all that.

tpy2010

Way to go! You rode in a difficult environment and finished to blog about it!

tom

Rudz

Well my bike is alive again, I replaced that bent seat post and rode it around last night testing it out, I went to lower the seat post and when I re clamped it I broke the clamp with my herculian strength. So I called around and found an LBS with the clamp I believed would fit, well as it turns out I asked for the wrong one, apparently just because the seat post is one size doesn't mean the clamp is the same size, another rookie mistake. So what do I do? frustrated, I said screw you seat clamp, your not gonna win, I broke out my dremmel set, dragged my bike and seat post outside and went to work. I dremmeled down the inside of the clamp until it fit on the frame, with help from my friend the hammer of course, then I dremmeled the lip until the seat post fit. Now the skewer that came with the new clamp wouldn't close because it wasn't meant to be so spread apart, its okay though, my old skewer fit just fine, some herculian torque on the bolt and viola, it works! lol

Now I did order a hex style camp in the correct size, but until that gets here this is gonna work, my roommate bets the clamp I forced on there will never come off, but I got a new one enroute for safe measure.

Rode the bike today, and it felt good to get back out there, chose a hard uphill ride and it kicked my butt, butt I was happy when I was done

PhotoJoe 

Glad to hear you're riding again, however, nothing on the bike requires "herculian" torque. Sooner or later, something is going to break that is not easily replaced....like the frame!

Hope the new pieces work as planned and you have many, many miles of great rides!

ChrisM2097

I hear ya. I, too, am not one to pay others to do something that I can do myself. I take the money that I would have spent at the shop, and put it into my tool collection.

Some tools you can make - like the chain whip for example. If you have an old chain, a piece of metal that can be used as a handle, and a tap & die set, it's not too difficult to make one. The cassette lock nut tool, on the other hand would be pretty difficult to make. Make sure you buy the right kind.

Since you said you bought a cheap bike online, check to see if it's actually got a cassette & freehub, or if it's got a freewheel. The tools for each are not interchangeable, and with the freewheel, you don't need a chain whip.

Learn how to true (or better yet, build) wheels. This knowledge (and the accompanying tools) will become invaluable to you all - especially since you're all clyde's. Maybe your room mates will be willing to pitch in for some of the tools...

chefisaac

Welcome!

Rudz

Still riding and dieting, down to 245ish, feels so good, started at 296. I still have the mtb, just replaced the freewheel, chain, rear wheel and rear tire. I actually had the LBS do it. Great guys, local and cheap, did all the installation for free!

Also buying my roommates Giant road bike with flat bar, the super light frame and 700cc tires make this bike fly compared to my steel framed 26er. Riding every day to and from work, just under ten miles a day. Diet of oatmeal for breakfast, carrots'grapes/celery/banana/oranges for lunch and chicken prepared with sodium free seasonings and a salad with no dressing for dinner.

Starting to slip here and there, I need to stay focused, I think losing a lot of the weight makes me think I can cheat more now, I need to stop that habit, I still have a lot more weight to lose. The Christmas cookies and food kicked my butt though. Still managed to stay in the 240's though thankfully.

Bought a new Fox mtb helmet, I like that style compared to the traditional cycling helmets, using my paintball gloves to keep my fingers warm, going to be picking up some cycling/ mtn gloves this weekend. GF is buying me a new presta pump and a backpack this week as early birthday presents, so that makes me giddy.

Have a new 1600 lumen light on its way, my cree 1000 lumen lights batteries don't like staying charged and I hate riding home in the dark with only a rear light when my rechargeable batteries decide to die.

Anyways, I'll be around more again, I started working and that cut into my internet time, but I haven't forgotten about you all.

ChrisM2097

50 lb in just a few months is great. Don't be surprised if the weight loss slows down, or stalls for some time. Just keep doing what you're doing.

Rudz

I was stagnant at 260 for a couple weeks before I dropped to where I am now

TDGee

Awesome job with the weight loss, I'm down about 100 pounds from my heaviest. I never did break anything more on my undersized bike than two spokes, but have since crashed/wrecked the old road bike, causing a massive hematoma and some scrapes. Which got my wife to okay me buying a new one... Small price to pay for a new ride. Keep it up!