dkyser

Well been a long wait but finally starting to log some miles.
Very Slowly and using both my Trek Ion CX and Specialized Carve.

Started just riding up and down my long driveway a little nervous with my big a$$ on these stock wheels.
Today took my daughter to get her a bike since she has been riding her brothers Trek 820 that was too big. The owner asked why I had not had my Ion in for its first checkup after a full year. I explained that I had only ridden it 10 miles. He asked why, I said I have not purchased any HD wheels for it yet. He told me to ride it and break a spoke, then worry about wheels.

I took his advice and rode 3.5 miles at a much faster pace.

Have close to 12 miles between both bikes and 3 days, I know its nothing to you guys but more than I have ridden in the past 8 years combined.
I just keep going farther and faster each trip. Will be nice when my a$$ gets use to the saddle.

Down 49 lbs since Super Bowl..

1loosemoose

Good job on getting out. I'm doing the same thing with my new road bike. If I start breaking spokes then its time for an upgrade.
Good job on the weight loss.

Ursa Minor

I was 352 when I started and afraid to ride my old road bike so I bought a terra trike and rode that. God it was heavy and a pain.
Finally at 290 a friend said why don't you just ride your old road bike? I did and what a difference! Sold the trike and haven't looked back.

Anyway grats on riding more.

Charlie

dkyser

4 miles today and felt great, could have went farther but had my son with me who was struggling.

Black wallnut 

Congrats on the weightloss! Enjoy the bikes. Ride them and don't worry if they will hold up. I agree with the bike shop owner, worry after you break a spoke, not before. You'll likely not have problems.

MikeRides

Congrats on the weight loss and I agree with your LBS owner, just ride the bike and worry about the wheels later if they fail. Assuming you have a high spoke count, you may learn the stock wheels will hold you up just fine, if not your LBS can help you when the time comes.

TrojanHorse

Sounds like you have a good shop.

Congrats on your loss and your newfound cycling enthusiasm.

Pakiwi

Great job on the weight loss and also for getting your son out.
Enjoy the bike and the time together with your son. Spokes break, until then enjoy, have fun and the strength will come.

lenny866

I see a 10 mile ride in your future!

breadbin

great advice from the bike shop lad! i know i spend too much time worrying about something that might never happen too great stuff. keep it up!

just as a reference i'm 319lbs and on crappy mavic aksiums! think they are 20 spokes each. definitely would not recommend them but i have been lucky so far hopefully yours are better than these

dkyser

Been a great week and today am up to 6.5 miles in 30 minutes.
I am still switching between Mountain Biking and Road, but getting good work outs with both.

1loosemoose

Good deal keep it up!

mrtuttle04

Your LBS is correct on riding until spokes fail. Trek bikes include 2-year warranty on Bontiger parts including wheels. My new Trek had broken spokes after about six months and Trek replaced the wheel, no questions asked. One thing you may want to do is verify about once a week that all your spokes are tight.

dkyser

Thanks, I purchased a Park Wheel Truing Stand due to my weight. I know keeping a wheel true will be key to me riding. I had to true the wheel after only a few miles but since then it has been rock solid. I am racking up the miles even on these low count spoke wheels. They are high end wheels, so am assuming that even though the spoke count is low, the quality is good.
I do realize with my size jumping or even hard riding is not a good idea.

mrtuttle04

Your welcome on the suggestion. Checking you wheel on a trying fork is even better than checking for loose spokes. I had a brand new out-of-the-box wheel that I put on a friends truing stand and found that it needed truing. I am glad to hear you are racking up the miles, keep up the good work.

Ursa Minor

Lol you are just starting out and your faster than me already! I like to ride 8 mph sigh o well.

Charlie

jeff556

Congrats and keep up the good work. I'm 320 lbs and started riding serious miles in November. The most interesting thing I've found is how many of the limitations I had about what I could do were mental vs. physical. Keep riding and stay positive!

dkyser

Thanks everyone, rode 45 miles in April, (The second half of April) more than I have ridden in the last 10 years combined. I am up to some heart pounding 6.5 mile rides.
Just got back from the LBS, cables were stretched but I have kept these low count wheels in good shape.
The spoke count is 18 front, 24 back. But these are Bontrager Race wheels.
Weather has sucked, 25 mph winds, rain and 50 degrees, so no miles today. Looking forward to my first 100 mile month.

dkyser

This post was in my head today as I hit the 3.5 mile mark that I had been turning around at. Although I could no longer climb the hill, I decided to continue on past the house and do an additional 3 miles. Hit 10.1 miles today and was a fantastic feeling.

Thanks for the inspiration.

Null66

YES!!!

Congrats.

You're well on your way!

PhotoJoe 

I fixed the quote for you. I just wanted to be the first to say it, and when it happens (and it WILL happen) we want a full ride report with pictures!

We've all been at the point you're at. It's hard. REALLY hard. Then, all of a sudden, it's not. So you up your goal....and it's hard. REALLY hard. Rinse, repeat.

The C/A members here in SoCal have talked many people into climbing "GMR" (Glendora Mountain Road), a local mountain climb that has been part of the Tour of California. First step is the shack. I don't remember all the stats, but it's about 10 miles and 1,800 feet of climbing. It's hard....then one day it's not. So, then we went to the village. That's 22 miles and 5,000 feet of climbing. These distances are one-way numbers, so it's really double the mileage, but the second half is mostly downhill fun. Several of us have gotten together and done a variety of centuries, too. And I guarantee, each person who has done this started one day saying, that 10 miles was hard!

Congrats. Keep it up!

Oh, and while I HATE agreeing with @TrojanHorse, he's right, you have a good shop. A shady shop would have jumped at the chance to play on your fears and sell you new wheels.

dkyser

You guys have been so inspirational. Although my longest ride so far has been 12 miles so far. I have logged 91 miles in May, even with horrible weather. I ride evenings even when I only have 30 mins of daylight left. I figure a little + a little = a lot and I am trying new areas that have more hills. I will easily hit my 100 miles this week and looking forward to some 15 mile rides soon.

bbeasley

You're doing great!

Dare I say there is a 25 miler in your future? ...

Black wallnut 

It can take a while to build up to the longer rides but once you do it will be like the flood gates being opened. you will soon realize that your available time is the limiting factor for the length of your rides. Keep it up.

dkyser

Have not increased much but did a record ride today of 15 miles, kind of funny I am starting to get a little nervous being so far from the house thinking what if something breaks now.
I should add I am down 60 lbs since super bowl sunday. A lot has to do with juicing and good diet but getting my a$$ out riding has been a huge part.
Once again, I need to thank the bike shop tech for telling me to go ride till I break something.