Originally Posted by goldbam
No offense on anyone who fits this category, but my friend and I always notice how the heavier people normally have the nicer bikes.
For instance, I was stopping at one of the restrooms alongside a local bike trail once, and I saw a b-e-a-uttiful Trek Madone 5.9 glimmering in the sun. I always drool at the over-rated Trek bikes but thats another story. So I was catching my breath and out comes this 250 lb (or so) man with a scruffy beard and fully dressed in spandex. Now I didn't want to be to quick to rate him, so I followed him a little. He was goin like 13-14mph for like 5 miles?!?!?!?! I'm no idiot, I do racing, so I know that a trek madone was meant solely for the purpose of racing. This sort of thing happens alot, I almost get accustomed to seeing overweight people with nice rides...
I would imagine him to have been much happier on a touring bike with lots of accessories to occupy his slow pace. Perhaps these type of people have bigger wallets that bike shop employees target. I have no idea, all I know is that I've seen people that have alot more potential than that, but don't even have the money to get something better than an allez.
So you can't buy a Madone unless you meet a maximum weight requirement huh? I did not realize that there was a minimum speed requirement on the Madone. - Yesterday, I got pulled over and written up by the Bike Police for going to slowly on a Madone. (Very PC of you to say so, I might add).
Which would you rather see; a fat guy riding a Madon at 15mph or a fat guy sitting on you? Heck he could have been on the couch watching Food Network. Lighten up, so the guy has got deep pockets. They are his priorities, after all.
Granted, there is a mis-match here. If the point you want to make is that a lesser bike with heftier frame would be more appropriate at higher weights until speed goes up and weight comes down. Just say that. It's a little harsh don't you think? Sensitivity is a rare thing these days.
Signed.
A fat guy