Originally Posted by JohnDThompson

Congratulations, and keep at it! Your greater weight now will account for the "squirreliness" you describe. As the weight comes off, the squirreliness will correspondingly decrease.


Your bike should be fine, as long as you don't abuse it by launching off cliff walls and such. Being able to plant your feet on the ground while remaining on the saddle is not an important or even desirable characteristic. There are "crank-forward" frame designs to allow that, but they sacrifice pedalling efficiency and long-term comfort for the dubious advantage of being able to put your feet on the ground while remaining in the saddle. Instead of doing that, when you come to a stop, slide yourself forward and off the saddle to put your feet on the ground. When you start up again, put one foot on a pedal to use it as a step to lift your body enough the get back on the saddle.