americanrecluse

Hi all! I'm new here. 5'7", 250, and haven't been on a bike in 30 years. I have a bum knee so I'm hoping cycling will help me get some exercise and some time in the great outdoors. I was an avid hiker for a short while until I took a nasty fall, now here I am. My new bike will be my Christmas gift to myself, so I'm still shopping.

mospidey

hello all new guy here so far i think I might be the biggest one yet. 5'8 365lbs. i took up riding to save gas and it has been good to me so far for the last 3 months. i also run/walk a lot and have great endurance. i started taking up mountain biking from just road cycling. i have to say i enjoy the work out but am starting to feel a bit discouraged as my bike components tires, wheels, chain cassette do not seem to be able to handle my weight. the frame however has done really well and makes me feel safe under it. i have tried some others that just don't feel sturdy enough under me. my local bike guy says it will hold me but when i don't feel like it will i am not really inclined to spend upwards of 3 grand for a bike. if you can point me in the right direction for some wheels and tires that won't break the bank, but won't break under me i would greatly appreciate it as i want to keep riding. thank you.

TallTravel

There is a new member who checked in and said hello there other day. He weighs 390, stands 6-7. He's looking for a bike, likely a mountain bike because he wanted to be sitting more upright.

I weigh 225, having just lost 25 pounds over the past four months. Ride Giant 64cm Defy, commuting daily.

Greyfell

Brand new. 38 years old, 6ft7, 320 lbs. Making do for the moment on a cheap huffy for my shortish work commute (about 35-40 ish miles in my 5 day work week)

4literranger485

5'9" and 205. Military service for 11 years, and I've hated running for cardio the entire time! Finally decided to jump on two wheels and I am loving it! Hopefully now I can stay fit, drop weight, and not have to run so much. Did I mention that I hate running?

Bullman

Well, I am 6'0" on a good day and depending on whether I am at work or not is the determining factor on if I will tip the scale over the 300 pound mark. I need to start riding to loose some weight, running kills my feet so I am looking to get into riding. We have some good old railroad bed trails here in SW Virginia and if I can find a good recumbent trike for the money that is what I am looking to do for exercise. I don't like having a bike seat rammed up my backside either, so the recumbent thing looks like the way to go for me, unless I get some better suggestions. I have come here to see where my money might be best spent once the tax return comes in, and hopefully some of the bills get caught up.

Rrat2259

Hi. Newbie here. I am 55 years old, stand 5'6" (on a good day when the arthritis isn't so bad) and 216 pounds. Decided back in May this year to make an effort to get healthy. When I started I weighed in at 256. I cut down on meat products and increased consumption of green veggies, more or less following the Dr. Furhman regimen and also do power walking and very light jogging. The weight came off rather quickly for me (conversely, if I am not vigilant, the weight comes back twice as quickly too). However, I seem to have hit a plateau where the weight just doesn't seem to be coming off any more. I am here because I want to add biking to the exercise regimen. I am so glad I found this forum, especially this "Clydesdale/Athena". It is very informative. I have a budget of $1500. What would be a good entry bike?

WyoRed

Mostly been lurking for a couple months. I'm 39, 6'0" and am hovering right at 300 lbs. As of Fall 2012 I had been lifting and doing cardio fanatically for a number of years and was at about 260 lbs. I've got 7 kids though and life combined with a few injuries to throw me off the wagon. I've been trying to get back into my routine for 2 years now and can't seem to get there.
I grew up riding, did my first 20 mile ride at 8 with my dad. Lived in the country and rode back and forth to town 5 miles multiple times daily in the Summer. Haven't ridden much in about 22 years though. This Summer while in Utah with my 3 sons visiting my parents one of their neighbors gave them some old mountain bikes and we ended up going for rides almost daily. I remembered how much I enjoyed it and my boys, who didn't have bikes absolutely had a blast. Since we've returned from our trip to Utah my boys I was able to get involved with the local bike co-op and my boys and 2 of my daughters went through earn-a-bike with the local Trips-For-Kids branch. I picked up a mountain bike on Craigslist for $35 and rode it a few times, during which I taco-ed the front tire, ripped the derailleur off the bike going up a hill, and finished off the bottom bracket and rear hub. When I had it looked at by the mechanics at the co-op after removing the derailleur, I found that both hubs and the bottom bracket were trashed and needed overhauled or replaced. Reluctant to put $150 + that I don't really have extra into a bike that retails for $140 I found a free mongoose in fairly ride-able condition and am making do. Recently, I picked up a mid 90's GT Karakoram that needs pedals a good tune up and I think it will be a decent bike. I've also gone through the mechanics course at the co-op so that I can do more of the work on my own bike and volunteer there.

Anyways, I'm enjoying getting some time in the saddle as I can and am planning to increase that as I can. Eventually I'd like to pick up a used road bike and get some miles in that way as well. I've enjoyed lurking so far and am learning lots. This is a really great community and I hope I can become a more active part of it.

iiztight

Hello all! Glad to read everyone's posts. I'm at 210 and can never get below 200. I'm recently going through a divorce and decided to use cycling as my social outlet now as I've been doing it for physical for years. I'm glad to hear some inspiration here with folks going for more veggies and greens and less sugars and meats, and I hope to do the same. Trying to work on getting on a protein rich regiment to shed excess lbs in the winter so i can have my best season ever come spring. I don't mind riding at the back of the pack and struggling up the climbs as I'm sure all you do, but I just want to do better than my 2014 self. Cheers and talk is cheap lets ride!

corle001

Newly registered, but have lurked for research over the past year or so. Just found this thread, 5' 10.5" currently 217 with extra 4-5 lbs of holiday weight. Was 245 (heaviest) 02/2012. Decided to run, train for half & ran it 12/2013. Every run over 10k was not fun, so I bought a bicycle, 4/2012, for my wife (Trek Lexa) & I (Trek 1.2). Was avid cyclist in my teens to ~30, but with kids growing up, career, life in general. I hadn't been riding for 25 years (I also am checking out the over 50 thread...). At that point I was hovering around 225 - 230 (I've got a large frame and have been muscular most of my life, e.g. played front row forward in Rugby into my 30's). Really took to riding again, logged 1900 miles in 2013 & 3800 this year, including some century rides and a week long tour all on the 1.2 aluminum frame. Just upgraded to a Cannondale Synapse 105 5 & I'm pumped!! Got it on Saturday, ridden every day since, 15 - 18 miles in the morning, and can't wait to get a long ride on it!
My goal for this year is to get down around 200, I would like to try a Grand Fondo &/or Senior Games road race in 2016. I figure I need to be 200 or less to get my speeds in the age group competitive range. I've never been a little guy & haven't seen that 200 range since high school or college. I love to cook & eat, basically a foodie, thus the 4-5 lbs of holiday weight... I have been using MyFitnessPal tracking calories and exercise (linked to MapMyRide) for the journey from 230 to pre-Thanksgiving 213. Plan this year is to be more aware of types of calories going in and including weight bearing balance workouts (balance important - 58 in 2015) plus may try yoga with my wife. I know I'll be fitter and a better/faster cyclist at the end of 2016 whether I hit the specific goals or not.

servalan73

Hello, I'm another lurker. I skipped about 5 years riding and ballooned up to a wheezy 253 lbs until deciding, in april last year, that I should perhaps start getting some proper exercise and maybe dig my bike out of the garage and ride it. I started riding inside on an exercycle thing with rowing handles on it and then, about a week later I had to have a physical exam at the Dr's. She put me on blood pressure medication and ordered a whole bunch of tests which, understandably, put the wind up me. After about a month of pootling around outside I started doing a daily route of about 15 miles and also doing between twenty and forty minutes on the exercycle. This activity knocked about 12lbs off my weight (combined with a more selective diet) and by the beginning of september I'd lost close to thirty pounds. I also fell off and separated my left shoulder after a shoal of swimmers in wetsuits swarmed across the bike path and I braked a bit too severely. That slowed me down for a week and put me in rehab, and then the days got wetter and colder. My weight loss has been up and down the last month or so, but winter is the time for refitting your bike (new chain, which led to a new cassette, cables, and etc) so I'm back on the exercise machine trying to trim down even more for the spring. Not exercising was a big part of me being fat, but poor diet choices don't help either. I guess my post is resurrecting an old thread, but then I've resurrected the old me who used to bike everywhere and had a house filled with bikes or bits of bikes and tools. I'm married now though, so all that stuff is a bit more contained

Buffalo Buff

Hi. After doing some lurking I've realized I'm in a different group of Clydes than most. I'm currently 6'4 210lbs and I'm looking to gain weight.

I've been 200+ since high school but have always been slim, athletic, little body fat, six pack etc.

Lately I've been getting into powerlifting more seriously, and muscles tend to weight a lot...

I still like to read here just to learn about biking advice for heavier people, but all the stuff about dieting & losing weight I can't relate to at all.

Anyone else in my position?

BFDNOVA

Hi' I'm 6'8 310#and 57 yes new, I am on oxygen all the time and I want to get back to exercising. I am looking for a recumbent trike and was wondering which model would be best to start with. Any suggestions would really be appreciated.

Commutersport

Hi!
I'm 208 lb and 6'2" tall

TerraCottaGamer

Hey, I would suggest that you start a thread in the main section of the clydes. You will get some responses then. Also maybe do a search for recumbents on this forum in general.

mrfreezesdefy3

Bruce here aka mr freeze
Joined earlier this week I'm 6' 1" was 312 now down to 306.
I bought a giant defy 3 2015 blue n white changed out seat today to a giant connect n so far I've logged 30 miles in 3 rides
N loving it .let the good times roll n weight too ....

Indyracer

Hi, 6'1" 265lb 53yr old guy here who has been riding an increasing amount over the last 3 years. Would like to lose weight but that is not the main goal.
Mostly just like the stress relief and getting outside that is not work related. I am a race car mechanic and time is the main thing I lack.
Goal for the year is to complete a Century ride, probably in the Fall.
Good to be here!

ChuckD6421 

Welcome my 6'1" brother. I too was once at the ~265lb level and over a couple years have worked my way down to a 220 summer weight and my present deep-winter, 230 lb. Kill all the soft drinks as soon as possible and no snacks after dinner!

C.

GirlEatsBike

[h=3]I want more women to go on their first bike overnight![/h]
Hey y'all!

My name is Catherine! I'm originally from the Northeast (NJ/NY) but moved to Portland, Ore over a year ago. Honestly, a lot of what brought me here was the amazing bike tourism culture.

I'm a bigger girl who has used cycling to lose over 100lbs in my lifetime. I've been writing about that losing weight/finding fitness journey on my blog, GirlEatsBike.com, but lately I've felt like my mission is to help more "ordinary" women go on their first bike overnight.

I know there are a lot of women who do world-wide bike tours - they are amazing!!! - but I believe there are heavier women who want to try this thing on, but they think it's only for other people, not for them. I want to bridge the gaps to change that mindset.

So, I want to read all of your tips and tricks and thoughts and input on bike tours and bike overnights! My main reason for joining is definitely to connect with other women who tour, and just as importantly women who want to try it on but haven't yet for whatever reason.

I really REALLY want to hear from you. Message me here, of course, but you're also invited to connect with me via Twitter or FB at GirlEatsBike or via email at GirlEatsBike[at]gmail[dot]com.

I look forward to the opportunity to connect with any and all of you, even dudes.

Either way, may all your rides be joyrides!

Best,
~C

Amplexica

First of all, I would not DARE to call myself Athena. Athena is an athlete, with a perfect muscular body and those who are not in sports can only dream about even getting closer to her. Well, it will be between HER and those who dare to call themselves with her sacred name.

That is to restore the truth. If you want to fight about it - welcome to pm (and only to pm), because it is not for a fight, it is for the truth.

Hi there from the Old World

I adore clydesdales and all horses of the same kind and can't understand how those awkward arabic horses can carry weight of the person without breaking those matches-like legs. No, really )

How females of clydesdales are called? Clydesdalettes? ) Would love to hear.

Ok, I am here only for shopping places for female cyclists 120+ kg. who send their garments to Eurasia.
Won't interfere in any bicycle-fetish-holywars topics, because I've been through it in 2000-ies and won't crack my ass yelling "Brooks is the best!", "Up yours, Selle Italia forever!" or "SRAM yourself!" .

And best cycle shoes for me are my trusty 5-years old pair of running Salomons "here's to trolls"

So, cheers to ladies and blokes *raising a glass of juice* may solid trails and dry tents be with us!

Ftagn

Rodsram

Hi All,
Just introducing myself, almost 50 and out of shape - 245lbs and 5'10.
Travell a lot for work, by road mainly so I have the opportunity of purchasing a bike to help get back in shape and have it with me most of the time.

ChuckD6421 

Giddyap, Rod.
Take it slow to start, baby steps. Get used to it and how to prepare yourself (clothes, plenty of water, etc).
Don't give up on it tho!

Flyboyron

Hello all! Just made my first post in another thread, and saw that I should really start here.

I'm what I guess folks here call a Clydesdale (and-a-half), 6' 0", who hasn't biked in over 25 years. Just retired at 60 in October, 2014, and have just now caught up enough to consider doing something new.

I finally took the (rather persistent) advice of a couple of avid biker friends, and took the plunge on a beautiful new Specialized Crossroads Sport. Very nice bike!

Have ridden it twice now, about 3.5 miles at a time, working on getting the adjustments right, and I forgot how much I liked riding my bikes as a teenager! I used to ride all over the place, but after starting work, college, etc., and having my last decent bike stolen, I just dropped it. Had an old Schwinn 10-speed clunker that rode OK for something that heavy, but never really used it because where we were living didn't offer any safe place to ride without traffic. Not to mention my laziness!

Now, I have time, a nice place to ride, and the inclination, and I have a nice new bike to get me back on track. I knew my back wouldn't stand for a road bike, and didn't even think about a mountain bike, since they seemed so "trail-oriented", and I wasn't into that. When I got introduced to the hybrid style, I finally thought, "Now this, I think I can do."

I'm enjoying getting back into it, and trying not to overdo it. I'm having enough fun that I have to watch it, or I'll end up hurting myself, so I'm taking it easy.

But I'm really glad I found this place, again at my friends' urging, and the success stories here are very inspirational. Hoping to create my own now!

Thanks to all who contribute here. I'm looking forward to having something to offer, myself.

MikeRides

Welcome to Bike Forums, Flyboyron! Congrats on your recent retirement, for me I won't be in that situation until I'm 6 feet under...Anyway, sounds like you've got nothing but time to RIDE. It doesn't matter if you have a $3000+ carbon road bike or a $50 cruiser bike from X-Mart, what matters most is that you have fun riding it.

Thattalldude

Hi All,


New to the forum, I've enjoyed recreational riding(noncompetitive) most of my life with brief hiatus in my early 20s. Haven't been riding as much as I'd like in the last year or so.


So me: 6'5", 260lbs (would be good to lose the beer belly ~ 25lbs; was usually 240-250lbs), 36, been doing longer weekend rides the last few months, like around 30 miles or so over a few hours.


Was commuting by bike for a couple years; 10 miles each way with ~ 500ft climb at the end. Wanna start doing it again, but haven't made it happen.

Rented a 61cm specialized roubaix (had apex double tap I think) a couple years ago for a grand fondo ride: 75 miles ~ 7000ft of climbing. It was great but felt a little small... I was really suprised how smooth, stable, and fast. The 50/34 11-32 gearing wasn't low enough, but am hoping with longer cranks standing will feel more natural and I won't need the crazy low gearing (24t granny gear) I run on my current "road bike". I've been waiting and hoping for them to do a 64cm for around $2k, but no such luck...


Haven't had much problems with simple & robust bikes other than occaionally poping spokes and wearing out components a little faster then normal (but not crazy fast). Had some issues with a cross country full suspension gt(although I love'd it up to that point) so have some apprehension about getting an endurance road bike but think it be fine especially if I lose 20 or 30lbs.

I've become interested in longer cranks; bought 180mm ird cranks for ~ $150. Like it but reallized I want 185s or 190s; test road the khs flite 747 with 200s and they were too big...

I am hoping more perportional cranks will make standing feel decent and then be happy with a 50/34 crankset & 11-32 or 11-36. Currently run 50/39/24 with 12-27 9spd and am usually only out of the saddle briefly when the rearend is getting sore or sprinting
So any really tall folks out there go to long cranks and find they are happier standing and don't need super low gearing anymore?

I'm interested in joining a Clyde road club in the SF Bay Area, but having trouble finding one... Anybody know of one?