TuckertonRR

Any advice would be helpful.
I want to try to get my fiance onto a bike - but she hasn't really ridden a bike since she was 8ish y/o and she's roughly 5'2 325-ish.

Any particular bikes to reccommend? I've got a hybrid as a main commuter, a brompton & a Bianchi eros.

Also, if you have any sort of problems with your knees (she has knee problems) or your back, how do you handle it?

thanks

Greg_R

What is preventing her from getting on the bike? Does she want to ride but is worried about the knees or equipment? Is she afraid of riding (balance, how to ride, etc.)?

Look for something with an upright riding posture (hybrid or cruiser). That style will keep the weight off the back and arms and they are typically easier to get on and off of. You may want to visit some local stores and identify a good shop and salesperson who can help you with your special requirements. Then bring in your fiance to look at the bikes. You will want to get a bike with a strong wheel.

evblazer

Recumbent - One without the term "Racer" in the model type.
I have problems with every joint in my body, my spine as well as my cardiovascular system well I guess everything really.
Going to a hybrid keeps pressure off the arms but it then goes to your sitbones almost entirely.

The nice things about the _right_ recumbent is it can spread the pressure out over a much larger area then a normal bike can and eliminates alot of upper body stain. It is alot easier to fit someone initially and as they change their level of fitness.

If there is concerns over balance there are three wheelers that eliminate this issue too.

On a recumbent you lose the ability to mash from a start so you have to learn quickly to use your gears or fall over. Sure you can ride a recumbent a way that is bad for the joints if you try but by being forced to gear down when you stop you are forced to shift and learn how gears work.

Just another option to consider. It isn't for everyone and it can get more attention then one wants. Instead of seeing a fat guy riding a merlin road bike they see a weird funny looking yellow bike and usually don't even notice the fat guy pedaling away on it.


Does this person want to ride and you are just trying to find a bike or are you looking to introduce them to biking.

Another option is a tandem recumbent trike. They are really big but then you can bike together at the same pace. There is at least one (anura?) that even convert into individual trikes.

Hobartlemagne 

Get a very comfy after market saddle. Don't let butt-discomfort be an available complaint.

DnvrFox

1. She shouldn't ride unless SHE wants to ride. You need to find out why she doesn't want to ride. My guess is she is scared of riding and falling, and how to handle a bike. Even getting on the bike may be fearful for her.

Find out why she doesn't want to ride, as a starter.

2. You should NOT choose her bike. She should, and she should choose one that SHE feels comfortable with, assuming she has a desire to ride at all. If you choose it, it may be the wrong bike (and you are to blame) for a long time. If she chooses it, she gets involved in an important part of bicycling - matching needs to equipment.

My wife didn't start bicycling until she was 60 years old, and it took a great deal of courage. She is still extra cautious, getting off the bike and walking whenever she doesn't feel safe. I go by the cardinal rule of bicycling - if you don't feel safe bicycling somewhere, DON'T! She has trouble getting her leg over a high top tube, which is why SHE has chosen ladies bikes.

Good luck.

lil brown bat

+100. When an SO asks you to share in their activities, it usually creates a fair amount of pressure. They know that you want them to try this activity, to like it, and to do it with them, and that creates pressure.

Do NOT assume that she will want to ride if you just find and "fix" the "problem" -- that will just have you constantly after her to try this style of bike or this saddle or this bar configuration.

If she does express an interest in cycling, do NOT assume that you're the right person to teach her, guide her, help her choose her gear, take her on rides, etc. Sometimes the presence of a more experienced partner can be very offputting for a newbie who just wants to learn to swim at their own depth, so to speak. If she wants you to be involved and to help her, fine and good, but don't assume -- this can really backfire.

If you take this approach, I think you improve the chances not only that she'll take up cycling, but that she'll take to it in a way that you'll be able to share the activity in the future.

v1k1ng1001

what kind of knee problems?

Bone Head

Getting my wife to do anything I want usually involves a trip to the jewelry store................

cyclokitty 

When I first started riding my bike, I was nearly 300 lbs and I am only 5'2". I've so far lost over 40 lbs and have added swimming to my bike riding addiction.

I really wanted to get back into riding (I also hadn't ridden since I was a kid), and was equally worried about falling off as well as being mocked by other people.

I have a comfort 17" KHS Town and Country, 26" wheels, the handlebar angle can be adjust from straight up cruiser style to swept forward like a mountain bike:


I grin like an idiot when I'm riding my bike!

Anyone who has read the Clydesdale/Athena forum knows the wheel drill, so I won't repeat it. Saddles are totally personal. I rode for a year on a big wide bouncy saddle and grew to dislike it. It was way to cushy and ended up making my backside feel bruised and kicked. The seat, while it felt like a recliner, wasn't helping me. It's more important to have a saddle that fits your sit bones and is adjusted to your particular geometry: fore, aft, nose angle.

Which brings me to knee pain. Being a proud coward, I first rode my bike with the seatpost at it's lowest level. I wanted my feet to lie flat on the ground when I came to a stop. But that wasn't kind to my knees. They ached and hurt like crazy. So I took a deep breath and raised the seatpost half an inch. As I started getting accustomed to mounting the bike, starting to push off, full stop, pausing to a stop but staying on the bike, even a micro moment track stand, I began to raise the seatpost until the knee pain stopped, as well my speed increased because knee angle has a lot to do with how much energy you can transfer to the cranks. Oddly, this also tied in with the saddle since the huge gooshy saddle I rode before didn't allow my leg to comfortable straighten because there was too much saddle in the way.

Feeling confident on a bike takes time and work. I was pretty enthusiastic and took it to the park everyday after work. On that short trail I learned how to get on the bike, push off to start, steer, keep some semblance of a line, stop, and get off the bike all without eating any of the trail. I used the baseball diamond to learn how to turn corners. I did all of this by myself because I didn't want any witnesses. Once I was comfortable with the basis I was able to go on brief two or three km rides near my home. I looked for advice here and from books or magazines. I didn't want to hear what a skinny person did on his or her bike (no offense, but falling is waaaaay more dramatic if you are overweight, so some advice made me cringe. Like leaping wildly onto the saddle with one foot on the pedal. Puhlease!).

By the end of my first summer I was able to bike ride 10 km along the park trail. The next season I started commuting to work. Now I rarely go a day without my bike ride, and totally despise any weather that keeps me from riding (I'm looking at you, nasty icy weather!).

I hope your fiancee gives cycling a try. It's way more fun than jogging (kinder on knees), gets you places that are further than would take you if you walked, and it'll improve over all health because it's one of the few things in life good for you that is actually good (blech, cod liver oil).

TuckertonRR

Thanks all for the advice - she seems to think that riding a bike would aggravate her knee problems (arthritis) but, I've tried to get her to see a specialist and see what that specialist doc would say. Usually swimming is good - but of course, she would have to pick out a bike that she'd be comfortable on. There's a few good bike stores in the city, one day (of course, when she'd feel confident enough to) I'll show her there, and she can decide.

Why I want her to ride - increase her confidence, be able to get around better on her own (she doesn't drive) and be able to get a bit healthier through good regular excersize that being on a bike offers.

I do have to get her to see the specialist arthritis doc though...first things first!

DnvrFox

Generally, bicycling is one of the first things recommended for arthritis. It is considered essential to keep the joint moving.

But, I am not an MD, and you are right - get thee (and her) to the doc.

esaunders

Part of the problem may be from stationary bikes. I've avoided cycling for ages because stationary bikes, whether upright or recumbant, really aggravate my bad knee (ACL replacement + arthritis + accompanying ligament damage)

I find real bike make my knee feel dramatically better.

Erica

lil brown bat

That's true for rheumatoid arthritis, don't know that it's true for the more common osteoarthritis.

To OP, I'm afraid it sounds to me like you're on the verge of nagging. I know that that's not helpful, but when you boil it right down, your question was basically, "How do I get this person to do what I want?" The answer, given that she's an autonomous human being, is...maybe you don't.

Missbumble 

One thought... Maybe show her this web site. Maybe a picture of the Beanz riding together. I have an overweight man friend that I might show the site too - i think the wieght loss stories are inspiring. Whatever you do though - do not let it seem like this is an investment for weight loss... No one likes to be told they need to lose weight. I know for me..those comments had the opposite effet!

DnvrFox

My wife has significant osteo, and her rheumatologis considers exercise and joint movement as a number one goal.

WhichWay

My wife has knee problems in general. If we push too hard on the bike it hurts her knees, however if we keep a reasonable pace < 14 mph she has no issues. I usually have the tow-behind bike and the trailer attached to my bike with our girls to keep my speed down and to keep things easy on her

She has a woman's Giant Cypress which is a great bike for tooling around town or heading down to the beach. This bike is also really good due to the extra low upper frame bar, makes it easier to get on the bike with bad knees.

BELLA

I was about 310 when I started riding about 6 yrs ago. I started on a Specialized Expedition (comfort) and while i did start out slow, i was up to riding 10 mi a day in a few months. And the weight dropped on its own.

Possibly search out a rental place and rent either a comfort or cruiser style to see how she likes it.

I have also had knee issues in the past as well as heel spur/plantar faciatis(sp?) but find that biking is one of the lowest impact things I can do. She may have pain early on, but as long as she takes it slow and doesnt overdo it, she should do fine.

B

donnamb 

Not that I'm recommending that you push her (very bad idea), but see if she'll try an Electra Townie. It's not a super expensive first bike but decent quality, it's easy on the knees, and I have it on good authority that it's a very comfortable ride for people who are resuming biking but are doing so at a heavier weight.

Pamestique 

This is some advice from a woman's point of view... exercise is something we want to do not so much need to do. People ride bikes mainly because they find pleasure in cycling. There are many bikes out there bought by well meaning people who need to exercise but don't catch the bug for cycling. Garages are full of these neglected dusty bikes.

As a larger woman I know how hard it is to get out there and ride when everyone else is a small, skinny minnie. Those girls are wearing that skimpy lycra stuff and here I am in my muu-muu like jersey. I am trying to be sensitive to some girlfriend's weight and size and you need to be too. Point blank ask her if cycling is something she ever considered doing and would like to try. If she is hesitant, don't push it. You can't make her ride.

Why don't you start out walking instead? Find a nice quiet park, with pretty little trails and get her started into exercise? If she shows some commitment to exercise (don't make this about losing weight, make this about getting and staying healthy) then think about getting a bike. When that time comes, you take her out, let her sit and test ride bikes and see what appeals to her. This is not about you, this is about her, what she feels comfortable with and will commit to ride.

Good luck.

Pamestique 

All of this is wise and perfect advice! Basically same thing I tried to say only better!