CormacFBG

Greetings,
My name is Cormac, and I'm a Clyde. I've been overweight my entire life. December 19, 2011 I started another diet, and this time it is working: I was at 441 pounds, and as of September 16 I had lost 89 pounds. This time I'm trying to lose weight for me, not to meet the expectations or anyone else. My goal is to get down to 200 pounds by December 19 (my birthday), of 2013.
I bought an exercise bike in July, and when I first started riding I could only do about five minutes at a time. But I ride every day, and as of this past week I've been doing 25 minutes a day: I try to increase the daily time five minutes each week. However, the problem with riding an exercise bike is that it is, frankly, boring as hell. So, I've been checking the local bike stores here in Memphis in the search for something that is both affordable, dependable, and that can support me as I ride outside.
The bike that has interested me the most is the Electra Townie. I've read a lot of the threads here on the Clyde Forum, but have not seen this one mentioned, so I was wondering if anyone was familiar with this bike, or could recommend something cost comparable?
My thanks in advance for any information or thoughts you might have.

Cormac

nfmisso

Hi Cormac;

The Townie is a very relax riding bike; not well suited for any sort of hill - very difficult to push against anything with that riding position.

If that is your desire - it is a high quality machine that will last for many decades with proper maintenance. A friend of mine has one, and she is very happy with it for cruising the neighborhood. For more serious riding, she has a bike with drop bars.

I am fractionally lighter than you current - you may pass me, because wieght loss is not my goal. I commute 120 miles per week (12 miles every morning, 12 miles every evening - an hour to 1¼ hr depending on traffic; if I had a complete smooth flat straight shot, I could do that distance in less than 45 minutes) on a '85 Schwinn World Tourist that I have upgraded. I purchased the bike new in 1985.

The World Tourist is my only hi-ten steel framed bike; my others are Cro-Moly; which I prefer.

All my currently ride-able (as opposed to project - work in process) bikes have flat bars, with me leaning forward about 45°. This gives good leverage for climbing, and is more aerodynamic than the upright position of the Townie. The other advantage is that leaning forward puts a significant amount of your wieght on the your hands - the goal being one fourth to one third each on your hands, your rear end and your feet. Yes your arms and shoulders will feel it. Make sure you change your hand positions frequently to avoid numbness in your hands.

Drop bars are an advantage here, because they offer more hand positions. The Miyata will have drop bars when it is finished.