fatguy_ona_bike

So yeah, I'm new to the forum and figured I'd say hi. I'm 6' 3", 290lb. Do I qualify?

I started road biking last summer in order to become more active. I even commuted on average twice a week to the office last fall. Unfortunately, between tire issues, saddle issues, less than ideal weather and taking 4 months to study for a licensing exam, I'm just starting to ride now for this season


Here's the poor thing that carries me with some new, more durable, tires. I also just installed a Selle-Anatomica saddle on her now which I hope to be much better:



I look forward to reading through here to gain some tips!

Wooden Tiger

Welcome to the forum! Now quit posting on the internet and get out there and ride!

dougclyde

Hey fatguy - good morning and welcome. I started 2 years ago similar to you, 6'3" and 262. I am now 214 as of this morning, and I have dabbled in racing since last season. Keep riding no matter what happens! As long as you enjoy it more than you whine about doing it (we all do sometimes, until the bike starts moving, then the whining stops) you'll feel and look better. It has changed my life, literally. F whatever anyone else says or does or how they look at you. Just keep riding, there are plenty of us that will support and help you!

-20 pounds to go for me. Set a goal and ride there my friend.

-Doug

fatguy_ona_bike

Thanks guys! I don't mind the looks all that much. I get more weird looks commuting than I do on trails and whatnot. People on LI don't 'do' bike commuting

The excuses run strong with me at times. Lately, I was getting a lot of flat tires (every ride) so I bought tougher ones. I tried to ride a week or so ago, but my saddle was killing me within 1/4 mile, even after a decent tune. Hopefully the new seat will do the trick. Those two things were highly discouraging. Next week I should start my commute which is about 9 miles one way. Not too terrible, but every little bit helps.

And please excuse the shed. I didn't realize how bad it still looks! Sandy did a fine job... Thanks again!

AWB

Welcome to the forums

cplager

If you find that the new saddle doesn't do the trick, you may want to get a bicycle fitting.

And if that doesn't work, you can always get 'bent!

Err..., I mean a recumbent. .

Yo Spiff

The trouble with finding a saddle you like is that everyone's butt is unique. One person's easy chair is another's torture device. Experiment with adjustments because it may not be the saddle at all. Height, fore/aft & tilt. We have even found my wife needs her saddle rotated just a touch one way to avoid some pressure in the wrong places. I ride a leather Brooks and tend to prefer my saddle as dead-level as possible. It's a good starting point, but many people end up with a bit nose down or nose up.

Welcome aboard, keep those gears turning and have fun!

fatguy_ona_bike

I think this is the next step if I can't get a good feeling after a few 25 mile rides. I'm afraid of a recumbent with commuting, otherwise I probably would have considered one more seriously.

1000 times yes. My last saddle I was able to improve with a tune, but it was still pretty bad and caused those sits bones to cry. Considering my size, I practically have no butt! I can feel my sit bones in almost any chair.

I felt pretty good on some quick test rides last night on the new saddle. I have her nose up and toward the right a degree or so. Not too bad and a large improvement over the last two. Since it's nothing more than a leather sling, I'm hoping it'll break in a bit. Nothing kills a ride for me more than that seat bone pain. Achey legs? No problem. About to die of a heart attack from a hill? It happens. Fighting a head wind with your ass screaming? Time to go home.

PhotoJoe 

You realize that soon your going to have to add "yuse2b-" to the beginning of your screen name!

fatguy_ona_bike

Lol I'm maxed out on characters already! Truth be told, I'll always be large. The lightest I was in my adult life was at the end of college. I was around 230-240 and that was working out 3 times a week. I looked thin and had a nice strength. My goal weight is currently 220, however if I'm feeling good at 230, I won't sweat the extra 10lb. Honestly, I like my weight, I just don't like the fat that came with it! Strength and health are the bigger concerns. If I have a little extra, I won't be crying about that.

But even if I hit my target 220, I'll still look large on a road bike. But that's ok. If I can keep up with the skinnies, I'll be happy. I enjoy the looks on people's faces as I blow by them on the trail

Erwin8r

Great attitude! That's pretty much how I look at it--I have a "target" weight, but will be happy at 10 or so above it (My target is around 200, but I'd be happy at 210-215...).Good work, and keep it up! Oh, and great first post--even included a pic!!

cplager

I (as well as many others) commute happily on a recumbent. I've ridden a recumbent on the Tour de Bronx which had to both deal with city traffic (when we got lost) as well as (literally) thousands of other bicycle riders. And I did so quite happily (well, o.k., I didn't mean to get lost, but I didn't mind the recumbent ).

It sounds to me as the issues you are having can be made (a lot) better with the correct fit and saddle, so it's definitely worth checking that out.

Of course, if you want to be truly comfortable...

ZManT

welcome!

this is a great sub-forum with good people who have good advice, relevant experience and largely a great sense of humor about it all

one thing i did to make things more interesting is to get a tracking app for my smartphone and use it to track my mileage. fun!

indyfabz

I think that is the longest exposed section of seat post I have ever seen. How many inches are inside the seat tube?

fatguy_ona_bike

Thanks!

Well that is good to hear. I live in a clueless area where texting is common, turn signals are optional and checking mirrors is passe. I figure I'd be less visible on the public roads on an incumbent. How is the stopping/starting on them at, say. a light?

But if I have some issues with this seat, I'll go in for a fitting. Hopefully, that'll be the end of it.

fatguy_ona_bike

I've been using Strava since day one. It really helps keeping my goals in check and to see how I compare to others. I also set up two private segments--one for each way on my commute-- to track myself.

LMAO I was waiting for someone to catch that. That was an experimental setting before I found how to properly set up a seat. It was way too far back and way too far up. The seat is about 4" (no joke) lower now. This pic was only meant for my cycling buddy, showing off my new purdy blue tires that I put on about 2 weeks ago. I road the bike this high only once. It wasn't comfortable...

indyfabz

I was more concerned that you had so little seat post in the tube that you could cause a nasty crash and/or damage the frame. The seat post is typically marked with a line indicating it's maximum height.

fatguy_ona_bike

I figured, but I took a step back not too long ago "something isn't right here" and changed it. I did, however, check for a ring--painted or grove--when I extented it. Nothing at that point.

SeanBlader

Awe, I wanted an Allez in black, that's awesome! I am going to have to insist however that you get your fenders done in black too. :-) Welcome to the forum!

fatguy_ona_bike

Yeah, I figured the silver would pop nicely. Wrong. But hey, I'll keep it for now. I have too many other things to money towards. Other than that, I'm thrilled with the bike. A great entry level bike, for sure.

cyclist2000

I hope it wasn't comfortable when the drops are around your knees.

ChuckD6421 

Hey fatguy,
I was a Lon Gislander for 17 years, but actually grew up Upstate. Never got used to it and finally escaped back up here 7 years ago. Only thing it did for me was to fatten my wallet and my &$$. I tried and tried to keep the wheels rolling, actually managed to commute 11 miles to my job near the north shore for a year but just found the place too hostile.

Big ups for you makin' it work there. It's the mean streets for cyclists!

BTW, not to make you jealous but yesterday I was on a 28 mile loop I like and for one stretch of 7 or 8 miles was passed by all of 3 cars.
I never miss an opportunity to try to recruit people off LI.

eja_ bottecchia

To the OP, welcome.

For the record, some of the "heavier set" folks in this sub-forum are pretty darned good riders. Last Sunday I rode 100 miles with three of them and they had no problem climbing long, steep climbs or going against a steady headwind.

So now you have something to look forward to.

Again, welcome.

fatguy_ona_bike

So I somewhat chickened out of my commute today. I had a long weekend of babysitting my sister's 3 kids and dog (along with my wife and our 2 dogs). I also did a lot of yard work and wound getting a not-so-good burn on my neck. I had/have a touch of sun poisoning, so I opted to drive in. I'll be taking a ride tonight in lieu the commute, hoping I'll feel better and have less sun on me. Kind of bummed, but as I sit here now, I made the right choice.


Lol you can keep upstate! I went to school in Rochester and was quite excited about it. After 5 years up there, I'm happy to be back. Luckily, I was able to find a job close to my childhood home and now have actually bought it from my father. I like that everything is close by. LI's not perfect, but in 1hr:10min, I'm in The City. In 1hr:30min, I'm out in farmland with beautiful county side and plenty of beach, fishing and shellfish.


...I could live without the traffic, though...



Great and thank you!

Chitown_Mike

Welcome to the forum, and thanks for the laugh! Not that you meant it, but the image of grouping your wife in with babysitting some kids and pets just was funny. Because I know what my wife would do to me if she read that, and she is totally a grammar/punctuation nut.