Citizen Bike for Heavy Rider
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Citizen Bike for Heavy Rider
I'm looking to get back into biking after not touching one for well over a decade at this point. I've been looking for smaller, foldable bikes to get me and my girlfriend, and I found Citizen bikes, and fell in love with their aesthetic, especially their Miami frame. I don't intend to do any sort of racing or long-distants rides, and am mostly trying to use it for the occasional ride down the street to the market or around the neighborhood to try and stay a little fit. The only problem is, I'm pushing 255lbs, and I noticed their bikes are meant for a max weight of ~220lbs. What would happen if I ride on a Citizen regardless of the 'recommended' weight? Do I run a high risk of damaging the bike? Are there alternatives comparable in price that would be a better fit?
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i own a citizen miami and it is a very well built bike and rides very well for running around towne ,etc.The weight limits most brands advertise usaully are lower than they can really support to give a safety margin.If you did damage it atleast you didn't spend alot
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Well that's good to know at least! I keep seeing Citizen bikes are good starter/beginner bikes. I've never owned a 'road' bike in my life, only ever mountain bikes when I was a kid/teen. This actually helps me out a lot, thank you!
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Most bikes can accommodate more weight than that listed. There is usually a cushion for the sake of added safety.
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Paul Pinigis
Owner of Origami Bicycle Company
Paul Pinigis
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However, you are quite a lot above the limit, especially when you include riding gear. I’d look at another bike, or do what I did, and go on a diet.
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Even if I could go on a diet (I have dietary restrictions due to health issues from my youth), I don't think that by itself is going to help me shed +30lbs of weight to meet the bike's stated requirements, I think i'd need to include a bit of exercise- which is precisely one of the reasons I'm trying to get a bike. That being said, I did ask for comparable alternatives. Do you possibly have a recommendation of another bike that would be comparable to the Citizen bikes?
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It'll be difficult for folding bikes. Dawes, for example come in at under 105kg and Brompton at 110kg. You wouldn't have a problem with non-folders.
#8
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Your low cost Asian bikes may be stressed over the weight limit, just not forever.. You good with that?
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I believe in safety, so go with manufacturer's recommendations. They test, whereas anonymous forum contributors can't. That goes especially for folding bikes, which do have design - and stress - compromises.
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That said I can't imagine the difference between "no problem" and "snaps in half at the hinge" is the first 15 pounds ABOVE the listed weight maximum. The longtime durability of any machine used at or near it's maximum limits is usually a bigger consideration than an immediate catastrophic failure.
To the OP: I say "go for it" and you'll be on the downhill side of that limit weightwise as you use the bike soon enough!
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Poor advice. Have you tested bikes to verify what you say? I thought not. Pure supposition, and potentially dangerous.
#13
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Every little helps but honestly the occasional ride down the street and around the neighborhood isn't really going to do much for fitness. It helps if it gets you riding much more down the line, but don't disappointed if you don't see much progress if you're just toddling around town for awhile. Nothing wrong with that, it's mainly what I do--especially in the winter but yeah, expectations. Can you ride a regular size bike and when you lose the 30 pounds, then go with a folder?
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Again, fair enough. Safety is a big concern, but at the same time, as I've said, I'm limited, and as long as I'm not running an exponentially high risk of catastrophic failure, I'm highly considering it.
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By virtue of the fact that the OP is planning on riding a folding bike, any bike, he WILL lose weight. The weight limits are largely posted as a "CYA" by manufacturers from a liability standpoint...but they still have their limits.
That said I can't imagine the difference between "no problem" and "snaps in half at the hinge" is the first 15 pounds ABOVE the listed weight maximum. The longtime durability of any machine used at or near it's maximum limits is usually a bigger consideration than an immediate catastrophic failure.
To the OP: I say "go for it" and you'll be on the downhill side of that limit weightwise as you use the bike soon enough!
That said I can't imagine the difference between "no problem" and "snaps in half at the hinge" is the first 15 pounds ABOVE the listed weight maximum. The longtime durability of any machine used at or near it's maximum limits is usually a bigger consideration than an immediate catastrophic failure.
To the OP: I say "go for it" and you'll be on the downhill side of that limit weightwise as you use the bike soon enough!
Every little helps but honestly the occasional ride down the street and around the neighborhood isn't really going to do much for fitness. It helps if it gets you riding much more down the line, but don't disappointed if you don't see much progress if you're just toddling around town for awhile. Nothing wrong with that, it's mainly what I do--especially in the winter but yeah, expectations. Can you ride a regular size bike and when you lose the 30 pounds, then go with a folder?
That being said, I don't have space to store a full sized bike for extended periods of time without it impacting me or my girlfriend's day to day living arrangement. I also don't really have a lot of money to spend on two bikes for myself and one for my girlfriend, so I'm sort of hoping to go with one and have it for a bit before having to replace it, and as far as my living situation goes, a folding bike is about the only way i can see.
#16
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If you are aware , through frequent inspections that the end of your ownership of it being useful is going to not be far off ,
then you should have few surprises ..
then you should have few surprises ..
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I don’t want to be unkind here, having been there and done that. My solution was simple: healthy food, less of it and long walks. Whichever way you look at, cycling alone won’t make you lose weight unless you combine it with sensible eating habits.
I cycled my bikes for years when I was around 105 kgs - 110 kgs. I might have lost weight on longer trips, but no change to diet meant no appreciable weight loss. Now, at a little over 75 kgs, I find uphills are way easier and I can ride any bike without a problem. Mind you, there is a downside: complete new wardrobes don’t come cheap!
I cycled my bikes for years when I was around 105 kgs - 110 kgs. I might have lost weight on longer trips, but no change to diet meant no appreciable weight loss. Now, at a little over 75 kgs, I find uphills are way easier and I can ride any bike without a problem. Mind you, there is a downside: complete new wardrobes don’t come cheap!
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Just to add to the debate. Most frames won't fail immediately when someone well over their weight limit gets on (within reason) but you accelerate the fatigue stress and may be seriously cutting down on the lifespan of the frame. It could last months or a year or so and then fail at the worst possible moment. It's important not to get into the mindset that the frame is strong and you got away with it. Aluminium frames always get weaker with time, they start off much stronger and the decline in strength to the point where the frame fails and that should be many, many years, I would guess maybe 20-40 years for a frame designed for the road (non performance) with a rider within the weight limits.
From what I've seen the Citizen bikes look quite weak, low end single wall rims, freewheels, everything looks fairly poor. I certainly wouldn't consider them to be strong bikes. Giant folding bikes I think are rated to 136kg rider weight but a maximum 160kg load on the bike and the frames have a lifetime warranty. Some folding bikes do have high weight capacities like the Giant models.
From what I've seen the Citizen bikes look quite weak, low end single wall rims, freewheels, everything looks fairly poor. I certainly wouldn't consider them to be strong bikes. Giant folding bikes I think are rated to 136kg rider weight but a maximum 160kg load on the bike and the frames have a lifetime warranty. Some folding bikes do have high weight capacities like the Giant models.
#19
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First of all and most importantly, good for you for wanting to get out on a bike, enjoy life and get some exercise. Don’t worry about the fact that a ride around the block won’t lose 30 lbs. Getting active will, and a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
As far as recommendations for a folding bike for your weight, I don’t know much about new bikes but I do know that vintage Raleigh Twenty’s are great bikes, affordable and could handle your weight, they are over-built. Great riding bikes, too.
If your set on a Citizen, if I were you I would just go for it and not hop any curbs. Good luck to you regardless!
As far as recommendations for a folding bike for your weight, I don’t know much about new bikes but I do know that vintage Raleigh Twenty’s are great bikes, affordable and could handle your weight, they are over-built. Great riding bikes, too.
If your set on a Citizen, if I were you I would just go for it and not hop any curbs. Good luck to you regardless!
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Used mountain bike for $75. Ride it for a year. Sell it for $75.
Where I live, people put them on the curb. I have in the past. Not worth the trubble to do craigslist for $50.
Edit: I would amend this to say you need to have bike fixit skills to make this work, but if the bike shifts/brakes on a test ride, it's probably OK
Where I live, people put them on the curb. I have in the past. Not worth the trubble to do craigslist for $50.
Edit: I would amend this to say you need to have bike fixit skills to make this work, but if the bike shifts/brakes on a test ride, it's probably OK
Last edited by Doc_Wui; 01-22-18 at 11:58 AM.
#21
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So many opinions. So little time....
#22
Bicyclerider4life
Have you considered a folding adult trike for yourself, and the Citizen for your lady?
You can find folding trikes online.
You can find folding trikes online.
#23
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The Greenzone folding bikes are rated just slightly higher at 230 lbs. Like the Citizen Miami, the price is very affordable but I think that some of the parts on the Greenzones are of higher quality, such as the crankset and wheels. I don't know but you can check them out here for the "Value Edition".
Black https://www.greenzonebikes.com/foldable-bike-black
Blue https://www.greenzonebikes.com/index...&product_id=71
Orange https://www.greenzonebikes.com/index...&product_id=70
Red https://www.greenzonebikes.com/foldable-bike-red
Their prices include shipping (In the Continental USA) and include a carry bag, water bottle, and cage.
Good luck with what you decide on.
Edward
Black https://www.greenzonebikes.com/foldable-bike-black
Blue https://www.greenzonebikes.com/index...&product_id=71
Orange https://www.greenzonebikes.com/index...&product_id=70
Red https://www.greenzonebikes.com/foldable-bike-red
Their prices include shipping (In the Continental USA) and include a carry bag, water bottle, and cage.
Good luck with what you decide on.
Edward
I'm looking to get back into biking after not touching one for well over a decade at this point. I've been looking for smaller, foldable bikes to get me and my girlfriend, and I found Citizen bikes, and fell in love with their aesthetic, especially their Miami frame. I don't intend to do any sort of racing or long-distants rides, and am mostly trying to use it for the occasional ride down the street to the market or around the neighborhood to try and stay a little fit. The only problem is, I'm pushing 255lbs, and I noticed their bikes are meant for a max weight of ~220lbs. What would happen if I ride on a Citizen regardless of the 'recommended' weight? Do I run a high risk of damaging the bike? Are there alternatives comparable in price that would be a better fit?
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The greenzone bikes also look quite poor in components in my opinion.
There is a nicely equipped folding bike for $300 here.
https://www.amazon.com/Sundeal-Foldi...d+folding+bike
The factories look pretty modern with some decent tooling.
There is a nicely equipped folding bike for $300 here.
https://www.amazon.com/Sundeal-Foldi...d+folding+bike
The factories look pretty modern with some decent tooling.
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A pricier option might be the Bike Friday, they do offer some models with reinforced frames that will support heavier riders. There is a Diamond Llama model that is able to support up to 330 lbs. Also a heavy rider option to their Pocket Rocket model that will support up to 260 lbs.