rs23

Hi Everyone,

I am 32, 510 and 190lbs and i am looking into riding bikes as an alternative to my running/lifting routines. Recently i was able to lose over 40 pounds and getting more healthier and a friend of mine suggested i could include riding as a fun and effective training mechanism. I live in Maryland and have not been on a bike since high school. I will visit my local bike store to get more questions answered but to begin with i dont even know what i should be asking. So far i have been running 2 to 3 times a week and lifting for 1 or 2 days. This will help me bring some variety to my workouts.

1) I want to ride in our neighborhood roads to begin with. We have a nice 5 mile loop that goes around
2) My budget is $500. Will i be able to fit in a bike and gear within this? or should i be ready to pay more. I will be riding 2 to 3 times
3) What kind of bikes should i be looking for? I do see a lot of really fit riders in our neighborhood and wonder if they make bikes for big guys like me at 190lbs

Thanks in advance for your guidance and help!

rm -rf

A road bike might be good for someone like you that's serious about regular exercise. Your $500 budget is probably a little low.

190 pounds will work fine with any bike you see.

Go try a test ride on a road bike, they are surprisingly comfortable and easy to ride.

Road bikes:
Fast, hard rides

Long endurance rides

Group rides keep me interested and can be a blast. I have to ride regularly to stay in shape for the group rides, it's good motivation for me.

A "5 mile loop" is quite short for a road bike ride! More like 15, 25, or 40+ miles.

Mountain bikes:
trail riding, but that often means planning a trip to the trails.

Street riding in the city with slick tires. Ride over anything! But not good for group rides (usually too slow), and slower than a road bike. Kind of fun in stop-and-go city streets.

Hybrids:
more aimed at casual riders?

usually for shorter rides

Gravel bikes
a road bike that has enough frame space to fit larger tires for gravel roads, or uses regular road bike tires for general riding. Some areas have lots of interesting gravel roads, but near many cities, they aren't nearby to ride regularly.

reasonable for regular road riding, too.

jforman

I also hesitate to suggest any specific bike. If you were to go around the 5 mile path at even 10 mph you will of course only used up 1/2 an hour. If you go faster, even less time. Exercise is not only exertion but time spend doing the exertion. So you could do multiple laps to use more time. My point is that you will need a bike that you can go a much greater distance to get a longer workout. A road bike will allow you to go longer distances on different surfaces. If you feel that you will have to go on more non paved surfaces than paved, you might find a wider tired bike will work better for your needs. (Mountain bike with slick tires or a hybrid. I would advise that you go to your local bike shop or shops and see what is available and what size bicycle will fit you. You could consider used bicycles, but find out from the bike shops what size and type you are interested in so you have some criteria for what you want.

Milton Keynes

Oh to be a "big guy" at 190 again.

I think just about any bike will work for your weight. I'm 260 and my bike works OK for me, even though the manual said maximum weight of 250 (I'm getting there!).

MRT2

1. If you are even a little fit, start a 10 miles, not 5. You can probably do 5 miles in 25 minutes or less and that is at a leisurely pace.

2. If you are buying new, $500 for bike plus gear is a little low. Up your budget to $800 to $1,000for the bike and $200 for gear. Less if you get it on sale. You can find $400 or $500 bikes, but they are pretty entry level.

3. I would say get a road bike or gravel grinder. You could go with a hybrid, but I would say gravel grinders are a bit more versatile.

rs23

i went to the local bike store this evening to look at few. It was overwhelming. I spoke to the manager but the lowest one they had was around $1500 and i am not looking to drop that kind of money. They also kept telling me i need so many accessories which added up around $2500 I was kinda annoyed, disappointed and mad at the same time. They made it sound like i coundnt ride if i dont have a $3000 bike!

What are the pro/cons of buying from amazon?

CasualInSoCal

I'm a noob too and very similar age/height/weight wise to OP. I too just went through a month-long bike search, with similarly low budget. I ended up getting a 56cm Fuji Tread 3.0 LE from Performance Bicycle, it's an entry crossterrain, commuter, gravel road bike? I really have no idea what category it is, but I like it.

I suggest visit a few bike stores locally and try all the types - road, gravel, hybrid etc.

Only advice I have is that this isn't a purchase to be rushed through. Take your time. Read up this forum and learn the "cycling lingo". Have some basic knowledge of the components that way you know what questions to bring to the bike store

rs23

Good to know! I am planning to visit couple of other stores in our town to understand this better.

rekmeyata

DO NOT UP YOUR BUDGET. You can EASILY get into a bike plus gear for $500 if you don't mind buying used off Craigslist, but get your gear new.

You're probably wondering why I said do not up your budget, because most people get into a new sport and or hobby and quit after 3 to 8 months, so if you up your budget to say $1,000 for a bike and gear you end up with expensive garage art. Of course you could sell the bike but you'll lose about 65% of it's value in the first year, with buying a used bike you could sell it for what you paid for it.

You're not that heavy so any bike will work, but you do have to find a bike that will fit. If you have a friend who can advise you on a nice used bike in your area they could help you make sure it fits. At your height you probably want a 56, 57, or a 58 centimeter road bike, unless you're wanting a mountain bike or a hybrid then you want to look at a 19 to 20 inch bike.

You can also post used bikes you find on Craigslist and post them here and have one of us tell you if it's a good bike and if it's a good deal.

Initially you don't need a lot of gear or expensive gear, get a helmet at Walmart, they even have a decent enough bike pump that will hang on your frame, get a flat repair kit and tire tools...but not a Walmart, get a bottle to put fluid in, and seat bag (again at Walmart) to put your flat repair and tire tools into. Get low cost shoes at a LBS, buy low cost 100% polyester Jerseys at Walmart (they're not bike specific but you don't need that), get a pair of 100% polyester gym shorts and wear underwear under it (later if you find yourself going more than 10 miles you can get a real pair of cycling shorts but buy good ones because cheap ones suck, with jerseys it doesn't matter if cheap or expensive, get a couple of pair of cheap 100% polyester short cut socks (another item that doesn't matter if cheap or expensive).

Learn how to repair flats by watching You Tube videos and practice practice practice.

rs23

Thanks a lot Rekmeyata! I started getting frustrated with all the technical details. I just want to ride, enjoy and get a good workout. If i stick to it in 6 months i would have increased my knowledge to get something better. I bought a Basic camera first, learnt stuff and then graduated to a pro level. Just curious is getting a bike from walmart or target that bad? I see bikes in my price range. I am still planning to go to other stores this weekend.

rekmeyata

I would buy a quality used bike for the price of a Walmart bike, yes Walmart/Target bikes suck big time, their components are crap and can't find replacement parts when things go sour. Going to a bike shop you'll pay more money, a $500 bike shop bike isn't all that great either, but at least you could get parts for it. You can find $1,000 to $2,000 major brand bikes like the ones bike shops sell used on Craigslist for around $250 to $350, it may require patience on your end to get the right bike and get one that fits. Again though take a experience friend to help you and or post your finds here before you buy and get opinions. Even an old 80's era bike that has been well maintained is far better than a new Walmart bike! I have several 80's era bikes and would think nothing of taking one and riding across the United States, but I wouldn't do that on a brand new Walmart/Target bike!

I too started out my photography (back in the roll film days) with a Pentax K1000, great camera actually even though it wasn't expensive, about 10 years later I graduated to a Canon Eos Elan, but I always liked that K1000 better in a lot respects; I still have both cameras but no longer use them. I no longer do much in photography so I just have a point and shoot digital Panasonic Lumix that is environmental proof. Actually I really started out with a Polaroid land roll instant picture folding camera, but I was just a kid goofing around wanting instant pictures, I still have that camera too, too bad they don't make film for it anymore, it actually took great B&W photos but Polaroid instant color film sucked even their best attempts at color sucked.

exmechanic89

It would help a lot if you could have a bike friend help you find a used bike. In any case first find out your size - that's uber important. You need a bike that fits.

Then do a little research on the net and forums like this one. You can easliy find a nice used bike on CL for what you want to spend + gear. Older mountain bikes which are very versatile and easy to ride can be found day in and day out for $75-125. That would be one way you could go, or look for a used hybrid, or road bike. And as others have said, buy your basic gear at Walmart or online. Lot's of possibilities out there.

Scooty Puff Jr

I ride a hybrid bike around 100 miles a week, don't let anyone tell you a road bike is THE bike for long rides. Road bikes have many advantages, plus they're lighter, and if you're riding on strictly paved roads and paths then they're the choice, but they're not the best to ride gravel and dirt paths and get over curbs. So that might make a hybrid a better choice if you don't care about speed. Plus entry level hybrid bikes tend to be much cheaper than road bikes, check out the Fuji Crosstown bike, I believe you can still find some of the 2015 models offered for $450 a $500 and they come well equipped.

Good luck and happy pedaling !

Milton Keynes

That's why I chose a hybrid, so I can have a decent bike on the road but still ride gravel or bike trails. And I wouldn't say a hybrid is necessarily slower than a road bike. On a recent ride with my 110-lb sister I was able not only to keep up with her, but keep ahead of her while racing for a short distance. I regularly average 13-15 MPH and have no problem riding at 18 MPH on flat terrain. I'm sure a road bike has its advantages for longer distance rides, though.

MRT2

Big box store bikes suck. Stay away from them.

10 Wheels

Go used to Start out.
Learn much about yourself and bikes.

https://frederick.craigslist.org/bik/5583149916.html

MRT2

Not the shop for you. While I am emphatic that like any activity, cycling has a cost of entry, don't let anyone tell you the cost of entry is $2,500.

You can get a decent bike for $500 to $1,000 retail, maybe 10 to 20% less if you get it on sale. As I said earlier, $500 will get you a decent, but entry level hybrid. The entry level price of a road bike or gravel grinder is about $750 to $800.

It is nice to get all your accessories with the bike, particularly if the shop offers you a discount on them when you take delivery of the bike. But if the shop doesn't have a lot of accessories, or the price is high, you can get this stuff on line. Here are some real world prices you can find this stuff for on sale, or online.

This is what you may need to get started.
Helmet - $20 to $40
tire levers - $5
Spare tube and patch kit- $10
Floor Pump - $20 to $40
Allen wrench multi tool - $10 to $20
Seat bag - $15
Water bottle and cage - $15
Lock - $25

So right around $115 for must have accessories.

If you want more stuff and you have more money, you can get the following.
Bike shorts/bibs - $50 to $80
Gloves - $15 to $20
Cycling Jersey - $35 to $50 (or you can just wear a technical T shirt you can get at a sporting goods store or Target for $20 or less)
Tights - $60
Clipless pedals and cycling shoes $100 to $150
Chain lube and degreaser - $15
Frame pump - $30
Photochromatic sunglasses (you may already own a set if you are a jogger or a skier)- $50 to $75
Rack for transporting bike - $75

This is just the beginning. If you get the cycling bug, you will want a cycling wind vest or windbreaker, rain jacket, thermal jacket and base layers, extra jerseys and shorts, tools, etc, etc...It really never ends and even after almost 20 years of riding as an adult, I find myself spending hundreds of dollars a year on cycling accessories to replace old stuff or just because it is cool.

But don't let yourself get overwhelmed. You can probably get away with riding in regular gym clothes while you take some time to get stocked up with cycling gear. but you do need a helmet, tire levers, spare tube, a small bag to carry that stuff, water, and a way to inflate a tire once you patch or replace the tube.

MRT2

If OP can find a deal like that, then by all means, go for it. That said, maybe just that the flippers in my area have snapped up all the good deals but, but I am seeing fewer good deals on used bikes than I used to. A lot of $100 or even $150 used bikes look pretty beat up and would need quite a bit of work to get them ready to ride. And I hardly ever see $2000 bikes selling for $200 or $300 used. Usually you see high end bikes going for high end prices.

If OP is a newbie, he might want to stick with new until he knows what to look for.

jefnvk

Tis the reason I shake my head everytime says the only good option is the local bike shop. I went through the same thing you did: every employee was of the stance that anything under four digits was a pile of crap that would fall apart in a month, and I had to hit the $1200-1300 range before I'd even get in to entry-level.

It dissuaded me from buying a road bike that season, and almost completely. What ended up working for me the next spring was researching older steel road bikes, going out and trying a bunch on CL, figuring out specifically what I was looking for sizewise, and wound up with an old Peugeot for $140. Mind you, I already had a pile of tools and mechanical expertise (just not in bikes), so I was comfortable learning to overhaul it myself. It took a few weeks to get it in running shape, probably $30 in bike specific tools and $80 in consumable components, but I wound up with a road bike that does what I want it to do, and stands out in a crowd to boot, for a fifth the price they expected me to spend.

If one is not mechanically inclined and already possessing of a decent set of mechanic hand tools, that limits that option. Your best options, in that case, are to look at an outdoor specific big box retailer: REI, Dicks, Performance Bike, etc. You'll find bikes that are a step up from the XX-Mart Pacific bike quality, and something suitable generally near that price range. I almost walked out of REI a few weeks ago with a closeout Scott road bike marked down from $1300 to $440.

Of course, you can also give a few other bike shops a try. Now that I've moved from where I had my bad experience, I have found one place that I'd consider going to if I were to ever want a new bike, and they often have tuned up used bikes in the $300-500 range.

jefnvk

As to the accessories, I'll tell you what works for me: a water bottle cage (the generic $5 variant, not the $60 carbon dealie), whatever wired computer is on sale for $10 at the local XX-Marts, and a tire pump, a set of tire levers, a spare tube (and sometimes a chain tool, double ended screwdriver and hex key set if I'm in more remote/longer ride areas) in a small saddle bag. The only accessory I didn't cheap out on was a nice pump: Topeak Road Morph G. Cheap pumps just won't get you high enough pressures.

Everything else you can add over time, as your riding needs see fit.

rs23

Thanks a lot for everyone who took time to give me so much information! I completely agree and I am planning to go to dicks and performance bike in our neighborhood this weekend. I just got very overwhelmed with all the technical details. I called another local bike store and the manager was much more friendlier. He gave me few options merax finiss 21 speed, Schwinn phocus 1400 and Giordano libero 1.6 all under $500 to start with. I have to still go check it out but looking on Amazon the pricing atleast doesn't overwhelm me. I am looking on CL also. Thanks again and appreciate the advice!

jefnvk

Just a heads up, if you are heading to Dicks and are considering a bike jersey, the had a pile on clearance for $9.97 when I was in my local one yesterday, in bright orange and white without any sort of logos. I personally really like the back pockets that jerseys offer, but if that isn't a concern to you any sort of golf polo or athletic shirt works just as well! My helmet is from a local Wal-Mart type chain, I think I paid $18 and it is surprisingly comfortable, and until recently I also just wore unpadded gym shorts (and still don't see much benefit from the padded shorts I got to try out). They also had quite a few options for cycling pants and shorts on cheap clearance.

MRT2

Even if not in remote areas, most things on a bike can be adjusted with a few sizes of hex wrenches or small screwdrivers. There is really no excuse for having to go to a bike shop to adjust a seatpost, or tighten a water bottle cage.

MRT2

And once you figure out what brand and size of jersey works for you, there are always deals to be had on Nashbar, Performance, Amazon, etc...So long as it fits, a cheap jersey is fine to get started with. Don't know if I would say the same about cheap shorts. That is an area where it makes a bit of sense to splurge once you are ready.

jefnvk

Yep. I have a couple of these: https://www.grainger.com/product/6X304 and some similar to these: https://www.grainger.com/product/WES...river-WP171906, fit perfectly in my little saddle bag. My chain tool was just the generic Schwinn brand from the XX-Mart for like $4. I've never come across a hex screw size on a bike that that set couldn't take care of.

All of those tools have been used trailside at one point or another.