Testing bikes while losing weight
 

I am considering buying a road bike sometime in the future (maybe by end of year). I was planning on trying as many as I could in my price range and thought I could start sampling now and start taking notes on the differences. I am also trying to lose weight (down 30 lbs over the last 8 months). I plan on losing another 15-25 lbs over x months.

My question is: Will a bike I try out today no longer feel the same (in a bad way) if I am 15 or 20 lbs lighter? I dont really understand frame geometry so I am not sure how weight affects how I will fit on a bike. I like the idea of trying a lot of bikes but if my research at this weight is invalidated because I lost some more weight I'll just wait till I am close to ready to buy before trying them out.

For me, fit is more a function of you height, leg length, arm length etc. Losing weight should not have any impact on that. Depending on how heavy you are, you may need a stronger wheel set when you start, and a lighter one later. But your bike shop should be able to advise you on this. I have lost 25 lbs in the last 6 months. I got my bike in March, and it only feels better now that I am lighter and in better shape. Mostly I can go up hills faster. Hope you enjoy riding as much as I do.

Steve
-lighter, but still not "FatBoyBiker Lite"

Your weight loss will not affect a bike negitively in terms of the geometry. Your arms, legs and torso will still be the same length (unless you are a youngun' and still growing) after you loose the weight. What may change is the feel of the bike. Because you are heavy now the bike will flex more and feel a bit more squirly when riding. As you loose the weight, the bike will seem to stiffen up which will cause it to handle differently. Also, as the weight comes off you will be less likely to hit you belly with your kness :) Also, if you are like me and push the scales to their limit then 15 to 20 lbs lost will affect how a bike rides much more then if you are <200lbs.

Basically, if you find a bike you like now you will most likely like the ride when you have lost your weight. So I would say the answer to your question is No. Also, if you start saving now, plus what you intend to spend when you do get the bike you should be able to get a higher and machine :D

Good luck on the weight loss and enjoy your new bike when you get it.

Slainte:beer:

Thanks for the replys. I was hoping to hear that it won't make too much a difference. I will hopefully be < 200 by end of the month. I'm having a blast riding for fun/exercise and commuting on my Specialized Sirrus, but would like to get a road bike for longer rides. I think I enjoy the drop handlebar position more, but I guess I will find out once I hit the bike shops.

You may find that as you lose weight you will also get stronger. You may want a bike with a more aero riding position as you look to take advantage of your new power and extra flexibility in the torso as the belly shrinks. This has been my experience.

I would suggest you find a bike you're comfortable with that would allow you to drop the bars down further, maybe with one of those adjustable stems. That's what I wish I had done. Other than that the rest of the geometry is the same, i.e. legs & arms the same length, etc.

Question about belly shrinking... mine is shrinking (lost 20 lbs in the last 2 months), but the skin isn't. So I have this loose belly skin that used to be packed full of fat. Will it shrink back, eventually? My intention is to lose about another 60lbs.

The only time weight makes a difference is when you are striving for the most aerodynamic posistion on a bike...

personally I have a 5.5 inch drop on my road bike and a 7.8 inch drop on my TT bike... limiting factor... my gut... legs hit my stomach if I go any lower... but for normal people who are just out enjoying the bike worry about everything else first then weight... :D

Your butt on the saddle should feel better, not bearing as much weight :P

I always heard it goes down to the ankles. ;)

That skin flap is refered to as an apron :( It will shrink over time (year +) but it will not go entirely away. Plastic surgens can remove it but they will not do it until you kept the weight off for over a year. I have lost about 40 lbs sice April and have a 100+ more to go. What I have found is when you start exorcising and dieting the fat goes away and you build mussel so you hit level spots where the pounds don't go away buy the waist size gets smaller. I know my body is doing that now I ride over an overpass when I first started riding I would go to as low a gear I have on the bike and go about 3 mph, yesterday I went over the overpass and did not shift down on the chain rings and was going 6 mph. When I first started to ride I would sweat like a draft horse and be soaked now I get just a little wet on my 4 mile to the train station part of the commute. It is amazing how motivated you get when the doctor says loose weight or die.

Joe

You'll be surprised what happens when that gut is finally gone. Remember, nothing grows in the shade.