Fat Guy On A Bike, Hopefully-->>
 

Hi everyone...

I have been hanging around the Touring area for awhile now and finally decided to look around the rest of Bike Forums.

If I could take a moment of your time and tell you what I plan to do I would welcome any thoughts or opinions.

I just turned 40 in September(urgh)and my wife, who also had a B-Day(38 for her)and me have a beautiful 4 year old daughter. We are tired of the grind-the day to day commute, jobs, etc and we started talking one evening about our younger days and eventually we started talking about bicycling. How we both loved it, the feeling of it, what it would be like now, the bikes we had as children and teens, etc.

We both realized that with our current ages we hadn't ridden a bicycle in many years-for her, since she started driving at 16 and for me, when I left the Nest for college at 17.

We are both out of shape and overweight. My wife put on weight(she needs to lose around 40lbs)after our daughter was born and me, well... that's where I need some opinions and encouragement...

I have always had a weight problem. It started for me when I was around 9 years old. Once we had our daughter we decided I would become a Stay At Home Daddy. It was both a gift and a curse for me.

A gift because I got the chance to be around our little girl on a day to day basis and which/witness and take part in every change she went through. A curse because I also became extremely sedentary and started to pack on even more weight than I ever had before.

So this post doesn't get too long or boring let me fastforward to our plan and where I am at currently...

we want to start riding for health, adventure and fun and after awhile, sell pretty much everything and set off on a 5 year, fully loaded tour with our daughter in tow. We have begun looking at bikes and quickly realized that it's pointless to buy anything but the bikes that will eventually be just what we need so we are 99.99% sure on what bikes to get(custom made touring bikes from Thorn in the UK)and the undertaking of the expense in doing so($2,500.00 per bike)... but I still need some serious encouragement(read-letting go of fear... of failure, embarassment, etc)in getting going once they arrive.

I weigh a lot-400lbs-and at 5 feet 11 inches(as sad as it is to admit... at that weight I am actually down 50lbs so I am trying and so far it's coming off)I am packing some serious weight onto a bike. I've been told by the framebuilder that he promises it will stand up to the task(steel frame, conical tubing, tandem hubs w/48 spokes, etc). No worries there... my concerns are more with just getting my arse on the bike and not giving up.

Am I spending a ton of money on a pipedream or is there a chance that I will still find all this do-able when the UPS man arrives?

Also, based on what you now know about me... can a "standard" bike even hold me? I ask because I drive by a flea market daily and the guy has a bunch of old Schwinn's out front for anywhere from $25-100.00 and I just can't stop looking at them and wondering, "I wish I could try one out and see how all this goes" Our custom bikes won't be started on until just after X-Mas and then should ship in 12-15 weeks thereafter.

I guess I am scared to find out that riding won't be possible until I am much smaller or that it will be totally uncomfortable. I will say this though... since my wife and me began talking about all this in May of this year not one day has gone by where I haven't dreamed, thought, looked, talked or anything else about bikes and touring on one. I am hooked. I just haven't ridden on one yet.

Sorry if this post seems scattered... a lot of thoughts are floating through my head.

Thanks for reading.

Oops... I mean't for this to be in General Cycling Discussion not Big Rides(even though that somehow fits :rolleyes: :D )....

could a Mod move it please?

Sir,
I'd applaud your getting in to cycling, but I'd caution you about diving in the deep end of the pool without a few swimming lessons first. Start slow like I did. I have lost about 25% of my body mass in a pleasurable year of cycling. I combined cycling with a low-carb diet very effectively. So you could take the weight off while learning the skills necessary first and getting fit before departing on a long tour. Buy a copy of Effective Cycling, by Forester and get a year or two under your belt before heading out on a journey that will require skill, patience and a much higher level of fitness and health than you currently maintain. Please take this advice as a honest answer to your honest and frank question. Best of luck.

I agree with JoeTown.

You really need work toward your goal of touring. This is not going to happen overnight, but it WILL HAPPEN! I really admire your ambition, and I can tell that you have put much thought into this, and you're ready to pull the trigger. First, get yourself, and the family in good biking shape - then do the tour. Then, while in the midst, come back here to post your touring stories!!!!!


As stated, your first goal must be to get in good cycling shape. There are many resources (including this site) that will help you get there.

Good luck!!!!!! :)

Hi,
cycling is a good choice. It's low impact, and fun. Why not go to a gym while you're waiting? I have lost about 40 pounds, down to about 250. I did a thousand miles this year. That's twice last year's mileage; and the plan is to double it again next year. I have 2 sets of brakes on my bike. If you have drop bars, they can come in handy in traffic. Start with small, easy rides. Slowly build up the mileage. I would go every other day to start. You will need a good skin cream for saddle irritation. Best to put it on before you go. I use Mad Gab's Elephant Lube. But that's mostly because they make it a few miles from here. Any non-alchohol skin cream will do; some are made specifically for bicycling. Call Nasbar and Performance and ask just how big their biggest lycra shorts are. Good luck.

Moved it for you, and I salute you.

The advice above is sound, the only thing I can add is to go ahead and buy one of those $25-100 bikes. Start riding around the neighborhood, only like 10-15 minutes per day. Start 3 days a week for a month. Then increase by one day every couple weeks so you're riding 5 days a week. Every week after that, increase your time on the bike by 5 mins.

The key is to start out slow and don't overdo it. If you do, you'll burn out and it'll become a chore instead of a pleasure.

If you do this, in no time at all, you'll drop the weight, increase your stamina, and find out (inexpensively) if cycling is for you.

I kinda know what you're going through. I've always been a "BIG GUY" and this last year, my wife was sick and basically bedridden, and I put on the lbs due to stress and lack of "Me" time. This Aug. I was the biggest I've ever been tipping the scales close to 300 lbs. I've been on a low-carb diet and try to ride about 5 days a week. In 3.5 months, I've dropped 25 lbs and my goal is to drop another 10 by Christmas.

The key is to not go psycho and try to loose it all at once. Pace yourself and you'll be successful.

L8R

I completely agree w/ a2psyklnut. It's cheap and easy to give it a try -- buy a seat w/ a spring seatpost for better comfort if you like. If you enjoy riding, you can keep with it and get equipment better suited to longer rides. I wouldn't be too concerned about a bike holding you -- they are really incredibly strong (check out posts on this forum for "Clydesdales"). You also might want to get a trailer for your daughter early in the preparation process. They're inexpensive and you can take her to the park and get her accustomed to ridiing. Hopefully she will enjoy it as much as you do. I took my kids everywhere on the bike when they were younger. They loved it and enjoyed being able to see everything. Two of my kids loved it and could spend all day just watching and riding. I could set my watch by the third. After about 45 minutes, she simply had to get out and run around; then was pretty reluctant to get back in. She was about 3 at the time. She loves to bike now (leads our short rides), but I wouldn't have wanted to take her across country when she was that age. Welcome and good luck!!

Thanks so much guys... your responses mean a lot to me. On one hand I feel like a little kid with the possibility of not only riding a bicycle again but losing weight and on the other hand, scared s**tless that I'll either kill the bike, myself or in the process become a laughing stock when passersby see what basically amounts to 50 pounds of s**t in a 10 pound bag riding down the street. :eek:

I half expect the bikeframe to moan, the tires to POP and see the rims slowly crumple when I get on the poor unsuspecting bike. :p

But, hey, Life's an adventure and as long as I keep laughing and smiling no amount of heckling should be too terrible.

There are a lot of older bikers around here who have successfully lost weight and gotten in shape with biking and other exercises.

My wife (66 yo) and I (64 yo) both cycle and I started more serious cycling 5.5 years ago.

We have been using the "Body for Life" regimen to lose weight and get in shape - and it has worked.

I have ridden 15,000+ miles in the past 5.5 years - hey, at 35 calories per mile, that is a LOT of calories. I should weigh absolutely nothing by now, but, sadly, I don't. :D

Take it easy, one small step at a time.

Enjoy.

I hope you achieve your dreams and if you manage the 5 year tour I for one will be very envious.

I wouldn't worry too much about the bike standing up to the weight. Thorn are excellent bikess and with good handbuilt wheels and careful bike handling, I'm sure you'll have no problems.

Great advice in here. I won't bore you with my drivel, as it would pretty much echo everything here!

Suffice to say, get a cheap used bike and take baby steps. If it breaks, buy another! :D You'll soon find out how much you like being back on the bike, and I'm sure you'll like it! I've lost about 25 lbs (240 to 215) over the past 6 months, mainly attributable to cycling and a 'lifestyle change' towards eating.

Darn it... I ended up drivelling anyway... :)

I need to add one thing here, have you talked to a Dr.? Being over 40 myself, and having started in July at almost 300 pounds, I wouldn't have considered it without talking to the Dr.. Had an initial stress test, and than a test every 2 weeks for 8 weeks just to make sure things were going right. I did progressively better each and every time, but the Dr wanted to make sure I was progressing and not damaging, and honestly my kids are young so I want to be around while they grow up. Dr. said cycling was probably the best thing I could do, but that I had to be careful and not over-do, hence the caution.

As for the bike, any decent bike should hold up, and I know I see people who were and are bigger than me riding along with no problems. I felt the same as you and had the same concerns, but in the end it's amazing how strong those spokes, wheels and tires really are. I would not go out and buy an expensive bike until I knew I would be able to use it for all it was worth, a reward to work toward while achieving goals along the way. So the above advice applies as everyone has said.

Started in July, and in just over 3 months have done 1400 miles, and lost 50 pounds. They were the easy ones and the rest I know will be tough, but at least I will have fun while they are leaving. Dr. advised me that I would reach a point where heavier muscle would start building and weight loss would level off until I reached a point where muscles were stable and pounds would again start coming off. He was right and even though my weight was level, my waist was shrinking while my legs were growing. I have no doubts I will reach my 2000 mile goal this year, and having been off my bike for 12 or so years, feel that's pretty d*** good in just under 6 months. One last thing, don't worry about what other folks think "50lbs of **** in a 10lb bag". You may get hecklers in the City, but if you hit a trail, you will be surprised how many people are out there in the same boat, they may be peddling up-hill, but at least they are peddling instead of just watching others peddle by!

Gads, I do ramble on don't I? Good luck to you, and by all means keep us posted, may be boring for some, but there are many of us in the same boat as you who like to hear good results!!

Istanbul,
Welcome aboard!!
I started riding @ 330. I've had very few weight related problems with my bike. True, the wheels DO need a bit more attention, but so far, so good. Actually, my top weight, in 2001 was 424. My wife and I joined Weight Watchers, and have not looked back. Between us we've LOST 245 pounds. (152 for me, 93 for her)
We feel incredible!! You won't regret it. I agree with consulting with the doctor first. He may tell you to take it easy on the bike until you get your weight down somewhat. (mine did)

BTW, you WILL look kinda funny on your bike, and rude people WILL probably make comments to you about it, but SO WHAT. They don't get it, never will. You do what YOU gotta do. You can improve yourself, those types will ALWAYS be idiots. :)

Istanbul,

Welcome to the forums. Everyone has given you very good advice. Let me second the part about seeing your doctor. If you have been inactive for a long while you may have developed heart or joint problems. I found out I had type 2 diabetes. It doesn't affect my riding, but it's something I have to be aware of and I have to check my blood sugar regularly.

I'm not an expert, but from my own personal experience don't expect to lose weight overnight. It takes a while. First there are a number of muscles that have to "wake up". I was pretty sore the first couple of weeks. Also I think you should shoot for consistancy over intensity when you're first starting out. I think it's better to do five miles a day for five days rather than 25 miles in one day and nothing the rest of the week.

That's my free advice. Remember, it's worth every penny.

Getting back on a bicycle has been the best thing I've done in a long time. I agree with the advice that the two of you should start out with less expensive bikes and work toward touring on those expensive ones. Chances are you might break a few spokes or have to upgrade wheels, but remember, a bicycle is just a thing. Its parts will eventually wear out and need replacing, no matter how large or small you are; what's important is that the bicycle is fun to ride, makes you healthier, and makes you feel better. As far as what you look like on a bike, well, we haven't even begun discussing spandex... ;)

By the way, I started cycling again in June, 2002, at nearly 300 pounds. I'm down to somewhere around 250 (I weigh myself at the gym, but I've been spending my free time on the bike and haven't had an opportunity to weigh myself for months). I had a few spoke problems, but the bike shop took care of them and, because of their good service, sold me another bike a year after I bought the first one.

What about your daughter - you should both be riding together. Get yourself one from the flea market and get her one of the colour of her choice from the LBS.

Start your tours with weekend tours, gradually build up to 3 month tours. Then you can make the decision about the real long stuff. When you are fit enough to do a 5 yr tour she will be strong enough. What will happen to her schooling. Do it do she will enjoy this extended touring.

Thanks again folks... great replies and they mean a lot to me!! :)

I bought my daughter her very own Trek Mountain Cub bike for her 4th Birthday. She's had it for a month now and LOVES it!!

As far as her schooling goes-we will be homeschooling her while we tour... besides the standard bits of education we're pretty excited that she'll be able to see many things firsthand that a more traditionally taught education wouldn't afford her-e.g. famous places, historical points of interest, various languages in the place where those languages are spoken, museums, etc. We're quite excited by it. As far as a teaching philosophy is concerned we will be using the Waldorf Method.

Wow those are some very ambitious plans, my only goal at this point is to ride a century in the coming months :) (so far longest ride metric century) I started riding about 18months ago at about 264lbs. I'm 35 and had not been on a bike sinse my teens. On a whim i bought a cheap $99 bike from wally world (on clearance). I thought what the heck if i dont like riding i'll only be out 99 bucks. Long story shortened I ended up wearing out 2 of the cheap bikes from wally world (busted spokes, bent rear axle, sheared teeth on back gears). But by riding those cheap bikes I found out how much I love riding. Almost 4 months ago I bout my first real bike. Ohh btw i'm down to 200lbs and lowered my BP from real high range to high normal range. I agree with everybody else just start off taking short rides and get you butt used to the saddle, cus thats the part thats gonna hurt the most... Trust me I know..... my butt still remembers those early days of riding LOL :)

Most of all.... just have fun, because if your not having fun your not gonna stick with it.