Hambone

I started at 6'1" and 350#. I'm down about 55# and feel great. Weight Watchers and riding.

I signed up for a Century here in NY and started training for it by riding to work one day then home the next. Now I'm doing both trips by bike and I jones for it on the days I can't ride. I never understood before what people meant when they talked about that high from hard aerobic exercise.

(The Century was in May and it was a piece of cake. Well, it was a rice cake with peanut butter...)

Good luck.

Oh, as far as bike issues... intuition says your wheels/tires. I have not noticed any real problem here in >2,000 miles this spring. My biggest thing is that as I get more limber and less thick around the middle, my bike fits differently. I'm starting to wonder about fit.

One other thing, make sure you are running your tires at max psi. With the extra mass, pinch flats will be more of an issue if/when you hit potholes, etc. (I only buy tires that let me run over 100 psi.)

superslomo

Newbie to the Forum, definite Clydesdale here... 6'3", 212-215, down from 225 earlier this year. Back when I rode constantly about 5 years ago I was at 180 and a bit under for a while.

After a loooooooooong layoff, I'm getting back on the horse (a month now), and have lost about ten and change.

I'm riding a Cannondale T800, from 2000, and have a question: the stock 700cx35 wheelset (Mavic T519, eyelets, 36 spoke 15g) with Conti Top Touring tires (all stock gear) seem to have a good bit of resistance to wind and road both.

What's a good tire/wheel package for a guy my size? It's a touring bike, so I figure the wheels are set up to be super bomb-proof, and I've never broken a spoke, and don't get a whole lot of flats.

Is 20 and 24 enough of a spoke count if I'm getting a new set of wheels for normal road training? Can anyone recommend a cheap(ish) set to use? I don't want to go too narrow on the tires, or maybe I should just use the stock rims with thinner, slicker tires?

Anyhow... glad to see that I'm not alone with the bigness. Hoping to do a century ride this fall (first timer).

Any advice is appreciated...

Hambone

unless you are doing club rides or something where trying to keep up is burning you out, I'd ride the wheels you have. You are not training to race, you're riding to get in shape.

If after a while you decide you want to go fast, get a more appropriate bike.

In the meantime, you COULD just swap out the tires (not the wheels). Go with a narrower tire and you'll have less rolling resistance. It will be easier to push and the such. Keep in mind, you will also then be more prone to flats and have a less plush ride... therein lies the rub. Otherwise ride these, get new tires a few weeks before the Cent, train on them the last few weeks (just to be sure...) and then the Cent will feel like it is all down hill.

If you are set on replacing, I have Mavic Open Pros on Ultegra hubs. They seem rock solid. (But I too have 36 spokes so I don't think you would be gaining to much.)

superslomo

Thanks Hambone.

I'm wondering whether just putting some slicks on the back wheel would make for a quicker feel, even at 700x35. Thinking about a set of Schwalbe Marathon slicks, still really durable, probably a shade faster.

The cent is just for the hell of it, and I may do one other one unofficially (riding out to Montauk Point in the fall), and I guess the additional flats aren't worth the minimal speed change.

If I do change up, how can one tell what size tire can be fitted to what wheel? Or are all the rims the same width for 700C?

Hambone

Rims are not all the same width. (I just looked it up...) But I don't think the variance is too profound. So road tires will fit road wheels/rims. You may have an issue with the touring rims.

Ask around. If you only do one tire, you may get better results swapping the front. My understanding is that you get most pinch flats on the back and riding the five boros, you'll hit enough potholes. (You may also want to consider not going too big a difference on the two tires. When you go into a turn, the big difference in tire profile could cause problems. Again, ask somebody who knows more than me for advice on this.)

I posted a map of the route out to Montauk from this years Montauk Century. It is 145 miles from Penn Station.(https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=203345)

It was a lot of fun. The same person runs the North Fork Century.

Pheard

I'm 205, 6'2 and wishing I had a road bike. Any under 600 suggestions?
(I'm buying a mountain bike first, but in my boredom thought I'd ask about this)

rousseau

Here's a conundrum for a potential road-bike buying "clydesdale" (6'0", 235, 40 yrs): I've lowered the handlbars on my hybrid to get into the spirit of road biking, but my gut and spare tire seem to be, well, in the way, if you know what I mean. My sides get sore, as do my kidneys, from the pressure when I'm bent over so much.

Do you think this will go away as I get used to riding crouched over and/or I (hopefully) lose weight? This is the reason I've put off buying a road bike until maybe late fall or next year, when (hopefully) I'll be in better shape. Does this make sense? Has anyone had similar issues?

Hambone

I'm 6'1" down from 355# to 285#. My waist (well my hips, I only wear tuxedo pants on my waist!) my waist was a snug 48" now I'm a comfy 42"

Not bragging (well a little) but more for perspective. I started riding to train for the Montauk Century. I ride a road bike. This is not an issue.

The geometry of the two kinds of bikes is different so what you are talking about is much less pronounced on a road bike. And with the road bike handle bar, you have so many hand position options you find several that work for you and you mix it up.

If you are riding to loose weight and/or to get somewhere, get a road bike. (I loved riding my mountain bike and it was a lot of fun, but the two activites are night and day.)

rkttrp55

Hey all,

I'm 22 yrs old, clocking in at 5'11" and 300 lbs., last i checked about a month ago (when I started riding).

I'm on a Trek 3900 MTB, the question is I see all you guys on road bikes, is a mtb a bad call to ride to get into shape?

Oh and this is litteraly the first time i've been on a bike...

I love it though, I'm up to 10 Miles non-stop w/o any tiring out. ( I got tired going u a couple of flights of stairs, so its big to me.)

b1ker

Guys, I am a clydey also. I am a bit shorter than you 5'4" - I was 305 back 18 mos ago. I started riding and paying close attention to what I eat. Now I am down to 230 - still big - but I can breathe a whole lot easier now. Bought a Specialized Hardrock PRO mtn bike and it has been my best friend . Now I have the fever - I bought a Raleigh 720 - loaded her up with full fenders, light and bell and rode her through most of the winter. Just bought my first road bike ever - a FUJI NEWEST - with some serious seat adjustment, this is like night and day. I have the cramps too - but I am getting used to them.

rousseau

I just ride my hybrid on the road, and I have skinny tires. I'm definitely not mountain-biking.

Why exactly would the back/kidney/spare tire discomfort be less pronounced on a road bike then on a hybrid with low handlebars? Can you be specific? Because if this is really true then I won't bother to wait to get a road bike.

chadtorts

I've ventured out the fixed gear forum for a minute, and I've never felt more at home...*tear*

6' 290lbs

I ride an IRO Fixed in Boston...Partly for excersise, commuting, and just plaing fun! It feels good to join the ranks of Kings! Cheers!

hammond9705

I have a similar issue. I have trouble riding with my hands on the brake hoods for long. I would still get the road bike though, because it is such an improvement over the hybrid, even if you ride more upright with your hands on the corners of the bars. I never ride my hybrid any more, unless it is around the neighborhood with my daughter.

Bob

beatat33

Im 6' 1" and about 285 mostly in my stomach. I ride a Trek 1500 and called Trek about weight restrictions but they said it was no problem. I reacently moved from Long Island NY to North Port Fl so now I have to ride twice as long to get the same workout. If anyone is in the North Port area drop me a mesage Im new here and looking for good rides. The hardest part of my ride now is the hill in my driveway

scrapmetal

6''2" and typically 225 pounds. Started to ride to get some anaerobic exercise, because work on our hobby farm I enjoy but the heart just doesnt get the workout.

My bike is 197x??? Raleigh I rescued from scrap metal container in recycling center and after changing tires etc got it back on the road. Upgraded it with X5 speedplays.

Made a hasty resolution to get a new bike after I put 10 000 miles on this one. It is gonna be long long ride

Retem

this is one of those things about road biking the bike molds you to it kinda funny but true I am a 235# 6'4" ogre and I ride both an old roady that was my fathers and I also ride fixed gear track bikes everywhere I wanna go I am currently working on a ss cyclocross bike and ya know I got a townie for grcery runs and a schwinn I inherited from my grandad

I would say flip the stem over so you have a rise or even get a roady with a long quill stem and then strt off high and work your way down that is how I didi it when I moved from bmx to road years ago is just slowly get my body used to the position

Ray Dockrey

I am 5' 10" and was at 302 two weeks ago when I decided to try something different. I have been riding since last September but couldn't see any changes even though I was increasing mileage. I have Type II Diabetes and two weeks ago my glucose level was at 140 on medication and my blood pressure was 170/92. I started watching my carbs and quit taking my diabetes medication just to see if I could get something to work. I went to the doctor yesterday and the news I gave him was amazing. I have lost 14 pounds. My glucose level is averaging in the low nineties and pretty much stays unchanged during the day. All with no medication. My blood pressure was 134/84. All this in two weeks and I feel amazing. I am riding fifty to eighty miles a week and feel less tired after each ride. I go back in six weeks for another checkup and another round of tests. The doctor was speechless.

cohophysh

glucose level was at 140 on medication and my blood pressure was 170/92. I started watching my carbs and quit taking my diabetes medication just to see if I could get something to work. I went to the doctor yesterday and the news I gave him was amazing. I have lost 14 pounds. My glucose level is averaging in the low nineties and pretty much stays unchanged during the day. All with no medication. My blood pressure was 134/84.

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

I know the experience! I totally cut carbs to about 30g/day...(read a book by Dr. Berenstain, not sure if that is spelled right) glucose has been ranging from 85-100 and bp is good!!!! keep up the cycling and good work. I started at 328 now at 295 and continuing downward

WheresWaldo

I hit a milestone today. On December 1, 2005 I weighed 346 lbs, had hypertension, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea. Today I got on the scale and I weighed 250 lbs, my blood pressure is in the 135/75 range, my blood sugar is under control, with readings in the 90's 1-2 hours after a meal, and my CPAP pressure is down from 13.5 to 9.5.

My goal is 200 by the end of the year. I am cycling about 100 miles per week, with my longest ride to date just over 60 miles last Sunday. This weekend is 25 on Sunday, 60 on Monday, and 25 on Tuesday. So in the end I will still be a Clyde, but a much smaller one.

cohophysh

way to go! keep up the good work

lason

i'm a newbie to the forum. i'm 5'7" 265 lbs down from 290 which is what i weighed in april. i just started riding 3 weeks ago, got a triax vbs 3000 bike from target. it's not the worlds greatest bike but it does the job for now. i was really struggling at first to make it around the .7 mile path at the local park at least twice, now i can go 6.8 miles on a different path at a different park. my goal is to get down to 180 eventually. i try to ride at least 5 days a week if i can, sometimes i can't. this week i'll have gone a total of 35 miles, which for me is a lot, considering the most exercise i've had up until i started riding was getting up to go to the fridge.

Sincitycycler

Any of you use American Classic Hurricanes? They are pretty remarkably light at 1545 grams for 32 spoke heavy duty wheels...

deutsler

6'1" - 250 lbs

This is Danny from Vacaville, about midway between SF and Sacramento. I'm new to cycling as I have spent the last 6 years running off and on (but ran enough to train for and complete a marathon in 2003). But at 250 lbs, I find that the wear and tear on my joints is too much for that weight.

So I am trying to take up cycling to see if my body likes that better. I did cycle for cross-training during the early stages of my marathon training, but I got hit by a car and broke both bones in my forearm (right up near the wrist), so I have been a little skittish getting back into cycling.

Being new to the sport, the I just grabbed my son's MTB (yes it was from a department store [Sportmart]) and I started riding that. Those knobby tires aren't worth a poop on the road I found out, so I grabbed some 26x2.0 road tires and I have been on those ever since. I am getting about 35-40 miles per week in right now.

I have been looking at getting a road bike, but wasn't sure if I should spend the $$$ on a low end "legitimate" bike (about $530 or so from what I can see) or go to the 'dreaded' department store and pick up one of those Kent GMC Denali's for $150.

After reading through this forum and doing other internet searches I am pretty sure what the response would be if I were to ask, so I won't.

But what I will ask is maybe some ideas on the low-end 'real' road bikes. Is there a place to go to get an idea of what the low-end 'real' bikes are?

I have heard that many of the frames are all built out in China, or Taiwan, and that the components that are put on them are the big difference. Is this true?

Is a Fuji Newest 1.0 (or 2.0) similar to the low-end Trek's (just $100's cheaper)? That's what I was told at one of the LBS went I went in to look at the bikes (they had Fuji's in stock).

Danny

fenderoffender

Hello, my name is Brad and I am a clydesdale.

With my new job I just started riding again three weeks ago by riding to the train station (3 miles one way) then I walk to my office in the loop from the train (1.1 miles one way). When I started I weighed in at 240 now three weeks in I am at 230. I am currently riding a FREE mountain bike, but I will be buying a Trek for me and my wife at village cycle in Chicago latter this month. I am planning on getting a 7300FX if they have any in stock and setting it up with a rack, fenders, and all for my daily commute (my backpack is burning me up).

Needless to say that with just some exercise I have been able to drop some weight. I cannot wait until I can fully start exercising and adding to this a change to my eating habits.

Thanks,

Brad

Hambone

Danny- The same factory can build frames for a serious bicycle company and for CrapMart. That does not make them the same frame. The quality that goes into the tubes alone is significant. Quality control on the welds too...

The difference between decent components and the garbage they put on Crap-Mart bikes is night and day.

Then you also have the issue of who put together your bike and whether they did it right or not...

Oh, and who will fix the bike when it needs repairs/tune ups/etc.

If I had only X dollars to spend on a bike and $X was not enough to get a nice road bike from a local bike shop, I would put that money into a decent used bike. Either through a local bike shop or on-line. (Be careful on line for stolen bikes.)

I know it seems really snobby on here sometimes when people talk about Local bike shops (lbs) vs. mega stores but it is experience and frustration more than elitism. (The true elitist road riders dont read the clydesdale thread...)