too fat to bicycle? 300 lbs?!

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04-03-2009, 01:26 PM
lauraelmore1033

ok. I guess they looked much thicker than mine in the picture. Almost like pencils.
04-07-2009, 09:54 AM
Fontinalis

Of course it is possible!

I went from 335 to 260, within just a little over a year, and I'm in an area where you can only bike about 6 months out of the year (the rest of the year, I do laps in a public pool). I have a commuter's bike, dutch style, with an upright sitting position. NO pain on the wrists, shoulders, or back. Or anywhere else for that matter. It has 7 speeds. You know, when you shop for a bike, you are actually shopping for a bike shop. Because you need good people who know their stuff, and who will do everything in their power to outfit your with a ride that is perfect FOR YOU. If your 300 lbs call for beefier tires, they'll advise you on it. I do believe that if you can't find a decent bike shop around your area, it is worth travelling to one. I do all my errands by bike. And I commute to work every day when weather permits. I am having a blast! This is just pure sheer FUN FUN FUN! And the pounds are dropping faster then I can keep track. I wish there was more 'heavy' bikers out there, that we would have a 'critical mass' (no pun intended). When there will be all kinds of bikers on the paths - young, old, big, small, tall, short, etc. - it will have a huge impact, everybody will feel that it is possible for them too. Hang in there, and don't get discourage. It calls for perseverance and courage. But there is such a huge reward, if only the pure joy of riding!
04-07-2009, 01:53 PM
txred9876

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fontinalis

I went from 335 to 260, within just a little over a year, and I'm in an area where you can only bike about 6 months out of the year (the rest of the year, I do laps in a public pool). I have a commuter's bike, dutch style, with an upright sitting position. NO pain on the wrists, shoulders, or back. Or anywhere else for that matter. It has 7 speeds. You know, when you shop for a bike, you are actually shopping for a bike shop. Because you need good people who know their stuff, and who will do everything in their power to outfit your with a ride that is perfect FOR YOU. If your 300 lbs call for beefier tires, they'll advise you on it. I do believe that if you can't find a decent bike shop around your area, it is worth travelling to one. I do all my errands by bike. And I commute to work every day when weather permits. I am having a blast! This is just pure sheer FUN FUN FUN! And the pounds are dropping faster then I can keep track. I wish there was more 'heavy' bikers out there, that we would have a 'critical mass' (no pun intended). When there will be all kinds of bikers on the paths - young, old, big, small, tall, short, etc. - it will have a huge impact, everybody will feel that it is possible for them too. Hang in there, and don't get discourage. It calls for perseverance and courage. But there is such a huge reward, if only the pure joy of riding!

Way to go on the weight loss. It is sooooo hard but already worth it....at only 22 pounds lost!

Tina
04-08-2009, 07:19 AM
Trek420

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fontinalis;416991/

when you shop for a bike, you are actually shopping for a bike shop. Because you need good people who know their stuff, and who will do everything in their power to outfit your with a ride that is perfect FOR YOU.

Well said. And when your LBS is not open, there's TE :p Way to go on the ride and swim. Add walk/run and we've got another TE Triathlete? :cool:
04-13-2009, 12:22 PM
Softie

I wasn't even able to find this info till after I bought my new bike, but I think it's great for some of us bigger riders to know ahead of time. Trek lists their general weight capacity for hybrid/comfort/mountain bikes as 300lbs, and road bikes as 275, but of course modifications can be made by a good lbs for larger riders.

Both bike shops I visited were convinced they could quite easily fit a bike to my 6'7 350+ lb bf, but definitely recommended a mountain bike due to his size.
06-19-2009, 10:14 AM
sscycles

Good for you on getting back to bike-riding! If anyone here has any problems with the bike they are riding, they should check out www.supersizedcycles.com. The bikes are designed to support heavier people, and comfortably, too.

The company's founder, Joan Denizot, started the company because she had a hard time finding bikes that could support people who weigh more than 225 pounds. So, her bikes are made for big riders who can feel comfortable both riding one of her bikes, and purchasing it, too.

Check out her site. She has bikes and gear for sale, and there is information on there too for new, plus-sized bicyclists.

Great discussion, guys!
06-25-2009, 10:31 AM
lo123

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trek420

Next it sounds like we need to find you another LBS, one that can find you a proper bike fit. The answer to "can I put taller handlebars on my bike?" should never be "I don't know" :p

Agreed!

My LBS has been awesome in getting my bike set up and adjusted for me to accommodate my mobility problems due to pretty severe psoriatic arthritis. A good LBS will be able to find a solution!

I'd also look at recumbents... For my next bike, I'll definitely be looking at one just to see if it would better accommodate my 'issues'.

On the 'cross bike recommendation.. I love mine (specialized tricross). I threw on skinny tires to keep up with the faster folks on club rides, but I adore having the ability to go off road.
06-26-2009, 09:56 AM
Geonz

Nice bump, even if it is pretty blatant "join the forum and self-promote." Wondering how things are going?

Quote:

Originally Posted by sscycles

Good for you on getting back to bike-riding! If anyone here has any problems with the bike they are riding, they should check out www.supersizedcycles.com. The bikes are designed to support heavier people, and comfortably, too.

The company's founder, Joan Denizot, started the company because she had a hard time finding bikes that could support people who weigh more than 225 pounds. So, her bikes are made for big riders who can feel comfortable both riding one of her bikes, and purchasing it, too.

Check out her site. She has bikes and gear for sale, and there is information on there too for new, plus-sized bicyclists.

Great discussion, guys!
06-26-2009, 10:07 AM
Triskeliongirl

I don't have a problem with this post, it does provide useful info. that addresses the questions raised in the thread, even if the poster has a commercial interest in the product she is recommending (and from her username she is not trying to hide that).
07-10-2009, 04:58 AM
robinmarylong

Quote:

Originally Posted by calico

I am 5'10" and very long-waisted, and every bike I try seems to have me leaning painfully far forward/down. I end up with severe wrist pain very quickly. I asked at several bike shops but they don't seem to know what to suggest. I asked if they can put taller handlebars on a bike to accommodate my tall torso, and they didn't seem to know.

I still have the bike I bought in college, a Nishiki, which was supposedly sized to fit my height but it also causes wrist/hand pain. I even tried wrist wraps to give support to no avail.

My eventual goal is to get comfortable riding to do the 4 mile commute to and from the college each day (all paved roads, gentle hills).

Help! Is there any hope for me?

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

I am also overweight and tall. I started riding again in 2007. My hybred Schwinn (bought in 1993) served me pretty well. I promised myself a new bike if I proved to myself that I would keep on riding. This year I bought a new bike a Specialized Dolce', the reason I'm bringing this up is because as a woman's bike I find the fit much better my top tube is 54.8 while the vertical tube is 56 (big difference for me). Someone said in an earlier post that your looking for a bike shop when your buying a bike. I couldn't agree more. I have 3 bikeshops within 12 miles of my house but I drive 45 minutes to go to Clairemont, New Hampshire (I live in VT) for the service I get at that shop. Oh and shorts, I found TE in 2007 because I was looking for plus size bike shorts. I use mountain bike shorts (because of the baggy outer shell), but this is a great place to find your size.

Just my 2 cents,

Robin

PS I'm riding my first 50 in 20 years tomorrow ... wish me luck
07-10-2009, 05:45 AM
lauraelmore1033

Good luck Robin! Way to go!
And welcome to TE!
07-10-2009, 06:09 AM
Trek420

Quote:

Originally Posted by robinmarylong

PS I'm riding my first 50 in 20 years tomorrow ... wish me luck

Good luck, and many many more. :D

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