LBS asks weight to schedule test ride

Hi all!

When I realized I wanting to trying biking a couple months ago, I bought a $100 big-box bike off of Craig's List. It's served me alright, but needless to say I am pretty excited that DH is getting a new job and I'll be able to sink a little bit of money (>$600) into a new bike. I found a bike shop near me that seems to stock a lot of the brands I wanted to look at, and they even have the ability to let you schedule test ride on their website. One of the questions asks for your weight (along with height) . . . I am a very short fat women and while I'm not exactly ashamed of that, I'm not too anxious to email that number to a complete stranger who spends all their time thinking about athleticism. I'm just picturing a bunch of guys standing around joking, "Oh, we've got a fat-*** coming in tonight!"
Is this a strange question for them to ask? Any guesses on why they require this info? Would you give it?

if you were buying a really high end bike (and you were really heavy) yes, that would be important. I know of 3 different guys that are about 6'2" or 6'3" and weigh 250 lbs or more who have broken bike parts because of their size and strength. The wealthiest of the 3 had a super carbon bike made for him that has specs that take his weight (which isn't going to go away) into consideration.
For the kind of bike you're getting, it's none of their business.

Hey there Tabby
I see this is your first post... welcome to TE

Although I haven't had a fitting per se at a bike shop, height and weight are important as to what type of bike and size of bike you will have.

Your height will dicate the frame size of the bike... your weight will govern what type of bikes are available to you.

The bikes my partner and eldest sons race on have weight restrictions, and I could not ride on them.

I have special wheels for time-trial racing (on road) and they have a weight restriction of 90kg. I have been losing weight steadily and am now 98kg, so last TT I used the front wheel. But I daren't use both until I reach 90kg.

And if the gys at this LBS are anything like the 4 local shops we deal with, then they will just be wrapped to see another convert to cycles, be pleased to make the sale, and hope that the lifestyle change for you leads to increased fitness. They know perhaps more than others, that accomplished cyclists come in many shapes.

Let us know how you get on
:)

Bike manufacturers are striving to make bikes lighter and lighter in response to consumer demand. Even in your price bracket you may find a few composite or ultra-light alloy components. A bike designed for the "average" female market may have lighter tubing or wheelsets, or narrow tires that wouldn't be comfortable for you but may for someone else of the same height. It is a legitimate question. If you walked into the shop they would apprise your weight without saying anything and steer you toward bikes and components that would provide the proper performance for your weight without you even being aware that they are (at least initially). Since you are requesting a test ride via the web site they can't do that. In terms of customer satisfaction, they are doing their job.

If you are uncomfortable with the question, can you stop by the shop first and talk to them? Then you may not need to fill out the questionnaire, but you and they can gain the necessary knowledge to help you find the right bike.

Oh yeah, welcome aboard. There's a thread about "Getting to Know You" in which we can, er, get to know you. :)

even if they do think from your stats that you are overweight, it's not going to be some big deal to them-- i think you are more conscious of it than they will be really-- they are used to big-big guys going in after all with MUCH more weight than you have, I'm sure-- and they will NOT be critical that you plan on doing something about it ie. cycling to get fitter-- you will be respected i reckon for that alone...

most people i see in my LBS are just regular looking folks of all shapes and sizes like you and me and not super-athlete-types at all.

imho, i would fill in the weight box online-- you will know if you are getting a disrespectful vibe or not when you get there-- i strongly suspect though that they will be so pleased to help you find something right for you-- LBS are in the business of turning people onto cycling and encouraging them to get out and do it, so dont worry about your stats-- just go and enjoy the test rides and HAVE FUN!

and welcome to TE :-)
batsheva

Also don't forget, if you happen to be in the market for a full suspension mtn bike( which your not, but I'm just sayin) they will need to know for the rear shock. They will either need to pump it up, or let out some pressure or whatever depending on your size.
I was a bit flustered when they asked me as they were setting up a mtn. bike for me to test ride. But then I realized WHY they needed to know. They didn't bat an eye when I told them my weight, but I was a bit self conscious.
And for the record I have weight issues (to say the least)...:cool:

The thing is, you just have to realize that most people really don't care. And like someone else said- we LOVE converts!! And if they DO snicker?? Well that is a personality flaw on THEIR part. Ignore the negative ones and embrace the positive!
Good luck in your bike search. ANd remember... We want PICS when you get her!! :)

HEY! I just realized this was your first post! WELCOME!!! Hope you stay awhile. We are quite a friendly bunch here!!

Hi Tabby!

First off, you are not alone. You would be surprised at the number of overweight cyclists. It's called 'the fitness paradox". Bicycling is a very forgiving endeavor, it welcomes just about everyone regardless of age, weight, bum knees, or fitness level.
If you think the bike shop is condescending is there any other shop?

I have no idea what the price range is but wouldn't steel be a good option?
What do you think, Lugged Steel Ladies?

Zen, it isn't just the frame. It's the components also. I have a lugged steel frame with a wheelset intended for no more than 150 lbs. 25 mm tires can make a far more comfy ride (for anyone) but especially so for larger folks. I had a mtb bar that was marked for riders under 160 lbs. It's a tad more complicated than just the frame.

The trickle down theory of engineering is heavily applied to bicycling with the lower cost bikes benefiting.:)

My first thought was wheelset. Some are just better than others for us bigger folk...and some are just completely out of the question.

This was actually one of the first questions I asked at various shops when I was looking for a road bike earlier this year. i.e. How will my weight factor into my choice of bikes?

The consensus amongst the people I talked to seemed to be that for the type of bike I was looking at (entry level road bikes), bodyweight probably wouldn't be a big factor. And if it was an issue then it would be mostly about the wheels, which is a pretty easy to solve "problem".

Good luck with your search! :)

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Originally Posted by SadieKate

Zen, it isn't just the frame. It's the components also. I have a lugged steel frame with a wheelset intended for no more than 150 lbs. 25 mm tires can make a far more comfy ride (for anyone) but especially so for larger folks. I had a mtb bar that was marked for riders under 160 lbs. It's a tad more complicated than just the frame.

The trickle down theory of engineering is heavily applied to bicycling with the lower cost bikes benefiting.:)

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It's not rocket science. Frame. Wheels. Drivetrain.

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Originally Posted by dex

The consensus amongst the people I talked to seemed to be that for the type of bike I was looking at (entry level road bikes), bodyweight probably wouldn't be a big factor. And if it was an issue then it would be mostly about the wheels, which is a pretty easy to solve "problem".

Good luck with your search! :)

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Yep.

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Originally Posted by zencentury

I have no idea what the price range is but wouldn't steel be a good option?
What do you think, Lugged Steel Ladies?

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Zen, I think she said she's trying to keep it under 600 and of course .... I think steel is real :)

I have a weight issue, I'm a short but sturdy rider.

I've had two steel bikes customized in person, three if you count the commuter.

My shop has an online interview process for folks ordering custom, this follows the questions he asks in person. He says "by the end of the interview I'll no more about you than your spouse does" I bet he asks weight. :D

I wonder is this less of an issue for men so it's in their form? Or does it bug them as well? :cool:

What kind of bikes are you looking at?

In the "under $600" category, I'm pretty fond of Kona, if only because they are based in my hometown and do some nice projects with kids at my old school district. :D www.konaworld.com (I've had Kona Dew aluminum and Kona Smoke steel. Both are under $400. Neither is a fast road bike, but they are spiffy and comfy utility bikes. My LBS calls Konas "bombproof." And the Kona Smoke comes with a fabulous squeaky horn!)

Ride lots of bikes, take notes (honest, a little notebook really comes in handy!) and if you find a few you like, go back and ride 'em again!

Feel the bike love!

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Originally Posted by zencentury

It's not rocket science. Frame. Wheels. Drivetrain.

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hmmm ... who's bein' snarky now ? ;)

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Originally Posted by jobob

hmmm ... who's bein' snarky now ? ;)

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who called anyone snarky? Besides you
Facts is facts

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Originally Posted by zencentury

It's not rocket science. Frame. Wheels. Drivetrain.

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I think Sir Isaac Newton would disagree. I teach physics and heavily incorporate the bicycle in my curriculum. It's a wonderful tool for teaching mechanics and dynamics (motion and forces, and how they interact). Along with the obvious concepts, velocity and friction, you have torque, inertia, center of gravity, and momentum. What changes would a difference in weight, (or you could even go into why a difference in mass...NOT the same as weight) have on a bicycle? It's all physics, my dear. aka rocket science.:D

I would say the more info they ask for the better, they're showing that they want to fit a bike to YOU, not just sell you something expensive.

But hey - weight isn't personal! Just wait until they ask you if you're getting saddle sores, or if you're wearing underwear under your shorts... Just kidding. :D But be prepared that they may suggest appropriate underwear, or lack thereof.

If you're feeling a tad nervous about the "athletic guys" try scheduling your test ride to some time they don't have lots of customers, and try to avoid the hippest, youngest dudes with the caps on backwards. Pick some nice fatherly type with a belly to help you, he's probably the most experienced biker there anyway... And if you let your excitement over getting a new bike show they'll all love you :)

I have never been asked about my weight, but I figure they size me up when they look at me. How do you find out what the weight limit is for the various parts of your bike? I don't recall seeing anything in any specs- do you dig deep into that big bag of techy documents that come with a new bike? I admit to being nervous that I am on the heavier side for my snazzy carbon bike- the carbon seatpost makes me especially nervous. I am about 20 lbs overweight, but am still a smaller person- but I do worry my bike is rated for someone who is 110 lbs or something! I wouldn't have even thought to worry about aluminum or steel.

And yes, things do get personal! I am still trying to figure how to explain to my (very cute) LBS guy that the seat on my new bike is causing some major discomfort- no, not in the butt...more "to the front" from there!

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Originally Posted by wiseowl

And yes, things do get personal! I am still trying to figure how to explain to my (very cute) LBS guy that the seat on my new bike is causing some major discomfort- no, not in the butt...more "to the front" from there!

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Aw, don't bother explaining to him, explain it to us! There is a saddle section somewhere (Gear and Apparel?) where you can describe your riding style/bike/current saddle/current problem and I bet you dollars to doughnuts a bunch of other women will chime in who've had almost the same experience and they'll tell you how they solved it!

Then you can go to cute LBS dude and say, "I've heard good things about this saddle, can you order me one and give me 30 days to try it?" :D

Edit: oops, I was off, it's "Gear and Accessories" http://forums.teamestrogen.com/forumdisplay.php?f=72

Hi TabbyBikes! Welcome to TE!

I had a similar set of concerns when I started cycling about 3 years ago, and i was very nervous and uncomfortable when I first walked into the LBS as an obviously overweight person. No one there asked my actual weight, and I was waaaay too self-conscious to give it out, and it's too bad, because the only thing that was off initially was that the wheels that came with that bike were way too "squishy" for me, and eventually I had to upgrade them to stiffer wheels.

Welcome to the wonderful world of bikes! Speaking for myself, cycling has given me not only some of the most exhilarating moments in recent years, but also some of the hardest (I still have to give myself a little "get over yourself" lecture before appearing in public in lycra! :o )

But you've been given good advice above - enjoy the process, ask lots of questions, here on TE and at at the LBS, and have fun picking out your next bike! Everyone wants to see pictures, so don't forget your camera!

Oh, you gals ROCK. :D Thank you so much for your responses -- I get that it really does have a purpose, and I really like the idea that they'll be so happy to 'convert' me that they won't even blink.
In the meantime, we are still waiting on the offer letter for DH's new job, and on tonight's ride I started wondering if I just might want a road bike. So I'm still in the early stages yet, lol. But I'll keep you posted (and I'll wander over to the Getting To Know You thread!)

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Originally Posted by TabbyBikes

Oh, you gals ROCK. :D Thank you so much for your responses -- I get that it really does have a purpose, and I really like the idea that they'll be so happy to 'convert' me that they won't even blink.
In the meantime, we are still waiting on the offer letter for DH's new job, and on tonight's ride I started wondering if I just might want a road bike. So I'm still in the early stages yet, lol. But I'll keep you posted (and I'll wander over to the Getting To Know You thread!)

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you KNOW you want a roadbike, Tabs--- :D

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Originally Posted by batsheva

you KNOW you want a roadbike, Tabs--- :D

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resistance is futile :cool:

watch out! We recruit into the steel road bike/Brooks saddle/wool biking clothes cults!:D

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Originally Posted by TabbyBikes

..... and on tonight's ride I started wondering if I just might want a road bike.

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Bwahahahahahahaha

Road bikes rule... another convert

<<<EFG>>>

Bwahahahahahahaha

>;)

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

watch out! We recruit into the steel road bike/Brooks saddle/wool biking clothes cults!:D

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Well, via my knitting I've already seen the glory of wool. Between that, last night's urge to stretch out across my handlebars, and the scary thing that popped & bled in my 'special places' after last night's ride . . . I may not be hard to convert to all those things!

Tabby:

Don't worry about it. Others have mentioned the relationship of frame geometry and material to the rider, but if you're looking into a bike with suspension, the suspension is usually adjusted to respond to your body weight, regardless whether you weigh 95 pounds or 295.

Swapped my old hardtail MTB for one of those full-suspension cross-country bikes this past weekend, and got quite a lesson in hydraulics before I left the LBS :D

Tom

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Originally Posted by wiseowl

And yes, things do get personal! I am still trying to figure how to explain to my (very cute) LBS guy that the seat on my new bike is causing some major discomfort- no, not in the butt...more "to the front" from there!

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I just tell 'em it hurts my twinkie.
When you get to be an old lady you also get to say whatever you want.
My lbs guy is very cute too. another reason I bought my bike there.

So, last week I wandered into the store just to look at the Electra Amsterdams and ended up talking to the owner (?) for quite a while. He was GREAT: answered a billion questions, was familiar with all the places I ride, and seemed to think that finding a bike to fit my *height* (5ft) was the only issue facing us. He had me sit on a Cannondale F2 that felt so dramatically different & good that I don't ever want to sit on my bike ever again. He told me to look into Specialized's Globe series, and send them an email when I was ready to test ride.
So I'm feeling very good, and excited, and IMPATIENT for the new job to come through!!!
Thanks for all your help -- I'll keep you all posted.

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Originally Posted by TabbyBikes

So, last week I wandered into the store just to look at the Electra Amsterdams and ended up talking to the owner (?) for quite a while. He was GREAT: answered a billion questions, was familiar with all the places I ride, and seemed to think that finding a bike to fit my *height* (5ft) was the only issue facing us. He had me sit on a Cannondale F2 that felt so dramatically different & good that I don't ever want to sit on my bike ever again. He told me to look into Specialized's Globe series, and send them an email when I was ready to test ride.
So I'm feeling very good, and excited, and IMPATIENT for the new job to come through!!!
Thanks for all your help -- I'll keep you all posted.

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Glad you had a good time at the LBS. if I was asked my weight I'd probaby be too scared.

Like you, I am also 5'. It SUCKS when trying to find a bike. I was in the market for a road bike, so my choices were much different.

However, I have found one really positive point about about being short and riding a teeny tiny frame! My bike easily fits inside most cars. I don't have to have the expense of a bike rack and worry about my bike being subjected to bugs or another car rear ending me and hurting my precious bike.

Tabby!
Great to hear you sounding so excited and enthusiastic after that first diffident/unsure post about the realm you were entering!

We told you that, if the bike shop was a good one, they would not be judging you on anything - they'd just be thrilled you wanted to bike, and would want to see you on the best bike for you!

Looking forward to reading an update on what you decide to go for!

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Originally Posted by zencentury

I just tell 'em it hurts my twinkie.

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Hahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!