Overweight issues

I used to ride like the wind. Then I got married and had kids :p. Now I want to ride again. All I have for a bike is an old Schwinn road bike that I love. Problem is I don't think he loves me anymore.

I am very tall so he is a man's bike and I'm now having issues with bending over to get the handlebars (belly gets in the way) and sitting on the seat properly without feeling like a stick in the nether regions.

I'm thinking raising the handlebars may relieve the problem a bit. Or maybe I should just give up the idea of riding this bike again for now and get more of a cruiser until I get back in shape.

I don't want to lose my enthusiasm for riding and I have no one to ask here but teenage boys or skinny Mennonites :D.

Shasta

Oh Shasta.... Baby weight sucks (I'm still trying to lose mine, and the baby is 17 - years!!!).

I'd try raising the handle bars and maybe a wider seat until some of it melts away. And it will melt away. Riding is great for you. Not just from the exercise/get moving/weight loss benefits. But also from the mental "I'm out there doing something I love" benefits. You cannot wait for the ideal, you must meet yourself where you are. And where you are is wonderful, vibrant, and lycra-be damned, a cyclist. Listen to your heart and ride. :D

Thanks for your input. I have the largest seat I can get on it right now as the stem size keeps me from going larger. I picked up a gel seat cover and that helps somewhat. But I think raising the handlebars will get me back on my seat bones more.

I am determined though and the more I find on overweight gals riding and relearning to ride the more inspired I become.

Shasta

If you need to scootch back and stretching too far forward is an issue, how about turning that baby into a flat bar road bike? Would deffinately give you less far to reach, might need to replace the brakes though.

whatya techie gals think?

trek-big-fan-of-revamped-classic-bikes-420

Don't know what your finances will permit but I was AMAZED at how much nicer the newer bikes are over the old trusty steeds. I find I can ride longer, in more comfort on my new bike than I could on my old Raleigh.

Might be worth a test ride to see how the new ones feel?

First of all, a big congratulations on your wanting to exercise and get fit! I've had weight issues all my life, even though I've danced since I was a kid. Anyway, a few suggestions:

1. If you can't reach the bars, try to do some stretching and Yoga. Rodney Yee has some really good DVDs and VHS tapes out there. Even when I was at my heaviest, (196#) I could still put my hands flat on the floor, so leaning over anything never bothered me. I think it may be a matter of flexibility. If you work at it, you can make quite a bit of progress in only a week. Even if it just involves sitting on the floor while you watch tv, and lean over and grab your toes, or spread your legs out and lean over. Just sit like that for a minute or so, feel the stretch, but don't make it hurt. Do that often enough and I bet you'll be grabbing those bars in no time!

2. Don't make the mistake I made...COMFORT BIKE. I purchased a Trek Navigator, and within a year I was hooked on cycling, but that bike had to go. How many times do we read on these boards that people regret those purchases? I'd raise the handlebars, stretch, and then take your time to see what kind of riding you will do. The better you get, the more you will know what you want in a bike. Take your time and see what you like. You may even decide to mountain bike!

3. I read it, didn't believe it, but went on Nashbar and bought some cycling shorts anyway. Yes, it makes all the difference in the world. No, really, I couldn't get over it! That's a purchase I would make if I were you!

4. Comfort seat...after the Navigator comfort seat, I wound up with a Bontrager FIT. Smaller and narrower, but I gave it a try. It was more comfortable than the huge one! I talked to my lbs and he said it was probably because there are fewer contact points than with those comfort saddles. (No, I don't have a bony butt, on the contrary...) It's amazing what I've learned, and it all goes against what I thought. Some people on these boards love the Terry Butterfly, I may have to give that a shot.

3. What everyone is telling you about the biking and weight loss is true! I don't even really have to watch it anymore. A first for me.

Let us know how you do! Sorry I rambled so long, but I really wish I would have found these boards earlier. I am not even pretending to be a cycling expert, but I thought I would share MY mistakes with you. (More like a cycling bumbler) Best of luck to you.:)

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Originally Posted by Trek420

If you need to scootch back and stretching too far forward is an issue, how about turning that baby into a flat bar road bike? Would deffinately give you less far to reach, might need to replace the brakes though.

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Great idea! That's what I've done to my vintage road bike. I've shed lots or weight by steady cycling, but my belly still arrives a few minutes ahead of me. Dang belly fat! I can't use drop bars comfortably.
If you really love your Schwinn...you could try the flat bar setup...lower saddle, and maybe swap the freewheel for a wider range one to help get you going at first. These mods won't be very expensive, and you can reconnect with your cool old bike. :) You can see the modifications I did here:
http://www.geocities.com/tristar350/Bianchi2.html
Good luck, and happy cycling! You will do GREAT!
~Sherry.

You gals are great. Thanks for the ideas and personal opinions. I will definately be looking into fiddling around with the old boy. I want to get riding more before I make another purchase so I can learn all I can. Things have change A LOT since I bought this one in 1979! :eek: We have miles and miles of dirt roads and forest trails I'd love to eventually start riding but first I have to get to the highway, LOL!:o

Shasta

I keep looking at other people's bikes and notice their seats are higher than the bars in most cases. Now mine is level and I cannot put the seat higher since it is the right height now. Tell me, is my bike too big for me??? I don't know how to measure it but I have 27" tires. I'm beginning to think maybe it is. :confused:

Shasta

If you really want to see a ballpark measure without going to the lbs, go to wrenchscience.com. It will at least give you an idea, but you have to take measurements and it's best to have some help. I'm still trying to figure out my size, but at least I saw that I was riding bikes too big. There is also a site I found the other day. It shows fitters in different states, and the prices seem reasonable. (At least in Missouri) http://www.cyclemetrics.com/Pages/Bi...ittersList.asp

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Originally Posted by shasta

I keep looking at other people's bikes and notice their seats are higher than the bars in most cases. Now mine is level and I cannot put the seat higher since it is the right height now. Tell me, is my bike too big for me??? I don't know how to measure it but I have 27" tires. I'm beginning to think maybe it is. :confused:

Shasta

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Higher than the bars? I think mine is level or higher. (I can't see it at the moment, have really paid attention) That sounds like people who just want to fold themselves in half to go faster. :D

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Originally Posted by shasta

I keep looking at other people's bikes and notice their seats are higher than the bars in most cases. Now mine is level and I cannot put the seat higher since it is the right height now. Tell me, is my bike too big for me??? I don't know how to measure it but I have 27" tires. I'm beginning to think maybe it is. :confused: Shasta

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As I understand it, the relationship between the height of your seat and the height of your bars really aren't about bike fit. Bike fit is making sure 1) the bike you are riding is the right height (it sounds like yours is) and 2) making sure the "reach" to the bars is the appropriate length (can be adjusted somewhat with stem changes). You can raise or lower the handlebars on most bikes with stem changes. "Comfort" bikes will generally have bars higher than seat, Racers will have the bars way lower and everyone else is somewhere in the middle. Having the bars lower will aggrevate the belly problem (I know this from experience and I've never had kids :mad: ). If you eventually want to lower the bars, you can probably make a stem adjustment. For now, though, I wouldn't worry about that - just get the body moving again and the rest will follow:)

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Originally Posted by shasta

I keep looking at other people's bikes and notice their seats are higher than the bars in most cases. Now mine is level and I cannot put the seat higher since it is the right height now. Tell me, is my bike too big for me??? I don't know how to measure it but I have 27" tires. I'm beginning to think maybe it is. :confused:

Shasta

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Hmmm...in your avatar..your bike looks like an ok size. If your seat height seems good, then I'd work on the bars. You might want to raise them, or change the stem to a higher one with a shorter reach. You can swap the drop bars for hi-riser bars. All these will give you a more upright riding position. You can even have the shifters move up to the bars for easier shifting.
Don't worry about whether your saddle is higher than your bars or not; what matters most is your comfort. As you tone up and get more fit, you can adjust your riding position accordingly. :)

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Originally Posted by Popoki_Nui

Hmmm...in your avatar..your bike looks like an ok size. ... Don't worry about whether your saddle is higher than your bars or not; what matters most is your comfort. As you tone up and get more fit, you can adjust your riding position accordingly. :)

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If you are sitting on your seat and you can put your feet flat on the ground then your seat is too low. When sitting on your seat, leaning against something to hold you up, you should put your heal on the pedal in it's most downward position (6 o'clock). With your heal on the pedal you should have only a slight bend in your knee. I agree that your comfort is the most important, but if your bars are significantly lower than your seat you will most likely be putting a lot of pressure on your hands, wrists, elbows, and shoulders which can cause you pain. Hope this helps a bit.

Hi new biker who wants to lose weight -- ME too!!! I don't know jack about pro biking but I am very overweight and just got a mountain bike. My handlebars are way above my seat so I can ride sitting up straight more. I have a giant "elephant" seat that's really comfy for my extra large butt and maybe in time I will fit on something smaller, but having tried an Italian gel seat, I gave that idea up for now.

I have about 150 lbs to lose (:eek: another whole person!!) and I am determined that I will do it by riding my bike. I can barely touch the ground when I stop and am seated, but at least I think my seat height is right for me. Any higher and I'd need a mounting block to put my feet on to stop!!

I no longer have pressure on my hands and arms since I raised the stem and it's considerably above my seat. I think as I lose weight I will be more comfortable with lower bars and a different seat...BUT FOR NOW, I WANNA BE COMFORTABLE OR I'M NOT GOING OUT TO RIDE!!!!:mad:

The main point to me is TO RIDE, JUST RIDE AND RIDE UNTIL YOU'RE POOPED. I have weight from kids, going trucking with hubby, stress and the fact that I LOVE FOOD! So I am with you kiddo! Hang in there!

We can work on our weight together! I'm at mmelindas@rocketmail.com if you wanna write me! Anybody else too, Lets make it a club effort!

All us gals who need to lose weight can pull together and commiserate together.

Get er done!!!

:D :D

Hey Shasta!

I am now on your same blog!
My blog = http://losing-half-of-myself.blogspot.com/

Everybody, you can go there and see my new bike and my hubby and me up close!!

Hope you don't go blind! Hahahahaaaaa:D

Love the bike! You are going to have soooo much fun on that. Way better than exercising to videotapes inside. I've always had the "weight" thing going on. I lost 56 pounds about 8 years ago and have managed to keep that off. I'd still like to lose 20 more, so count me in! I did a 15 mile ride on gravel roads yesterday, probably 30 miles if you count the unexpected hills. (One of my students drew the route, but forgot to tell me about the hills, I let him know about it today...he just laughed) Anyway, I felt great afterwards. (Notice I said "after" not during...) And you know what the great thing about biking is? You can't quit! After I had ridden out about 8 miles, I KNEW I had to ride back, or call someone to come get me, and THAT wasn't happening!:)

I added you to my links from my blog. I say let's go for it!

I broke down and got myself a mountain bike today. Just couldn't stand it anymore!

Shasta

Well, we WANT PICTURES!!!! Tell us all about your new mtn bike!!! yeeeeeeeehaaaaah !!!!:D :D

I'm working on my weight, too. I could stand to lose about 40 - 50 lbs. I did complete the Cinderella on Saturday on my bike, though - that's 65 miles and it was through some killer winds and some rain and a few good hills, so, despite my weight, I must still be fairly fit?!

I love my bike. I never ever thought I'd ride a road bike ("those skinny tires will kill me!"), but now when I ride it, I don't even feel the extra weight - I'm as light as a feather! It's almost as if it just propels itself. I know it will be the ticket to good health if I stick to it.

My tips (as scary as they seem): clipless pedals and bike shorts!!

Just making the point here that being healthy and fit is MORE important than the number on the scale ... I have one of those Tanita scales and I try to focus more on the body fat percentage number than the weight number.

I know that to get my large-boned frame back to a size 8/10, I'd have to lose 30 pounds. But I'm hanging in there at a size 14, body fat fluctuating 25-30 percent summer-winter, and I can keep my butt in the bike saddle for 10 hours. Last summer, I got up to averaging more than 15 mph during a relatively flat ride without drafting anyone. So although I'd like to look better in a bikini, I know that being active is just as important to my health as being "skinny."

Last year was my first year on a road bike, and I trained for a double. My event got snowed on, so I dropped out, but that didn't dull the sense of accomplishment I got out of the hilly 100-somethings I rode. I did get a little bored and lonely training by myself all summer, so my goal this year is to finish that damned double AND ride my mountain bike two days a week and have FUN! The mountain bike days, I'm not worried about heart rate or speed, but about enjoying myself.

I know sometimes it's frustrating to ride with the fast girls and get dropped. But I look at it this way: my effort is 100 times better than the 90 percent of people who don't get off the couch!

As one of my mountain biking friends says on a hard hill, get in that little gear and "Granny on!"

"[/QUOTE]I know sometimes it's frustrating to ride with the fast girls and get dropped. But I look at it this way: my effort is 100 times better than the 90 percent of people who don't get off the couch!

As one of my mountain biking friends says on a hard hill, get in that little gear and "Granny on!"[/QUOTE]

I LOVE THAT "GRANNY ON" STUFF! I am a grandma although I seldom admit it! I think all us "Cyclin' grannies" should band together!!

I love your philosophy about those who never get off the couch -- that used to be ME!!!:D

I have the same problem with the drop bars. An easy solution is to add bar top brake levers. I ride with my hands on the top of the bar (and can easily brake with the bar-tops) or, on the hood of the shifters. If you are looking for decent cycling gear in large sizes, try http://www.aerotechdesigns.com/ They are reasonably priced and I like the shorts better than the more expensive Terry brand. Keep pedalling! I'll be thinking about you when I'm working off my own excess weight from the seat of my bike!

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Originally Posted by CyclaSutra

.....and I can keep my butt in the bike saddle for 10 hours.

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I'm not exactly tiny, but there are some bigger girls that can kick my *** on a bike. :cool: I'd love to drop 30lbs myself

Well, I had to weigh in yesterday....and it wasn't pretty. At the Asthma doc's the scale said "314lbs" and I about had a coronary right there!:mad: :eek:

Then I weighed in at my primary care manager's office and it was only "304" which was a relief, but I am not sure it wasn't wrong, maybe I broke it!:p

The doctor didn't rag on my as usual because I told her I'd bought a bike and was trying to ride it and also had gotten a membership to a sports center near me....I think she was going to say something but she only said, "I'll take whatever I can get (me to do)" and I actually loved her in that moment!

I managed to sprain my right knee JUST TURNING OVER IN BED! Boy, does that speak volumes about my weight... and am now couch bound...The orthopedic Dr. put a long mean needle of cortisone in my right kneecap area and another in the top of my left foot!:eek: Wow, did that HURT!!

So, I am going to be good and get back to biking and watching what I eat...no more cheating and will eat more veggies and less junk. I am with you Shasta and everybody else who struggles. I lost 90 lbs five years ago, all my symptoms disappeared and now I am almost back to my original heavy weight...how embarassing:(

Boy, I'd just Love to be (just) 30 lbs overweight. {sigh...}

But if I wait to enjoy life until that day, I won't do anything at all. I finally realized that yup, I'm obese (as in off the scales, obese) and it is $*&^!! impossible to find 1) biking clothes that I will wear in public or 2) daily clothes with style, but this is the size I am now.

I'll struggle with the clothes issue, but I'll be on my bike. I may be slow, but that just means I see more! :)

I was reading the asthma issue elsewhere as I have exercise induced asthma also. Mine is also affected by certain things I eat such as simple carbs. I notice it is much better when I cut out that stuff, even crackers.

I'd like to lose 80#, 100# could be doable but I'd be THRILLED at 80. Right about now I'd take 10, LOL.

Anyway, I am back on my road bike after a bit of a break due to intense training on a new mail route and it seems it's done me good. My butt doesn't hurt so much and my knees are not shaking anymore. I am on my way after thinking it would never come.

Never say never!

Shasta

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Originally Posted by mmelindas

I managed to sprain my right knee JUST TURNING OVER IN BED! Boy, does that speak volumes about my weight... and am now couch bound...The orthopedic Dr. put a long mean needle of cortisone in my right kneecap area and another in the top of my left foot!:eek: Wow, did that HURT!!

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Last year I had a pretty traumatic knee injury (I'll spare you the gory details.)
Anyway, the orthopedic surgeon gave me some exercises to strengthen the muscles around my knees. Wanted me to start doing them the day after surgery. Despite thinking he was absolutely daft, I tried 'em. Couldn't do it.
However, the following day I could. I've done them since and have found them to be very helpful. Perhaps your doctor could recommend something while you're on the mend. :)

Ooh, ooh, me too--I've got maybe 40 lbs to lose, 50 would be better, but like Shasta said, I'd be happy with 10. Heck, I'd be dancin' in the street if I could lost 10 lbs.

I've been off my bike most of the winter due to some back problems, but I've started hitting the road again in the last few weeks. Back pain is the bane of my existence, but I find the more (carefully) active I am, the better it feels. I can walk all day and cycle for miles--I just can't stand still for long, which I suppose is better than having it the other way round.

Think I might join you ladies in your fight against the evil over-fat. :D

BTW, I've signed up for a Womantours trip in May--it's just the short, easy, 4-day one, but it IS four days of cycling, so I've started training my out-of-shape self for it. See my training progress on my blog: Works in Progress
It's not that I'm so self-centered I think everyone should care about wonderful me and my training schedule--just that someone who reads might have some words of wisdom to share. So if you do...share away.:)

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Originally Posted by MomOnBike

I may be slow, but that just means I see more! :)

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MomOnBike - I love that line.

Trek-Im snail slow-Hawk:)

PS Glad to hear you ladies are all out there giving it your best. You are inspiring.:)

The guys I learned to ride with said as pacelines would pass us, "What's with these guys that just want to get it over with as fast as they can? Don't they *like* riding?"

I'm glad to hear that there are heavier women out riding. I frequently feel like I must be the fattest person in the world on a bike. And I'm very proud of all of you for getting out there, even though you aren't a size Tiny. Ride on, ladies!!

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Originally Posted by Bad JuJu

BTW, I've signed up for a Womantours trip in May--it's just the short, easy, 4-day one, but it IS four days of cycling, so I've started training my out-of-shape self for it. See my training progress on my blog: Works in Progress
It's not that I'm so self-centered I think everyone should care about wonderful me and my training schedule--just that someone who reads might have some words of wisdom to share. So if you do...share away.:)

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I saw your blog and not sure if your 4 day trip is in Missouri or in Maryland? If Maryland - is it the 4 days of Cycle Across Maryland in July? CAM? I am doing that ride, and I think others from this board will be there too. It would be fun if we could all get together sometime during that ride.

Martha

Pardon me while I have a big juicy chunk of brownie as I am writing this...:D (NOT!) yeah, I would be overjoyed to lose ten lbs too!:eek: I figure it's like this: I didn't get this way overnight, so it's not going away overnight either!

We win the war against obesity not one pound at a time, but one cookie, one bike ride, any one minute of any exercise we can cajol our bods into...so all is a victory if we do anything at all remotely resembling exercise, not eating fattening foods!:D (This doesn't count lifting a piece of poundcake five times up to your yap!) :mad:

I agree, even with my advanced arthritis, that exercise = less pain if done right. I can't stand for long periods of time nor walk far (back probls) but I can ride my bike and a stationary bike at the gym, and do other types of exercise. I am itching to get to it!! It's just going to be a lonnnnnnnnngg time before I see results and meantime...that brownie is calling me.

So, I've found websites, recipes and the means to make my tempting favorites LESS fattening, and then I can enjoy a little now and then...but changing my attitude about food worked best for me in the past...I found that I liked sweets LESS when I didn't eat them for a while, like for a month, and had fat free yogurts instead. Pretty soon, I wasn't craving sweets at all... and the weight came off faster. For me, oatmeal and raisens for breakfast held off the hungries until after work (with yogurt, an apple and a piece of bran bread at lunch) then I had a homemade veggie tomato soup and yogurt and salad in the evenings...

The problem now is that I have to cook for MEN.....and they don't like that sort of girly diet stuff..... If I have to fix one more fattening thing for a man (even cutie DH and beloved DS) I will hit somebody with a skillet!

Being poor helps though.... it tends to let you buy less of the junk food and more of the survival stuff. So maybe since DH quit his job and doesn't really have to work anyway, that we'll eat healthier...

I am so excited about losing weight that I think I will celebrate with another brownie!:D Okay, don't kill me, I was joking....

....and I am OBESE, they don't make a scale that will weigh me except for the doctor's office kind...now how embarassing is that?

Okay, I repent, I repent.. I will get on my bike and work hard to lose that weight and I will start....tomorrow...it's raining here!:D

I am joining the band wagon. I could lose 60 lbs easy. Well not easy, it's hard, very hard. I love sweets. My skinny skinny man loves sweets and eats a TON. It's hard to gage how much I east when he can devore a roast on his own! I am up to 45 miles a week on my bike. The long rides make me really hungry though. Keep up the work, ladies. Healthy old age is the best revenge!

....and all you other fatbottomed gals who need to lose weight! I am certainly probably, most likely, ABSOLUTELY to have the most weight yet to lose:

How does losing 150 lbs sound? Maybe I am ambitious, but I hope to do it. (lost 90 five years ago but have gained almost all back.... :mad: ) Biking is certainly the answer. Congrats and Waytogo gals for all of us who are trying to be better me's!!

I have a hubby who can eat a horse but preferably a SUGAR coated horse..he's got a sweet tooth to kill a pacheyderm.... I make him go to Carls Jr to have his fattening chocolate malts -- by himself!!

But, as you can see, candy bars are my downfall...I love Midnight Milky Ways...... :eek: ahhhhhhhhhh....so bad!:mad:

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Originally Posted by withm

I saw your blog and not sure if your 4 day trip is in Missouri or in Maryland? If Maryland - is it the 4 days of Cycle Across Maryland in July? CAM? I am doing that ride, and I think others from this board will be there too. It would be fun if we could all get together sometime during that ride.

Martha

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Oh, Martha that would be so cool. But no, my tour is the Terry Tour of Maryland, on the eastern shore. You guys have a great time on the CAM though. Maybe next year!

Geez....I started today feeling pretty good. Spring is here....my favourite clothing store has a sale on...things were looking good. Trying on some nice summer tops....and there in the dressing room was a fat old woman staring at me. Oh wait.....it's a mirror...and that fat old woman is me.:eek: What is it about those mirrors anyway?? I know I have more work to do, but haven't those thousands of kilometers on my bikes done anything? I bought a couple of extra-baggy tops and scurried home, embarassed. So much for feeling good.... :(
~Sherry.

Mirrors in department stores are designed by evil men.....men who want you to buy diet products, join health clubs, buy larger clothes (and when you get home and in few weeks, realize they are too big, go back and buy smaller ones....)
... these mirrors are designed and funded by shrinks, exercise gurus, diet pill manufactures, pharmeceutical salesmen and bariatric surgeons...all designed to make us LOOK FAT and them to get rich! :mad:

It's only a theory, but it works for me....I NEVER believe those fat old ladies I always see glaring back at me with saddlebag butts, drooping boobies and jelly rolls for middles...it's all a plot, an EVIL plot.....gahaggagagagaaaaaaaa!