Big girl looking for bike to hold her goodies! Any suggestions on bikes 4me

[Rakekay]

Check out Spokes, Etc. right there in downtown Vienna. I've found them incredibly helpful. I too am a fairly new rider (about a year and a half) and also tall and heavy. I bought a road bike from the get-go because I knew I wanted to ride long distance and started training for a century from the very first day I bought it. That's not to say a road bike is best for you. I don't know enough about the different kinds of bikes to give you any advice there.

I will, however, echo what some others have said -- I, too, kept breaking spokes on my rear wheel. When I broke the third one in a 10-day period, I took it back to Spokes, Etc. and told them my problem. They, too, were kind enough not to tell me it was because I was too fat. They just said that bike (Specialized Sequoia) didn't come with very good wheels. They replaced my rear wheel with a sturdier one, and I haven't had a single problem since. (Now, watch, I'll break a spoke on my next ride after saying that).

And, since you're in Vienna, you probably already know about the W&OD trail -- a wonderful, wonderful place to bike, regardless of if you have a hybrid, mountain or road bike. 45 miles of nice, smooth pavement for riding!

[Duck on Wheels]

Hi, and welcome to the forum! (is that an echo???)
I too am fairly tall (5'9") and heavier than I'd like to be (about 192lbs when I (re-)started biking, about 10 less now). I started out on a "comfort bike", a Giant Se..something or other, Sedona? Sierra? Oneathose. Boy was she ever heavy! Just ask Trek420 who lifted her onto a car-top rack once! But for commuting around town and getting in shape initially, she did the job. And she was cheap. When I decided I could afford it, I traded her in and upgraded to a Trek "fitness bike". This is still a hybrid, but muuuuuch lighter weight and with a somewhat more forward-leaning sitting position (i.e. slightly more aerodynamic). Between those two, I also have an older Trek 7000 (steel hybrid) but didn't have it with me last year when I did all that biking. The 7000 is now my bad-weather bike (or will be when I get a decent saddle on it). The new faster, lighter, sleeker 7.6 will be for long rides (wheeeee ) and good-weather commutes. I may even put studded tires on the 7000 and try winter commuting this year .

The most important thing with all these bikes was how they felt when I test rode them -- how they fit, whether I was comfortable with the gear range, whether I was comfortable with the seating angle. I can't crouch double like racers do, because I wear an ostomy bag. Sitting pretty much straight up is more comfortable and down leaves me less nervous about the bandage coming undone. And I'm lousy at hills, so I need some seriously low gears ... although a few high ones for speed on the flat road or a downhill are nice too.

Anyway, the conclusion is:
Look at hybrids. There's a whole range of them from "comfort" to nearly road bikes. Within that range, you just need to test ride them and find out what feels right. If it feels right you'll ride it, and that's what you're aiming for. Have fun!

[Offthegrid]

Wow, I'm a similar weight and I've never broken a spoke. But I have a real hard time with the bike shops. I think they see an overweight woman, and they just don't want to help you or they have stereotypes about what kind of riding you're going to do.

I first rode a Bianchi Brava (loved it), but I got hit by a car and the bike frame was totaled. I now ride a Litespeed Capella and recently bought a comfort bike for commuting next spring.

My advice to you is to not worry about the brand but go in and try to find something you can ride comfortably to work as well as on weekends.

[HipGnosis6]

I'm taller, but I'm WAY HEAVIER (to the tune of 250 lbs these days) than that and haven't ever broken a spoke.... but my front wheel's needed truing a little more often than I like to admit.

I count myself lucky that the guys at the LBS where I bought my Sirrus were totally cool and made absolutely no judgements of me based on my appearance. I bought a hybrid that is on the "road" end of the spectrum, though she's a little bit heavy. 700 cc wheels have been fine once I learned that it really is crucial to check the pressure every few days. I use the Sirrus for exactly what it was made for - riding on the streets in town, commuting. It's a great bike.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Well we haven't heard a thing back from the new member who started this thread....I wonder if she ever got her bike?? I hope she found a good bike to "hold her goodies" as she put it!

[uforgot]

Well we haven't heard a thing back from the new member who started this thread....I wonder if she ever got her bike?? I hope she found a good bike to "hold her goodies" as she put it!

There are a few I wonder about. Remember Shasta? and mmelindas? melinda had some health problems and I wonder how that played out. Oh, and there was BamaKathy. All were really working hard to get fit. I wish they would come back and tell us how they are, and if they "fell off the wagon", come back and get some inspiration!

[NickiSue]

I am picking up cycling again, but this time I hope to build my miles up to a decent amount each week. My issue is that I have lost most of my flexibility due to age and 42 years w/type 1 diabetes and for that reason, i decided to buy a Marion San Rafael Ez Step. BUT, after two weeks with this bike, it is just not working. I was glad to read this thread as i have recently been looking at the trek 7.2 fx wsd. I feel this bike will allow me to enjoy more miles each week (than the San Rafael). Road bikes are not an option at this point. I am hoping that i can comfortably ride 30+ miles on the 7.2 fx in one ride, and ride 80 + miles a week. Any comments?? Thanks in advance! (I am 5'6" 180#)