Moral support needed: scared, paranoid, excited, stressed...etcetc

[GLC1968]

There is a lot of excellent advice in this thread!

Something else that you might want to keep in mind is that biking is a very unique sport. There are no limits to ones ability to bike just based on size. Because of this, there are lots and lots of stories about people (men and women both) who started out heavy and through their developing love of biking, are now much thinner. Some of them are now racing, starting to run, doing triathlons, etc.

With the exception of the typical jerk (and there will always be those types out there), I would imagine that most cyclists (particularly those who work in bike shops and presumably know tons of other cyclists) know of at least one person personally who started out biking when they were very large. In fact, one of my riding buddies from my old job was that way...he started biking at well over 300 lbs. By the time I met him (and started riding myself) he was down over 65 lbs and still losing.

I guess my point is that while you'd imagine that most of their customers are skinny little racer types, that's not likely the case. Even if it is, that doesn't mean that they don't know of a bike fitness success story first-hand. You may not be as out of place as you feel!

And good luck - to all of you soon-to-be cyclists...you're gonna love it!

[sundial]

Softie, keep an open mind about bikes and just try different kinds--commuter, hybrid, mountain bike, cyclocross, and road. The first 3 types of bikes I mentioned will have a more relaxed geometry and will give you a more upright position. For larger people, this allows more room for the tummy and opens up the chest more.

A hardtail mountain bike can serve as a road bike with slick tires and can be very versatile. Put a rack and lights on it and it's good for commuting.

A cyclocross bike has the road bike geometry and is built for off road use, making it durable. I would recommend this if you are looking for a road bike. Specialized makes the Tricross as the cyclocross bike with 36 spoke wheels which is recommended for touring/commuters and larger riders.

Road bikes can be fitted with adjustable stems that allow many riding positions, giving you a more upright position in the handlebars which will put less strain on your hands and wrists.

Regardless of what bike you decide on, make sure the bike shop truly listens to you and is willing to work with you. If you don't feel they have your best interests at heart, go to another bike shop. And when you do decide on that special bike, please keep us posted and show us pictures.

[Softie]

Thanks for the advice. I am checking out a few bikes tomorrow with my boyfriend. Hopefully things will go well!

[Fish_Lady]

Good luck in your bike shopping! In Maine I found that each bike shop I went into was easy to deal with and treated me like any other customer. Here in OK, it's been more of a hit or miss. Thankfully though, I finally found a fabulous bike shop.

[Softie]

I'm happy to say the bike shopping experience wasn't nearly as bad as I feared (or it could have been). I went to two bike shops and even tried bikes at both. My boyfriend came along for support and encouragement, which really helped too (and I don't look that big when I'm standing next to a 6'7 350+ lb football player).

Going in with a lot of information about what I wanted and needed really helped (thanks to all here and other info I read online) so I knew I beforehand that the bikes I was looking at were appropriate for my size, good quality, and suitable for my needs. The employees at both were helpful, nice, older men (which probably made me more comfortable than if it were the cute young very fit guys). I also found, as I suspected from my readings online a women's design would be a bad fit for me.

Now for the next challenges getting in shape, my butt used to this, and comfortable on the unfortunately busy streets with no shoulders or bike lanes in my area. I'm hoping that will come pretty fast so I can really enjoy the full benefits of having a bike soon

thanks again all

[badgercat]

So wait, you bought a bike?? What did you get? Post pictures!

[Softie]

Haha yes I did It's a Trek 7.3fx, which I'm sure many people here may be familiar with (as they suggested it ), also the first non-mountain bike I've owned since my 10-speed at age 10 probably! I had also tried a Specialized, and looked at Marin's as well, but felt pretty at home as soon as I hopped on this (and confident it would handle me just fine). I think it will be perfect my needs of exercising and getting around town on something that is pretty quick, reliable, and in my price range. Well...maybe not quick yet, but one day I hope to give it a run for it's money, so to speak. I'm full of giddy feelings about my bike and biking all the time now.

Even though I've biked as a child, and to college and work a fair bit a few years ago this is the first time I've really had a sense of a really strong connection to biking...if that makes sense. When we're young they're so much a part of our lives that we may not have thought about them a lot, besides the feelings of fun and freedom it gave us, and buying a bike new from an actual bike shop after research and thinking about all these bike related factors, and the idea of having that freedom and fun again on my own two wheels is a feeling I'm not sure I've had before, and I like it! I hope I'll get in shape again pretty quick and used to the busy streets so I can really get out there and both enjoy and take advantage of it.