Fat Girl on a Bike

[darling]

Wow, I'm learning so much already. i've been riding daily for a few years now...but only on snowless days and then i ride boringly inside...and of course don't put as much into it. I am so impressed with all of your diligence, ladies! You truly are an inspiration!
I'm new to this forum and very excited to gain insight into this cycle/fitness/community thing...Since my current bike is 40 years old and very well made, i'm not springing for a new one until I know exactly what i want...it'll be so fun to learn!
darling

[ACiveE]

I just wanted to cheer you on a bit!! I was almost your exact height and weight about two years ago...5'5" and 256lbs. I'm down nearly 90lbs now. Size 24 to a size 10/12. It's a constant battle but it is something that you CAN do and cycling is a great way to get started. Finding a great LBS is a good thing, but TE has been the best resource I've found. I'm not a big poster, but I'm a big reader and searcher. It's quite inspirational. Goooood luck with riding!!

[Eden]

I think the craigslist thing is one of those little internet versions of an urban legend. Someone wrote it to be funny and it gets copied and spread around. It's probably been posted to every city's CL site and dozens of message boards by now....... (kind of like the bikini waxing story - which even if total fiction is still hilarious)

For kicks I went and read the Yelp reviews on RecycledCycles. The dissatisfied people were not racer types (and many of the guys who work there race themselves so they don't have an anti-racer attitude) - they tended to be newbies, largely women, who wanted a whole lot more customer service than you get there. They do tend to leave you alone if you don't ask for things. Someone complained about not being greeted when she walked into the shop and attributed it to them being racist, sexist and classist...... Sorry, nope everyone gets the same treatment. It's a busy shop and they prefer to let you do your own thing until you ask and yes there often is a wait for someone who is free.

Of course some folks were also disgruntled about the very thing the rant talked about - they walked in wanting an impossible bike and were peeved when it couldn't be provided.... (I want a classic steel road bike, it has to fit like a glove and I only want to spend $200.....)

I like Recycled and I shop there relatively often. They built my winter wheels too. I personally prefer to be left alone until I ask for assistance. Really I've probably been to most Seattle area shops at least once.... Depends on what I need.

[KnottedYet]

Let's do a "Schnitzles' New Bike" slow cruise ride!

If you're not sure you could ride a mile, how about driving your bike to Log Boom Park and meeting up with a few of us for a 1 or 2 mile ride on the Burke Gilman?

We can putt-putt on the trail, ooh and ahhh over your new bike (whatever you get), and if something problematic pops up as you ride someone among us could probably address it.

Of course, this means you'd have to let us know once you've bought the bike and tell us some times and days that work for you.

The BG is pretty flat and wide near Log Boom, and there is a really good long straight bit just south of Log Boom which is good for putt-putting. People can see riders from a good distance off and avoid them. (blind corners suck when you are just cruising!)

[Bike Chick]

Good for you, schnitzle! I started riding at 46. Began with a $200 mountain bike (thought I'd spent a fortune--little did I know) then followed the normal progression to a hybrid and road bike. My first ride was 6 miles and I thought I would die. The next year I did my first century and the following year my first triathlon. You will get the bug. It's a wonderful addiction and, no, you don't belong on the couch! Welcome to TE!

Wow, I'm learning so much already. i've been riding daily for a few years now...but only on snowless days and then i ride boringly inside...and of course don't put as much into it. I am so impressed with all of your diligence, ladies! You truly are an inspiration!
I'm new to this forum and very excited to gain insight into this cycle/fitness/community thing...Since my current bike is 40 years old and very well made, i'm not springing for a new one until I know exactly what i want...it'll be so fun to learn!
darling

Darling, welcome to TE. You will learn a lot here and make a lot of new friends. Maybe we can get a group of St Louis area gals together for a ride.

[marni]

sweetie, I live in Houston- around here the only hills are railroad crossings and freeway overpasses- mind you we do have headwinds which are good for resistance but don't do much for hill training. The biggest obstacle around here is texas drivers, the heat and humidity. But I ride way out in the country where there isn't quite as much traffic which takes care of the drivers. As for the heat and humidity, I in the summer I ride out at the butt crack of dawn so that I am off the road by 11:00 and I cut my distances a bit but frankly once your wet and sweaty, it doesn't really get much worse. The hardest part is mopping up the sweat pools off the kitchen floor.

marni

[schnitzle]

Hey I finally got my bike!!! I went to Bikesport in Ballard and picked out a Jamis Citizen 1. Of the bikes I tried it fit me the best, and I like those straight handlebars. Krista at Bikesport is awesome and really helped me chose the right bike. I had fenders, a rack, lock and a water bottle holder put on. I just got a couple little lights since I won't be riding at night for a while, and a pack so that I can (eventually) carry a few things. Oh yes and a helmet! All those things sure add to the price! haha Of course directly after the purchase it started raining :P

Today (my B-day!) we put the bike in the car, grabbed the dogs and went out to a deserted park. SO FUN!! I actually found exercise that is fun!! Plus I could check out what kind of things were peeking up through the dirt (baby stinging nettles waiting to be cooked up! Kept an eye out for any morels.) and of course look at all the birds out and about. I rode around a bit, then taught the dog how to run along side the bike with a leash (going slow of course!) after a while he was able to run along side like he'd been doing it his whole life! Probably the most exercise either of us have had in 5 years! LOL I want to see about getting one of those dog out-rigger things so I could take him with on leash. Plus it's just safer. My partner rode the bike too and really enjoyed herself. I think she's getting interested in getting her own, YAY!!

Thanks for all the comments and support, I love this place!

KnottedYet, I would love to try riding with you guys I am about to hit finals at school so it probably won't be for a couple of weeks. Hey maybe that would give the weather some time to shape up?

Marni, I should have known that about Texas shouldn't I? haha Geez. I was born there (Corpus Christi) but left when I was 2 so I don't remember it. The heat and humidity sounds just as daunting as hills!

[lovesunflowers]

I also am pretty new to cycling and am a 6' tall (which gets me enough attention as it is) and I'm also over 250 pounds. I've struggled with my weight all my life and did get up to 90 pounds lost at one point and then starting going backwards to my current spot right now. I love cycling! Its hard sometimes to get up that hill, but, each time it really does get easier and easier and then you have that fabulous ride back down which is thrilling; a reward for all that hard work. I have been looking for proper cycling gear in PLUS sizes and finally discovered this wonderful site and then this awesome group here! I actually was crying after my 5th stop in a bike shop to try to find clothes in my size!! Its easy to feel like they don't believe big girls can ride too and be serious about it!! I have my first 36 mile bike ride coming up for a fund raiser and I'm scared but will do my best. I hope you love riding as much as I have. As my best friend said: just keep peddling, just keep peddling....

[KnottedYet]

KnottedYet, I would love to try riding with you guys I am about to hit finals at school so it probably won't be for a couple of weeks. Hey maybe that would give the weather some time to shape up?

Excellent! You have a bike! Now just get your wife on one, too!
One of my friends loves Krista at BikeSport. I've only been to that shop once, but I liked it (too far from me to go there regularly).

Check the "Northwest" forum for the Redhook Ride. We will probably do it in May or so this year. Very fun, very easy-going.

Meanwhile, put up a notice in the Northwest forum when you are done with finals, and set a couple times and days you'd like to do a putt-putt or cruise. Folks will chime in, and before you know it there will be a TE cruise in the works!

[Zen]

I decided that going to community college at 40 is not embarrassing enough.

Piker.
I'm 52 and not the least bit embarrassed.

Finals? In March?

[channlluv]

Hey, Schnitzle,

Welcome! A year and a half ago, give or take, I got on a bike for the first time in years, and like you, I am 5' 4.5", and at the time, I weighed 250 pounds. Now, I'm not really the typical TEr in that I don't ride miles and miles every week. In fact, because of injuries and family stuff, I haven't even ridden outside since October, and I've only been on the trainer a few times, but I love riding my bike, and I'm making up the road time in the pool, but thanks to the love, support, and education I've received here, I'm down 20 pounds and I'm so much healthier and in such a better place emotionally and psychologically than I was two years ago.

Look for the just-started March-April Weight Loss Thread (possegal will be posting it later this week since it's the first week of March). Add your current weight and set a goal and keep track along with the rest of us. It's awesome to watch your progress.

You can ask anything here. Anything at all. You'll get a supportive and informative answer. There is no flaming, no ridicule, no judging. This is the most supportive online community you'll find anywhere. I'm so glad I found it, and I'm sure you will be, too.

Congrats on the new bike, too. Post a photo!

Roxy

[KnottedYet]

There is no flaming, no ridicule, no judging.

'Cept me. I'm judged as flamingly ridiculous.

[gr33nt3a]

You can do it!

1 1/2 ago I couldn't job for 2 minutes at a time when I decided to join the Navy. I went from 198 pounds to 170 to get into bootcamp so I know you can do it, all it takes it little changes!

My biggest suggestion is when you start riding for longer distances to make sure you have a nice seat. I had a man's style seat when I first started riding and they're not made wide enough for my butt.

Good luck girl and keep it up.

[schnitzle]

Piker.
I'm 52 and not the least bit embarrassed.

Finals? In March?

I didn't mean to offend! I'm embarrassed because I've never gone to college and am in classes like Math 75 and English 101 with kids who ask me if I'm the teachers aid

We have quarters not semesters, so, yep, finals at the end of March. This is my first quarter so I'm probably more stressy than I need to be about that.

[schnitzle]

You can do it!

1 1/2 ago I couldn't job for 2 minutes at a time when I decided to join the Navy. I went from 198 pounds to 170 to get into bootcamp so I know you can do it, all it takes it little changes!

My biggest suggestion is when you start riding for longer distances to make sure you have a nice seat. I had a man's style seat when I first started riding and they're not made wide enough for my butt.

Good luck girl and keep it up.

Wow the Navy! Talk about your get fit quick plan!! I think I would probably die.

I think the seat my bike came with is pretty nice, but we'll see what happens when I start going on longer rides. At the moment I am just trying to get up the small hills to and from my house. By the time I do that (15 minutes?) I'm gasping for breath! LOL I think I need a bike rack for my car so I can easily take it somewhere flatter. I'm also going to drag the recumbant stationary bike out of the garage so I can train. Funny how this place works on you. I used to think "Oh it will be a nice thing to have a bike for summer", now I'm thinking "Must train so I can get up the hills without dying, want to ride with the Seattle TE people, how long until I can do the STP?" hahaha