Overweight issues

[shasta]

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! 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!

Shasta

[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.

Shasta

[uforgot]

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

[Robbin_G]

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.

Shasta

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.

[Blueberry]

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. Shasta

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 ). 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

[Popoki_Nui]

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.

Shasta

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.

[tjodit]

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.

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.

[mmelindas]

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 ( 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!!!!

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!!!

[mmelindas]

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

[uforgot]

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!

[plantluvver]

I weigh about 254, and my height is 5'7". And my weight just keeps creeping on. I am 47. I've recently decided that a car is unneceassary to me, and bad fir thee environment. I MUST ride a bike if I wish to sail with my women's sailing club. There is no public transportation to that neighborhood.

I would be happy to get down to a size 16 even, just so I can buy "normal" clothes, and not shop in the plus sizes. Besides I prefer to shop at thrift stores, and I can't find big stuff easily there.

I am glad to hear that biking burns weight off. Actually, just if I stopped gaining I would feel accomplished.

I am sure I will be posting more on this forum.

Mary

[kelownagirl]

You might like to take a look at http://www.sparkpeople.com

It's kind of like the WW site but it's totally free, no stupid diet pills ads, just awesome support for people wanting to lose weight and/or become fit.

I've lost 10 lbs since I started biking 2 months ago. And I'm sure I've gained tons of muscle. The inch losses are more pronounced than the weight loss...

barb