Obese Biker

[Molly]

Hello. Relatively new to biking and to web forums. My husband and I have been biking together and are becoming addicted. This is one of the greatest sports! Anyway, my question for all you experienced and knowledgeable gals is this -- do they make bikes to support someone that is say over 360 lbs? I have a friend who loves to hear me talk about our biking adventures. She and her hubby are thinking about bikes -- but she is over the above weight and wasn't even sure if the bike could support her. What do you think -- a hybrid or road bike would? Right?

[Irulan]

no offense intended, but they'll need to look for stuff made for "clydesdale" riders. Components and bikes built specifically for that category of rider are built to take more of the stress produced by heavier riders. I'd suggest hard tail mountain bikes built for these riders... lots of really big men out there who ride bikes and break stuff just by the virute of their size.

Irulan

[karen_fish_bio]

Bikes for that weight exist, but they come with the price tag of a really good bike. I am not sure that any one that has allowed their physical fitness level to suside to the point that they weight that much is going to want to spend that kind of cash on a bike that is strong enough to do the trick. Again, no offence intended, but spending that kind of cash on a bike implies a love for the sport. No one that weighs 360 pounds "loves" to bike.

Perhaps some other form of low impact exersize until her weigh has come down enough to realistically afford a bike would be better. Make the bike a prize for loosing some pounds.

[pedalfaster]

First of all I admire your friend for wanting to try to ride. Bikes don't come with weight limits per se, but the largest rider I ever put on a "stock" bike topped out at ~280lbs. I would encourage your friend to look at "industrial bikes". These are heavy duty bikes made for industry and also sometimes used in the rental biz...so they are built to take abuse. They run from ~$250.00-500.00 US. Your LBS can usually order/assemble them.

Good luck!

www.aerofast.com/aerofast/industrial_bikes/ industrial.html

www.worksman.com/Whatmakesworksmanbikes.htm

http://www.mohawkindustrialbike.com/

[Molly]

Thank you for your replies. I will share the info and the links provided. I knew you pros would have more info than I would!

[Trek420]

"no offense intended, but they'll need to look for stuff made for "clydesdale" riders....I'd suggest hard tail mountain bikes built for these riders... lots of really big men out there who ride bikes and break stuff just by the virute of their size...."

I agree. They'll need sturdier rims and components too but do the suggested bikes come with that?

Lets get these folks on a bike ASAP! It's a perfect exercise because there's no stress on the joints. Why do a low impact class to get to a low impact activity? I'd encourage them to start riding, just start slow and low mileage.

As the pounds roll off the Clydesdale bike will seem too stiff for them and they'll need to upgrade/replace. But they'll roll across that bridge when they get to it

Do they have access to a gym with a stationary bike? Again, no offense intended, I've a few extra pounds myself but after years of innactivity they'll need to get used to balance on the bike.

[Molly]

Thanks - I am doing all of the encouraging I can. I am very excited about the satisfaction I get out of my rides. If I don't keep sharing my bumps and bruises from my MTB adventures when I try to keep up with the guys then she is even more interested. See - I am about 65 lbs overweight myself, very uncoordinated, and rather prissy (or so I am told) - this is why she is so intrigued by my excitement and enjoyment of the sport. Again, thank you for the advice - I will keep her and her hubby interested and see what they can do.
As far as the $ - on just a Raleigh WSD I spent what I call a pretty penny as did the hubster on his Trek. So, they know it would be a nice chunk of change.
After all, imagine being overweight for years, trying all the expensive fads, gyms, home excersise eqipment, all that money. This would be another try at something that might be enjoyable and work. Different way at looking at it.
I appreciate all of the advice and am learning that cyclists are SO nice.

[missliz]

I'm on the pitifully chunky side myself right now- In the Clydesdale category, which is at 200 to 250 pounds last I heard- and fit tall strong. There isn't a hardtail made that will do 360 pounds, no fork will handle it. I'm not sure a Lifecycle will handle that either. Or that a gym will take her. My shop keeps fixing a heavy duty cruiser for a guy almost that heavy, he keeps breaking seatposts and snapping off pedal spindles.
Whith all seriousness, your freind is so big she may have trouble getting on a bike, then maneuvering it. An Adult Trike might be a good starter bike. The position tends to be towards the recumbent, Worksman makes a heavy duty one, and they work well with big tractor seats. And to be perfectly graphic- really big people have really big guts, this is a big fitting problem. I can't get on my road bike yet, and I'm at 210 after my long layoff, and I have a lot of muscle mass. When she gets a lot thinner and gets a comfort bike, trikes are great for parades and festivals. (you can haul a keg on one of those puppies!)
She really needs a checkup first, too. Hauling that much extra weight around is a huge cardio vascular strain even walking around the house. She probably hasn't exerted much in a long time, and you don't want her to hurt herself.

Lizzy

[Dogmama]

The one thing not mentioned is the saddle. Your friend will probably need something fairly wide to distribute weight - a smaller saddle might be very painful.

She may be slow on the uphills, but get out of the way on the downhills!

[missliz]

That's why I was thinking trike with a tractor seat- wide saddle, very stable bike- even with the core strength and propreoception to ride, 360 is a LOT to body english around! And she needs positive possibilities, not another dead end.

When I was injured and totally unable to walk or move around for a couple years, I got clinicly depressed and made a foray into the world of the morbidly obese by trying to fill the riding void with cheetos. Since I'd always been called fat at 130 pounds, I wasn't really judgemental about big people, just didn't understand why they didn't get some exercise. Now I know- just finding decent clothes to go to physical therapy in is hell. Equipment is hard to find, swimming is recommended but just try to find a bathing suit that fits and isn't a humiliation. People with a lot of body fat don't want to be seen with bare lumpy thighs. You really get frustrated by the shopping aspect, even if you know how to do the training. And any idiot on the street thinks they have a god given right to call you ugly names. I don't know just how big 360 is, but nobody needs some fun on a bike more than Molly's freind. Except maybe me .

Lizzy

[mrhughes]

You might want to refer your friend to this web-site: http://members.cox.net/incredibleshrinkingwoman/ It's the story of Karen J. , who lives in Nebraska and has lost over 200 lbs. She took up cycling along the way. Her's is a fascinating and encouraging story for anyone to read.

[Barb]

Isn't the whole point to just get your friends out there? Chances are that if they are that large, they will have a long way to go before they want to "keep up with the guys". What about the basic, single speed cruisers that companies like Huffy and schwinn are making for mass market? If they like those and get really into riding, they will be better able to find a more appropriate bike later.


I say get them out there riding after dinner, nice and slow and build up. The more they ride, the fitter they will become and better able to make decisions about thier next bike.

Besides, aren't bikes for collecting?!!!! I've got two and am shopping for a third!!!!!

[Trek420]

"Besides, aren't bikes for collecting?!!!! I've got two and am shopping for a third!!!!!"

Yep, Imagine them someday boasting over the OCLV tandem bike "look, this used to be the only bike we could ride!" and keeping the old cruiser

-TREK420

[Barb]

I still have my huffy mountain bike from 15 years ago. It shifts soooo smoothly, honest! Now I use it when the weather is bad. Next year it will be taken to my cottage for casual cruising!!!!

[h2odoglover]

Hi there, I'm going to weigh in on this one. (Pun intended )

Last summer I bought my first bike in a decade or three. At the time I weighed approx 320lbs.

My suggestion would be to have your friend look at a recumbent with cruisers or comfort bikes as an alternative.

Reasons for a recumbent:
1. Easier on the knees and lower back.
2. Less weightbearing than a std upright bike.
3. Big comfortable seat. (My personal favorite!)
4. They're cool. Seriously weighing over 300lbs and having someone come up and ask about my cool bike was great.

Specifically I'll recommend the EZ-SC (super cruiser).

This is a design by the Easy Racer people(Easy Racers ) but it's an import by Sun and most LBS can order one. They are also pretty easy (and a bit cheaper $350 +/-) to buy on Ebay.

It has a low step over height.

It is a modified recumbent (i.e. the crank is below the seat height) which is, IMHO, more comfortable. The position is very close to many recumbent exercise bikes and actually your friend can try a recumbent exercise bike as a test.

It has little to no learning curve. Both I and my SO got on and road it without any problems.

If cost is a major issue or your friend simply doesn't like recumbents, hit a local sport store or dept store and look for a cruiser or comfort bike.

IMO I wouldn't worry too much about the weight rating. Why? Because in part, weight rating is based on use. Most likely your friend isn't going to be doing 30mi a day 3 times a week, or jumping off curbs, etc.

Sharky