Am i to heavy for my new bike?

[gb155]

Hello Coneypark and welcome to the site.
Good on you for getting on your bike and losing some weight. A lot of people on this forum have been in the same position as yourself. Cycling really works at getting that weight down. You only have to check out this thread from the legendary Gaz as proof of that.

Looking at your new bike, it looks a very sturdy piece of kit. I own a Kona Dew and it's a rock solid bike. Where did you get the information the bike is only designed for weights up to 18 stone? I am pretty sure that your Kona could take 20st easy.

Legend ...Me

OP, everyone is right, Im on a Ribble road bike, granted with Mavic rims but im 21 stone now, when I started on a cheap (almost bottom of the range) Giant MTB I was pushing 35stone almost, so @20 Stone your under me and im on a road bike now so I cant see it being an issue TBH

Good luck on your journey, its worth every single second B)

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

It's slow when you want to wake up and find it's all gone
But in real terms I know it's going well and the bike is definitely helping. I enjoy doing that as to having to make myself use the cross trainer I had been using.

Thanks again for all the encouragement.

P.S. I've started another new thread so feel free to drop by and leave your advice on that one as well :-)

Give it 'til Christmas and it will be.

Legend ...Me

OP, everyone is right, Im on a Ribble road bike, granted with Mavic rims but im 21 stone now, when I started on a cheap (almost bottom of the range) Giant MTB I was pushing 35stone almost, so @20 Stone your under me and im on a road bike now so I cant see it being an issue TBH

Good luck on your journey, its worth every single second

You are, you know. An inspiration. If only more people were listening ..

It's funny, I did the "7 Days, 7 Questions" thing on the BBC (linked from the Cafe) and they had two higlighted articles above each other on the page: one about "Do nervous cyclists suffer more?" and the other about rising obesity rates. If only those two dots could be joined ..

 

[g0kmt]

Just joined. I weigh in at 23 stone, thought about bikes ages ago, looked at several, went to my LBS (took a while to figure that acronym out- I work in the aviation industry where TLA or Three Letter Acronyms rule hehe)

Anyway Gaz you are an inspiration mate - watched your video, was intrigued by the "Giant" bike - thought it was a strong bike but if as you say its a bottom of the range bike - ok

My firm recently started a cycle to work scheme (Halfords one unfortunately) soI decided to go for it.

I have my letter of collection for £400 so off to Halfords to get a bike and accessories. Undecided on Carrera subway, vengeance or kraken. probably one of the last 2 to be honest.

I havent ridden in anger for 31 years, but I tried my nephews bike for an afternoon and although I only rode a short distance - his bike is not good lol, I enjoyed it though.

Looking forward to the future

 

[Jonathan M]

In the "olden" days, when MTB's went supersillylightweight, you may have had a problem. Nowadays you shouldn't.

If you do start to develop upgradeitis though, remember that you can get strong items, or light items, but very few strong & light items unless you start to spend silly money. So keep things realistic and you will be fine.

Welcome to the forum.


(PS With a full Camelbak & kit, I probably weigh in at around 17st, I'm a fraction over 16st bollox naked, and I don't often ride a bike naked. Not broken anything yet, just worn out a lot of components).

 

[ron4322]

In the "olden" days, when MTB's went supersillylightweight, you may have had a problem. Nowadays you shouldn't.

If you do start to develop upgradeitis though, remember that you can get strong items, or light items, but very few strong & light items unless you start to spend silly money. So keep things realistic and you will be fine.

Welcome to the forum.


(PS With a full Camelbak & kit, I probably weigh in at around 17st, I'm a fraction over 16st bollox naked, and I don't often ride a bike naked. Not broken anything yet, just worn out a lot of components).

In my case there seems little point in saving the odd kg or ten off the bike weight until I've knocked the odd kg or twenty off my own.

 

[Norm]

In my case there seems little point in saving the odd kg or ten off the bike weight until I've knocked the odd kg or twenty off my own.

Had the same thought myself. When the chap in the bike shop asked me to pick up the bike that was five times the one I ended up buying, he said "How light is that?"

I suggested that, if I wanted a lighter GVW, I'd be looking at a mirror rather than a carbon frame.

 

[Weegie]

Now I realise bikes are designed to take up to 18 stone and I'm currently 20 stone.

I'm using the bike mostly on canal paths and back roads not mostly off road.

1) will my excess weight damage my new bike?

I would echo the opinions above - there's no problem with your weight, use the bike and enjoy it. Remember that MTBs are designed to survive substantial punishment on a hillside, way more than you're going to give the bike on a level surface, even taking your weight into account.

I weigh the same as you, and have had zero problems with my Carrera Subway, bought two months ago. I now use it daily, and while it's a nice enough bike, it's not as nice as yours!

Besides, if your weight was really a concern, I'm sure the LBS would not have sold you the bike in the first place

 

[GrasB]

I know this is a little late but when mountain bikes have things like 18st max they're talking about 18st and doing 2ft drops on the bike so they don't have to replace the wheels under warranty. Really for riding along on a road with a bad surface any mountain bike will be fine for heaver people.

 

[e-rider]

The only problem that you will have is the seatpost bending (or breaking) if you do some serious off road riding in the saddle. I got through 3 in no time at all (decent ones too) and I am 17 stone.