Another big man that needs advice (Please help!)

[BulletTheory05]

Hello everybody,

Well, where do I start?

I'm a big lad, and would like to start cycling to go along with my newly started diet. Trouble is, basically, I haven't got a clue! Because I'm a big lad, I'm unsure if I need a specific type of frame or wheels or anything, basically so it can take my weight? So I'm unsure as to where to start looking, and for what type of cycle etc. At the moment I have around 150pound to spend, but would save up a bit more, if needs be.

If there is anyone out there that could help, I would be truly thankful!

Thanks

 

[Globalti]

Have you read the other thread on here by a big bloke with the same question? The answers will be in there I'm sure!

£150 will buy you a reasonable second-hand MTB, which will do the job. Keep it simple, no suspension and you'll be fine. Fit some commuter tyres and pump them up hard.

 

[BulletTheory05]

Hi Rigid.

Yeah I had a peek in the other thread. He was asking questions about different tyres and stuff, whereas I'm at square one, and need info on bikes first!

Sorry about that! And thank you for your help

 

[Crackle]

Is that £150 just for the bike? If so you'll need to add a bit to get stuff like lock, helmet and lamps.

I'm not to au fait with bike prices but I think Halfords do a reasonable one for that kind of price as do a couple of others, someone will be along soon to tell you I'm sure.

There's also e-bay. I was looking at some nice 2nd hand Marins, similiar to the mtn bike I have for well within your budget. This for example

 

[BulletTheory05]

Is that £150 just for the bike? If so you'll need to add a bit to get stuff like lock, helmet and lamps.

I'm not to au fait with bike prices but I think Halfords do a reasonable one for that kind of price as do a couple of others, someone will be along soon to tell you I'm sure.

There's also e-bay. I was looking at some nice 2nd hand Marins, similiar to the mtn bike I have for well within your budget. This for example

Hi Crackle.

Yes, I was thinking £150 just for the bike. I could get a helmet, lock (I spotted one in Aldi) and lamps out of my wages.

Thanks for your recommendations, I will have a quick look at Halfords and see what they have.

 

[Desert Orchid]

BT05, one simple question but it leads to so many questions back !

your size won't determine what bike, more what you want to do with it and where , so...

on road or off road ? short or long rides ?

If I'm right and you just want a starter to get fit and lose weight then almost anything WITHOUT suspension should fit the bill.

in a year you will want something different as your fitness / weight loss / cycling needs will change.

whatever you get , use road tyres and pump them up as hard as you can, it stops the wheels buckling and prevents pu***ures

 

[BulletTheory05]

BT05, one simple question but it leads to so many questions back !

your size won't determine what bike, more what you want to do with it and where , so...

on road or off road ? short or long rides ?

If I'm right and you just want a starter to get fit and lose weight then almost anything WITHOUT suspension should fit the bill.

in a year you will want something different as your fitness / weight loss / cycling needs will change.

whatever you get , use road tyres and pump them up as hard as you can, it stops the wheels buckling and prevents pu***ures

Okay, here goes

The bike will be used for road/path cycling. There is nowhere round my way really where you can go on a good bike ride, so I thinking of going along New Brighton promenade, and Otterspool promenade. That way there won't be any heckling cars or heckling people (hopefully!). I was hoping to cycle around 2 hours a night (permitting I haven't got to stay in work, and there is no football on the TV etc).

I'm just looking for something to go along with my diet, and get some (much needed) exercise. Walking is so boring, so I thought I'd give cycling a whirl. I haven't cycled since I was about 14 which is 10 years ago now.

 

[JtB]

I was hoping to cycle around 2 hours a night.

2 hours a night sounds like an awful lot of cycling to me

 

[JohnRedcoRn]

Hybrid. Got mine on recommendation of bike shop and advice of cycling mates ; i was told not to worry too much about weight, i'm around 15 stone, these things seem to be engineered to do a lot of work and carry weight. Also , as i dont want to go the whole hog and get a full on 'racing bike' like my mates, the hybrid is just right because (so i've been told), mountain bikes are heavy. the hybrid seems light enough for keeping up with me road bike mates but also handles a bit more rough terrain.

I got mine through cycle to work scheme so i could keep the mrs sweet + afford a decent bike + all the essential kit (it adds up but you'll be glad of it). and i dont ride to work as its a 50 mile round trip and i have to use my car to do my job ; what the hell, they dont audit it and i'm paying for it out of me wages anyway + the govt wants us on bikes. did you consider this scheme ? glad i did because with a £250 bike + basic essentials it was about £400 in total, which i otherwise couldnt afford to fork out.

 

[BulletTheory05]

2 hours a night sounds like an awful lot of cycling to me

When push comes to shove, I doubt I'd actually be able to manage 2 hours a night

 

[ACS]

I would say I fit in to the 'Big Lad Club' and I have just returned to cycling after a 10 years lay off. I am about 4 stone or so over weight and my main concern was my knees. Being on a very limited budget I found a second hand Raleigh MT 20 MTB (in ex condition) for sale locally and paid £50 for it. Changed the tyres for slicks and spoke to my LBS about a lid (Specialized Air 8 £24), togs from Lidi and Aldi and started to get the miles in.
My thoughts being that if I do not get on with the sport then my outlay has not been that great I would not hate my self for wasting the money.
The reaction from other cyclist has always been mostly postive.
My plan is to ride my Raleigh through the winter, build up the milage, reduce the beer belly and get a audax tourer in the spring.
OK the Raleigh has low speck components and will has no cool value whatsoever, and will probably fall to bits by the spring but for £50 who cares. Welcome build up your saddle time slow and steady and my only little piece of advice is remember that rest is just as important as training.

 

[BulletTheory05]

So, basically, at the moment, my best bet is finding a half decent, sturdy second-hand mountain bike, chucking some slicks on it (and pump them up fully!) and take things from there? I didn't post my weight before, but I'm going to now, to see if anyone's advice changes. Currently I weight 27.9 stone (lost 7lbs in 2 weeks, woo!). So, do is everybody's advice still the same?

Does anyone have any recommendations on what types of bikes to look at?

Cheers!

 

[BulletTheory05]

Would this bike be okay?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Brand-New-Hig...39:1|66:2|65:12|240:1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

I am 6'4", would that frame size be big enough?

 

[hulver]

I'm 20 stone, and I ride a skinny road bike with really thin tyres.

My suggestion would be to find a local bike shop that sells second hand bikes, and go and try some out for size. They might even swap the tyres for you, and they often have lots of mountain bikes in.

 

[HelenD123]

If you want any inspiration look at this thread. He started off at 32 stones and has just completed Lands End to John O'Groats! It looks like he rides a mountain bike.