Beginner bike for overweight guy

[VanTil]

Hello,

Wanting to take up cycling because I really like going for early morning walks and figured why not. Walking helps with my general cardio and losing weight and I'm hoping a bike will help give me some more enthusiasm to push me harder with more variety available due to the distance possibilities in a reasonable time.

Problem is, I weigh 20 stone. I'm down 3 stone so far from walking but it isn't particularly quick progress by any means, so if I'm buying a bike I suppose I need it to be capable of my current weight at the very least.

I'd really rather not spend more than £300. I'd prefer a mountain bike.

Thanks!

 

[steve50]

Hi, assuming you are in the Uk the carrera range of bikes at halfords are good starter bikes and currently retailing at well under your £300 budget, a hardtail or front suspension only would be my choice if you are planning on doing road or dirt track cycling. http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bikes/carrera-vengeance-mens-mountain-bike-2015

 

[VanTil]

Hi, assuming you are in the Uk the carrera range of bikes at halfords are good starter bikes and currently retailing at well under your £300 budget, a hardtail or front suspension only would be my choice if you are planning on doing road or dirt track cycling. http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bikes/carrera-vengeance-mens-mountain-bike-2015

Gratitude.

I'd looked at those and they certainly look good. I just wanted to get a more informed opinion

Thanks!

 

[Doobiesis]

If I was you I would go second hand. Look on gumtree

There are guides online which you can check to see you're buying a good second hand bike.

You'll get more for your money, and even a three year old Scott will be better than a £299 Bike new from Halfirds.

Good job on the three stone

 

[Booyaa]

A Revolution Courier from Edinburgh Bicycle Co-Operative. Cracking bike for the money and I am heavier than you and it holds me fine.

 

[vickster]

Carrera Subway from halfords, no need for suspension unless riding properly off road, has good chunky tyres for comfort

 

[Elybazza61]

That Revolution looks a lot of bike for the money.

 

[die_aufopferung]

I'll second Vickster: the Carrera Subway is absolutely bombproof (I had one of the older models myself until it got nicked, crashed it many times and not a single dent in the frame or forks), the Subway 1 has mechanical discs or if you prefer hydraulics the Subway 2 has them as well as some other upgrades. However given the 20% off Halfords are running right now, they may be hard to get hold of if you take a while making a decision. I can tell you for example that yesterday there were only 7 of the Subway 1s in an 18" frame left in central warehousing (although admittedly that is the most popular of the Subways).

As for weight specific concerns regardless of which bike you go for - you'll find manufacturers do generally put an 18 stone (or thereabouts) "limit" on a lot of bikes but you can safely ignore that tbh. No human is actually heavy enough to damage a well made frame just by riding it (jumps and harsh landings though can crack forks). What you're more likely to find is that it'll be easier to knock the wheels out of true but even then, something with a 32 spoke or greater wheel will easily hold someone of your weight without much of an issue (again, assuming you're not doing jumps or rough,fast downhill off-roading). As long as you're not on a 20-spoke superlight racing bike wheel you'll be fine.

 

[stoatsngroats]

I would 3rd @visckster for the Carrera Subway, having had one for the last year, and ridden on road and light off road tracks, it's been great. Once setup, which isn't difficult to do, it has gven us many leisure miles without issues.
Good luck with the weight loss regime, cycling is a great way to gain fitnes, lose weight, and get out to see the local area, in a much qicker and enjoyable way than walking. This last weekend, we had an all-day cycle along the coast, totalling 26 miles, something we would never have done as a walk... Good luck!
These are ours, on the river bank

 

[Booyaa]

That Revolution looks a lot of bike for the money.

I've been very pleased with it, got the Courier Race from a few years ago that had disc brakes.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Just so its not a Carrera landslide, another vote for the Revolution Courier, EBC bikes are very good value, well specced for the price, well put together and the couple I've had have been very reliable, very good, low maintenance workhorses. No hesitation in recommending the company or equipment.

Depending on where you are, then you may also do well to consider Decathlon for entry level very good VFM, generally well received bikes at a decent price.

Also I know you've specified mountain bikes & nothing wrong with them, but if you'll be mainly road, light trails etc then don't discount hybrids or even drop bar bikes

 

[Innes]

Carrera Subway from halfords, no need for suspension unless riding properly off road, has good chunky tyres for comfort

I agree, I have a subway and I'm on the larger side..... Well proportioned bike and worth the money.

 

[Felix79]

Hello,

Wanting to take up cycling because I really like going for early morning walks and figured why not. Walking helps with my general cardio and losing weight and I'm hoping a bike will help give me some more enthusiasm to push me harder with more variety available due to the distance possibilities in a reasonable time.

Problem is, I weigh 20 stone. I'm down 3 stone so far from walking but it isn't particularly quick progress by any means, so if I'm buying a bike I suppose I need it to be capable of my current weight at the very least.

I'd really rather not spend more than £300. I'd prefer a mountain bike.

Thanks!

I'm a wee bit heavier than you are and I have had no problems with my 2nd hand 56cm Cannondale CAAD8 road bike (bought for £350 on eBay). I was worried that my weight would damage the bike, but it's not given me any problems. I'm not sure if it's because of the larger frame size my height needs (6.4) or the oversized tube sections element of the frame.

I am very much like you are. I started to walk a bit from March this year and it built up to the point where the walking was not pushing me hard enough and I'm desperate to get more of this weight off and get a lot of my lost confidence back.

 

[MarquisMatsugae]

Raleigh make well built,bombproof frames.
Still great quality bikes,without the big price tags.
The Raleigh Helion 3.0 is on the button at £300,and looks ideal for your needs.