Overweight and which bike?

[vickster]

My only understanding of Parva was the food reference.

View attachment 379199

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parva_(food)

One of the main benefits to cycling surely is the ability to eat more food!

Or not if weight loss is your objective

 

[buzzy-beans]

Don't take the advice of any local bike shops as gospel. Many are not experts on dealing with overweight cyclists and will recommend bikes often not suitable because they are bikes they sell and in stock. To be honest I'm not sure there is a direct equivalent to the Carrera Subway in many bike brands. Your LBS may try to suggest a bike with suspension or weaker 700c wheels. Check out the bike manufacturer's sites and check their manuals for maximum rider weight etc or ask instore to see the manual. You don't want to end up with a bike that needs constant upgrades to handle your weight. Start from the beginning with a bike as strong as possible.

I honestly believe the full posting by bonzobanana made the most sense out of all the replies made so far, may I congratulate you on such a well reasoned reply, most especially the last paragraph which I copy above.

 

[Banjo]

Welcome to the forum.

I would say dont spend too much money initially .possibly a sturdy second hand mountain bike would be good.

MTBs (mountainbikes) are designed for hitting rocks and tree roots etc so are less likely to break .Keep to roads and smooth paths and dont bounce up and down curbs or you will break the spokes.

If you ride a few miles each day and dont increase your food intake you will lose weight get fitter and have a bit of fun.

Once you have lost a bit set youtdelf a goal and buy a better bike once you reach it.

Knobbly mtb tyres slow you down but can be changed for road tyres.

Good Luck and keep us posted.

 

[buzzy-beans]

Only Redj knows about his own body and his finite capabilities, and OK he has asked about what kind of bike to buy to start his exercise campaign, but I am somewhat concerned that no one as yet, has hinted at possibly first of all exercising, initially at least, in a controlled environment, rather than dashing out to heaven knows where to buy whatever kind of bike etc.

Surely isn't it of paramount importance to first of all find out what your body and most importantly your organs are capable of under increased levels of load, rather than blatting off down the road on heaven knows what kind of bike?

 

[Drago]

A worthy thought, but beyond the remit of his enquiry.

 

[buzzy-beans]

A worthy thought, but beyond the remit of his enquiry.

Well Drago, living as we all do in these health and safety and litigation times, I honestly do think that questions like the OP's need to receive some exceptionally carefully considered areas of response

 

[Drago]

The gentleman asked a specific question, and by way of reply has received many succinct and informative answers.

Your point is valid, and should you wish to enlighten the OP then all power to you. However, it is wrong to censure others for simp!y offering exactly that which was asked of us.

 

[MacB]

Good and knowledgeable advice has been given and I would definitely look for something that, at the very least, allows for large volume tyres. But the main thing I would add is, if not spending a fortune which is an option I agree with, then buy through a LBS(local bike shop). You are liable to be pretty hard on any bike until the weight comes down and so you'll want somewhere local that can maintain it for you. Don't be afraid to visit several shops and lay it all out for them, then judge the response. If a place is genuine about helping you it'll show and their payback will be if you're bitten by the cycling bug and buy a lot more down the line.

There are a lot of people that manage to lose 3 stone upwards, in a short space of time, through taking up cycling. I chalked up 5 stone in under 5 months when I started out. My first bike was garbage but my local shop(not bought through them) kept it going for me. This got them a lot of trade from me over the next couple of years.

 

[bonzobanana]

As another 'heavier rider' I'd suggest looking at whether you can lay your hands on a secondhand German bike. They tend to make their bikes more robust for the fuller figured... the Dutch do as well.

Forget carbon frames - look for steel or (at a push) aluminium.

Look for a bike with wheels with a high spoke count. 32 or more would be best - I'd suggest 28 as a minimum. Anything less than that and you may find yourself spending a lot of time getting spokes replaced.

Others have mentioned saddles and padded shorts. This very likely will be an issue and will be affected by the style of riding. My personal experience was that a slightly wider saddle, with padded shorts and chamois cream, was the way to go.

The key is frequency. It's about how often you ride rather than the distance - it's better to do regular short distances than infrequent long distances, and as you go on you'll find those short distances get longer naturally.

If you get hooked and decide to go down the lycra route, you'll find that most of the manufacturers don't really cater for the larger rider very well. Decathlon's larger sizes are quite good and there are specialist suppliers, such as Fat Lad at the Back (whose stuff is really good quality and fun).

More importantly, check in here for added encouragement and support. You may even find someone to ride with - cycling with someone can make it easier.

Again I'd have to warn against any recommendation for Decathlon bikes. There has been quite a few recalls recently on failing frames. Specifically larger frame mountain bikes that couldn't handle larger riders and they clearly state a 100kg weight limit minus the weight of the bike which brings down their maximum rider weight to something like 85kg in places possibly less when you take in the weight of accessories fitted and rider's clothes etc. I think there has been some btwin bikes that have allowed an increase in weight but it was one of their more expensive folding bikes. Check out the manual here to understand their weight limits.

http://www.btwin.com/notices/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/notice_velo_A5V_EN_PE12.pdf

It is extremely dangerous to recommend a bike that has a low rider weight limit to someone overweight who is beyond that limit. A bicycle frame breaking in traffic at speed is potentially life threatening and it is not a failing on btwin's side if someone uses their bike beyond its capacity which is clearly stated in their manuals.

Bikes have a wide range of weight capacities, some as low as 60kg and others as high as 160kg and clearly any recommendation for a bike for someone overweight getting back into cycling as no.1 criteria should be weight capacity before anything else.

 

[buzzy-beans]

Bikes have a wide range of weight capacities, some as low as 60kg and others as high as 160kg and clearly any recommendation for a bike for someone overweight getting back into cycling as no.1 criteria should be weight capacity before anything else.

I agree with those who feel that someone with a personal vendetta against a product shouldn't try and force that opinion on others, however in the context of this matter, I very strongly believe that overweight people should be made aware of the weight limitations of any bike they might be interested in buying.

On grounds of safety alone, my own opinion is that no one who is moderately to grossly overweight should ever contemplate getting onto any kind of bike until they have started to shed quite a few lbs/kgs in controlled conditions such as at a gym or even in their own house on an exercise bike.

Apart from a frame collapsing there are numerous other reasons why it would be foolishly dangerous to venture out onto an oft busy open road.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Hi all

I've not read through every post TBH so don't know if this has been mentioned, but have a a look at the blog of the 40 Stone Cyclist HERE.




Sadly it's not up dated anymore, (for lots of very valid reasons), but it should at least give you confidence to see that you can achieve anything you put your mind to.

As for bikes, you'll see some on the blog that he used on his journey, but IME the frames aren't the problem, (some do state weight limits, many don't), but it's the wheels in particular that you have to watch.

MTB's/hybrids on the whole should be fine, road bikes will require a high spoke count though, but it's not really an issue IME.

 

[Alan O]

I’m sorry but that is utter nonsense. Many health professionals would recommend getting outside and being active over going to the gym - and for very good reasons.

By saying "On grounds of safety alone", I suspect buzzy-beans was thinking of bike skills, traffic, etc.

 

[buzzy-beans]

I’m sorry but that is utter nonsense. Many health professionals would recommend getting outside and being active over going to the gym - and for very good reasons.

So you are suggesting that someone riding a bike that has a frame and components that aren't designed to carry their weight goes out onto the open road, let alone them not being fit enough to do this kind of exercise?

I am sorry but your suggestions are more than somewhat suspect!

 

[vickster]

@buzzy-beans At what level of being overweight or obesity is it acceptable to cycle on the road? You've expressed the view that the obese shouldn't cycle on the roads in other threads

 

[buzzy-beans]

You come across as having an issue with fat people riding bikes in public.

You couldn't be more wrong, I have issues with road safety and the totally dumb way that some cyclists ride their bikes!

Categorically I don't have issues with overweight people riding bikes, but I do have issues with people who have little or no experience of riding bikes going straight out onto the oft overcrowded highways before they have any experience.
I also have distinct issues with people, when considering cycling, who give recommendations to people as in the case in point, with absolutely zilch consideration for their health and safety.................. foolhardy in the extreme is all I will say!