overweight

[sazzaa]

most of us were puffing and panting by the time we got to the end of the road but can now go there and back without being out of breath !

This ^

I thought I was fit having been a regular at the gym and doing bits of jogging here and there, but my first few times on a bike nearly killed me! But don't worry though because the progression is super fast, within a week I was feeling much less out of breath and a few weeks after that I was doing small hills without having to stop... Good luck and happy cycling!

 

[Gravity Aided]

If you have a Mountain Bike, it may well be suited to your needs, because some road bikes can be rather springy and whippy feeling, good for the experienced rider, not so much so for the returning rider. Build up your legs and muscles faster with the MTB.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Welcome to CC @andyinthegrainge and happy cycling!
As said above, fitness will soon improve with riding.
Many are the adventures to be had on your bike rider's weight no impediment

 

[Dave 123]

Good for you Andy.
A few years ago when I reacquainted myself with a road bike the local 5 mile loop almost killed me. I was passed uphill by two old blokes traveling at speed! That was sobering.
The 5 mile loop isn't even a warm up these days, but I still get my arse kicked by old blokes!

 

[vickster]

Good luck with the riding

I think Felt or Focus bikes have a lower weight limit, maybe 17 stone but I am sure the main US brands will be fine

 

[donnyjnk]

could always get a turbo trainer and use it as well. put 50psi in your tyres and ramp up the lock off on your front forks. dont worry about the weight sod it it will come off the thing is to enjoy what you do. very soon youll be addicted like the rest of us and be flooding youre ebay account with new purchases. welcome to our world

 

[philinmerthyr]

I'm over 20 stone and have specialised Roubaix carbon road bike. I have ridden over 3,500 miles on it in 15 months and it has been superb. I have a hybrid but the difference in the bikes is huge. I ride much more by having a great bike.

 

[Easytigers]

Good luck and keep at it. It will get easier. When I first started, 4 miles felt like I'd ridden to the end of the world and back again! You'll get fitter and more confident over time.

 

[BAtoo]

hi all i am a newbie and need to lose the weight gain i have accumulated over the years.i am sorry to say i am 18.7 stone and looking at a bike have had mountain bikes before for a commute to work 6 miles but found the drag of the tires on the road horrific i would like a road bike. i must tell you i have not rode a bike seriously for years but enough is enough is there a max weight for a road bike or am just daydreaming your thoughts are much appreciated
regards andy

I think the answer is just to get on a bike and ride.. if it takes a it more effort because the tyres are a bit big and heavy then you will expend more energy and the weight loss should be greater.

 

[Saluki]

If it helps, max rider weight on my Defy 2 is 120kg. You'll be fine.

Really? Blimey, I can have so much more cake than I thought that I could

 

[Triban5riderGD]

Hi Andy'
Ive only just joined this site myself, but I would like to reiterate what Ian Ruck has already advised. Look at the story of Gaz the 39stone cyclist, his story of weightloss is truly inspirational. If I remember rightly he itemises the bikes he has used. I think he got on his first road bike at 23 stone.
Myself, I started at 20.5 stone riding a Dawes Kalahari Hybrid. Im now down to 18.3 stone and have just bought myself the Triban 5 from Decathlon. In my opinion its excellent value for money. The Triban bike has an almost cult like following with its owners club. Search Triban 3 owners club on this site and you will see exactly what I mean. Whatever bike you decide upon enjoy your cycling as that's what its all about.

 

[maltloaf]

I too got back on a bike after ballooning to over 20 stone. The only issue I've had on three different bikes is breaking the odd rear wheel spoke. I think I've had 3 go in 2,500 miles. Nothing else on the bike seems to suffer me being heavier.

People regularly say you need to go for high spoke count wheels if you're heavy and they're probably right. The only wheels that haven't let me down at all have been my 36 spoke no name aero ones that came with a cheap claud butler and the 36 spoke open pro/shimano 105 ones that I got for £50 from eBay.

 

[Cubist]

I rode a Cube Peloton with Easton EA50 wheels at getting on for 17 1/2 stone, and had to true the wheels every week, sometimes after every ride. On checking, they did specifiy an upper weight limit of 16 stone or so. My new bike has Mavic Aksium wheels, and they appear to be holding up much better, but I'm under 16 stone now.

I'd suggest the wheelset is the limiting factor, but you can either buy a bike with a solid wheelset to start with, or get one with lighter wheels and replace them with a heftier set, keeping the lighter wheels as an incentive to put them back on when you've lost the weight.

Enjoy the journey, but importantly, enjoy the results.

 

[Big Nick]

I'd echo the comment re putting road tyres on your mtb, it really does transform the rolling resistance of the wheels and make it much easier to ride.
I've started out at 10-12 mile routes which are a nice distance for me whilst my gf is more comfortable with 5-6 miles, I did do a 20 miler in the strong winds and it was too far for a beginner and I was blowing a bit when I got back!!
The important thing is to keep your legs cycling and you'll soon build up endurance, I get to cycle practically every day as I commute to work and even though its only a 3 mile round trip I blast to work at full belt to try and get out of breath to make the most of the short journey.
Good luck and just get out there!

 

[Donger]

hi all i am a newbie and need to lose the weight gain i have accumulated over the years.i am sorry to say i am 18.7 stone and looking at a bike have had mountain bikes before for a commute to work 6 miles but found the drag of the tires on the road horrific i would like a road bike. i must tell you i have not rode a bike seriously for years but enough is enough is there a max weight for a road bike or am just daydreaming your thoughts are much appreciated
regards andy

Good for you, Andy. Welcome to the Lycra Nation. Speaking as a 20 stoner, trust me I know where you are coming from. I have broken just about every breakable bike part over my first 5 years of serious cycling - one sheared pedal, one broken seat post, two chain rings, two chains, half a dozen spokes and a rear hub. I eventually opted for a touring bike, figuring it would be built to take a bit of extra weight - and it really worked out for me (though not cheap).

There's no-one better to advise you than your local bike shop/repair man. Since my bike mechanic fitted "Alpine 3" triple-butted spokes to the rear wheel (which is the one that really matters), I've never had another broken spoke in 2 years. As for punctures, go for expensive bomb-proof tyres such as Continentals or Schwalbe Marathon Plus and double up with "Slime" self-repairing inner tubes. I swear by them, and now have the confidence to ride for miles. Keep pushing the limits slightly and within a few years you'll be doing audaxes and climbing mountains like me. Trust me it really is possible. Good luck mate.