Fat [censored] requires bicycle

Martin Wilson said:

Any advice on where to look for a super strong reasonably stylish and
pretty reasonable priced bike. What would be a miracle if I could get
such a bike in a folding style so I could stick it in the back of my
mondeo estate and drive off to somewhere nice and spend some nice
hours cycling around the countryside.

How much do you want to spend?

Martin Wilson said:

Any advice on where to look for a super strong reasonably stylish and
pretty reasonable priced bike. What would be a miracle if I could get
such a bike in a folding style so I could stick it in the back of my
mondeo estate and drive off to somewhere nice and spend some nice
hours cycling around the countryside.

Are you sure you need a folding bike? I can fit my bike in the back
of an Escort estate with the back seat down. I spect it would fit
without the back seat down if I took the front wheel off.

The rest of this doesn't answer your question so please ignore, but my
experience (similar to yours ie unfit overweight haven't exercised for
years) is that I get far more exercise by using my bike as every day
transport (going into town, to friends, to the shops etc) than I would
if I only did the weekend countryside trips. I've got to the point
where I can contemplate cycling to the countryside, not just around
it.

A

--

email = audmad aaatttt hhhottt mmmaailll dddoottt ccccoommm

Erm, depends if you want a road bike or a mountain bike as well. Lots o
mountain bikes would match your criteria (e.g. GT Avalanche 1.0)

And if you cannot fit an entire bike in the back of a Mondeo Estat
without having to get one that folds, then either your car is not
Mondeo estate, or it has shrunk catastrophically in the rain, or you
bike is way too large

I can fit a bike in the back of my fiesta with just the fron
wheel off ;

-

Simonb said:

Martin Wilson said:

Any advice on where to look for a super strong reasonably stylish and
pretty reasonable priced bike. What would be a miracle if I could get
such a bike in a folding style so I could stick it in the back of my
mondeo estate and drive off to somewhere nice and spend some nice
hours cycling around the countryside.

How much do you want to spend?

I honestly have no idea what I should be looking to spend but I'm also
not keen on buying a bike that might fall apart on me so realise a £40
special at sterling house won't be up to the task. What should I be
looking to spend?

Martin Wilson said:

Simonb said:

Martin Wilson said:

Any advice on where to look for a super strong reasonably stylish and
pretty reasonable priced bike. What would be a miracle if I could get
such a bike in a folding style so I could stick it in the back of my
mondeo estate and drive off to somewhere nice and spend some nice
hours cycling around the countryside.

How much do you want to spend?

I honestly have no idea what I should be looking to spend but I'm also
not keen on buying a bike that might fall apart on me so realise a £40
special at sterling house won't be up to the task. What should I be
looking to spend?

For the bike itself, no less than £200, perhaps a hybrid (which will
have a decent set of gears to take you up hills with less pain). But,
if your bike is in the £200 - £350 range, you should definitely be
looking at a pair of hand-built wheels, at around 50+ quid per wheel.
As a certified FB myself, I used to get wobbly wheels on a regular basis
everytime I thumped a pothole (and, of course, the wobblier the wheel,
the more you have to adjust the brakes so they don't rub, until you get
to a point where a) the bike wibbles [1] at speed, and b) you can't get
enough brake on it. And I'd buy another 20 quid wheel from Halfords,
and 2 weeks later more wobble. So get yourself hand-built wheels from a
local bike shop; some might recommend double-butted spokes for the
weight you'll be putting on it, and some might also recommend going for
a bike that fits the "mountain bike" 26" wheels (for strength) rather
than the "road bike" 700C wheels, which are bigger and tend to bend a
little/lot more easily.

[1] Technical term.

Martin Wilson said:

Any advice on where to look for a super strong reasonably stylish and
pretty reasonable priced bike. What would be a miracle if I could get
such a bike in a folding style so I could stick it in the back of my
mondeo estate and drive off to somewhere nice and spend some nice
hours cycling around the countryside.

You can get most bikes in the back of a Mondeo estate without even=20
taking the front wheel off. Friends who go off with their bikes in=20
their car after a little minor surgery like removing the front wheel=20
(seconds with a modern Quick Release mount) include Nissan Micra and=20
Peugeot 106 owners.
If you still want a folder Dahon do a good range with sound bikes at=20
fair prices, and are the best place to start if you don't want a=20
super-compact fold you can tuck between train seats.

You say "super strong" but a typical modern bike should cope okay with=20
your weight. They're remarkably strong.
If you're buying new I personally think the sheep and goats separate at=20
about the =A3200 level, assuming it's a no-frills bike. No suspension an=
d=20
no disc brakes. At (or below) this price level these things exist=20
simply to look like what you get on bikes costing Serious Money, and it=20
just means you pay for rubbish fancy instead of fair simple. Think=20
basic Fiesta against clapped out Lada with metallic paint, Go Faster=20
Stripes and a big spoiler.

I think you can do a lot worse than the basic Dawes and Ridgebacks.=20
Stuff like http://www.dawes-cycles.co.uk/discovery201.asp or=20
http://www.ridgeback.co.uk/bikes/2004/bike.asp?seriesid=3D21&index=3D4

If you plan using it for utility work or riding in the wet then=20
mudguards and a rear rack are a Cunning Plan. Some bikes come with them =

already fitted like=20
http://www.ridgeback.co.uk/bikes/2004/bike.asp?seriesid=3D21&index=3D2

HTH, Pete.
--=20
Peter Clinch University of Dundee
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Peter Clinch said:

You say "super strong" but a typical modern bike should cope okay with=20
your weight. They're remarkably strong.

Hey, you forgot to say that he really wants a 'bent trike :-)

Roos

Roos Eisma said:

Hey, you forgot to say that he really wants a 'bent trike :-)

Or he can get a machine made by an over-zealous weight weenie, and bend
it himself... ;-)

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Martin Wilson said:

Too many curries, too many video games, movie watching and general
lazyness has caused me to pile on the pounds etc.I do have an exercise
cycle but really need a bicycle too. However in my current state it
would probably fall to pieces as soon as I get on. I'm reasonably
strong and can walk long distances but I'm over 6ft 2inches in height
and about 22stone in weight possibly a stone or two more (its been a
while since I checked). Many years ago I used to be slim (honestly).

Any advice on where to look for a super strong reasonably stylish and
pretty reasonable priced bike. What would be a miracle if I could get
such a bike in a folding style so I could stick it in the back of my
mondeo estate and drive off to somewhere nice and spend some nice
hours cycling around the countryside.

I used to love cycling when younger and hope to get back into it.

I've done some searches using google but perhaps I'm not using the
right criteria but I don't seem to be getting many helpful hits with
regard such a bike. Do they exist?

You don't need a folding bike. You should be able to get any bike in the
back of an estate without removing even one wheel. Most bikes will fit in
the boot of a car if you remove both wheels.

You need to be spending more than £200. Do not buy a bike with rear wheel
suspension unless you're willing to pay much, much more. Think very
carefully about whether you need even front suspension. It might be better
getting a better equipped rigid bike at the same price. Low-end suspension
is not very good.
--
Michael MacClancy
Random putdown - "He is not only dull himself, he is the cause of dullness
in others." -Samuel Johnson
www.macclancy.demon.co.uk
www.macclancy.co.uk

Cheers for the advice. I'll definitely be following up the info. Apart
from the one about the bent trike that is.

Quoted message said:

You need to be spending more than £200. Do not buy a bike with rear wheel
suspension unless you're willing to pay much, much more. Think very
carefully about whether you need even front suspension. It might be better
getting a better equipped rigid bike at the same price. Low-end suspension
is not very good.

Yeah I'm not after any form of suspension on the bike. Examples I've
seen don't seem to work brilliantly and seem to soak up the energy of
actually pedalling somehow. I just want really chunky tyres and wheels
I think. Probably go for some sort of mountain bike design with a
quick release front wheel just to make getting it into my little
mondeo easy. I do plan to use it for commuting too if possible. My
work place is about 5 miles away. I was thinking of taking the car and
parking it half way along and then cycling to work from there.
Hopefully later doing the whole journey by bicycle.

Martin Wilson <[email hidden]> wrote:

: Yeah I'm not after any form of suspension on the bike. Examples I've
: seen don't seem to work brilliantly and seem to soak up the energy of
: actually pedalling somehow. I just want really chunky tyres and wheels
: I think.

One to look at:

http://www.konaworld.com/2k4bikes/2k4_smoke.cfm

Any kona dealer can get one though they might not have on in stock.

arthur

--
Arthur Clune http://www.clune.org
"Technolibertarians make a philosophy out of a personality defect"
- Paulina Borsook

Arthur Clune said:

Martin Wilson <[email hidden]> wrote:

: Yeah I'm not after any form of suspension on the bike. Examples I've
: seen don't seem to work brilliantly and seem to soak up the energy of
: actually pedalling somehow. I just want really chunky tyres and wheels
: I think.

One to look at:

http://www.konaworld.com/2k4bikes/2k4_smoke.cfm

Any kona dealer can get one though they might not have on in stock.

arthur

Looks pretty meaty and I like those thick tyres.

"Martin Wilson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I do plan to use it for commuting too if possible. My
work place is about 5 miles away. I was thinking of taking the car and
parking it half way along and then cycling to work from there.
Hopefully later doing the whole journey by bicycle.

If as you say you're strong and can walk distances, 5 miles will be no
problem. But you'll find that out after your first couple of rides :-)

cheers,
clive

Martin Wilson said:

Too many curries, too many video games, movie watching and general
lazyness has caused me to pile on the pounds etc.I do have an exercise
cycle but really need a bicycle too. However in my current state it
would probably fall to pieces as soon as I get on. I'm reasonably
strong and can walk long distances but I'm over 6ft 2inches in height
and about 22stone in weight possibly a stone or two more (its been a
while since I checked). Many years ago I used to be slim (honestly).

Any advice on where to look for a super strong reasonably stylish and
pretty reasonable priced bike.

I know about one special "super strong" bike for heavy people called
Sumo:
http://tinyurl.com/236qe

It has a total weight allowance of 31 stone (200 kg) and is available
with Shimano Deore XT components incl. Magura Discbrake or a Rohloff 14
speed internal gear hub. Yet it may not be reasonably priced for your
budget. You would have to pay about 1400 pound for this monster of a
bike.

Quoted message said:

What would be a miracle if I could get
such a bike in a folding style so I could stick it in the back of my
mondeo estate and drive off to somewhere nice and spend some nice
hours cycling around the countryside.

Real folding bikes such as a Brompton or a Birdy are mainly constructed
to be used for commuters so that they can be taken into a train.
Furthermore i know that the Birdy has a maximum weight allowance of
about 17 stone (110 kg). The limits of a Brompton may be similar.

Then there are mountainbikes with a folding mechanism. The car
manufacturer BMW is offering some models. Yet the prices start somewhere
around 800 pounds - probably no problem for BMW customers that have not
a problem paying that much for an air condition or other extras in their
car anyway - yet quite a lot for a bike.
http://tinyurl.com/3fq9u

You can also transform a normal bike into a foldable bike with this
technique:
http://www.sandsmachine.com/

Yet probably it is sufficient if you get a decent mountainbike,
preferably a hardtail, and use a front wheel with quick-release system.
So you can fit it easily in the back of your car. But usually bikes are
constructed for a weight up to about 17 to 19 stone. So i would check
the exact specs of the model before.

Andreas

Clive George said:

"Martin Wilson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I do plan to use it for commuting too if possible. My
work place is about 5 miles away. I was thinking of taking the car and
parking it half way along and then cycling to work from there.
Hopefully later doing the whole journey by bicycle.

If as you say you're strong and can walk distances, 5 miles will be no
problem. But you'll find that out after your first couple of rides :-)

cheers,
clive

I can walk distances but unfortunately commuting to work involves a
whacking gert hill on the way out of town. Its a long, long hill
too.Even with the fitness of youth the hill was never easy. Seemed to
spend more time going up the hill than the rest of the journey put
together. Of course it makes a lovely return journey.

In article said:

Martin Wilson said:

Any advice on where to look for a super strong reasonably stylish and
pretty reasonable priced bike. What would be a miracle if I could get
such a bike in a folding style so I could stick it in the back of my
mondeo estate and drive off to somewhere nice and spend some nice
hours cycling around the countryside.

You can get most bikes in the back of a Mondeo estate without even
taking the front wheel off.

Yesterday a co-worker was putting two bikes in the back of a Mondeo
(having taken a wheel off one, I think). So unless you want to take
wife and a couple of kids on a drive off somewhere with bikes, no need
for a folder.

And a folder will be more expensive, or not as strong, or both, compared
with a non-folder.

in message <[email hidden]>, Martin Wilson

(') said:

Any advice on where to look for a super strong reasonably stylish and
pretty reasonable priced bike.

I've done some searches using google but perhaps I'm not using the
right criteria but I don't seem to be getting many helpful hits with
regard such a bike. Do they exist?

In the States, where fat bastarddom is the norm, there is a market
category for what are known as 'Clydesdale' bikes, where 'Clydesdale'
is not a brand or a model but a recognised subtype in the way an Audax
is a recognised subtype here. What sets them apart, I understand are
strong frames and strong (36 or 40 spoke) wheels.

Does anyone in the UK sell a 'Clydesdale' or is this market segment
waiting to be exploited?

Back to the OP's question - a reasonable tourer (which is designed to
carry the rider plus several stones of camping gear) should be strong
enough. Dawes Galaxy or Sadar or Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op's Revolution
Country would be good ones to go for.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; this is not a .sig

Martin Wilson said:

I'm reasonably strong and can walk long distances but I'm over 6ft
2inches in height and about 22stone in weight possibly a stone or two
more (its been a while since I checked). Many years ago I used to be
slim (honestly).

Any advice on where to look for a super strong reasonably stylish and
pretty reasonable priced bike. What would be a miracle if I could get
such a bike in a folding style so I could stick it in the back of my
mondeo estate and drive off to somewhere nice and spend some nice
hours cycling around the countryside.

I wouldn't worry too much. I'm not much lighter than you (and I'm 5
inches shorter 🙂) and my 250 quid Giant mountain bike is taking the
strain admirably. Pump the tyres up to the upper bound of their
capabilities to avoid pinch-flats, don't jump off ledges at 20mph, avoid
cheap rear suspension, you'll be fine 🙂

I would recommend trying a few saddles, if you can, though.

First time I went out, being an unfit [censored] as well as a fat [censored],
I struggled to do 5 miles with plenty of stopping. A few months later,
my normal trip is 25 miles and I no longer have to stop, not even for
most hills. Enjoy!

--
Keith Willoughby http://flat222.org/keith/
"Our National Emergency Plan simply calls for lots of middle-aged women
to stand around in Post Office queues saying "Well, I said it'd happen"
until we all starve to death" - Mil Millington