Quoted post said:Originally posted by lobstar
Hi. I'm looking for advice on, as the header says, a good bike for an overweight beginner. I am not a techie by any stretch of the imagination, and what little information I can find online about bicycles for heavier riders discusses things in terms I don't quite understand and the writers apparently believe everyone reading knows how to build a bike from scratch. Um, no. Likewise, most of the rider weight limits I see for bikes online are significantly lower than my weight. I am 6'0" and weigh about 335-340 pounds. (I know, that's a lot, but it used to be more.) I've been exercising pretty regularly for a while now, including riding a stationary bike, but it's so boring. I want to be outside. Besides, I live in a big city and don't own a car and would love to avoid taking public transportation everywhere.
Obviously, I'm not looking for diet or exercise advice or insults about my weight being so high, I'm just wondering if anyone knows of any specific bikes that would work for me and not cost hundreds and hundreds of dollars. I'm thinking no more than $250.
All thoughtful and helpful responses appreciated.
L
Congratulations on your weight loss and continued succeess. Perhaps my experience might be of benefit. March 6th of last year I weighed well over 400 pounds (I am 5'7"😉. I was faced with a choice of a nearly immobile life (I could barely stand up) or Gastric Bypass surgery. I chose the latter. I hadn't ridden a bicycle since high school but in July (July 3 to be specific) I was down to 350 pounds and felt that I was ready to begin riding again to aid in my weight loss. I knew that I wanted to return to a road bike and had no interest in being offroad but wasn't sure if there was a biike which could eveen hold me. I went to my Local Bike Shop and was lucky enough to find a salesperson who LISTENED to my story and made a similar suggestion to what alot of people here have allready said. He suggested a Gary Fisher Tassajara Mountain Bike that had a front suspension and pretty sturdy Bontrager Wheels, they changed the seat to something a little bit more comfortable (at that time it was imparitive I have something wider), changed the tires to be less knobby and have less resistance and be better for the road, added some Shimano SPD pedals and I was on my way. The first day (July 4) I road 3 miles, on part of the ride I was headed up a small hill and a police car that happened to be passing by in opposite traffic turned around and waited at the top of the hill untill I got there to ask me if I was allright. I worked my rides and endurance up over the summer and fall by Octobers end I was riding 20-25 miles a day and well under 300 pounds. I purchased a stationary for the cold months. Between the stationary and the outdoor bikes I have not missed more than 5 days riding since July 3. In February I was 220 pounds. Using alot of the money I made selling my old 6XL shirts and 64 waste pants on ebay I went back to the bike shop and purchased a Trek 5200 road bike and got back to the road. March 8 I visited my surgeon for a 1 year check up, 206 pounds lighter than a year ago, far ahead of the avg. Gastric Bypass patient and a proud cyclist.
The Tassajara I purchased is a little more than your budget but I think there are two things to remember. The first is that ultimately and at the critical stages of weight loss, it doesn't matter what you ride just make sure you do ride, in order to do that you will need a bicycle that you can put some real miles on and also grow with (or shrink with I suppose is a better way to look at it). The person who mentioned a hybrid had a good idea but I would submit that if you intend to put miles on this bike to the goal of fitness, almost any bike you buy will become a hybrid.
Giant, Trek, Gary Fisher, Specialized some of the other larger brands all have entry level bikes that may be close to your price range. But in order to get a bike that is really great for your situation wht you might consider doing is this:
Go to a few bike shops and tell your story and your objectives. Find one where there is someone who takes an interest in you and your story and will work with you to suggest something that will work for you, consider that dealer and that bike. At the lower and more moderate price points and from the larger more reputable brands I dont think you are going to find all thhat much different in the stock bikes but I think that a good dealer will make more of a difference.
Once again good luck EAT RIGHT and RIDE!
