To big to bicycle?

Tomhusker

I would LOVE to go out bike riding again. HOWEVER, at 390 pounds I don't know if I could find a bike to carry me well enough. Does anybody here have any suggestions?

fitterpam

I was not comfortable on a bike at 290, check out cycling stores and see what the sales people have to say, there are bikes that could, I'm sure.

I found that with cycling, I didn't like how my knees hit my belly when I rode my bike and I couldn't sit on the little seat for a long time because of my size.

kappyblu

I know what you mean. I am waiting until I am under 250 to get a bicycle. But I have seen bikes specially made for larger people in those Living XXL magazines. But they are way expensive. Good luck!!

jlewis2896

Do you have a gym membership? Some gyms have stationary recumbent bikes that you pedal as you are sitting in a reclined position. It's actually a better workout than a basic stationary bicycle, and also will give you a little more room to maneuver.

I do know they make outdoor bikes for heavier weights -- a friend of my husband's had ordered one and I believe he was heavier than 400 lbs.

Good luck on your search!!

kappyblu

Oops. I guess it's called Living XL. Here is a link to the page with their bicycles. http://www.livingxl.com/store/en_US/catalog/browse_product.jsp;jsessionid=XUN1LYYJIN4EXLAZAGSCFEVMDEA0GJVC?clear=true&catID=cat40218&id=cat40218

Pretty pricey. The cheapest one is about $400.

hroush

I used to ride my bike all the time when I was 280 lbs. You could also check out a spin class if you have a gym membership, I went from 280 - 210 in 7 months just doing 2 spin classes a week.

luv2ash

Yes, they are out there, but chances are they will be pricey. I know they make a 3-wheeler recumbent version that my very old aunt uses on the jersey boardwalks---its the neatest thing. I bet you could use one of those.

wstidolph

Well, tandems carry that weight all the time, so bikes *can* be set up to do it (heck, a tandem even has that long extra span in the middle to weaken the frame geometry). It seems to me you might talk to your bike shop about setting up with some of the components they use in tandems:
* a disc brake since normal rim-rubbing brakes overheat on long descent.
* somewhat heavier-duty wheels (more spokes, a slightly wider axle maybe, wider tires)

Also, a word of advice - get a road bike, not a mountain bike. The knobby tires and heavy wheels on a mountain bike make it much harder to ride when on the road, and that's dispiriting (you mainly fight the road grade and rolling friction up to about 13MPH) ... and if you try to go off-road at all, it gets harder yet.