Am I to fat to ride a bicycle
Replies
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I'm 300 lbs and regularly cycle. You're certainly not too fat! I would try out different bikes before buying though. I have a Dutch bike which allows me to sit up straight, I find it avoids getting lower back pain. I wouldn't get a mountain bike, they might be sturdy but you kind of lean forward on a mountain bike which places a lot of weight on your wrists and arms, I find that uncomfortable for longer rides but that might just be me.0
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I'm 6'6", 250-260, and spent last year commuting roughly 80-100 miles a week on a Trek 7100. Here's a few things I learned:
1) Guys our weight tend to break the spokes on "normal" bike wheels, especially the back wheel. Be ready to possibly spend extra for a beefier wheel.
2) Be sure you have one of those ergonomic seats, with the gap in the middle so important nerves and arteries aren't smashed.
3) Keep up on the bike maintenance. I'm not handy so I take mine to the bike shop. Guys our size put extra stress on drive train components, so you may have to replace chains / cassettes quicker than usual.
4) Don't rush out and buy the spandex stuff. It is not very flattering for bigger guys. Regular shorts and shirts are just fine. Wear a helmet.
5) You may want to get a bike with a more upright riding position, rather than a mountain or road bike where you're hunched over the bars. Be careful with your back!
Bicycling is low-impact, great exercise, and super fun. Good luck!0 -
You are not too fat to ride a bike
You are not too fat to run
You are not too fat to walk
You are not too fat to swim
You are not too fat to weight lift
You "maybe" too fat to bungee jump or parachute jump or something but the above things are fine. Just go with your pace, listen to your body, don't push too hard and increase intensity slowly.
Good luck!0 -
Lots of good posts about going to a bike shop to get fitted. A good shop should also allow you to take the bike for a spin in the parking lot to make sure you are comfortable. If you aren't comfortable, then you won't ride as much, or at all. Then not only are you out the money for the bike, but you also miss out on all the fun!0
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Nope.. not too big. A cross bike is probably a good idea b/c the frame will be more heavy duty, but unless you're planning to jump or really crank on the thing, you can probably do most road bikes as long as they aren't ultra-light. If you're planning to take the Surly on trails, etc, might want to swap for a flat bar... it's more comfortable and easier to see / look around IMO.
A mountain bike or hybrid would do too... depends on your goals and what you want to do with it. If you're going to do mainly level riding, DO NOT get rear suspension. It makes the bike inefficient and makes you work harder (and if you want that, you can go running!).
Good luck. I love bikes!
Jen0 -
No one on here was where they wanted to be when they started. Some were and are afraid that they're too big and out of shape to walk into a gym. When I started, I was terrified of walking into a gym, knowing very well that I was weak and out of shape. I sucked it up and went. I managed 10 minutes on an elliptical and some pretty small weights. I'm now in the best shape of my life. Now you're thinking that you're too big to bike. If you can ride it then you should, particularly if its something you want and will enjoy. Get going and kill it!0
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Definatley not to big.
As so many people have said go to a bike shop and get fitted. Be willing to pay the extra as the ride comfort is so much better.
Finally, a big padded seat may not be the answer. Be willing to buy the padded shorts and the seat that the bike store recommends to you.0 -
I'm not sure what a Surly Cross Check bike is but I will tell you I bought a mountain bike for starters thinking, its sturdy and had fat tires so I'd be okay, but it was hard on my back. So after one month of riding miserably, and some good advice from friends, I learned about comfort bikes, I don't know the technical term. But they are much easier on your back arms wrists and hands. My husband and I both bought a used Diamond Back off Craigs list. Best money I ever spent. I went from not riding for 30+ years to 38+ uphill miles in one summer.
Good luck and Have Fun. Riding the rails-to-trails in my new favorite pastime.0 -
All I got is this...
Bicycle races are coming your way
So forget all your duties oh yeah!
Fat bottomed girls they'll be riding today
So look out for those beauties oh yeah
On your marks get set go
Bicycle race bicycle race bicycle race
Bicycle bicycle bicyI want to ride my bicycle
Bicycle bicycle bicycle
Bicycle race
and this...
Oh, (i know) you gonna take me home tonight (please)
Oh, down beside that red firelight
Oh, you gonna let it all hang out
Fat bottomed girls you make the rockin' world go round
Fat bottomed girls you make the rockin' world go round
GET ON YOUR BIKES AND RIDE!
if they can ride....you can ride....
just ride....get fitted sure....but just ride...0 -
I was 255 last summer when i started riding my hybrid. Built up enough endurance and was doing 25km rides. Mid August bought a road bike and can't wait for this spring to get out and ride. 4 more months...
It's probably the lowest impact sport you could do other than swimming. Easy on the joints and knees, not so easy on the donkey. But trust me, in a few weeks you get used to it.0 -
A road bike should be OK, just get wheels with a slightly higher spoke count, especially the rear wheel. and you will be fine. Look for wheels with more than 30 spokes. Don't worry about getting a super expensive road bike to start, as the biggest difference is the weight of the frame and components. It will be much easier (and cheaper) to lose a few grams of weight off the rider than you would be spending thousands of dollars to save a few grams on the weight on the bike. I would definitely get an aluminum or steel frame. Once you lose some weight and find you enjoy riding enough to justify it, you can spring for the carbon frame and upgrade your ride. It is not as much about the bike as people would have you believe. The engine is much more important.
Most any mountain bike should be fine, but if it has suspension, make sure it is adjusted to a stiffer setting.
Get a cycling computer so you can track how far you have gone, your speed, and how many calories you have burned. Riding is great fun, and great exercise. If you push yourself hard, you can burn just as many calories as running, without the pain. I can't wait for all the snow to melt to jump back on my bike.
Oh, and get a comfortable saddle, some biking shorts (don't worry if you look fat in them - nobody cares), and some good cycling gloves. You'll thank me later.0 -
You're not at all too big !!
Hubby is 300-ish and he rides his Diamondback (got his and hers at a sporting good store on clearance, yay) without any problems whatsoever.
Just buy a sturdy bike that fits you well and that you're comfortable with, and it'll be fine.0 -
You will be fine.
My suggestion (for any guy) would be to invest in a good seat. "The sack" will love you for it.
Go to a shop, find out what bike will support your weight. Please, please, please do not go to Wally World and buy the cheapest bike. You don't want to know how painful it will be if the frame cracks. Plus, the components will be better on a name brand bike.
After you find a brand/model...go look for it used on Ebay, Craigslist or find a local guy who buys and resells bikes. I say this because, eventhough it might not be new and shiny, you never know if you're going to like biking and you don't want a $500 bike sitting in your garage. You can always resell your beginner bike and get another.
Find a good place to ride and, possibly, someone to ride with. MeetUps is a great place for that. If you commit to someone as a riding partner you will be more likely to keep riding.0 -
I say go for it. Why not? I see a lot of very large men and women riding bikes around my town every day. They sell bike seats in all different shapes and sizes now a days so don't worry about the seat being an issue. You may want a stronger bike and not a light weight cross country kind however. I ride a mountain bike because I like the bigger tires and I can keep my balance better on it. I tried a 10 speed but the tires are so thin I was all over the place. I have poor balance problems so need all the help I can get. See if you can test ride a few and see what works for you.
Here is the bike I bought... http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008O0X8JS/?tag=diamonbicycl-200 -
HELL NO! GO!0
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WRT bike shorts - if you don't want to rock the spandex - they make padded loose fit shorts as well (they kind of have an inner lining like a bathing suit that contains the padding and an outer shell) and that padding makes a big difference in the beginning.
Also seconding the poster who said don't get a big gel filled padded saddle, you're better off getting used to a stiffer leather saddle (male cut-out possibly) the poofy/squishy saddles tend to put pressure on important areas as it bunches up and can cause you all kinds of problems.0 -
. The bike we used was a smith and wesson.
Those are bada$$ bikes! I want one!0 -
NOPE not too big, but you might want to invest in a squishy seat cover to help. I started riding my mountain bike at 267 lbs and it's a nothing fancy cheapy walmart bike. It's help up just fine!0
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In a word....NO0
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Hi All,
I am 5' 10" and I weight 275lbs, I would love to get a bike this summer to get some additional exercises but I am afraid that I might be to big.
Anyone here in the same weight range get a bike and if so what kind? I was looking at the Surly Cross Check.
any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Sean
Surly makes good stuff, and their customer support is pretty solid. Shoot them an email and see what they think. If you're just cruising around the neighborhood I'm sure you'll be fine... just make sure your tires have enough air in them.
BTW... good on you. Bike rock!0 -
Professional athletes may weigh next to nothing, but they can put incredible amounts of power to the ground when they ride. BMX racers have been measured at putting over 5000W of power through the rear wheel at the beginning of a race. You will not be able to put close to that much power down, even with a few years of riding. When you start, it'll be closer to 100-200W max.
Sure, the stresses put on the bike from a higher rider weight will be different, but as long as you buy a quality bike from a quality bike store and don't buy a department store bike, you'll be fine.
If anything, the people working in the professional bike shop will be able to pick out the right bike for you.0 -
I started riding mine at 375 pounds. I bought a year-old Cannondale road bike on clearance. I got the one with the larger wheel size which makes it even easier to ride. Even on clearance, I still spent almost $500 on it, but it's well worth it for the comfort and ease. I use it far more than I would have a cheaper, more uncomfortable bike.
I also invested in a gel-covered wide seat. Nothing worse than getting a skinny racing seat stuck up your crack!!
Get out there and get moving!0 -
No, you're a Clydsdale! There is a whole forum at bikeforums.net devoted to heavier riders. That said, consult a bike shop for the ride bike for your build. You might want to get wider saddle and tires, and you should avoid cheaper bikes or, specifically, bikes with cheap wheels that don't hold up under weight. A Surly with a 35 mm tire will do quite nicely, but don't go with a nubby tire unless you are actually going off road. And get a tire with flat protection!0
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You are not too big to ride a bike. But you’re probably too big to were tight biker shorts.
I try to ride my bike to work a couple of times a week during the summer months. When I started I was over 300 pounds. I ride Trex mountain bike. I use to have a hybrid, but I was so heavy (around 350) I had issues with the thinner tires and had to get double walled tires. I would get a good quality mountain bike and have at it. Keep in mind that biking is not a huge calorie burner, but if you use it to run errands or use it to get to work it is a great way to get in some extra exercises.
Good luck!0 -
I am about the same weight and there doesn't seem to be any problem with biking. The only thing that was recommended to me was not to use the skinny tires, which are not really designed for leisure riding anyways.0
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I don't think you can be to big or old to ride a bike. Just do it I think you will find a nice ride very relaxing. I also don't think you need to spend a lot of money on a bike either. Find one that fits you I sugest a mountain bike. The best advice I can give you though is invest in a good quality gel saddle, this will make a world of diffrance on your back side.0
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No you are not! You might like this blog http://zeusmeatball.blogspot.com/0
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i started riding again when i weighed 330. i loved it. i used some old beach cruiser that someone gave me. i lost 45 pounds withing 3 months. i was riding 6-10 miles a day at 300 pounds. i gained 17 of that back when my seizures got really bad. just start really slow. i started with a mile to the store and back. then when my car broke down i would go to walmart ( 8 miles round trip) to get groceries for my family of 5. some on my backpack and some in the basket. you can do it!!!0
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http://www.bicycling.com/training-nutrition/nutrition-weight-loss/5-cycling-weight-loss-successes
Check out these 5 success stories.
Some of the people profiled were heavy.0
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