Newbie requires advice: Bike & Bits & a Prolapsed di

tiredeyes69

Me: 6foot 1” 14.5 stone (fat boy yes!)
Need to lose some weight, love bike riding, have a LS5 prolapsed disk, (No pain ever) just my 3 toes and sometimes my right leg, go numb on right foot. Do loads of exercise to strengthen up my “Core” muscles. It really works, no numbness now for 6 months.
Want to start MTB to lose a few pounds (pounds :read stone :-P )
Will be mainly riding through forest with a few knobbly tree roots, small rocks.
So hard tail is best I guess?
But I would like the lightest bike possible, so its easy to get up onto bike rack on top of car, and cheapest I guess.
Have been looking through and really want a white colored bike/maybe into silver, and any kind of white/pearlescent/flat/metallic.


The Bike
White in colour
2008 Trek Fuel EX 9 Aluminum weight= Price£2000 weight : ?
2007 Trek 6700 weight : ?
Focus Bikes Killer Bee LTD (07) | £850: weight: 25.7lb
Marin Indian Fire/ weight : ?
Scott Scale 35 / weight = 24.4lbs
Orange Evo 8 / weight : ?
Merlin Malt 4-07 / weight : ?
with upgrades of : Full 2007 XT group & Hope mono mini discs £290
FORK UPGRADES: Rockshox Sid Team £170
RIM UPGRADES: XC717 Black rims & spokes £12 BAR,
BAR, STEM & SEATPOST: Easton EA50 riser bars, stem & seatpost £40
SIZE: 19"

Giant Trance X Zero weight: ?

other bikes ?
Cove Stiffee Bikeshed: weight 27lbs
Viper Scandium XT Hardtail Bike – weight: ? Reba SL 2007 : £1649.99






some other bits and pieces to set me up
helmet : casco Full face Vamoose : 150
Oakley O Frame MX goggles:25
Kona Shorts:80
Fox Blitz Jersey – black:35
Fox blitz Shorts – black :75
Fox Fluid rain jacket :20
Fox Blitz freeride jersey : 30
Fox Sergeant Shorts:65
Fox overload shoes : 55
Fox Base ss layer: :25
Kona shorts: 80
Humvee Endua Shorts:50
Cateye HR200DW Cycle Computer : 99
DMR V8: 25

Which underseat pack for inner tube and tools & stuff ?
Lizard:16.00
Gloves: LizardSkins Blizzard : 30
Chain Stay: 10
Lizard elbow pads:45
CamelBak Mule: 70
Total price £985
Anything else I need?
Could anybody give a clue which bike?
and also what weights they are.

Gracias Mucho :-)

steelo

First question - why do you consider 14st and 6foot1 as being fat? I'm 6'1" give or take, and I was 21st in january - that was big! I'm now 16st6 and no one I know now considers me 'fat'. Have you tried building muscle, is it 14st of flab, in which case you probably do have a few too many rolls!

On the bike side of things, firstly whats your budget? £2000 will get you a nice light carbon fibre frame, top end light components etc. £700 will get you an aluminium frame bike with mid range components.

Also, if you are wanting to get into mountain biking then are you really going to notice a difference of 4-5lbs when cycling through woodland? If you have a camelback on with a full 3 litre bladder then that will add considerable weight. Cycle in the rain and the mud that sticks to the frame will add weight also, along with the mud on your legs, back, shoes etc.

tiredeyes69

I have not weighed myself for 6 months too scared!
i am guessing maybe 15stone now ! and yes all flab, but i have good core muscles, maybe thats wot has made my weight more. Muscle weighs heavier than fat :-)
my family keep asking when its due !
I dont really have a limit on what to pay, but like you say, if its only 5lb between a £2000 bike and a £500 bike, i would rather go for the cheapest.
BUT its got to be white!
and should i get full sus or hardtail.
im guessing a hardtail, as no real mad drops and massive rocks.

steelo

The best thing you can do is go into your local bike shop and tell them of your situation. Tell them you are adamant the bike has to be white!?! and that you want it as light and as cheap as possible. Although lightweight bike does not equal low price. Have a test ride of a few different bikes, like I said before you probably wouldn't be able to tell too much difference.

As for clothing to buy to get you riding, as long as you have a pair of shorts, a t-shirt, definitely a decent cycling helmet and some trainers then you shouldn't 'need' anything else to start with. Other essential kit may include a puncture repair kit, tyre pump, multitool, water bottle and maybe a spare inner tube.

Go and get some face to face advice from your local bike shop. They should be very helpful if they know they can get a sale of a bike out of you!