What bike for heavy beginner cyclist.

Tobiirheastarr

Hi. This is my first post. I am wanting to start cycling for weight loss. I haven't cycled since I was 14 years old (am now 33) but I used to love it and cycle everywhere.

Now I am currently 23st4.5 or 326.5lbs (down from 26st 4 as I am dieting and a regular gym go-er) so not a regular weight. I am wary of having issues with buckling or other problems associated with my weight and haven't a clue what sort or brand of bike to buy.

I can't spend too much but will save for a bit. I also want a mens bike rather than womens as just don't like womens bikes lol. Does anyone have any ideas and also any tips for me as I am basically starting from scratch.

Thanks a lot.

Tobii.

dj58

What is your budget, do you want a bike with straight or drop handlebars? You need a bike with strong wheels, 32 spokes minimum and wider tyres, 28/32mm and disc brakes would be useful.

An idea would be to consider something like this, you could ride it on/off road, light trials, canal towpaths, it has a good range of gears, hydraulic disc brakes and wide tyres.

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes-and-classic-bikes/voodoo-marasa-hybrid-bike

You can get an extra 10% off the price if you have British Cycling membership.

Tobiirheastarr

Hi thanks so much for replying. Budget wise i'd say probably £350 max, it'l be a saving job either way. I had looked at a few that I like the look of but unsure if actually suitable and one or two are technically out of my budget.

It'd mainly be road, cycle paths etc to begin anyway as I am so out of practice.

I like the look of that bike, it's nice looking aswell as in budget.

When you say drop handle bars do you mean "racer" bikes as we used to call them as kids? As in opposed to "mountain" bikes.

These are the ones I had looked at, would these be suitable at all.

http://www.tweekscycles.com/Product.do?method=view&n=3283&g=696629&p=696639&d=124&c=4&l=2&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Base&utm_campaign=Hybrids%20&%20City%20Bikes&gclid=CN_h0sGVp8cCFc7HtAodJiIPyg

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bikes/kona-lava-dome-29er-mountain-bike-2015

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bikes/voodoo-aizan-29er-mountain-bike

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes-and-classic-bikes/carrera-subway-1-mens-hybrid-bike-2015

overlord2

The wheels will need to be 36 spoke.

tbh £350 wont get you much and at your weight it will break.

Personally I would say you are looking at a touring bike that can take heavy loads. Unless you are going second hand realistic budget is £1000.

Look at something like spa cycles or hewitt cycles. £350 will get you a bike but it wont last long.

Tobiirheastarr

I know, I lost 7.5st a few years back but due to a number of reasons ( bad pregnancy, active to desk night job, gym closing) I gained it back

timothyw

Firstly, congratulations on the weight you've already lost. Assuming that you've already developed your fitness with the gym going a bit, and that you don't live somewhere particularly hilly (I don't know Coventry) I've heard some fairly good things about the Vitus 'Vee' and 'Dee' single speed city bikes:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/hybrid-city-bikes?f=4294957536

They don't have gears, which obviously can be harder going up hills, but this means that the bike should last longer without parts failing or needing maintenance - if you get the bug, you can buy something better down the line (and hopefully you'll have lost a bit more of the weight by then).

Especially for your budget, you probably want something with 26" wheels - because they're smaller they're relatively stronger than 700c or 29" wheels.

If you're interested in getting a proper road bike, the Decathlon 'Triban' bikes have a fairly good rep, since there's one in Coventry might be worth going along to see the range of bikes and perhaps get some advice there - if they recommend you a bike they ought really stand by it and make it right if you do have issues with the wheels buckling etc:
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-500-se-road-bike-black-id_8306187.html#

They do a whole range of bikes there, not just road bikes, definitely worth your time to pop round and have a look, I'd put them well ahead of Halfords in the value for money stakes.

dj58

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19680089#p19680089]Tobiirheastarr[/url] wrote:

Hi thanks so much for replying. Budget wise i'd say probably £350 max, it'l be a saving job either way. I had looked at a few that I like the look of but unsure if actually suitable and one or two are technically out of my budget.

It'd mainly be road, cycle paths etc to begin anyway as I am so out of practice.

I like the look of that bike, it's nice looking aswell as in budget.

When you say drop handle bars do you mean "racer" bikes as we used to call them as kids? As in opposed to "mountain" bikes.

These are the ones I had looked at, would these be suitable at all.

http://www.tweekscycles.com/Product.do?method=view&n=3283&g=696629&p=696639&d=124&c=4&l=2&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Base&utm_campaign=Hybrids%20&%20City%20Bikes&gclid=CN_h0sGVp8cCFc7HtAodJiIPyg

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bikes/kona-lava-dome-29er-mountain-bike-2015

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bikes/voodoo-aizan-29er-mountain-bike

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes-and-classic-bikes/carrera-subway-1-mens-hybrid-bike-2015

Yes by drop handlebars I mean like you would find on a road racing or touring bicycle.

Of your choices the Scott is the best, apart from the wheels which are only 32 spoke, I meant to type 36 spoke in my first post, as Overlord2 says at your weight wheels need to be 36 spoke. The 29" wheel mountain bikes have mediocre suspension forks that you don't need for road riding and you would probably bottom them out and break them pretty quickly, you would be better with a rigid fork.

The problem you are going to face with your budget, is finding a bike with good quality heavy duty wheels.

As Overlord2 says searching for a second hand touring bike might be the way to go. Do you have any good local bike shops that you could visit and ask for advice regarding your requirements. May be consider saving for longer and increase your budget.

kajjal

The rock rider mountain bikes are also very good value at decathlon. The 540 and 560 are on sale at the moment. The 560 gives alot of bike for the price, search for posts about it on this forum. It would be stronger than a road bike and you can ride it on or off road.

Well done on eating healthily and getting fitter, hard work to begin with but well worth it.

Dandelionclock30

http://39stonecyclist.com/am-i-too-heavy-for-a-bike/

You might find this mans site usefull, he lost loads of weight and stated off at 39 stones. He used standard bikes as well. Good luck.

-liam-

I'm a big lad. Now under 120kg but I was 135kgs plus.

I currently commute 5/6 days, totaling nearly 100 miles a week.

Ride a standard Giant Defy 5 through towns a fairly rough B roads in Rural Shropshire and I don't really have any issues.

I've had the bike for over a year. I used to have to keep an eye on spoke tension but I have never broke one and also I keep my tyre pressures around the 120llbs pressure limit. Everything has settled down now my weight has dropped and I just perform basic maintenance.