Heavy man on a bike

WalterMitty

So if someone is twenty stone and six foot and wants to start cycling on a racer/road bike, what bike would you recomend for a beginner who just wants to recreationally cycle to lose weight etc. Initially cycle 30km a few times a week , then building up to longer cycles to likes of wicklow with climbs.

jag con

Hi Walter Mitty i was like that myself this time last year so i went and bought a road bike for a 1000 you can get it through the bike to work scheme were you will save between 25-50% on the list price of the bike

I started cycling and i was twenty stone i did a couple of 15-25 km spins a few times a week and built that up to 50-60 km spins i also did my first 100k spin in August the tour of Kildare

I have lost about 4 stone with a little more to go so just get out there and get going you will not regret it

iF you plan to do some cycling up the Wicklow mountains i would advise getting a triple front setup starting off as it will be easier on the small cog going up the hills

jmdsk

I don't think you have to worry about your weight with whatever bike, more so the wheels. You should get steel spokes with plenty of them. (I might be wrong and i'm sure if i am you will be put right on here). I am of the large frame size myself and when i started cycling i did brake a couple of spokes on a carbon wheelset. Since changing wheelsets no problems. I have since completed a few 100+ sportifs and hoping this year to take it further with a triathlon and who knows after that. Good Luck to you.

ednwireland

when i asked wiggle about my focus they said it was rated to 120kg (1'm 105 at the mo) i think the look keo max 2 pedals are supposed to be upto 100 kg

i'm truly suprised at my shimano rs10 wheels still been true, as my handbuilt 36 spoke rear went in about 3 months on the other bike, just luck i guess and i think deeeper section rims help on wheels, used to have some campag ones which lasted years (but i was a lot lighter then)

Clydes

@walt

At 20st I'm in the same boat (ship!). I haven't been doing this for long and tbh have not been very serious - but I do enjoy it. This place has been good to me so this is my opportunity to give a little back. Hope it's useful.

The key areas for me are;

1. Saddle - very important especially if you want to do hills. No one solution here just trial and error

2. Shorts - for the same reason as above. A good investment here is worthwhile

3. Frame - some bikes will put you into a very low crouch. This can be uncomfortable at best and can cause low back pain by stretching you too far. If this is not for you then enquire about 'relaxed geometry' which basically means higher handlebars. You will be less aero but that comes later.

An aluminium frame is fine but would recommend carbon forks

4. Gears - triple chainring is very important and would even go for a 25 sprocket on the back as well. This will get you started on hills and ignore comments about granny rings.

Go for the highest quality gear set you can afford.

5. Wheels - another key aspect. Important to get strong rims with 36 quality spokes. This to me is the weakest mechanical link


By using the search function in this forum you will find a lot of useful info

You may become tempted to buy online but I would only do this if you have someone who knows what they are doing. For a 1st bike I would recommend developing a relationship with a shop and slowly building up the knowledge that you need. It can be more expensive but think of it as an apprenticeship and is worthwhile to know someone when something goes wrong - 'cos it will.

@jag con
If you still reading.....congratulations on your weight loss. I would be interested to hear more about how you achieved this specifically your comments on diet?

Run_to_da_hills

Sign up with Dublin Bikes, you will soon lose a lot of weight.

shaungil

I was 17 st when I started cycling and running albeit from a rugby background. The way I looked at it was to buy the general stuff like hemets shorts etc of a decent standard that I knew would last but to get a big steel framed bike that I could treat badly then if I got fitter I could treat myself.

The steel framed lasted three years and then I got a racing bike as well but used the monster bike for winter.