[basketcase]

Does anyone have recommendations on a good bicycle for a large person? I really miss being able to ride a bike. My daughter loves going for bike rides and I really want to be able to go with her. She has never seen me on a bike.

My husband would love for the whole family to go for a ride and my son refuses to ride a bike without training wheels (he's 9). So, I really think me getting a bike would be a good thing.

So, at 340, what type of bike do I even look at? I don't really want to go in to a bike store and ask. I guess I need to just get over it and do it. But, I'm nervous.

Advice? Suggestions?

[Ratkitten]

basket,

All bikes made today are over-built. At my heaviest, I rode a nice touring bianci and it never flexed unduly when pedaling hard. My suggestion is to go to your local bicycle shop and let them fit you to a bike. Big box store bikes are made of cheap China metal and DO flex unless you weigh 90 lbs (even then they aren't so good). There are even used bikes at the local bike store. Always change the seat on a new bike to a woman's - the seats on new bikes are for looks only. Women's hip bones are wider. More padding isn't always good because you end up rocking back and forth on the seat instead of transferring that energy to the pedals. Another reason why more padding on a seat isn't better is because us larger women will compress a gel seat and our girlie bits will get smushed instead of resting gently in the indent. There are seats that just support your bum (no front end) as well as traditional looking ones. The main idea is to have your seat parallel to the ground so you don't put undue pressure on your hands or feel like you are sliding off the seat.

Hope this helps!

Hugs,
Ratkity

[PinkFlamingo]

I got my bike last summer when I was close to 300. It was a "Giant Simple Seven" beach coaster - It is very very sturdy and doesn't tip easily (I was terrified of falling) and the handlebars are high, so you don't have to lean over too much. The seat is big and padded, and it is spring-loaded so it kind of cushions your bum (although I still experienced pain!). They are fairly expensive, but maybe you could find one second hand? (Mine got stolen at the end of the summer)

[basketcase]

Thanks, ladies. I've been trying to read up on this and the internet is all over the place with it. Go figure!! I may just borrow my husband's bike and see how it handles me. It's a little more durable type of bike. Those skinny wheels kind of worry me.

[kaplods]

I actually bought my bike at Walmart. We shopped the bike shops, but didn't want to spend tons of money unless we knew we enjoyed biking enough to make a better bike purchase.

I took all the advice I'd found online and from the bike shops. The simplest bike, without fancy suspension.

I don't expect it to last long, but it's held up much better than I ever thought it would.

And I did have to replace the seat. I bought the widest gel seat that Walmart had. It's ok, but I definitely need a better seat if I get to the point that I can ride it long enough for my butt to hurt (I still have health issues that prevent me from riding very long or very often - the bike was an "optimistic" purchase. It's helped me get stronger though, even if I'm still pretty wimpy).

[kaplods]

Oh, and don't fret about the bike shops. I can't believe how friendly everyone was, and really excited to help me find the right bike. One shop was so helpful, that I kept the bike catalog with the page marked for a bike we decided was best for me. I want that bike so much, but it was WAY out of our price range - like eight times our price range.

I was reallly surprised at how friendly the bike shop owners were - even the shop owned by two guys who are in their 20's and use and sell mostly racing bikes. They gave me the best advice and encouragement. All the shops were very happy to sell to a slightly non-mainstream customer (although every shop owner told of selling bikes to people our size and even larger when we asked if people our size could ride bikes).

[Ratkitten]

Oh and fyi, the traditional "10-speeds" out today are very very sturdy and can handle 500+ lbs on those skinny old tires. The triangle shape is quite strong.

My mom started out on a mountain-type hybrid bike, hugely padded seat, fat tires and all. As she got more confident, she switched to lighter and lighter bikes with smaller tires.

I hope you find cycling as freeing as me!

Hugs,
Ratkity

[basketcase]

Too rainy to try it today. And, I was at the gym for my first workout since surgery (part of my bariatric program, actually!) today. SO, not going to push too hard. Hopefully tomorrow.

I also have the problem that when I picture myself on a bike, I think of Queen's "Fat Bottomed Girls" song...