I think I'm going to be moving to Portland, Oregon, a really bike-friendly place, this summer, and I think I'm going to get a nice bike as my Onederland reward when (not if!!!) I get there.
Right now I know how badly I stick out as "that fat girl on the bike," so I'm wondering when I'll just look like a not-offensively-fat girl on a bike. Im hoping it's around 200 for a person my height, but I have a sneaking suspicion it's more like 170.
I don't think you ever feel normal on a bike. In high school I was only about 135 (5'4") and I still felt like the "chubby-girl-on-a-bike" around all the other kids.
Bike anyway! The more you do it, the more exercise you get and that's always a good thing.
I'm way over 200 and if I had a bike I would still ride it down to the little corner store to get my Lotto-Scratch-Offs (my other guilty pleasure).
I think it has more to do with fitness than size, but I didn't have my bike at my highest weight. I don't feel too fat for my bike, but I'm sloooooow! I haven't been on it since it got cold, but I'm taking spin classes in hopes that it will help me come spring.
We are getting bikes this Spring and I cannot wait!!! Our plan is to do long lesiurely (sp?) rides on Saturday when its warm, and I am so looking forward to this!
I think you should look at replacing the seat, I had a bike a few years ago that I replaced the seat and it made it more comfortable. Maybe if you have a bike shop around you, you could talk to someone? I would think they do have a weight limit on the frame, just because they are hollow on the inside. But I agree with PP. Riding is only going to help you reach your goal!
I recently took my mountain bike out of storage and my concern wasn't what I looked like on it but my butt's happiness.
I'd forgot how when I put it away I'd been thinking about changing out my seat for a gel seat and I totally forgot that I used to always wear padded bike pants on it. I didn't have either and I was just in sweat pants and ow.... my hiney was mad for a while!
DH and I used to bike a lot and we were both in better shape then. We didn't use them for years because DD was an infant or on a trike that we could just walk along with. She's JUST now getting to where she goes fast enough in the neighborhood on her little 2-wheeler where us being on bikes is bearable. Still have to be in a way low gear though since her bike has none.
I'm not sure when we'll take up real mountain biking as a family but that's ok.
I'm so out of shape, just cruising the neighborhood with her is good enough and hopefully gets us all prepared.
So don't worry about what you look like, hon. Just get what you need to make the ride hiney happy and go forth and BIKE!
As somebody who lives in Portland, I can safely say you won't stick out as the "fat girl on a bike". Not everyone that rides their bike here has an athletic build or is thin! Just ride your bike and have fun, nobody will give it a second thought as long as you're not causing any trouble.
I never thought about that as I see people of all sizes and shapes on bikes. I agree that it's more about fitness. I can tell you I started biking at 185 this past summer and felt like hot stuff. My best friend has been 30 pounds heavier than me this whole journey so she was 215 at that time, biking right along beside me. I didn't think a thing of it for either of us and no one looked at us funny, ever. And we were funny!
I bought my bike at something like 360 lbs or more. I have disabling fibromyalgia and arthritis, and I can only ride on days when I'm feeling the best and the weather is perfect (early summer and early fall, usually). I can't ride for very long, sometimes my balance is a little off and I'm terrified of riding in traffic, so instead I circle the parking lots and cul-de-sac of our apartment complex.
In other words, I look ridiculous with a capital R - like a humongous 7-year old learning to ride a bike for the first time.
I'm sure people seeing me laugh - I would laugh - heck I do laugh at myself as I do it. This past summer, the first day I got my bike out, my balance was so bad and I was so out of practice that I panicked and rode smack into our garage door (and decided maybe I do need a helmet and elblow/knee pads).
And not only do I look like a huge 7-year old, I feel like a huge 7 year old (well a gigantic, fat 7 year old with arthritis and fibromyalgia). But I forget about almost everything except being 7 years old and being excited and thrilled to be accomplishing something today that I couldn't do yesterday. It's about not being afraid of what other people think (not even thinking about what other people think) because it's fun.
When I first rode the bike after buying it, I was intensely self-conscious. I'd ride in my neighborhood (when we bought the bikes, we lived in a very quiet area), and neighbors would smile and wave (and I was mortified that they noticed me, but I'd smile and wave back, secretly convinced they were laughing at me, and I'd feel horrible about it), but eventually I decided that they weren't laughing at me (or that it didn't matter if they did), and when I smiled and waved I actually meant it (sometimes even waving first).
I think we think far more horrible thoughts about ourselves than anyone else does. I was shocked when we moved to a busier part of town, to see a lot of fat cyclists. One guy has to weigh at least 500 lbs. His bike looked ridiculously tiny in comparison. My initial reaction was shocked laughter (it didn't help that the bike looked like something a 10 year old would like - a basket and bell on the handlebars, and an orange flag off the back), but even as I was laughing, I felt an intense admiration for this guy. Knowing he probably would look silly to many people, he didn't let it stop him from getting out there. I've seen him often enough in the past year, to see that the bike is his primary transportation 8 to 9 months out of the year. Over the year, he's lost some weight, but is still over 400 lbs, I would guess (or pretty close).
One thing I love about the town I live in now, is that fat people don't seem to be nearly as self-conscious about being active than any other place I've ever lived (various towns and cities in Illinios). Whether it's swimming, hiking, kayaking, skiing, biking, and even running, you see people of all sizes getting out there and doing stuff. It's inspiring.
Normal? Who cares? The heck with normal, I say. This past autumn, I had been taking my bike out at approximately 3-4 in the morning, wearing a crochet wolf-ear hat because that's the only thing I had to keep my hair from blowing around everywhere, and bringing my energetic little bichon frise(on his leash, of course) to run along side me as I rode. Regardless of my weight(I'm in a healthy range) I'm sure I looked anything but normal... but that didn't stop me from having all kinds of fun doing it and getting some good exercise in the process.
I think the most important thing I've ever learned in doing anything, including weight loss and becoming more physically fit, is to stop caring about what other people might think and just do what makes you happy. So, I urge you to get that bike and feel awesome on it regardless of weight, and while you're feeling awesome, forget about all worries you had of looking "normal".
I thought there was a weight limit to bikes (and horses?)? is this not true?
I can't speak to horses, but I did learn that it's not as much of an issue with bikes as you would think. Most adult bikes are built sturdily enough to accomodate even very heavy riders. If you pick the right bike, it's not an issue at all.
When I first wanted to buy a bike, I thought weight limit was going to be a big concern, so hubby and I went to several of the pro shops in town. We talked to the owners of the shop and asked them what we needed.
We were really surprised to learn that we didn't need to buy specially designed or very expensive bikes (in fact the cheapest bikes were more likely to have the features we were told to look for). We were told that most bikes probably would be fine, but to be absolutely sure, we should look for simpler and older style bikes. We wanted to buy Schwinn's from the pro shop, but we couldn't afford them, so we were told to look for solid, simple construction (by solid, I don't mean the metal on the bike had to be solid). The frame had to be one piece or pieces welded, not bolted together. We were told to avoid bikes with springs, and plastic or rubber components on the frame. All weight bearing had to be on metal, not plastic parts. The seat needed to be bolted directly to the frame, not to springs. And we were also told we'd probably have to replace the seats for wider seats (this definitely turned out to be true).
Following these rules, we were actually able to buy the second cheapest bikes that Walmart carried (at Walmart, the more expensive bikes were more likely to have the features we were told to avoid).
When we bought the bikes, I weighed about 360 or so, and hubby weighed over 400 lbs, and we had no problems with the bikes (except having to fill our tires probably a little sooner than a smaller rider would have).
We only paid about $70 for each bike. If I had the money to spend, I would have bought the Schwinn, because in the long run I think it would last the longest. But so far, the Walmart cheapie is holding out just find.
There is a weight limit for horses - generally 20% of the horses' weight is the max, with 15% for regular work. The horses themselves can range anywhere from 950-1800lbs, depending on breed and height. Even within that, some breeds/types of conformation can carry more weight proportionally than others.
Bikes, however, are subject to human tinkering and engineering! Like Kaplods said, a solid, simple design can carry far more than most people would expect.
kaplods, I'm so glad to hear you've started to overcome the self-consciousness. I hope I'm that strong soon.
Horo, that sounds like an endearingly funny sight I'd love to take my dog along, but she's an 80-pound pit bull who's easily distracted, so I can see that ending up in humiliating, painful disaster
Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulaM
I thought there was a weight limit to bikes (and horses?)? is this not true?
I'm sure cheaper frames can hold less weight, but I'm not worried about that part. I've rented the model I plan to buy in Germany and here, and I was perfectly comfortable (even on a 3-hour bike tour) and it had no problem holding me. (I'm getting the Electra Townie). I was just worried about what I look like I sucked it up for those times, but to ride consistently, I want to feel like I don't stick out.
Riding horses is another thing I can't wait to do again — I rode throughout my childhood and early teens, but I stopped when we moved away. I had an Arabian with a sensitive back, and I was around 170 then and he was fine. I know people who ride Morgans and thoroughbreds, etc., who are closer to my current weight.
Last edited by ParadiseFalls; 01-14-2011 at 11:40 AM.
This guy from the bike forums I read (Clydesdales and Athenas at bikeforums.net) didn't let what others thought bother him. And he rode with an oxygen tank!
At what weight do you feel "normal" on a bike?
BIKE!
This past autumn, I had been taking my bike out at approximately 3-4 in the morning, wearing a crochet wolf-ear hat because that's the only thing I had to keep my hair from blowing around everywhere, and bringing my energetic little bichon frise(on his leash, of course) to run along side me as I rode. Regardless of my weight(I'm in a healthy range) I'm sure I looked anything but normal... but that didn't stop me from having all kinds of fun doing it and getting some good exercise in the process. 
I sucked it up for those times, but to ride consistently, I want to feel like I don't stick out.
