Heavy friend wants a bike--help?

Hey there, I've been doing lots of lots research before getting my MTB
recently, so I kinda have an idea of what to look for and
recommend...normally. However, my friend who is all of 270lbs wants a bike
and I know theres a different criteria set for riders like these.

His budget is up to1200 (but probably would like to spend around 800) for a
mountain bike for beginning riding.

Should he look for CroMo frame? (higher tensile and yield strength vs
6061-T6). Which shocks are typically recommended for heavier riders? Are
there any companies or bikes that are geared specifically towards this
market?

I'm guessing one would need a good, strong front fork, bottom bracket,
crankset, and wheelset...tell me if I missed anything or got anything wrong.
Thanks.

However, my friend who is all of 270lbs wants a bike
and I know theres a different criteria set for riders

A good mountain bike with 36 spoke wheels should do just fine for normal trail
riding.

These are designed for heavy use and drops.

Many of us on the 200-300 range ride successfully.

Personally, at 245 (now down to 220) I have ridden a stock Lemond Buenos Aires
with 32 spoke wheels for several years now. I have 32 spoke wheels and 7,000
miles on the BA with absolutely no problems. I did have the spokes
"tension-released" when it was new, and do have an annual tuneup. I have
ridden a $300 Hardrock Specialized mtn bike (36 spoke wheels) for 5 years for
over 8,000 miles, again with absolutely no problems.

Your friend should enjoy riding and it is a good aerobic (cardio) exercise.

Tell him to have fun, go to a good Local Bike Shop to be properly fitted and
not to worry.


http://members.aol.com/foxcondorsrvtns
(Colorado rental condo)

http://members.aol.com/dnvrfox
(Family Web Page)

they would be affectionately known in the cycle jargon as a clydesdale and
should shop appropriately. I know of someone @ 150kg that rides both
"standard" mountain bikes and road bikes with regularity with minimal
problems. Remember that there are necessories not just the cost of the bike
to consider (shorts, gloves, helmet, cmoputer, lock, water bottles & cages,
lights etc)


"tsp" wrote in message
...
Hey there, I've been doing lots of lots research before getting my MTB
recently, so I kinda have an idea of what to look for and
recommend...normally. However, my friend who is all of 270lbs wants a
bike
and I know theres a different criteria set for riders like these.

His budget is up to1200 (but probably would like to spend around 800) for
a
mountain bike for beginning riding.

Should he look for CroMo frame? (higher tensile and yield strength vs
6061-T6). Which shocks are typically recommended for heavier riders? Are
there any companies or bikes that are geared specifically towards this
market?

I'm guessing one would need a good, strong front fork, bottom bracket,
crankset, and wheelset...tell me if I missed anything or got anything
wrong.
Thanks.

"tsp" wrote in message
...
Hey there, I've been doing lots of lots research before getting my MTB
recently, so I kinda have an idea of what to look for and
recommend...normally. However, my friend who is all of 270lbs wants a
bike
and I know theres a different criteria set for riders like these.

I'm not sure he has much to worry about. If he wants a mountain bike, then
any entry level mountain bike will probably suffice. I lost most of my
150lbs. on a Trek 4300 that cost like $380. I went from 400lbs. to around
290lbs. on that bike, then got a road bike. Also stock. Trek 1000. The only
thing I had to fidget with is I had to have the back wheel on the road bike
remade with better spokes by hand because spokes were breaking on me. Other
than that I haven't had a problem. So I'd say the most important part (once
again, unless he's mountain biking or hopping curbs) is to make sure the
back wheel is strong. Otherwise, I wouldn't imagine he'd have much of a
problem. In fact, there's an argument to be made that if he has $1200 to
spend it might not be a bad idea to buy an entry level bike with a decent
back wheel and wear that out. Save some money and buy a better bike once
he's lost some weight (if that's a goal or at all possible). That's my plan.

Preston

"Preston Crawford" wrote in message
...
I'm not sure he has much to worry about. If he wants a mountain bike, then
any entry level mountain bike will probably suffice. I lost most of my
150lbs. on a Trek 4300 that cost like $380. I went from 400lbs. to around
290lbs. on that bike, then got a road bike. Also stock. Trek 1000. The
only
thing I had to fidget with is I had to have the back wheel on the road
bike
remade with better spokes by hand because spokes were breaking on me.
Other
than that I haven't had a problem. So I'd say the most important part
(once
again, unless he's mountain biking or hopping curbs) is to make sure the
back wheel is strong. Otherwise, I wouldn't imagine he'd have much of a

I'd agree. I'm 230-265 (riding/not riding). Wheels are the problem, or is it
finding a mechanic who knows how to fix a wheel is the problem. An ordinary
mtb should work but more expensive equals less bike weight from fewer,
lighter spokes and that may lead to more problems.

problem. In fact, there's an argument to be made that if he has $1200 to
spend it might not be a bad idea to buy an entry level bike with a decent
back wheel and wear that out. Save some money and buy a better bike once
he's lost some weight (if that's a goal or at all possible). That's my
plan.

Not a bad idea at all, although, it can be a lot harder (even dangerous) to
use a crappy bike on tougher rides and that might discourage him, especially
if he's trying to ride with people with great bikes.

Doug
Toronto

In article ,
Denver C. Fox wrote:
However, my friend who is all of 270lbs wants a bike
and I know theres a different criteria set for riders

A good mountain bike with 36 spoke wheels should do just fine for normal trail
riding.

These are designed for heavy use and drops.

Many of us on the 200-300 range ride successfully.

Personally, at 245 (now down to 220) I have ridden a stock Lemond Buenos Aires
with 32 spoke wheels for several years now. I have 32 spoke wheels and 7,000
miles on the BA with absolutely no problems. I did have the spokes
"tension-released" when it was new, and do have an annual tuneup. I have
ridden a $300 Hardrock Specialized mtn bike (36 spoke wheels) for 5 years for
over 8,000 miles, again with absolutely no problems.

Your friend should enjoy riding and it is a good aerobic (cardio) exercise.

Tell him to have fun, go to a good Local Bike Shop to be properly fitted and
not to worry.


What I want to know is there any hope of a heavier rider to
ride significant hills and steep, real, mountain bike courses
trails? I could ride like a maniac when I was 155 in college.
But since I bulked up and did body building, I was like
struggling on moderately hill courses at 185-190.

Now, I'm at 225-230, and it's even harder. I don't even attempt
some locations that i didn't use to think twice about, even at
184. Gently rolling hills are hard on the quads.

I would just think at 250, you'd be consigned to level trails
basically. ;-(

IOW, is there a limit where the mechanical advantage 'breaks'
on a bike?

I'm planning to lose down to at least 200 so I can continue,
and maybe even lower than that. I'm trying to figure how low I
should go. I hear every 10lbs adds 3 min to your ride times.

Just wondering what other ppl experience. I'm sure if you've
been riding at 245 for 10 years it doesn't matter. Certainly
you wouldn't go to the Tour, or Rockies, or even the
Appalacians, right?

-B
--
Email Replies to johnsonnospm01j att ntelos dott net

"Badger South" wrote in message
...
What I want to know is there any hope of a heavier rider to
ride significant hills and steep, real, mountain bike courses
trails? I could ride like a maniac when I was 155 in college.
But since I bulked up and did body building, I was like
struggling on moderately hill courses at 185-190.

Now, I'm at 225-230, and it's even harder. I don't even attempt
some locations that i didn't use to think twice about, even at
184. Gently rolling hills are hard on the quads.

I would just think at 250, you'd be consigned to level trails
basically. ;-(

You will notice even pro sprinters can't keep up on mountain stages. The
same thing happens in a casual group of riders. The lightest are up first,
the heaviest last.

While it would probably take me a few days to do a mountain stage of the
Tour, as long as it's ok to fall behind on the climbs, maybe pause now and
then, I don't see any problem on the road except for the accumulation of too
much unaccustomed climbing on knees. People ride up these hills all the time
carrying an extra 50 to 100 pounds, it's called self-contained touring. Of
course, this assumes you've been riding a while, and are willing to use
touring bike gearing (like mtb.)

Off road on more technical trails I have found hills that are steep enough
for long enough that I don't think I can climb them. I chicken out when I
start imagining backwards sommersaults and I would not want to try some of
the things they do in pro mtb races.

Doug
Toronto

In article ogers.com,
Doug Purdy wrote:
"Badger South" wrote in message
...
What I want to know is there any hope of a heavier rider to
ride significant hills and steep, real, mountain bike courses
trails? I could ride like a maniac when I was 155 in college.
But since I bulked up and did body building, I was like
struggling on moderately hill courses at 185-190.

Now, I'm at 225-230, and it's even harder. I don't even attempt
some locations that i didn't use to think twice about, even at
184. Gently rolling hills are hard on the quads.

I would just think at 250, you'd be consigned to level trails
basically. ;-(

You will notice even pro sprinters can't keep up on mountain stages. The
same thing happens in a casual group of riders. The lightest are up first,
the heaviest last.

While it would probably take me a few days to do a mountain stage of the
Tour, as long as it's ok to fall behind on the climbs, maybe pause now and
then, I don't see any problem on the road except for the accumulation of too
much unaccustomed climbing on knees. People ride up these hills all the time
carrying an extra 50 to 100 pounds, it's called self-contained touring. Of
course, this assumes you've been riding a while, and are willing to use
touring bike gearing (like mtb.)

Off road on more technical trails I have found hills that are steep enough
for long enough that I don't think I can climb them. I chicken out when I
start imagining backwards sommersaults and I would not want to try some of
the things they do in pro mtb races.

Doug
Toronto

So if I've just come back off a long layoff (1 year), and I
train everyday (45min on rolling hills, mostly flat trail) and
lift (squats, dl, bp), how long should it take me to be able to
do medium hills; what do you consider a medium hard hill for
you at 240? Like how long and how steep?

Just trying to set a goal for myself.

-B

--
Email Replies to johnsonnospm01j att ntelos dott net

In article ,
says...
In article ,
Denver C. Fox wrote:
However, my friend who is all of 270lbs wants a bike
and I know theres a different criteria set for riders

A good mountain bike with 36 spoke wheels should do just fine for normal trail
riding.

These are designed for heavy use and drops.

Many of us on the 200-300 range ride successfully.

Personally, at 245 (now down to 220) I have ridden a stock Lemond Buenos Aires
with 32 spoke wheels for several years now. I have 32 spoke wheels and 7,000
miles on the BA with absolutely no problems. I did have the spokes
"tension-released" when it was new, and do have an annual tuneup. I have
ridden a $300 Hardrock Specialized mtn bike (36 spoke wheels) for 5 years for
over 8,000 miles, again with absolutely no problems.

Your friend should enjoy riding and it is a good aerobic (cardio) exercise.

Tell him to have fun, go to a good Local Bike Shop to be properly fitted and
not to worry.


What I want to know is there any hope of a heavier rider to
ride significant hills and steep, real, mountain bike courses
trails? I could ride like a maniac when I was 155 in college.
But since I bulked up and did body building, I was like
struggling on moderately hill courses at 185-190.

That will come with conditioning of your leg muscles and/or lower gears.


Now, I'm at 225-230, and it's even harder. I don't even attempt
some locations that i didn't use to think twice about, even at
184. Gently rolling hills are hard on the quads.

I would just think at 250, you'd be consigned to level trails
basically. ;-(

Not if you get a nice low granny gear.


....

Just wondering what other ppl experience. I'm sure if you've
been riding at 245 for 10 years it doesn't matter. Certainly
you wouldn't go to the Tour, or Rockies, or even the
Appalacians, right?

With training and the right gears, you should be able to ride pretty
much anywhere unless your legs are about the size of pencils.

--
Dave Kerber
Fight spam: remove the ns_ from the return address before replying!

REAL programmers write self-modifying code.

On Wed, 08 Oct 2003 04:48:39 +0000, Badger South wrote:

What I want to know is there any hope of a heavier rider to ride
significant hills and steep, real, mountain bike courses trails? I could
ride like a maniac when I was 155 in college. But since I bulked up and
did body building, I was like struggling on moderately hill courses at
185-190.

Now, I'm at 225-230, and it's even harder. I don't even attempt some
locations that i didn't use to think twice about, even at 184. Gently
rolling hills are hard on the quads.

I would just think at 250, you'd be consigned to level trails basically.
;-(

IOW, is there a limit where the mechanical advantage 'breaks' on a bike?

Not really. I know what you mean about the memory of how easy it was way
back when. Now, I place part of the blame on my belly, the rest on my
age, but it is harder to get up the hills. What I have to do is recognize
that I*can't climb as well as the children I ride with, but no matter
what, I*can still get up the hill given a low enough gear and enough time.


I'm planning to lose down to at least 200 so I can continue, and maybe
even lower than that.

Yeah, I'm planning to weigh 160 real soon now....

Just wondering what other ppl experience. I'm sure if you've been riding
at 245 for 10 years it doesn't matter. Certainly you wouldn't go to the
Tour, or Rockies, or even the Appalacians, right?

Why the hell not? With low enough gears you can get anyone up anything,
if they are otherwise in shape. Not fast, perhaps, but it is still
possible.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | Accept risk. Accept responsibility. Put a lawyer out of
_`\(,_ | business.
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