Road bike for a fat guy

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Date: 28 Sep 2007 16:57:35
From: Hud
Subject: Road bike for a fat guy

I've been biking for a month and I'm hooked. I've been riding a Trek
Multitrack 7200, a hybrid for urban transportation. I really want to
upgrade to a road bike but worry my 245 lbs. will damage such a bike. I'm
willing to spend up to $1500. Maybe some of you have been in my shoes
before. Any bike suggestions?

Date: 29 Sep 2007 09:45:34
From: RBrickston
Subject: Re: Road bike for a fat guy

In article <46fd6abe$0$32468$4c368faf@roadrunner.com >, hud_ohio@yahoo.com
says...
> I've been biking for a month and I'm hooked. I've been riding a Trek
> Multitrack 7200, a hybrid for urban transportation. I really want to
> upgrade to a road bike but worry my 245 lbs. will damage such a bike. I'm
> willing to spend up to $1500. Maybe some of you have been in my shoes
> before. Any bike suggestions?

Steel framed Trek 520, regeared 48 or 46 big ring and a 34 rear cog.
Properly sized (whatever you get).

Date: 28 Sep 2007 22:30:51
From: Hank Wirtz
Subject: Re: Road bike for a fat guy

On Sep 28, 6:30 pm, "BobT" <RobertLeeTaylor...@THISSuddenLink.net >
wrote:
> "Hud" <hud_o...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> news:46fd6abe$0$32468$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...> I've been biking for a month and I'm hooked. I've been riding a Trek
> > Multitrack 7200, a hybrid for urban transportation. I really want to
> > upgrade to a road bike but worry my 245 lbs. will damage such a bike. I'm
> > willing to spend up to $1500. Maybe some of you have been in my shoes
> > before. Any bike suggestions?
>
> First I would ask, what are you looking for in a road bike that you don't
> have on your hybrid?
>
> a) Drop handlebar for better aerodyanmics? Unless your 245 comes mostly
> from height not girth, you may not be very comfortable with the now
> typically very low bar position of a road racing bike.

I've read people arguing this before, and I don't get it. I don't ride
drop bars for aerodynamics, I ride them for the multitude of hand
positions. If you're having a bike built from a frame (like a Surly
Pacer, Crosscheck or LHT) leave the steerer uncut and the bars high.
Flat bars are no higher than the tops of a drop bar, and you're locked
into one hand position (and one that's awful for out-of-saddle
climbing, IMO).

I would guess that most who advocate flat-bar road bikes haven't
ridden a drop bar that was well-configured for them.

Date: 29 Sep 2007 16:46:59
From: BobT
Subject: Re: Road bike for a fat guy

"Hank Wirtz" <hank@wirtznet.net > wrote in message
news:1191043851.505136.199720@r29g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
> On Sep 28, 6:30 pm, "BobT" <RobertLeeTaylor...@THISSuddenLink.net>
> wrote:
>> "Hud" <hud_o...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news:46fd6abe$0$32468$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...> I've been biking for a
>> month and I'm hooked. I've been riding a Trek
>> > Multitrack 7200, a hybrid for urban transportation. I really want to
>> > upgrade to a road bike but worry my 245 lbs. will damage such a bike.
>> > I'm
>> > willing to spend up to $1500. Maybe some of you have been in my shoes
>> > before. Any bike suggestions?
>>
>> First I would ask, what are you looking for in a road bike that you don't
>> have on your hybrid?
>>
>> a) Drop handlebar for better aerodyanmics? Unless your 245 comes mostly
>> from height not girth, you may not be very comfortable with the now
>> typically very low bar position of a road racing bike.
>
> I've read people arguing this before, and I don't get it. I don't ride
> drop bars for aerodynamics, I ride them for the multitude of hand
> positions. If you're having a bike built from a frame (like a Surly
> Pacer, Crosscheck or LHT) leave the steerer uncut and the bars high.
> Flat bars are no higher than the tops of a drop bar, and you're locked
> into one hand position (and one that's awful for out-of-saddle
> climbing, IMO).
>
> I would guess that most who advocate flat-bar road bikes haven't
> ridden a drop bar that was well-configured for them.
>
I could not really disagree with much of what you said.

The drops are there to get you lower to help with aerodynamics. Of course,
they do offer more hand positions. If that is the main reason you or anyone
else chooses them, that certainly is your or their perogative.

Please note that I am not an advocate for or against flat-bar road bikes. I
have a commuter with a Nitto Noodle bar attached to a Nitto Technomic stem
positioned as high as possible which on my bike is with the top of the bar
about level with the top of the seat.

I also have a racing bike with a drop bar and a threadless steerer cutoff
short because it came that way when I bought it from a LBS when I didn't
know any better. I find the position on the drops on this bike
uncomfortably low and seldom use it except for brief periods. This is in
part because I am also "a fat guy". I realize there are ways to fix this
(both the bar height and me!). Most of the road racing bikes in bike shops
I've seen have the bars positioned low, hence my comment "typically very low
bar position of a road racing bike". As you mention, it is possible to buy
a frame/bike without the steerer cut off short or even a threaded steerer
which makes adjusting height very easy.

The point of my original post was to simply ask "Hud" what he didn't like
about his current bike and what was he looking for in a new bike so that I
and others could help give suggestions.

BobT

Date: 29 Sep 2007 16:25:25
From: Roger Zoul
Subject: Re: Road bike for a fat guy

Date: 28 Sep 2007 20:16:42
From:
Subject: Re: Road bike for a fat guy

Date: 28 Sep 2007 19:44:30
From: Fritz
Subject: Re: Road bike for a fat guy

On Fri, 28 Sep 2007 16:57:35 -0400, "Hud" <hud_ohio@yahoo.com > wrote:

>I've been biking for a month and I'm hooked. I've been riding a Trek
>Multitrack 7200, a hybrid for urban transportation. I really want to
>upgrade to a road bike but worry my 245 lbs. will damage such a bike. I'm
>willing to spend up to $1500. Maybe some of you have been in my shoes
>before. Any bike suggestions?

I weigh more than that and I have been happy with my Surly Pacer road
bike. All steel and a steel fork. Tire clearance for tires as wide as
32mm.

I have had this bike for a couple of years now and It rides well and
can handle the extra load with no problem.

I would advise you use wheels with at least 36 spokes in the rear and
32 spokes in the front and at least a 28mm tire.

Date: 29 Sep 2007 02:29:29
From: landotter
Subject: Re: Road bike for a fat guy

On Sep 28, 6:21 pm, Dane Buson <d...@unseen.edu > wrote:
> Gooserider <Gooseri...@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
> > "Hud" <hud_o...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> >> I've been biking for a month and I'm hooked. I've been riding a Trek
> >> Multitrack 7200, a hybrid for urban transportation. I really want to
> >> upgrade to a road bike but worry my 245 lbs. will damage such a bike. I'm
> >> willing to spend up to $1500. Maybe some of you have been in my shoes
> >> before. Any bike suggestions?
>
> > Yes. Since saving a few pounds on a bike isn't really a concern when you
> > weigh 245 pounds(no offense), let me point you toward the Surly Cross Check
> > complete bike offered by any bike shop who deals with Quality Bicycle
> > products. It's priced at just about a thousand dollars, has a decent
> > component spec, a sturdy steel frame, sturdy wheels, and fat tires.
>
> Seconded. It's done well by me from 240 lbs down. The wheels did end
> up getting trashed, but that was from collisions not riding as such.
> Surly is good about their warranty as well.

Thirded. It's a bike any reputable LBS can order, and it's specced
terribley smart. With a change of tires or racks, ya can race it, tour
it, or just ride the dang thing.

Date: 28 Sep 2007 22:20:06
From: Kinney
Subject: Re: Road bike for a fat guy

"Hud" <hud_ohio@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:46fd6abe$0$32468$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> I've been biking for a month and I'm hooked. I've been riding a Trek
> Multitrack 7200, a hybrid for urban transportation. I really want to
> upgrade to a road bike but worry my 245 lbs. will damage such a bike. I'm
> willing to spend up to $1500. Maybe some of you have been in my shoes
> before. Any bike suggestions?

For what its worth I have a 2001 Volpe with over 20,000 miles on it I am
well over 220 lbs. The two biggest things I have had to do is replace the
wheels when they wore the sidewalls down from braking and a new bottom
bracket, I ride year around in Ohio and this bike has been very good to me.
It came with 36 spoke mavic wheels and 700X32 WTB alltrainasouris tires and
I have stayed with that. Havent lost any weight but man the rides I have
been on.

Jim
>

Date: 28 Sep 2007 20:30:06
From: BobT
Subject: Re: Road bike for a fat guy

"Hud" <hud_ohio@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:46fd6abe$0$32468$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> I've been biking for a month and I'm hooked. I've been riding a Trek
> Multitrack 7200, a hybrid for urban transportation. I really want to
> upgrade to a road bike but worry my 245 lbs. will damage such a bike. I'm
> willing to spend up to $1500. Maybe some of you have been in my shoes
> before. Any bike suggestions?
First I would ask, what are you looking for in a road bike that you don't
have on your hybrid?

a) Drop handlebar for better aerodyanmics? Unless your 245 comes mostly
from height not girth, you may not be very comfortable with the now
typically very low bar position of a road racing bike.

b) Better components? You could upgrade your current bike.

c) You probably don't care if the bike weighs 23 pounds instead of 17
pounds, right?

d) You probably don't want low spoke count superlight wheels or skinny
racing tires, right?

If you tell us what your goal is in upgrading, the group might be able to
give better suggestions.

BobT

Date: 29 Sep 2007 22:46:42
From: Hud
Subject: Re: Road bike for a fat guy

"BobT" <RobertLeeTaylorCUT@THISSuddenLink.net > wrote in message
news:46fdaa57$0$14870$bbae4d71@news.suddenlink.net...
> "Hud" <hud_ohio@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:46fd6abe$0$32468$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>> I've been biking for a month and I'm hooked. I've been riding a Trek
>> Multitrack 7200, a hybrid for urban transportation. I really want to
>> upgrade to a road bike but worry my 245 lbs. will damage such a bike.
>> I'm willing to spend up to $1500. Maybe some of you have been in my
>> shoes before. Any bike suggestions?
> First I would ask, what are you looking for in a road bike that you don't
> have on your hybrid?
>
> a) Drop handlebar for better aerodyanmics? Unless your 245 comes mostly
> from height not girth, you may not be very comfortable with the now
> typically very low bar position of a road racing bike.
>
> b) Better components? You could upgrade your current bike.
>
> c) You probably don't care if the bike weighs 23 pounds instead of 17
> pounds, right?
>
> d) You probably don't want low spoke count superlight wheels or skinny
> racing tires, right?
>
> If you tell us what your goal is in upgrading, the group might be able to
> give better suggestions.
>
> BobT
>
>

Just because I'm big doesn't mean I don't care about the weight of the bike.
My bodyweight is dropping from biking. I'm getting lighter and I want my
bike to get lighter too. My current bike is more of a comfort bike.
Solidly built, it has shock absorbers in the front and under the seat. My
wife says it's a "sweet ride." The tires are considerably bigger than road
bike wheels. It has straight handlebars. So my hands are forced to stay in
one spot. It's not built specifically for speed. I want a bike built for
speed. I don't need shock absorbers. And smaller diameter tires are better
for speed. I like to go fast. I can handle a roadbike; I just wonder if it
can handle me. (You can see what I look like here on our family website:
http://www.geocities.com/hud_ohio/HudnellFamilyPage ) To give my hands a
break, I often rest my forearms on the straight handlebars while I pedal.
So I believe I can handle drop handlebars. I'm currently reading "Heft On
Wheels" by Mike Magnuson. When he was in the 255 to 275 pound range he
found that the Trek 5200 was the right bike for him. This came after
damaging (bent frames and forks) several other brands of road bikes. Trek
no longer manufactures the 5200. I just wondered what else is on the
market.

Date: 30 Sep 2007 13:54:19
From: BobT
Subject: Re: Road bike for a fat guy

"Hud" <hud_ohio@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:46ff0e13$0$32483$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>
> "BobT" <RobertLeeTaylorCUT@THISSuddenLink.net> wrote in message
> news:46fdaa57$0$14870$bbae4d71@news.suddenlink.net...
>> "Hud" <hud_ohio@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:46fd6abe$0$32468$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>>> I've been biking for a month and I'm hooked. I've been riding a Trek
>>> Multitrack 7200, a hybrid for urban transportation. I really want to
>>> upgrade to a road bike but worry my 245 lbs. will damage such a bike.
>>> I'm willing to spend up to $1500. Maybe some of you have been in my
>>> shoes before. Any bike suggestions?
>> First I would ask, what are you looking for in a road bike that you don't
>> have on your hybrid?
>>
>> a) Drop handlebar for better aerodyanmics? Unless your 245 comes mostly
>> from height not girth, you may not be very comfortable with the now
>> typically very low bar position of a road racing bike.
>>
>> b) Better components? You could upgrade your current bike.
>>
>> c) You probably don't care if the bike weighs 23 pounds instead of 17
>> pounds, right?
>>
>> d) You probably don't want low spoke count superlight wheels or skinny
>> racing tires, right?
>>
>> If you tell us what your goal is in upgrading, the group might be able
>> to give better suggestions.
>>
>> BobT
>>
>>
>
> Just because I'm big doesn't mean I don't care about the weight of the
> bike. My bodyweight is dropping from biking. I'm getting lighter and I
> want my bike to get lighter too. My current bike is more of a comfort
> bike. Solidly built, it has shock absorbers in the front and under the
> seat. My wife says it's a "sweet ride." The tires are considerably
> bigger than road bike wheels. It has straight handlebars. So my hands
> are forced to stay in one spot. It's not built specifically for speed.
> I want a bike built for speed. I don't need shock absorbers. And smaller
> diameter tires are better for speed. I like to go fast. I can handle a
> roadbike; I just wonder if it can handle me. (You can see what I look
> like here on our family website:
> http://www.geocities.com/hud_ohio/HudnellFamilyPage ) To give my hands a
> break, I often rest my forearms on the straight handlebars while I pedal.
> So I believe I can handle drop handlebars. I'm currently reading "Heft On
> Wheels" by Mike Magnuson. When he was in the 255 to 275 pound range he
> found that the Trek 5200 was the right bike for him. This came after
> damaging (bent frames and forks) several other brands of road bikes. Trek
> no longer manufactures the 5200. I just wondered what else is on the
> market.
After hearing more about you goals, I would recommend a standard road racing
bike. The choices are innumerable - Trek, Cannondale, Specialized and a
zillion others. You might want to avoid ultralight low-spoke count wheels
but this is probably not going to be standard on most $1500 bikes.

I weigh 220 pounds. I sometimes ride a Orbea Onix carbon fiber bike with a
carbon fiber handlebar, Mavic Ksyrium SL wheels, and 700c x 23 tires and so
far nothing has broken in three years. I am not advocating this particular
setup, but mention it to show that a big guy can ride a lightweight carbon
fiber bike with boutique wheels without the wheels or frame collapsing.

I would like to explain my question about the importance of bike weight.
For example, if you weigh 245 pounds and the bike weighs 17 pounds instead
of 24 pounds, that is a less than 3% difference in total rider/bike weight.
I ride for fun and exercise and not to race. For me, spending extra money
to have a bike that is a couple of pounds lighter is silly. This may sound
crazy since I just said I own and ride a carbon fiber bike with boutique
wheels. I bought it when I knew less than I know now and I want to help
others keep from repeating mistakes I've made. If you want to race, keep up
with the group, or just want to go fast because it is fun, spend the money
to get a really light bike that might increase your speed a few percentage
points. That's why I posed the question about bike weight rather than
simply stating that you don't need a super lightweight bike.

BobT

Date: 30 Sep 2007 18:57:54
From: Hud
Subject: Re: Road bike for a fat guy

"BobT" <RobertLeeTaylorCUT@THISSuddenLink.net > wrote in message
news:46fff08e$0$14873$bbae4d71@news.suddenlink.net...
> "Hud" <hud_ohio@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:46ff0e13$0$32483$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>>
>> "BobT" <RobertLeeTaylorCUT@THISSuddenLink.net> wrote in message
>> news:46fdaa57$0$14870$bbae4d71@news.suddenlink.net...
>>> "Hud" <hud_ohio@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>> news:46fd6abe$0$32468$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>>>> I've been biking for a month and I'm hooked. I've been riding a Trek
>>>> Multitrack 7200, a hybrid for urban transportation. I really want to
>>>> upgrade to a road bike but worry my 245 lbs. will damage such a bike.
>>>> I'm willing to spend up to $1500. Maybe some of you have been in my
>>>> shoes before. Any bike suggestions?
>>> First I would ask, what are you looking for in a road bike that you
>>> don't have on your hybrid?
>>>
>>> a) Drop handlebar for better aerodyanmics? Unless your 245 comes mostly
>>> from height not girth, you may not be very comfortable with the now
>>> typically very low bar position of a road racing bike.
>>>
>>> b) Better components? You could upgrade your current bike.
>>>
>>> c) You probably don't care if the bike weighs 23 pounds instead of 17
>>> pounds, right?
>>>
>>> d) You probably don't want low spoke count superlight wheels or skinny
>>> racing tires, right?
>>>
>>> If you tell us what your goal is in upgrading, the group might be able
>>> to give better suggestions.
>>>
>>> BobT
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Just because I'm big doesn't mean I don't care about the weight of the
>> bike. My bodyweight is dropping from biking. I'm getting lighter and I
>> want my bike to get lighter too. My current bike is more of a comfort
>> bike. Solidly built, it has shock absorbers in the front and under the
>> seat. My wife says it's a "sweet ride." The tires are considerably
>> bigger than road bike wheels. It has straight handlebars. So my hands
>> are forced to stay in one spot. It's not built specifically for speed.
>> I want a bike built for speed. I don't need shock absorbers. And
>> smaller diameter tires are better for speed. I like to go fast. I can
>> handle a roadbike; I just wonder if it can handle me. (You can see what
>> I look like here on our family website:
>> http://www.geocities.com/hud_ohio/HudnellFamilyPage ) To give my hands a
>> break, I often rest my forearms on the straight handlebars while I pedal.
>> So I believe I can handle drop handlebars. I'm currently reading "Heft
>> On Wheels" by Mike Magnuson. When he was in the 255 to 275 pound range
>> he found that the Trek 5200 was the right bike for him. This came after
>> damaging (bent frames and forks) several other brands of road bikes.
>> Trek no longer manufactures the 5200. I just wondered what else is on
>> the market.
> After hearing more about you goals, I would recommend a standard road
> racing bike. The choices are innumerable - Trek, Cannondale, Specialized
> and a zillion others. You might want to avoid ultralight low-spoke count
> wheels but this is probably not going to be standard on most $1500 bikes.
>
> I weigh 220 pounds. I sometimes ride a Orbea Onix carbon fiber bike with
> a carbon fiber handlebar, Mavic Ksyrium SL wheels, and 700c x 23 tires and
> so far nothing has broken in three years. I am not advocating this
> particular setup, but mention it to show that a big guy can ride a
> lightweight carbon fiber bike with boutique wheels without the wheels or
> frame collapsing.
>
> I would like to explain my question about the importance of bike weight.
> For example, if you weigh 245 pounds and the bike weighs 17 pounds instead
> of 24 pounds, that is a less than 3% difference in total rider/bike
> weight. I ride for fun and exercise and not to race. For me, spending
> extra money to have a bike that is a couple of pounds lighter is silly.
> This may sound crazy since I just said I own and ride a carbon fiber bike
> with boutique wheels. I bought it when I knew less than I know now and I
> want to help others keep from repeating mistakes I've made. If you want
> to race, keep up with the group, or just want to go fast because it is
> fun, spend the money to get a really light bike that might increase your
> speed a few percentage points. That's why I posed the question about bike
> weight rather than simply stating that you don't need a super lightweight
> bike.
>
> BobT
>
>

Good point, BobT. It's funny imagining an overweight person spending more
money for a bike that weighs a few pounds less. "Shoot, buddy. Just lose a
few pounds and save your money!" Lol. I will most likely continue riding
my current bike until spring. By then I hope to be under 200 lbs. That
will be when I upgrade to a road bike.

Date: 12 Oct 2007 06:34:46
From: Dana Myers
Subject: Re: Road bike for a fat guy

[Catching up on some older threads]

Hud wrote:

> Good point, BobT. It's funny imagining an overweight person spending
> more money for a bike that weighs a few pounds less. "Shoot, buddy.
> Just lose a few pounds and save your money!" Lol. I will most likely
> continue riding my current bike until spring. By then I hope to be
> under 200 lbs. That will be when I upgrade to a road bike.

I've dropped a bit of weight since the beginning of the year;
I was up around 245 before Christmas 2006, and now I'm at 173.
In March, I bought a Fezzari MTB because I'd been day-hiking a
lot of fire trails and figured it would be fun to ride them.
At the time, my weight was around 215 pounds. Eventually my
interest in road-biking was re-kindled around the beginning of
June, when my weight was around 185 pounds, so I put hybrid
slicks (Kenda Komfort @ 70psi) on the MTB and rode it all the
time (including several rides up Mount Diablo).

It wasn't until the end of August that I bought a road bike,
a Cannondale Synapse 1, with my weight below 180 pounds. I'm
glad I into sub-Clyde territory before adding a road bike to
my collection. I think you're doing the right thing, especially
if most of your riding is on relatively flat/rolling routes.

Cheers,
Dana

Date: 12 Oct 2007 22:24:42
From: Andrew Price
Subject: Re: Road bike for a fat guy

On Fri, 12 Oct 2007 06:34:46 -0700, Dana Myers <dana.myers@gmail.com >
wrote:

>I've dropped a bit of weight since the beginning of the year;
>I was up around 245 before Christmas 2006, and now I'm at 173.

That's more than "a bit", it's a pretty impressive achievement. How
did you do it - radical change in diet?

Date: 12 Oct 2007 15:47:25
From: Dana Myers
Subject: Re: Road bike for a fat guy

Andrew Price wrote:
> On Fri, 12 Oct 2007 06:34:46 -0700, Dana Myers <dana.myers@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> I've dropped a bit of weight since the beginning of the year;
>> I was up around 245 before Christmas 2006, and now I'm at 173.
>
> That's more than "a bit", it's a pretty impressive achievement. How
> did you do it - radical change in diet?

Thanks!

As cliche as it sounds, I reviewed and changed my lifestyle -
I looked at what and how much I ate, and I looked at how active
I was. I ate less, ate better and became much more active, and I
worked to develop an awareness of how to maintain balance. I
fundamentally realized that my weight and health is a reflection
of how I live, and that I had to live differently.

In more detail... (I probably ought to blog this, since I've
been asked a few times :-)).

Initially, I sharply reduced my intake of processed/refined carbs,
increased my intake of fresh, low-starch vegetables and fruits,
favored lean sources of protein and worked on portion control
to maintain a sub-2000 kcal daily intake. A lot of salmon, chicken,
roasted and steamed vegetables started going into my diet, though
I still enjoy beef whenever I feel like it (like last night)
and barbecue pork at least once a month during the summer.

I make sure that every meal has plenty of low-starch vegetables
and rely on fresh fruit for between-meal snacks.

Alcohol intake is limited to the heart-healthy 1-2 drinks a day
level, often less overall.

Obvious things like soda-pop, sweets and deep-fried stuff have
little place in my diet, though I still indulge in chocolate
more often than I probably should :-) I watch less TV and avoid
snacking when I do.

Historically pretty sedentary, I started briskly walking 2 miles a day,
then ramped up to 4 miles a day within 4 weeks. Weekend day-hikes
of 10-15 miles/4000ft elevation became common and, in March, I bought
a mountain bike, though I did not regularly ride it at first. Whether
walking or riding, I was spending an hour at or above 70% of my maximum
heart rate at least 5 days a week.

Weight loss was initially pretty rapid, and I worked on getting
an appreciation for how much I needed to eat versus how active I am
and tapered the weight loss. By the end of April I weighed 185
pounds and had no trouble maintaining that weight - I wanted to
soft-land in a sustainable life-style and focus more on health rather
than weight loss. I still maintain at least an hour in the 70-80%
HRmax three or more times a week even when I'm lazy :-).

In June I started riding on the road, and quickly got into riding
about 100 miles a week on the average; by the end of September, my
weight was around 173 pounds. As I increased the amount I rode, I
dialed-up carbs in my diet proportionally to keep things in balance
(and dial-down when I ride less).

That's a (somewhat) quick summary of what's been working for me.

Cheers -
Dana

Date: 13 Oct 2007 13:01:02
From: Justa Lurker
Subject: Re: Road bike for a fat guy

Sounds like common sense (not enough of that around nowadays).

Kudos to you, and keep up the good work !

Date: 13 Oct 2007 17:29:45
From: Dana Myers
Subject: Re: Road bike for a fat guy

Justa Lurker wrote:
> Sounds like common sense (not enough of that around nowadays).

You'd think it's common sense, yet there seem to be a lot
of people that complain endlessly about their weight/health
and do nothing to improve it.

So I totally agree.

Perhaps not ironically, I've had a few people ask me what
diet I'm on, what diet aid I'm using, etc. and refuse to believe
me when I explain. Apparently some folks really want to think
there's some magical pill/diet book they can just buy get
it over with.

> Kudos to you, and keep up the good work !

Thanks!

Dana

Date: 30 Sep 2007 22:48:21
From: BobT
Subject: Re: Road bike for a fat guy

"Hud" <hud_ohio@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:470029f5$0$18947$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>
> "BobT" <RobertLeeTaylorCUT@THISSuddenLink.net> wrote in message
> news:46fff08e$0$14873$bbae4d71@news.suddenlink.net...
>> "Hud" <hud_ohio@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:46ff0e13$0$32483$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>>>
>>> "BobT" <RobertLeeTaylorCUT@THISSuddenLink.net> wrote in message
>>> news:46fdaa57$0$14870$bbae4d71@news.suddenlink.net...
>>>> "Hud" <hud_ohio@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:46fd6abe$0$32468$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>>>>> I've been biking for a month and I'm hooked. I've been riding a Trek
>>>>> Multitrack 7200, a hybrid for urban transportation. I really want to
>>>>> upgrade to a road bike but worry my 245 lbs. will damage such a bike.
>>>>> I'm willing to spend up to $1500. Maybe some of you have been in my
>>>>> shoes before. Any bike suggestions?
>>>> First I would ask, what are you looking for in a road bike that you
>>>> don't have on your hybrid?
>>>>
>>>> a) Drop handlebar for better aerodyanmics? Unless your 245 comes
>>>> mostly from height not girth, you may not be very comfortable with the
>>>> now typically very low bar position of a road racing bike.
>>>>
>>>> b) Better components? You could upgrade your current bike.
>>>>
>>>> c) You probably don't care if the bike weighs 23 pounds instead of 17
>>>> pounds, right?
>>>>
>>>> d) You probably don't want low spoke count superlight wheels or skinny
>>>> racing tires, right?
>>>>
>>>> If you tell us what your goal is in upgrading, the group might be able
>>>> to give better suggestions.
>>>>
>>>> BobT
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> Just because I'm big doesn't mean I don't care about the weight of the
>>> bike. My bodyweight is dropping from biking. I'm getting lighter and I
>>> want my bike to get lighter too. My current bike is more of a comfort
>>> bike. Solidly built, it has shock absorbers in the front and under the
>>> seat. My wife says it's a "sweet ride." The tires are considerably
>>> bigger than road bike wheels. It has straight handlebars. So my hands
>>> are forced to stay in one spot. It's not built specifically for
>>> speed. I want a bike built for speed. I don't need shock absorbers.
>>> And smaller diameter tires are better for speed. I like to go fast. I
>>> can handle a roadbike; I just wonder if it can handle me. (You can see
>>> what I look like here on our family website:
>>> http://www.geocities.com/hud_ohio/HudnellFamilyPage ) To give my hands
>>> a break, I often rest my forearms on the straight handlebars while I
>>> pedal. So I believe I can handle drop handlebars. I'm currently reading
>>> "Heft On Wheels" by Mike Magnuson. When he was in the 255 to 275 pound
>>> range he found that the Trek 5200 was the right bike for him. This came
>>> after damaging (bent frames and forks) several other brands of road
>>> bikes. Trek no longer manufactures the 5200. I just wondered what else
>>> is on the market.
>> After hearing more about you goals, I would recommend a standard road
>> racing bike. The choices are innumerable - Trek, Cannondale, Specialized
>> and a zillion others. You might want to avoid ultralight low-spoke count
>> wheels but this is probably not going to be standard on most $1500 bikes.
>>
>> I weigh 220 pounds. I sometimes ride a Orbea Onix carbon fiber bike with
>> a carbon fiber handlebar, Mavic Ksyrium SL wheels, and 700c x 23 tires
>> and so far nothing has broken in three years. I am not advocating this
>> particular setup, but mention it to show that a big guy can ride a
>> lightweight carbon fiber bike with boutique wheels without the wheels or
>> frame collapsing.
>>
>> I would like to explain my question about the importance of bike weight.
>> For example, if you weigh 245 pounds and the bike weighs 17 pounds
>> instead of 24 pounds, that is a less than 3% difference in total
>> rider/bike weight. I ride for fun and exercise and not to race. For me,
>> spending extra money to have a bike that is a couple of pounds lighter is
>> silly. This may sound crazy since I just said I own and ride a carbon
>> fiber bike with boutique wheels. I bought it when I knew less than I
>> know now and I want to help others keep from repeating mistakes I've
>> made. If you want to race, keep up with the group, or just want to go
>> fast because it is fun, spend the money to get a really light bike that
>> might increase your speed a few percentage points. That's why I posed
>> the question about bike weight rather than simply stating that you don't
>> need a super lightweight bike.
>>
>> BobT
>>
>>
>
> Good point, BobT. It's funny imagining an overweight person spending more
> money for a bike that weighs a few pounds less. "Shoot, buddy. Just lose
> a few pounds and save your money!" Lol. I will most likely continue
> riding my current bike until spring. By then I hope to be under 200 lbs.
> That will be when I upgrade to a road bike.
I wish you lots of luck and success in achieving your goal.

BobT

Date: 30 Sep 2007 08:17:38
From: Roger Zoul
Subject: Re: Road bike for a fat guy

"Hud" <hud_ohio@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:46ff0e13$0$32483$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>
> "BobT" <RobertLeeTaylorCUT@THISSuddenLink.net> wrote in message
> news:46fdaa57$0$14870$bbae4d71@news.suddenlink.net...
>> "Hud" <hud_ohio@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:46fd6abe$0$32468$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>>> I've been biking for a month and I'm hooked. I've been riding a Trek
>>> Multitrack 7200, a hybrid for urban transportation. I really want to
>>> upgrade to a road bike but worry my 245 lbs. will damage such a bike.
>>> I'm willing to spend up to $1500. Maybe some of you have been in my
>>> shoes before. Any bike suggestions?
>> First I would ask, what are you looking for in a road bike that you don't
>> have on your hybrid?
>>
>> a) Drop handlebar for better aerodyanmics? Unless your 245 comes mostly
>> from height not girth, you may not be very comfortable with the now
>> typically very low bar position of a road racing bike.
>>
>> b) Better components? You could upgrade your current bike.
>>
>> c) You probably don't care if the bike weighs 23 pounds instead of 17
>> pounds, right?
>>
>> d) You probably don't want low spoke count superlight wheels or skinny
>> racing tires, right?
>>
>> If you tell us what your goal is in upgrading, the group might be able
>> to give better suggestions.
>>
>> BobT
>>
>>
>
> Just because I'm big doesn't mean I don't care about the weight of the
> bike. My bodyweight is dropping from biking. I'm getting lighter and I
> want my bike to get lighter too. My current bike is more of a comfort
> bike. Solidly built, it has shock absorbers in the front and under the
> seat. My wife says it's a "sweet ride." The tires are considerably
> bigger than road bike wheels. It has straight handlebars. So my hands
> are forced to stay in one spot. It's not built specifically for speed.
> I want a bike built for speed. I don't need shock absorbers. And smaller
> diameter tires are better for speed. I like to go fast. I can handle a
> roadbike; I just wonder if it can handle me. (You can see what I look
> like here on our family website:
> http://www.geocities.com/hud_ohio/HudnellFamilyPage ) To give my hands a
> break, I often rest my forearms on the straight handlebars while I pedal.
> So I believe I can handle drop handlebars. I'm currently reading "Heft On
> Wheels" by Mike Magnuson. When he was in the 255 to 275 pound range he
> found that the Trek 5200 was the right bike for him. This came after
> damaging (bent frames and forks) several other brands of road bikes. Trek
> no longer manufactures the 5200. I just wondered what else is on the
> market.

Get a road bike with drop handlebars adjusted to seat height (you can lower
them later) and good wheels with high spoke count. Some bikes let you go all
the way from 23mm tires to 28. You'll be fine with 28 for now. You can move
to 23 later.

Still, I'd say it's unlikely that you'll ever be a racer, but you can still
go fast. Frankly, I find it hard to believe that anyone who rides a bike
doesn' t like to go as fast as they can go (at least on a flat under your
own pedaling power and uphill, excluding downhill).

Most of these road-type comfort/touring models are well suited for any type
of riding. Just stay away from the super light *racing specific* stuff.

Date: 30 Sep 2007 06:32:15
From: catzz66
Subject: Re: Road bike for a fat guy

Hud wrote:

>
> Just because I'm big doesn't mean I don't care about the weight of the
> bike. My bodyweight is dropping from biking. I'm getting lighter and I
> want my bike to get lighter too. My current bike is more of a comfort
> bike. Solidly built, it has shock absorbers in the front and under the
> seat. My wife says it's a "sweet ride." The tires are considerably
> bigger than road bike wheels. It has straight handlebars. So my hands
> are forced to stay in one spot. It's not built specifically for
> speed. I want a bike built for speed. I don't need shock absorbers.
> And smaller diameter tires are better for speed. I like to go fast. I
> can handle a roadbike; I just wonder if it can handle me. (You can see
> what I look like here on our family website:
> http://www.geocities.com/hud_ohio/HudnellFamilyPage ) To give my hands
> a break, I often rest my forearms on the straight handlebars while I
> pedal. So I believe I can handle drop handlebars. I'm currently reading
> "Heft On Wheels" by Mike Magnuson. When he was in the 255 to 275 pound
> range he found that the Trek 5200 was the right bike for him. This came
> after damaging (bent frames and forks) several other brands of road
> bikes. Trek no longer manufactures the 5200. I just wondered what else
> is on the market.

You have gotten excellent advice. Get good wheels and increase your
spoke count as needed. If you want a road bike, get a road bike.
Probably quite a few of us started at the weight you are and are riding
pretty light bikes.

Date: 30 Sep 2007 14:52:00
From: Hud
Subject: Re: Road bike for a fat guy

"catzz66" <catzz66@threeletterservice.com > wrote in message
news:5m9fm2Fcen0jU1@mid.individual.net...
> Hud wrote:
>
>>
>> Just because I'm big doesn't mean I don't care about the weight of the
>> bike. My bodyweight is dropping from biking. I'm getting lighter and I
>> want my bike to get lighter too. My current bike is more of a comfort
>> bike. Solidly built, it has shock absorbers in the front and under the
>> seat. My wife says it's a "sweet ride." The tires are considerably
>> bigger than road bike wheels. It has straight handlebars. So my hands
>> are forced to stay in one spot. It's not built specifically for speed.
>> I want a bike built for speed. I don't need shock absorbers. And
>> smaller diameter tires are better for speed. I like to go fast. I can
>> handle a roadbike; I just wonder if it can handle me. (You can see what
>> I look like here on our family website:
>> http://www.geocities.com/hud_ohio/HudnellFamilyPage ) To give my hands a
>> break, I often rest my forearms on the straight handlebars while I pedal.
>> So I believe I can handle drop handlebars. I'm currently reading "Heft
>> On Wheels" by Mike Magnuson. When he was in the 255 to 275 pound range
>> he found that the Trek 5200 was the right bike for him. This came after
>> damaging (bent frames and forks) several other brands of road bikes.
>> Trek no longer manufactures the 5200. I just wondered what else is on
>> the market.
>
> You have gotten excellent advice. Get good wheels and increase your spoke
> count as needed. If you want a road bike, get a road bike. Probably quite
> a few of us started at the weight you are and are riding pretty light
> bikes.

That is very encouraging to know. I am reading all the advice and will
check out the bikes mentioned in this thread. Much thanks to everyone who
responded!

Date: 28 Sep 2007 17:54:39
From: Jorg Lueke
Subject: Re: Road bike for a fat guy

On Sep 28, 9:57 pm, "Hud" <hud_o...@yahoo.com > wrote:
> I've been biking for a month and I'm hooked. I've been riding a Trek
> Multitrack 7200, a hybrid for urban transportation. I really want to
> upgrade to a road bike but worry my 245 lbs. will damage such a bike. I'm
> willing to spend up to $1500. Maybe some of you have been in my shoes
> before. Any bike suggestions?

At 6' 5" and 225 lbs plus laptop and work gear the Trek Pilot has
worked well for this year. Going on 3000 miles now.

Date: 28 Sep 2007 19:16:20
From: Gooserider
Subject: Re: Road bike for a fat guy

"Hud" <hud_ohio@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:46fd6abe$0$32468$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> I've been biking for a month and I'm hooked. I've been riding a Trek
> Multitrack 7200, a hybrid for urban transportation. I really want to
> upgrade to a road bike but worry my 245 lbs. will damage such a bike. I'm
> willing to spend up to $1500. Maybe some of you have been in my shoes
> before. Any bike suggestions?

Yes. Since saving a few pounds on a bike isn't really a concern when you
weigh 245 pounds(no offense), let me point you toward the Surly Cross Check
complete bike offered by any bike shop who deals with Quality Bicycle
products. It's priced at just about a thousand dollars, has a decent
component spec, a sturdy steel frame, sturdy wheels, and fat tires.

Mike

Date: 28 Sep 2007 16:21:30
From: Dane Buson
Subject: Re: Road bike for a fat guy

Gooserider <Gooserider@mouse-potato.com > wrote:
> "Hud" <hud_ohio@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
>> I've been biking for a month and I'm hooked. I've been riding a Trek
>> Multitrack 7200, a hybrid for urban transportation. I really want to
>> upgrade to a road bike but worry my 245 lbs. will damage such a bike. I'm
>> willing to spend up to $1500. Maybe some of you have been in my shoes
>> before. Any bike suggestions?
>
> Yes. Since saving a few pounds on a bike isn't really a concern when you
> weigh 245 pounds(no offense), let me point you toward the Surly Cross Check
> complete bike offered by any bike shop who deals with Quality Bicycle
> products. It's priced at just about a thousand dollars, has a decent
> component spec, a sturdy steel frame, sturdy wheels, and fat tires.

Seconded. It's done well by me from 240 lbs down. The wheels did end
up getting trashed, but that was from collisions not riding as such.
Surly is good about their warranty as well.

--
Dane Buson - sigdane@unixbigots.org
The church is near but the road is icy; the bar is far away but I will
walk carefully.
-- Russian Proverb

Date: 28 Sep 2007 18:09:30
From: Roger Zoul
Subject: Re: Road bike for a fat guy

"Hud" <hud_ohio@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:46fd6abe$0$32468$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> I've been biking for a month and I'm hooked. I've been riding a Trek
> Multitrack 7200, a hybrid for urban transportation. I really want to
> upgrade to a road bike but worry my 245 lbs. will damage such a bike. I'm
> willing to spend up to $1500. Maybe some of you have been in my shoes
> before. Any bike suggestions?

I weighed more than you when I got my Specialized Sequioa Expert. I do
suggest wheels with no less than 32 spokes and tires on the order of 25 or
28 mm, however. You may want a less aggressive geometry (drop handlebars at
saddle height, for example), too, depending on your age, goals, and the
amount time you have to train.

Date: 28 Sep 2007 21:19:43
From: landotter
Subject: Re: Road bike for a fat guy

On Sep 28, 3:57 pm, "Hud" <hud_o...@yahoo.com > wrote:
> I've been biking for a month and I'm hooked. I've been riding a Trek
> Multitrack 7200, a hybrid for urban transportation. I really want to
> upgrade to a road bike but worry my 245 lbs. will damage such a bike. I'm
> willing to spend up to $1500. Maybe some of you have been in my shoes
> before. Any bike suggestions?

If you're not racing, a cyclocross bike is great for clydesdales as
the wheels are strong and the brakes are powerful. If you get a
wannabe crosser like a Bianchi Volpe, you'll get provisions for
mounting mudguards and riding all winter. Mount up some fast 28mm
tires and have fun. If you want something for longer miles but aren't
concerned about nippy handling, even a touring bike could be a
thought. Test ride and see what you like.

FWIW, you can ride most any road bike if you really want to, if the
wheels are up to snuff--but why ride a machine that only does one
thing? I mean, if the racy looks are going to get you all amped--I can
understand that, but if you feel that it's too precious, then you
won't use it much either. ;-)