Bike for larger bloke (ahem)

my mate is 25-26 stone, and wants to get a bike to help him lose weight. do normal hybirds etc have a weight limit? if so, what should he do?

24" wheel BMX?

I wouldn't trust a cheaply made hybrid. Maybe one of the Cannondales would do but it's probably beyond his budget.

2nd hand touring bike with fattish tyres? They're made to take alot of weight.

GA2G may be able to advise?

No offence intended of course

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/eclipse-handbuilt-touring-bike_W0QQitemZ220246407739QQihZ012QQcategoryZ36130QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

If he can afford it get the rear wheel rebuilt with sunn rhyno rims I have them on my BMX and they're pretty tough plus they get good reviews from free ride mbter in 26" and hardcore tourer in 26" and 700c.

GA2G may be able to advise?

No offence intended of course

;-)

suggest he goes to (gentle) spinning classes beforehand, he will need to monitor his heart rate carefully.Then start with a mountain bike of any shape, the bike''ll be fine (though he may not!). Tourers are also possible but realistically he needs to start gently.

I wouldn't trust a cheaply made hybrid. Maybe one of the Cannondales would do but it's probably beyond his budget.

Crack'n'fail? You're 'avin' a laugh, Shirely?

cheers guys

25 stones pretty much rules out racing rims of the narrow type id say, although they would take the weight, around corners i wouldn't trust them.

I'd get a mountain bike, that's already made with stronger wheels and frame.

I know some one 22/3 stone he rolls around on a large focus city/hybrid bike.
(i had to google wtf stone = in kg's)

Marin Larkspur with a fancy rim on the rear wheel = sorted.

the days of crack and fail are long since gone caad 4 and above don't fail.... well i hope they don't cos i got two !! it was the old early caads with the rear drops hanging ludicrously of the end of the rear stays like the shiny aluminium one at bike polo on sundays that has the crack and fail rear drops.

Or a Kona Hoss - they're built up for burly folk.

I've got a Ridgeback Nemesis 2007 model, which is very solidly built have been rolling around on that with no problems and tip the scales at now just over 19 stone. Not as hefty as your mate but still no lightweight.

cheers guys

Hey Nimbus, funny, I just saw this post, and I thought "who's gonna mention me"? God bless asm. But seriously, I'm about 19 stone and only about 5'9", which makes my weight density more compacted than your friend's might be? There are lots of variables, but the important ones I'm thinking about are:

1. What is his cycling experience like? Is he newish to the discipline, or is he returning to it?
   
2. What cycling position will he adopt? Aggressive "lean over", or more casual "sit up straight"?
   
3. What terrain will he encounter? City only, or rough roads as well?
   The reasons I asked these is because if he's newish, he may need more gears, so as to slowly build up to whatever level he wants to achieve. If he has experience and likes the more aggressive position, a road bike (possibly a tourer, or at least a large diameter alu framed jobbie) should serve him well. If he likes the more upright riding position then a mountain bike or hybrid will do the trick. Note; a mountain bike can be tailored to exactly whatever position he likes best. And lastly, a mountain bike frame is designed to take on more stresses than a road bike or hybrid can. His weight will increase the stresses applied to vital parts of the frame and linking components.
   
   

In summary, I would suggest a mountain bike from a good and noted manufacturer as a first recommendation, a hybrid as a second recommendation. If he wants to go fast on it, he can upgrade tyres, or wheels+tyres, to faster gear.

My own Giant Bowery is already showing stresses to the BB, after only 2 months, but that is what I expected. The same will apply to him. I also think you'll be able to give him good advice on which bike shop to use, because I think his first free service will have to cover quite a few niggly things (re-truing, bb, etc). Hope that was helpful. And good on your mate getting cycling.

Hang on a second! VanUden's 19 stone? Isn't there a weight limit on this forum? Why can't I be the only fat in the village? I'm peeved.

Alley cat for big guys ?
YouTube - Fat guy falls off bike!

Oh my God that fat fuck sure can run! his weight actually managed to bend the front fork.

Hang on a second! VanUden's 19 stone? Isn't there a weight limit on this forum? Why can't I be the only fat in the village? I'm peeved.

fatist!

fatist!

no, *your *fattest.

(as a certain television comedian likes to say.

And yup, go mtb.

Theres heaps of off the peg city bikes around at the moment bassed around mtb's

Or you can pick up a good quality second hand XC bike for peanuts and upgrade a few off the parts.

I would avoid suspension, a well made rigid frame with a high top tube and long head tube is what your after along with a solid wheelset. Ideally at 36H, dont bother with disc brakes, waste of time/money in the city. - If he really is that heavy, it would create immense loads from hub braking, and require very regular truing.

A small frame would flex a lot more, and the seatpost would be a heavily weighted preacarious cantilever so best avoided.

Stick on some quality city tyres, not full slicks, run at 65psi+

A high well positioned seat with for good riding posture will be important.

As sitting straight up, with all the weight on a low saddle will give him a numb arse. Also create a lot of fatigue on the rear wheel.

Getting the body up and foward is a good idea, creating a better blanced weight and takes seat pressure to the tougher parts of his bottom.

alot of manufacturers have a lifetime warranty

specialized for example.

a 24 bmx will not help him lose weight.. this will probably add weight due to muscle gain.

personally id go for a curtis
single speed for sure remembering the low ratio to spin up to promote aerobic activity

lesser budget; probably a modern steel framed track bike

nimmus, this mate of your's an Irish fellow is he?

dat he is, big lad, so he is. big and fat.

big and fat, and was 30 stone before he lost all that weight.

watch out for an obese man riding around Belfast on a slave bike