Strong bike for fat chap

[AshMcD]

Hi folks,

So I'm 6'2" and 130kg. I'm a former American Football player. Unfortunately a torn meniscus said good bye to that sport so I'm looking for something else to get in. I have a mountain bike which I've been using to ride on but I'd really like to start riding on the road and now I'm no longer playing football I'd very much like to bring down that weight! So I'm fully focused on 2,200 cals a day and being active.

I'm really not sure what to do here... I did quite a bit of research into making sure the mountain bike would take my weight so I got a hard tail with an air front fork so it could be tuned to my weight and that's been fine.

Budget wise, I'd like to spend less than £900. I realise I'm going to look preposterous but I don't care. The weight will come off quick enough!

I love to compete so definitely would like to take part in a few sportives and other forms of competition I don't know exist yet (although I realise sportives are not a competition as such!).

Would very much appreciate any advice.

Thanks

 

[Drago]

You are a big fellow! I'm a relatively puny 114 and can't find a carbon bike with a frame guaranteed above 105kg. On the other hand I, and several lads I know bigger than me, manage OK on alloy frames. Of course, alloy can and does also fail but is liable to give some warning and much less likely to fail instantly and catastrophically.

In your position I'd be inclined to spend slightly less than your budget on something like a Felt F series of one of the lower range Giant Defys and spend the remainder on a better set of wheels, as that's the other area liable to suffer from the strain of humping round a big lad.

 

[Milkfloat]

Drago has it bang on - but you could also consider sticking with the MTB until the weight has come down and consider a road bike as a reward.

If you go for the road bike right now, then you should probably look at some hand built or touring wheels. You may be lucky on some stock wheels, my Defy ones seems bullet proof, but I must admit I have not taxed them as much as you plan to.

 

[MichaelW2]

130kg is over 20 stone or 286lbs in old money.
You will need strong wheels. Hand-made, touring-grade 36 spoke wheels are reliable, if not lightweight.
Frames will not be an issue at your budget, people are not shaving grammes off sub-£1000 bikes.
I would suggest a disk-equipped cyclo-cross style (eg Boardman Team CX), with clearance for wider tyres (32mm)which will provide better impact resistance on rough roads than typical 25mm rubber

 

[AshMcD]

Yeah I'm definitely not small!

It's an interesting point you raise because I've had to tell myself I actually want a cheaper bike because the expensive stuff just will not be strong enough to deal with me.

I have no idea where to look at wheels mind. I do like the look of the Defys.

 

[AshMcD]

Drago has it bang on - but you could also consider sticking with the MTB until the weight has come down and consider a road bike as a reward.

If you go for the road bike right now, then you should probably look at some hand built or touring wheels. You may be lucky on some stock wheels, my Defy ones seems bullet proof, but I must admit I have not taxed them as much as you plan to.

I think you might be right. I've already dropped 10kg since I started the calorie deficit. To be honest I suspect my gut would get in the way in a road position so you're probably on to a winner here. Maybe once I hit 110kg or perhaps when my gut doesn't restrict my thigh!

 

[A.Z.KOETSIER]

Hi Ash

I was also +130kg not to long ago (Former powerlifter) I got into road on an old Giant 1982 6 speed Chromo Steel frame. did over 6000km on it, till this day the frame is still okay. absolutely every other part had to be repaired or replaced, and the wheels had to be tuned almost every ride.

My next bike was a Aluminium 2011 Trek Speed Concept 2.5 (TT Frame). I slammed some Deda track handle bars and a set of Planet X 82mm front 101mm rear Carbon wheels with 25mm tubulars and raced a full season on it without any issues. due to the massive aero sections of the TT frame with some really beefy welds it was damn stiff. The track bars along with the massive deep sections really let me shift every last watt into the ground, I never once had to retune the wheels either.

And best of all i built the bike for £850 with a few extras here and there.

Bike weight was around 10.5kg

 

[vickster]

Yeah I'm definitely not small!

It's an interesting point you raise because I've had to tell myself I actually want a cheaper bike because the expensive stuff just will not be strong enough to deal with me.

I have no idea where to look at wheels mind. I do like the look of the Defys.

DCR will build wheels with more spokes, as will spa in Harrogate. Expect to spend £250+ for decent well spoked hand builds

Also check details on manufacture warranty regarding rider weight

Perhaps look at a steel CX bike like the croix de fer?

 

[AshMcD]

Hi Ash

I was also +130kg not to long ago (Former powerlifter) I got into road on an old Giant 1982 6 speed Chromo Steel frame. did over 6000km on it, till this day the frame is still okay. absolutely every other part had to be repaired or replaced, and the wheels had to be tuned almost every ride.

My next bike was a Aluminium 2011 Trek Speed Concept 2.5 (TT Frame). I slammed some Deda track handle bars and a set of Planet X 82mm front 101mm rear Carbon wheels with 25mm tubulars and raced a full season on it without any issues. due to the massive aero sections of the TT frame with some really beefy welds it was damn stiff. The track bars along with the massive deep sections really let me shift every last watt into the ground, I never once had to retune the wheels either.

And best of all i built the bike for £850 with a few extras here and there.

Bike weight was around 10.5kg

Thanks for that mate, very much appreciated! I just wanted to check, I'd generally assumed that carbon anything would be a no no, would those wheels be ok? I like the price!

 

[A.Z.KOETSIER]

Thanks for that mate, very much appreciated! I just wanted to check, I'd generally assumed that carbon anything would be a no no, would those wheels be ok? I like the price!

Glad to help if I can, I have snapped a carbon handle bar so I would stay away from them. but I would recommend the Planet X 82/101. I am 107kg now thou but I have raced really hard with them over really bad roads running +10.5 bar even to the point that the tubular tyres exploded but the wheel stayed fine. Easily over 4000km on them now.

I recently had my old 6 speed wheels repaired with new spokes. They lasted a week, then were bent so bad that the wheel couldn't turn inside the brake calipers on both side. also when applying power they flexed a lot especially when climbing.

The one issue with tubular wheels is of course the nightmare of punctures. Getting a good clincher touring training wheel as others have suggested is a great idea.

 

[Drago]

Milkfloat May be on to something. A 29er MTB on skinny road rubber line Cityjets is liable to be surprisingly fast, and there's almost nothing as fun in this World as thrashing around on a half bred MTB tarmac terrorist. There are some nice rigid framed jobs out there, so your choice is wide.

PS, nice to know I'm not the only lifter on the board.

 

[the snail]

Maybe you should consider a tourer - nice and sturdy, and the riding position won't be so much of a shock after the MTB. Not much point going for something very lightweight if you're carrying a lot of weight.

e.g.
http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s21p3200
http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s21p2983

 

[Ajay]

This, or something like it.
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/adventure/b-road/croix-de-fer-10
Strong CroMo frame, bomb proof wheels, the best mechanical road disc brakes around.
Still reasonably fun/fast to ride, very versatile. I reckon it would be ideal for you.


(I'm 6'2" 108kg, have carbon, Ti, steel and alu bikes. I'm yet to break any of them ( touching wood as I type)

 

[Spoked Wheels]

I think you might be right. I've already dropped 10kg since I started the calorie deficit. To be honest I suspect my gut would get in the way in a road position so you're probably on to a winner here. Maybe once I hit 110kg or perhaps when my gut doesn't restrict my thigh!

I have already posted this information on this forum but I can't remember where......

I built a set of 24F 32R spokes wheels for myself and then my weight went up to 18.5 stones but I carried on cycling on the same wheels and my Ti frame. It was at least 6 months before I lost some weight. I have to say that apart from a little flexing when climbing I never experienced another problem. I still use the wheels and they have served me very well for several thousands miles.

I'd advise a set of well built wheels, 36 spokes and strong rims. I can build your wheels if you like or recommend Harry Roland.

 

[russ.will]

My butt weighed in at 115kg when I bought my Planet X RT-58 and despite collecting multiple hits on fen pot holes, the Campag Khamsin (Fulcrum racing 7s in drag) are running as true as the day I got them. Mind you, I got down to 105kg fairly sharpish, but that's kind of the point - You won't be loading them up at 130kg for long.

Russell