Strong bike for fat chap

[AshMcD]

Thanks for all the advice folks. I really appreciate it!

Drago: Definitely not the only lifter, although I'm a good mile or two away from where I was pre injury. Never had an injury before and it's amazing just how much confidence it takes away from you, especially in a contact sport. Bloody knee.

I think given that the weight is coming off so quickly (My BMR is just shy of 2700. Add to that regular gym and bike sessions and it's amazing how quickly the fat is buggering off) I expect to be at approx 110 KG by Christmas given the pretty hefty deficit.) So I think I'll just treat myself to something nice come early Jan. I like training outside in the cold, although granted I've never done it at 20mph haha.

What do we think? At 110kg could I just get a standard bike? If the wheels did go I could just replace them with something stronger? I quite like the look of the Specialized Allez, sport possibly? I'm wary of the word sport as I think it means "Lighter and not as sturdy!".

 

[Drago]

I hover around the 115 mark and aside from avoiding carbon frames for the aforementioned reason manage just fine on regular bikes. I think about 115-120 is the boundary above which lard related problems may start to occur, depending on the bike.

 

[AshMcD]

I hover around the 115 mark and aside from avoiding carbon frames for the aforementioned reason manage just fine on regular bikes. I think about 115-120 is the boundary above which lard related problems may start to occur, depending on the bike.

Perfect, thanks very much for that!

Ok that's the plan then. Drop to 110kg and then get a normal bike!

 

[Spoked Wheels]

Thanks for all the advice folks. I really appreciate it!

Drago: Definitely not the only lifter, although I'm a good mile or two away from where I was pre injury. Never had an injury before and it's amazing just how much confidence it takes away from you, especially in a contact sport. Bloody knee.

I think given that the weight is coming off so quickly (My BMR is just shy of 2700. Add to that regular gym and bike sessions and it's amazing how quickly the fat is buggering off) I expect to be at approx 110 KG by Christmas given the pretty hefty deficit.) So I think I'll just treat myself to something nice come early Jan. I like training outside in the cold, although granted I've never done it at 20mph haha.

What do we think? At 110kg could I just get a standard bike? If the wheels did go I could just replace them with something stronger? I quite like the look of the Specialized Allez, sport possibly? I'm wary of the word sport as I think it means "Lighter and not as sturdy!".

Yes, I've ridden Steel, Aluminium and Ti frames at that weight without any problems. A guy on my cycling club that must be at least 120kg rides a carbon fibre bike.... so I really don't see an issue with the frame.

Yes, you could replace the wheels when they go..... the only "if" I can see with that approach is that when you break a spoke then you will be walking home. The wheel will not be ridable and f that happens far away from home then you will be cursing yourself big time on the other hand, a wheel with plenty spokes would get you home and if that wheel is built by a good wheel builder then you will not be braking spokes.

Some of the stoke wheels I've seen are so bad that it's hard to believe. They look lovely though

 

[Drago]

A carbon frame would probably be fine, but every manufacturer I've contacted refuses to warranty them above 105kg. Chuck in probable lack of prior warning, and the likely catastrophic mode of failure and the safety implications if it should happen at speed I just won't risk it.


However, carbon MTB frames are often rated up to 125kg...

 

[A.Z.KOETSIER]

Carbon can be surprisingly strong, like a HED H3 wheel set used on tandem racing bikes easily holding over 150kg.

Has anyone ever been able to break those wheels without crashing?

 

[Drago]

Carbon can be immensely strong, which makes me take the manufacturers seriously when they decline to warranty them above 105kg. Giant, Spesh, Dale, Felt, Planet X, Fuji, Ribble, and a dozen more all insisted that I must respect the 105kg limit, or the warranty would be void in the event of a claim on the frame.

If they said otherwise then I'd happy go for it. But they didn't.

 

[A.Z.KOETSIER]

Carbon can be immensely strong, which makes me take the manufacturers seriously when they decline to warranty them above 105kg. Giant, Spesh, Dale, Felt, Planet X, Fuji, Ribble, and a dozen more all insisted that I must respect the 105kg limit, or the warranty would be void in the event of a claim on the frame.

If they said otherwise then I'd happy go for it. But they didn't.

True, I also don't trust carbon road frames yet. Have seen some snapped head tubes imagine that on a decent !

 

[Drago]

The Law of Sod is almost guaranteed to strike me down!

 

[Dogtrousers]

I've cycled at 100kg+ and I must admit it's never crossed my mind that weight could be an issue, and I've never had problems with spokes breaking or stuff like that. I have always ridden steel framed bikes. I'm a sylph-like 90-something at the moment. Carbon has never crossed my mind as the weight I'd save is as nothing to the weight I could lose from myself if I put my mind to it. An extra few kg of comfortable bike gives me a bit of a better workout too.

 

[Spoked Wheels]

The Law of Sod is almost guaranteed to strike me down!

I've never ridden a CF frame and probably never will. It's not something that attracts me. The guy I mentioned above is unreal, he is so big and yet so fast. He rides with the youngsters and at a pace I can't keep for more than a mile . Somebody mentioned he used to be a pro and that would make sense. He rides a Specialized...... it looks like an expensive bike.

 

[broady]

this HTML class. Value is http://www.rutlandcy

Seems a bargain, and lots of money for a new set of wheels

Link didn't copy?
Rutland cycles
The giant defy 5 is down to £299

 

[simon.r]

If you Google 'Clydesdale' (plus bike / cycle or similar) you'll find various websites dedicated to the needs of larger cyclists.

 

[russ.will]

Seriously, I just wouldn't get too hung up on it. I mean the weight of a 120kg bloke sitting on a bike is nothing compared to the stress it endures with a 75 kg bloke hitting a deep pothole. These measurements are always belt and braces and have more of an eye on legal implications, than they do on engineering limits.

As long as you don't go for some sub 7kg climbers tool (pointless when you weigh as much as we do) and then look into something that will run a minimum 25 (or better, 28mm) tyres, you'll be taking the edge off the short, sharp shocks that break things.

If in total doubt, go for ali over carbon. Unless you're spending a mint, there's an good argument to be had for a good ali frame over 'value engineered' carbon anyway and as mentioned larger tyres on slightly wider rims will off-set the fabled carbon ride quality anyway. The ali weight penalty, for us sturdy types, is a non-issue.

Russell

 

[Donger]

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.

I second that.

I am 6'5" and over 120kg, so I opted for a steel tourer, figuring they are built to take extra weight and with a comfortable geometry. I did find that the odd rear wheel spoke popped occasionally, so my LBS mechanic fitted Alpine 3 (triple-butted) spokes to my rear wheel a few years ago, and it has never happened since. I also opted for 700x28 Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres and Slime self healing inner tubes to give me the best chance of avoiding weight-related punctures, and have only ever had one flat in the last three years.

My bike is a Ridgeback World Panorama .... currently going for about £1,250 new, so perhaps slightly out of your ideal price range, but a second hand might suit you. I can thoroughly recommend them. I have considered from time to time getting a cyclo-cross bike, but the Ridgeback just does such a good job on all sorts of rides .... audaxes, club rides, touring, off road along gravel or muddy paths ... and is just so comfortable and resilient.