Sllab

I am also heavy, can endorse what others say regarding the frames and ancillaries being strong enough. Problem is wheels, nickthewheelbuilder on this site can sort you out with a set that will hold up. I have broken loads of wheels - found a solution that I really love in a Silverback Double scoop Fatbike. It can go anywhere a 29er can and the wheels have a 200kg weight limit. Mine has 2 x 10, so there is always a low enough gear for serious uphills to keep the heart rate in check.

My 2c worth - I have owned Trek and Specialized, currently have a Cannondale Rush, a single speed build on a Momsen STR29 and a Silverback double scoop fat bike. I weigh in at anything from 105 to 125 kg over the years, depending on the status of my food addiction. . I am also an ex track rider and power lifter, so I tend to put a lot of power into the frames - not that my power to weight ratio is brilliant, just that I have to pedal hard to get my fat ass up the hills, but it does mean that I go like hell on the downhills and put a lot of stress into the bikes like that. I have not had frame issues with any of them, but wheel issues are a common problem. I have found Mavic and Roval rims to be fantastic, even when I am hammering downhills on a hardtail. My dual suspension Cannondale has a set of Kore Realm 27.5 internal width hoops and they have taken a lot of abuse without any issues at all. My advice to you would be make sure that the wheels are at least 32 spoke and have a decent weight rating (Check this on the wheel manufacturers website before buying a new bike, quite a few of the well known rims max out at 90kg rider weight, or 105kg all up weight, including the bike). You can also get a good robust wheel set from Nick Krul at wheelbuilder.co.za (Nickthewheelbuilder on this forum, I think?) - he understands us larger guys and the challenges we bring to MTB, he also has a good price range on wheel sets. The custom Kore Realm mentioned earlier was a budget wheel set, built on shimano XT hubs. I have done over 6000km on them without even having to true them. The original rims on the Cannondale lasted less than 2000km, before terminally pancaking after breaking spokes on 3 previous occasions. Of course, if your goal is overall fitness and fun, not being a race snake, the Silverback fatbike has a wheel weight limit of 200kg, with the 80mm width rims and 4" tyres. My fatbike is my "go to" training machine, it seems to be nearly indestructible. I hope this helps a bit - I agree with the earlier comments that any decent modern frame with enough of the seat post in the frame should be fine, just watch out for the wheels!

Hi Duane. I started from scratch a few years ago, worked up to 8x Half Ironman events. Had similar problems, but I am in my 50’s now( us old farts take longer to adjust) - nevertheless, spend thousands on medical advice, fitted shoes, orthotics etc. The specialist I went to for orthotics told me that although the muscles and lungs acclimatize quickly, it can take up to 2 years for joints and bones to adjust. Especially for long term cyclists, as cycling is not a load bearing exercise. Long and the short of it is as you said - take it very easy. I went to a specialist coach, started with 7 minutes running, 5 minutes walking for 40 minutes. Gradually brought the walking down by 1 minute per week, based on 3 runs a week until I was running the entire 40 minutes. Then started pushing the 40 minutes up, but by no more than 10% a week. Was a bit frustrating, but it worked.

Hi Philip. I wish I could find an LBS that demonstrates trustworthiness like yours. Re fitting the parts - only OEM parts from Chain Reaction Cycles. Fitted with the OEM workshop manual and tools, to their specifications. Always with a torque wrench. I dont charge other people for my services I only work on my bikes - if I mess it up, I bleed. No ones fault except mine. The key moment was this- saved up my cash for a long time to buy my first double susser - eventually got a Cannondale Rush 2. Had issues with the suspension right off the bat. Took back to the LBS, watched him tighten all the linkages FT. Told me to ride it. Issues persisted, took it back 3 times. Every time, linkages were “loose”, tightened up by the owner. Qualified mechanic, owner of the shop. When it eventually failed, I took it apart - none of the bearings were properly lubed, seals had cracked. Caps that were tightened FT had damaged the bearing races and were destroyed. LBS answer, backed up by Cannondale? Oops. Maybe we should have checked - warranty? No way. Service fault, lots of finger pointing, no action. This is a guy who has Cannondale, Trek and Merida agency. He doesn't have a torque wrench in the shop - I asked. BTW - tighten the bolts on your 100k carbon frame bike without a torque wrench and watch the cracks happen. Wont happen on my 20k aluminium frame - the more cutting edge your equipment, the more critical the service accuracy is.

Hi Jewbacca I seem to have caused a furore. Apologies if I have offended anyone, just happened to be a pet hate of mine. To your questions - yes I do all of my own servicing. I build my own bikes, wheels, etc. do all the servicing. I am a qualified engineer, not a qualified mechanic. But, respectfully, the difference is that I dont charge other people for service work. If I cock it up, I bleed. No ones fault but my own.

Really? Either one is qualified or one is not. There is no narrow view or otherwise. There is an objective standard which most bicycle ”mechanics” dont meet. Or are tested to, or are certified at. Period. Like all things in life though, let the user beware - if you are happy with what you get, that is just fine. I dont say ALL mechanics are not certified, but I have yet to see a certificate for one. I have yet to experience work that I trust, but that is just me. Look earlier in the conversation- one person is an aircraft mechanic. Bet your life (and you do, when you fly on an aircraft he has maintained) that he is trained, tested, certified, retested etc. No narrow view there - just an objective standard which he is certified to. Period. Like all people who work on safety critical equipment should be.

Agreed. Most of the cretins working in a bike shop dont have a formal qualification. The owner of our local, a supposedly qualified mechanic ( dont know how, he has done no trade or apprenticeship, has no certification), has no torque wrench or torque tables. He hires 4 other mechanics who are also “qualified”. No trade papers, of course. I have sat and watched them work - no standard procedure, no torque wrenches, no pre and post inspection, no double checks on work done, no paper trail. Nothing. They have some skills, certainly, and they know some tricks of the trade. Certified? Qualified? To work on your R100k machine SAFELY?? Almost certainly not. Look at it this way - would you let someone who is not a certified mechanic work on the brake system of your wifes/son/daughter/SO’s car? Highly unlikely-but if the brakes on your MTB fail at 60kph and toss you into a rock garden, the result could easily be fatal. South Africa has only has an NQF standard for a bicycle mechanic since 2018 and it is supposed to be a 3 year course from what I can make out. So, the first properly qualified people can only qualify next year - go figure. So - firstly apologies for the long rant. Secondly, educate yourself and insist on proper work standards, job cards and proof of work done. Personally, I wont let the mechanics at my LBS (which is top of the range, supposedly) wash my bike, let alone work on it. If they cannot be careful enough not to scratch it, they are certainly not good enough to work on it (btw, scratched and damaged by them previously, due to laziness and incompetence). LBS is just a source of parts I cant get over the internet.

Just FYI, Shimano makes two types of MTB cleats for spd pedals. One type (SH51)comes out with a sideways motion only, the other (SH56)will release with sideways or angled upwards motion. Makes it a lot easier, especially when you are a bit nervous. I have been riding for 25 years and changed to the SH56, they are much, much better. Might make using your clipless a bit easier.