Newbie plus size rider

[Mapsito]

Hi everyone, I'm a confused new rider looking to join the community. I am 162cm tall, currently (!) weighing 160kg. Am looking to start off with short distance road and MTB cycling in the lowveld (Komati/Malelane) area. I am looking for advice on the best entry level bike to buy, the specs, tyres etc and also the best dealers to possibly assist. TIA

[JoeMerida]

Your Weight is a Problem. You go to need Something very Special. Usually bikes are ranged 100 to 136 Kg total including the Weight of the bike. Contact a Bicycle Shop for Advice. 

[RobynE 🚵‍♀️]

2 hours ago, Mapsito said:

I am 162cm tall, currently (!) weighing 160kg

Howzit! Welcome! 

So it is tricky business because no bike is rated for 160kg. Most go up to 130kg “system weight” which includes your water bottles, kit, etc. So you’re not going to find a bike that advertises suitability for your weight. 

I’d suggest that you start out with a tried and tested 27.5” hardtail mountain bike, medium frame. Something like a Trek Roscoe or Titan Elite Plus+. The geometry of these bikes makes them SO easy and comfortable to ride. They have low stand over geometry so easy to get your leg over, too. The 27.5” wheel is typically strong and will take a wide tyre. This will add comfort and be part of your shock absorption. Don’t bother with a full suspension bike for now. 

You want strong rims with lots of spokes, and they must preferably be double-butted spokes, and tubeless. For now you’ll want to stick to smooth surfaces and use tyres with low rolling resistance and fairly high pressure. This helps you keep the wheels turning without fighting knobbly low pressure rubber on tar. 

If the bike needs new rims Jetset are excellent - reasonably priced and really strong. Their AM30 (27.5” rim) is really solid.

You want easy gearing, so ideally 1x11 or 1x12. You might pick up one of these bikes with a Shimano SLX 2x11 setup and very easily convert it to 1x with a ratio of 11-46 at the back and a narrow-wide chainring no bigger than 30T for now. Any bike shop can do that for you.  

A soft seat is not the best idea. You want a seat that offers proper support. These saddles are normally pretty firm. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that a well-padded seat or seat cover will help you. It will not. 

Get yourself good quality bib shorts with a decent pad. Don’t try do this without bib shorts. Regular cycling shorts will clump and bunch. You need bib shorts. 

Get grippy flat pedals and grippy flat shoes for now. 

Start with short, flat rides and gradually start pushing yourself for short periods. Don’t overdo it. Ride every day without fail, no matter the weather. Keep chipping away at your fitness. You’ll find yourself riding further and easier as time goes by. Don’t be afraid to take breaks during your rides at first. You’ll find yourself taking less breaks over time.

And keep yourself hydrated - a sip every 10 minutes no matter what. A hydration backpack is a great solution to get to your fluids without losing your balance. Carry a banana with you to give you a little kick when you need it. Electrolytes are good, crazy sugary stuff is not. 

Links to bikes that I reckon will suit you nicely: 

Roscoes 27.5 medium frame

I can’t see any Titan Plus+ in M size at the moment. 

NB this is my opinion as someone half your weight, but I came into cycling at the tail end of two discs being replaced in my neck and in advance of a disc being replaced in my lower back. I lived in debilitating pain up to the point of my lower back op and couldn’t even walk a strong dog without neurological fallout and intense spasms for days. My activity levels were down to pretty much zero. Suffice to say my fitness levels and athleticism were nil and I had absolutely no core strength when I got on a bike for the first time in 2022 at the age of 41. 

Over time I could graduate to a more playful, lightweight carbon bike and while I still moer off fairly regularly, these days I can soldier my way through 70km MTB events with 1000+ metres of elevation without resting or pushing (I’ve had another 2 unrelated ops in the interim so it wasn’t linear progress). But when I started out I could barely do 2km without feeling like I was going to have a heart attack or bust a lung or vomit on the pavement. 

Looking forward to seeing your progress! 

 

 

[Mamil]

2 hours ago, Mapsito said:

Hi everyone, I'm a confused new rider looking to join the community. I am 162cm tall, currently (!) weighing 160kg. Am looking to start off with short distance road and MTB cycling in the lowveld (Komati/Malelane) area. I am looking for advice on the best entry level bike to buy, the specs, tyres etc and also the best dealers to possibly assist. TIA

Hi Mapsito,

Welcome to the bike hub. Starting an exercise journey is a big step for most people and from the weight and height stats you provide I imagine that this step is a significant one for you too. You don't specifically state that weight loss is a goal but many of us do come to this sport for that purpose. I am assuming this is the case for you too.

What joemerida says is true - a total system mass of 170 plus kg is outside the spec of any bike I've seen. I am not an expert but I think the biggest issue might be wheel strength. So basically getting on most bikes, with the possible exception of a titanium framed bike, is not really going to work for you at this stage.

On the up side, cycling is a great sport for us heavier okes because it doesn't stress knees and other joints as much a higher impact activities like walking and running.

That having been said, it might be worth starting with some brisk walking 3 times a week for 20 minutes at a time just to begin the process of burning more calories and getting your cardio vascular system a little more tuned.

It may also be worth getting a GP's go ahead before starting - you don't give your age but at your body mass index (BMI), stressing the heart with an exercise programme is a risk factor.

I would say once you hit the 140kg mark, the bicycle would become a more viable form of exercise. If you have access to a gym, a more robust stationery bike might also be a good way to get the legs spinning.

Every strength - there are lots of people here who have used the bicycle to transform their bodies and once the bike bug bites, you're generally hooked for life

 

 

[Eugene]

There was an article in Bicycling magazine a good number of years ago where a large guy embarked on a weight loss journey. He managed to shed a whopping 150kg with cycling. 

I cannot recall what bike he used, but whatever he did use obviously held up. I wish I could find the article for you as it may have giving some good tips on how to strengthen a bike. 

I am sure you will find something. Hunt around on Google. As mentioned somewhere, the limitation is more likely the wheels

 

[Mapsito]

12 hours ago, JoeMerida said:

Your Weight is a Problem. You go to need Something very Special. Usually bikes are ranged 100 to 136 Kg total including the Weight of the bike. Contact a Bicycle Shop for Advice. 

Thank you, will do so.

[Mapsito]

11 hours ago, RobynE 🚵‍♀️ said:

Howzit! Welcome! 

So it is tricky business because no bike is rated for 160kg. Most go up to 130kg “system weight” which includes your water bottles, kit, etc. So you’re not going to find a bike that advertises suitability for your weight. 

I’d suggest that you start out with a tried and tested 27.5” hardtail mountain bike, medium frame. Something like a Trek Roscoe or Titan Elite Plus+. The geometry of these bikes makes them SO easy and comfortable to ride. They have low stand over geometry so easy to get your leg over, too. The 27.5” wheel is typically strong and will take a wide tyre. This will add comfort and be part of your shock absorption. Don’t bother with a full suspension bike for now. 

You want strong rims with lots of spokes, and they must preferably be double-butted spokes, and tubeless. For now you’ll want to stick to smooth surfaces and use tyres with low rolling resistance and fairly high pressure. This helps you keep the wheels turning without fighting knobbly low pressure rubber on tar. 

If the bike needs new rims Jetset are excellent - reasonably priced and really strong. Their AM30 (27.5” rim) is really solid.

You want easy gearing, so ideally 1x11 or 1x12. You might pick up one of these bikes with a Shimano SLX 2x11 setup and very easily convert it to 1x with a ratio of 11-46 at the back and a narrow-wide chainring no bigger than 30T for now. Any bike shop can do that for you.  

A soft seat is not the best idea. You want a seat that offers proper support. These saddles are normally pretty firm. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that a well-padded seat or seat cover will help you. It will not. 

Get yourself good quality bib shorts with a decent pad. Don’t try do this without bib shorts. Regular cycling shorts will clump and bunch. You need bib shorts. 

Get grippy flat pedals and grippy flat shoes for now. 

Start with short, flat rides and gradually start pushing yourself for short periods. Don’t overdo it. Ride every day without fail, no matter the weather. Keep chipping away at your fitness. You’ll find yourself riding further and easier as time goes by. Don’t be afraid to take breaks during your rides at first. You’ll find yourself taking less breaks over time.

And keep yourself hydrated - a sip every 10 minutes no matter what. A hydration backpack is a great solution to get to your fluids without losing your balance. Carry a banana with you to give you a little kick when you need it. Electrolytes are good, crazy sugary stuff is not. 

Links to bikes that I reckon will suit you nicely: 

Roscoes 27.5 medium frame

I can’t see any Titan Plus+ in M size at the moment. 

NB this is my opinion as someone half your weight, but I came into cycling at the tail end of two discs being replaced in my neck and in advance of a disc being replaced in my lower back. I lived in debilitating pain up to the point of my lower back op and couldn’t even walk a strong dog without neurological fallout and intense spasms for days. My activity levels were down to pretty much zero. Suffice to say my fitness levels and athleticism were nil and I had absolutely no core strength when I got on a bike for the first time in 2022 at the age of 41. 

Over time I could graduate to a more playful, lightweight carbon bike and while I still moer off fairly regularly, these days I can soldier my way through 70km MTB events with 1000+ metres of elevation without resting or pushing (I’ve had another 2 unrelated ops in the interim so it wasn’t linear progress). But when I started out I could barely do 2km without feeling like I was going to have a heart attack or bust a lung or vomit on the pavement. 

Looking forward to seeing your progress! 

 

 

Thank you so much. This is so helpful. I'll definetely use this advice.

[Mapsito]

11 hours ago, Mamil said:

Hi Mapsito,

Welcome to the bike hub. Starting an exercise journey is a big step for most people and from the weight and height stats you provide I imagine that this step is a significant one for you too. You don't specifically state that weight loss is a goal but many of us do come to this sport for that purpose. I am assuming this is the case for you too.

What joemerida says is true - a total system mass of 170 plus kg is outside the spec of any bike I've seen. I am not an expert but I think the biggest issue might be wheel strength. So basically getting on most bikes, with the possible exception of a titanium framed bike, is not really going to work for you at this stage.

On the up side, cycling is a great sport for us heavier okes because it doesn't stress knees and other joints as much a higher impact activities like walking and running.

That having been said, it might be worth starting with some brisk walking 3 times a week for 20 minutes at a time just to begin the process of burning more calories and getting your cardio vascular system a little more tuned.

It may also be worth getting a GP's go ahead before starting - you don't give your age but at your body mass index (BMI), stressing the heart with an exercise programme is a risk factor.

I would say once you hit the 140kg mark, the bicycle would become a more viable form of exercise. If you have access to a gym, a more robust stationery bike might also be a good way to get the legs spinning.

Every strength - there are lots of people here who have used the bicycle to transform their bodies and once the bike bug bites, you're generally hooked for life

 

 

Thank you Mamil. Your advice is very helpful, i had started with the daily walking. And will also look into the gym route. 

[Mapsito]

9 hours ago, Eugene said:

There was an article in Bicycling magazine a good number of years ago where a large guy embarked on a weight loss journey. He managed to shed a whopping 150kg with cycling. 

I cannot recall what bike he used, but whatever he did use obviously held up. I wish I could find the article for you as it may have giving some good tips on how to strengthen a bike. 

I am sure you will find something. Hunt around on Google. As mentioned somewhere, the limitation is more likely the wheels

 

Thank you for the inspiration. Will definitely keep looking.

[NC_lurker]

Well done on starting what will be a life changing journey.

As boring as it sounds, purchasing a basic stationary bike for home might be a good option at first. It'll help get you into a daily exercise regime and should be more tolerant of your weight than a standard bicycle - who's wheel carrying capacity might be over the limit. 

Another option would be to purchase a Qhubeka Buffalo bike. They're built to be tough and can be used as rural cargo carriers with a rear rack rated for an extra 100kg of cargo. Given that your initial goal should just be getting into a pattern of regular exercise a basic no fuss single speed will meet that requirement. Price wise I think they're about R3000.

https://www.qhubeka.org/

I'm not sure if this is the article @Eugenewas referring to, but it makes for inspiring reading regardless:

https://www.bicycling.com/health-nutrition/a20019187/weight-loss-success-stories/

[Guest Mike Dewing]

1 minute ago, NC_lurker said:

Well done on starting what will be a life changing journey.

As boring as it sounds, purchasing a basic stationary bike for home might be a good option at first. It'll help get you into a daily exercise regime and should be more tolerant of your weight than a standard bicycle - who's wheel carrying capacity might be over the limit. 

Another option would be to purchase a Qhubeka Buffalo bike. They're built to be tough and can be used as rural cargo carriers with a rear rack rated for an extra 100kg of cargo. Given that your initial goal should just be getting into a pattern of regular exercise a basic no fuss single speed will meet that requirement. Price wise I think they're about R3000.

https://www.qhubeka.org/

I'm not sure if this is the article @Eugenewas referring to, but it makes for inspiring reading regardless:

https://www.bicycling.com/health-nutrition/a20019187/weight-loss-success-stories/

I also think stationary bike until that weight comes down.. I wouldn’t want to struggle to balance such weight on a bicycle either at low speeds.. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[NC_lurker]

15 minutes ago, Mike Dewing said:

I also think stationary bike until that weight comes down.. I wouldn’t want to struggle to balance such weight on a bicycle either at low speeds.. 🤷🏼‍♂️

I'm rethinking my suggestion. Indoor cycling can be very tough to find the motivation to do. I'd guess at the start of a journey like the OP is attempting motivation is going to be very important. I'm doubling down on the Qhubeka bike, cheap, cheerful, functional and most importantly it'll enable the wind in the hair experience.

Working in Rwanda I saw loads of bikes being used to carry huge sacks of coffee. Given the specs of the Buffalo bikes I'm sure it'll be up to the task. Best of all once it's no longer needed it can be donated to a good cause.

Edited June 29, 2025 by NC_lurker
Context

[Guest Mike Dewing]

24 minutes ago, NC_lurker said:

I'm rethinking my suggestion. Indoor cycling can be very tough to find the motivation to do. I'd guess at the start of a journey like the OP is attempting motivation is going to be very important. I'm doubling down on the Qhubeka bike, cheap, cheerful, functional and most importantly it'll enable the wind in the hair experience.

Working in Rwanda I saw loads of bikes being used to carry huge sacks of coffee. Given the specs of the Buffalo bikes I'm sure it'll be up to the task. Best of all once it's no longer needed it can be donated to a good cause.

One broken arm/elbow/shoulder from falling over with that weight is very demotivating

not to be horrible but I am assuming the op has no bike experience and would be learning to ride a bike..

Edited June 29, 2025 by Mike Dewing

[Mamil]

1 hour ago, NC_lurker said:

Well done on starting what will be a life changing journey.

As boring as it sounds, purchasing a basic stationary bike for home might be a good option at first. It'll help get you into a daily exercise regime and should be more tolerant of your weight than a standard bicycle - who's wheel carrying capacity might be over the limit. 

Another option would be to purchase a Qhubeka Buffalo bike. They're built to be tough and can be used as rural cargo carriers with a rear rack rated for an extra 100kg of cargo. Given that your initial goal should just be getting into a pattern of regular exercise a basic no fuss single speed will meet that requirement. Price wise I think they're about R3000.

https://www.qhubeka.org/

I'm not sure if this is the article @Eugenewas referring to, but it makes for inspiring reading regardless:

https://www.bicycling.com/health-nutrition/a20019187/weight-loss-success-stories/

I hadn't thought of the buffalo bikes. That's a great suggestion.

As for the risk of falling, this is true for all of us. Most of us have nuts and bolts in one or more bones ... 

At @Mapsito s weight its probably a bigger risk but it might be worth it for the excitement and joy of the first rides and falling in love with the sport.

 

 

[NC_lurker]

17 minutes ago, Mike Dewing said:

One broken arm/elbow/shoulder from falling over with that weight is very demotivating

not to be horrible but I am assuming the op has no bike experience and would be learning to ride a bike..

Fair point. I've definitely made the assumption that the OP at some point previously rode a bicycle.

[Mapsito]

1 hour ago, NC_lurker said:

Well done on starting what will be a life changing journey.

As boring as it sounds, purchasing a basic stationary bike for home might be a good option at first. It'll help get you into a daily exercise regime and should be more tolerant of your weight than a standard bicycle - who's wheel carrying capacity might be over the limit. 

Another option would be to purchase a Qhubeka Buffalo bike. They're built to be tough and can be used as rural cargo carriers with a rear rack rated for an extra 100kg of cargo. Given that your initial goal should just be getting into a pattern of regular exercise a basic no fuss single speed will meet that requirement. Price wise I think they're about R3000.

https://www.qhubeka.org/

I'm not sure if this is the article @Eugenewas referring to, but it makes for inspiring reading regardless:

https://www.bicycling.com/health-nutrition/a20019187/weight-loss-success-stories/

Thank you for the suggestion. Will definetely look into the buffalo bikes, and the article was very inspiring. I don't feel so alone now 😌