Newbie plus size rider

[Mapsito]

3 minutes ago, NC_lurker said:

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

Thank you all. My last ride was a good 30 years ago, so I'm hoping the old adage is true...

[NC_lurker]

2 minutes ago, Mapsito said:

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 😌

Make no mistake, a Buffalo bike isn't going to be perceived as a "cool & trendy" option! But right now you need a no mess, no fuss option to allow you to focus your efforts on the initial physical challenge. Messing around with equipment failures and the possible self-confidence knocks they could bring might be one bridge too far in your journey.

Remember that a ride around the block is a thousand times more positive than no ride at all! Something that we all need to remember at times..

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[Zebra]

RobynE gave you some great advice - as did others - just be aware you do not need double-butted spokes; straight gauge spokes are stronger, in theory, just not as compliant. But a high(er) spoke count wheel would serve you well (24, 28, 32 & 36 are spoke counts, with 36 being the heaviest count…).  32 may well be sufficient.

Resist the urge to convert a well-functioning 2x driveline to the ‘must have’ 1x driveline; 2x will often give you more gear choices, smaller increments between gear ratios, and save you money by NOT swapping it out. Front derailleurs have been around 100 years - they mostly work just fine!

Edited June 29, 2025 by Zebra
Spelling

[RobynE 🚵‍♀️]

42 minutes ago, Zebra said:

Resist the urge to convert a well-functioning 2x driveline to the ‘must have’ 1x driveline; 2x will often give you more gear choices, smaller increments between gear ratios, and save you money by NOT swapping it out. Front derailleurs have been around 100 years - they mostly work just fine!

I’m going to respectfully disagree with you on the 2x for a newbie, Zebra - only because, until you get a feel for it, it can be clumsy and requires thought, and there are times where you change the front and find yourself either spinning out or in an unplayable gear - both of which affect your rhythm. I love the feel of a crisp 2x and you’re bang on about having smaller increments etc - but yeesh when you spin out or pretty much come to a halt it’s a little soul crushing.

@Mapsito my bike in 2022 was a “modern” hybrid.

Upright riding position, 1x10 speed, 80mm coil fork at the front, gravel tyres, mechanical disc brakes. I upgraded the fork and tyres, and as I got fitter and more confident I started pushing the bike outside of what it was designed to do (example: I did a Cradle Mountain Trophy and Lion Man on it - these are most definitely MTB events lol - my poor hybrid). Admittedly it wasn’t a heavy bike - 14kg stock from the shop and got a little bit lighter when I changed the fork to an old Fox air fork. 

But I did over 1000 very happy km on that bike before I changed to a proper MTB. It gave me hella confidence having last ridden a bicycle in high school. 

The Qubeka, or another good quality hybrid (I would really suggest a suspension fork and at least 10 gears though) may well fit the bill for you now. 

[love2fly]

19 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

 

 

It took me 26 years of cycling to eventually lose the weight I wanted to and it only took 6 months to lose 27kg do don't give up 😄

Good luck! 💪

[RobynE 🚵‍♀️]

9 hours ago, Mike Dewing said:

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

Well, not necessarily, unless the person has T2 diabetes or some other comorbidity. Soft tissue injury is probably more likely but falling wouldn’t be my main concern. 

It can be super demotivating to fall (she says, having fallen off 5 times during the Marakele MTB 70 a few weeks ago and who is most excellent at both Superman and Scorpion style falls mostly courtesy of clipless) - but if you stay on flat surfaces and ride within your comfort zone and you don’t have stupid pedals in soft sand lol you’ll probably not fall and if you do it’ll be a roasty.  

[Guest Mike Dewing]

13 hours ago, RobynE 🚵‍♀️ said:

Well, not necessarily, unless the person has T2 diabetes or some other comorbidity. Soft tissue injury is probably more likely but falling wouldn’t be my main concern. 

It can be super demotivating to fall (she says, having fallen off 5 times during the Marakele MTB 70 a few weeks ago and who is most excellent at both Superman and Scorpion style falls mostly courtesy of clipless) - but if you stay on flat surfaces and ride within your comfort zone and you don’t have stupid pedals in soft sand lol you’ll probably not fall and if you do it’ll be a roasty.  

Obesity negatively impacts balance and esp postural balance as the center of gravity can be severely altered.. especially in older adults and during certain tasks.. the guy hasn’t cycled in thirty years.!? Increased weight stresses joints, muscles and tendons in the body .. sounding all good so far.? 
 

Obesity itself impacts bone quality and results in more common fractures due to weight on the bone.. now imagine that weight coming over on that bone.? 

yeah the biggest risk to obesity is a ******* roastie.?! 👍🏻 well done🤣🤣

sorry but walking a lot followed by stationary bike followed by an actual bike in many years when that weight has come down significantly.. 

As well the heart risks to the obese and now you want that heart to go for a cycle..? this is a dangerous thread and the op needs medical, cardio, physio and dietary advice before continueing.. PROFESSIONAL ADVICE..

“don’t worry you’ll just get a roastie..” 🙄

That comment is really ******* me up☠️🤣🤣🤣

Edited June 30, 2025 by Mike Dewing

[RobynE 🚵‍♀️]

Um, no, Michael, you’ve totally turned it around.

Obese people are at no greater risk for fractures than anyone else, in fact there are studies showing that obese people tend to have higher bone density in the absence of things like type 2 diabetes. Lean people are more at risk for fractures. You can literally google it. 

So, you specifically said fractures, I said probably not and more likely soft tissue.

Could that be catastrophic ligament and muscle tears? Maybe. Roasties? For sure.

But obesity doesn’t automatically equal a higher likelihood of fractures. 

I think the OP probably knows themself better than we do and if they feel they’d like to ride a bike that’s their choice. 

[ChrisF]

6 hours ago, Mike Dewing said:

Obesity negatively impacts balance and esp postural balance as the center of gravity can be severely altered.. especially in older adults and during certain tasks.. the guy hasn’t cycled in thirty years.!? Increased weight stresses joints, muscles and tendons in the body .. sounding all good so far.? 
 

Obesity itself impacts bone quality and results in more common fractures due to weight on the bone.. now imagine that weight coming over on that bone.? 

yeah the biggest risk to obesity is a ******* roastie.?! 👍🏻 well done🤣🤣

sorry but walking a lot followed by stationary bike followed by an actual bike in many years when that weight has come down significantly.. 

As well the heart risks to the obese and now you want that heart to go for a cycle..? this is a dangerous thread and the op needs medical, cardio, physio and dietary advice before continueing.. PROFESSIONAL ADVICE..

“don’t worry you’ll just get a roastie..” 🙄

That comment is really ******* me up☠️🤣🤣🤣

 

I had to re-read your post a few times ....

 

You DO make a very valid point -

 

We DONT know his full medical history.  As much as exercise IS a good thing.  The correct sequence of exercise may well prevent lots of issues along the way.

 

My own route :

- Dietitian  (lost most weight this way)

- SLOW start to exercise (with the approval of my doc)

- Once the exercise volume and intensity picked up, so did the issues ....

- Biokineticist .... been a long road, lots of detours, but well worth it ...

 

 

Most certainly is beneficial to include your doc and a bio in this journey.

[Guest Mike Dewing]

19 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

 

I had to re-read your post a few times ....

 

You DO make a very valid point -

 

We DONT know his full medical history.  As much as exercise IS a good thing.  The correct sequence of exercise may well prevent lots of issues along the way.

 

My own route :

- Dietitian  (lost most weight this way)

- SLOW start to exercise (with the approval of my doc)

- Once the exercise volume and intensity picked up, so did the issues ....

- Biokineticist .... been a long road, lots of detours, but well worth it ...

 

 

Most certainly is beneficial to include your doc and a bio in this journey.

I do talk and write funny 🤷🏼‍♂️🤣.. I’ve always struggled with langauge.. my bad 🤦‍♂️

[Guest Mike Dewing]

5 hours ago, RobynE 🚵‍♀️ said:

Um, no, Michael, you’ve totally turned it around.

Obese people are at no greater risk for fractures than anyone else, in fact there are studies showing that obese people tend to have higher bone density in the absence of things like type 2 diabetes. Lean people are more at risk for fractures. You can literally google it. 

So, you specifically said fractures, I said probably not and more likely soft tissue.

Could that be catastrophic ligament and muscle tears? Maybe. Roasties? For sure.

But obesity doesn’t automatically equal a higher likelihood of fractures. 

I think the OP probably knows themself better than we do and if they feel they’d like to ride a bike that’s their choice. 

You live in some sort of fantasy world we are not privy too or what.? Do you see rainbows and butterflies all the time.? This person is 1.6 metres tall with 160kilograms on him.! You can bone density all you want but when that loses balance and goes over everything on that side is at risk of serious injury. I’m sorry to be this person.. I’m 176cm and 65 kilograms, I nearly broke my elbow just toppling over learning to clip out.. he’s shorter than me and Neely three times my weight.. wake up.. to tell op, just get on a bike, worst that can happen is a ******* roastie is beyond ludicrous, its reckless and dangerous and shouldn’t be allowed on this forum.. he needs professional advice.. this baffling to me..

[ChrisF]

25 minutes ago, Mike Dewing said:

I do talk and write funny 🤷🏼‍♂️🤣.. I’ve always struggled with langauge.. my bad 🤦‍♂️

 

Ek lees nog in Afrikaans .... so re-reading is probably more me than your writing style. 😉

[Robbie Stewart]

Hey @Mapsito

Congrats on the decision to get cycling. I wish you all the best in this adventure. I was at 130kg+ around December 2023, and by March 2024 I was down to under 114. Lots of riding and a three week partial fast did it for me. 

My 2 cents on this chat, and to agree with everyone who mentioned it before, being a bigger rider means wheels are the most likely point of failure. Whatever bike you end up getting, if you can fit a pair of enduro MTB wheels with 30 spokes and 30" inner rim width means you would spend much less on upkeep of those wheels. Stay away from anything remotely marketed as XC-ready and you should be golden. 

I have a pair of Rapide TR36 enduro wheels with 30 spokes and have now reached the point where I need a new freehub body after almost 9000km but I've never so much as popped a spoke and they are still as true as the day I bought them 5 years ago. And I've ridden them on enduro trails, downhill lines, through rock gardens, cased a bunch of jumps and general abuse. They will work for you if you just ride them normally.

https://www.rapide.co.za/product/rapide-tr29-36-sl-rear-wheel-28h/

[BuffsVintageBikes]

For some further motivation, I often ride with a guy that was over 180kgs at his heaviest.

He's now in the low 90kg bracket and he literally rides rings around us. It's incredible what can be done through determination.

All the best on your wellness journey Mapsito, you've already taken the biggest and boldest step, now just keep on at it and the results will come 👍

[Mapsito]

Hi all. Thank you for all your comment, and motivation. It's getting a little heated so maybe I can provide some context.

First and formost, "He," is a She 😊!

I'm a 42F. I have been 'big' most of my life, but picked up most of my weight post pregnancy/COVID, 50 - 60 kg. I have a very sedentary job. I have no risk factors (heart disease/diabetes/stroke etc) which I test annually. Doctor is extremely happy I am getting off my ass. 

My biggest motivation is to do daily rides in the afternoon with the 5yr old, progessing to 5km/10 km trail rides, because he needs a companion.

Right now I walk, and he rides. We're doing about 5k every other day. So , am looking to move up a step. 

TIA

BTW - How do we feel about the GIANT ATX bike. 

[RobynE 🚵‍♀️]

2 hours ago, Mike Dewing said:

You live in some sort of fantasy world we are not privy too or what.? Do you see rainbows and butterflies all the time.? This person is 1.6 metres tall with 160kilograms on him.! You can bone density all you want but when that loses balance and goes over everything on that side is at risk of serious injury. I’m sorry to be this person.. I’m 176cm and 65 kilograms, I nearly broke my elbow just toppling over learning to clip out.. he’s shorter than me and Neely three times my weight.. wake up.. to tell op, just get on a bike, worst that can happen is a ******* roastie is beyond ludicrous, its reckless and dangerous and shouldn’t be allowed on this forum.. he needs professional advice.. this baffling to me..

What you did is come on, completely disregard the OP’s question, make a whole heap of assumptions, and bring in scientifically flawed statements about breaking bones. 

Whereas I assumed that OP had a doctor on board, is otherwise feeling well, and ready to get on a bike. Like the contents of the original post. And so I answered her question as helpfully as I could. 

“shouldn’t be allowed on this forum” - huh? 

@Mapsito can you send a link to the ATX? If I recall there are older ones and newer ones, 26ers and 29ers, so specifics would be helpful.