Newbie plus size rider

[Mapsito]

@RobynE 🚵‍♀️ https://giant-bicycles.co.za/products/atx-black?available%20colours=black&available%20sizes=xxs%20(26in)

[Guest Mike Dewing]

15 minutes ago, RobynE 🚵‍♀️ said:

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. 

My sincere answer was a stationary bike.. so how did I disregard the op.?

I read between the lines, oh the horror, listen sorry to be a dick but it paints a bad picture.. I’m actually very relieved to hear I am wrong and the op is already active and well on her way.. oh she’s female by the way, **** I’ve learnt so much.. 

Lets find her a bike.!

[RobynE 🚵‍♀️]

4 minutes ago, Mapsito said:

@RobynE 🚵‍♀️ https://giant-bicycles.co.za/products/atx-black?available%20colours=black&available%20sizes=xxs%20(26in)

It’d be a no for me for the following reasons. 

V-brakes - fiddly and insufficient stopping power. You want at least mechanical disc brakes. 

28mm fork stanchions - insufficient for your weight. While it likely won’t suffer a catastrophic failure riding up and down the road it will probably get stiff and squeaky and weird in a short period of time and replacing a fork is costly. 

Generic hub. These are silly expensive to replace when they fail. Bearing in mind Komati/Malelane is not really the bike mechanic capital of SA 😊 Better to start with a stronger hub. 

14g spokes - not strong enough. They *will* break. 

Gearing - complicated. 

Assuming new Giants are accessible to you and a new bike would give you peace of mind, the Talon 3 (converted to tubeless) would be a better entry-level Giant with a more suitable fork, better gearing, better brakes, but the hub and wheels will still be questionable IMO. My money would still be spent on a second hand bike with better/more suitable specs. 

[RobynE 🚵‍♀️]

Trek Marlin

Another Trek Marlin - gearing isn’t perfect but it will do - the rims and fork are a totally different league to those on that ATX 

Here’s a filtered list of bikes in similar price range to the Giants here on the Hub - hardtails with medium frames.  

[Mapsito]

24 minutes ago, RobynE 🚵‍♀️ said:

It’d be a no for me for the following reasons. 

V-brakes - fiddly and insufficient stopping power. You want at least mechanical disc brakes. 

28mm fork stanchions - insufficient for your weight. While it likely won’t suffer a catastrophic failure riding up and down the road it will probably get stiff and squeaky and weird in a short period of time and replacing a fork is costly. 

Generic hub. These are silly expensive to replace when they fail. Bearing in mind Komati/Malelane is not really the bike mechanic capital of SA 😊 Better to start with a stronger hub. 

14g spokes - not strong enough. They *will* break. 

Gearing - complicated. 

Assuming new Giants are accessible to you and a new bike would give you peace of mind, the Talon 3 (converted to tubeless) would be a better entry-level Giant with a more suitable fork, better gearing, better brakes, but the hub and wheels will still be questionable IMO. My money would still be spent on a second hand bike with better/more suitable specs. 

Thanks so much @RobynE 🚵‍♀️ for all the suggestions. Was swinging towards a new bike to try and avoid the repair issues. Am actually in a small town in Swaziland, Nelspruit probably being the nearrest large town if I have issues. Am not stuck on Giant, I just came across it as I was searching the web. I've had to revise the budget given the advise from everyone on the need for new wheels. Think I could do 10 - 12k.

[Mapsito]

3 minutes ago, Mapsito said:

Thanks so much @RobynE 🚵‍♀️ for all the suggestions. Was swinging towards a new bike to try and avoid the repair issues. Am actually in a small town in Swaziland, Nelspruit probably being the nearrest large town if I have issues. Am not stuck on Giant, I just came across it as I was searching the web. I've had to revise the budget given the advise from everyone on the need for new wheels. Think I could do 10 - 12k.

I did also look at the Qubheka. I was scared off by the weight (23kg). That seemed a bit high. Or am I overrreacting?

[Mamil]

59 minutes ago, Mapsito said:

I did also look at the Qubheka. I was scared off by the weight (23kg). That seemed a bit high. Or am I overrreacting?

It's a heavy bike but at this stage it won't disadvantage your enjoyment and probably necessary to support yoir weight. It's a stepping stone to get your wheels turning and once you start drippinng off the kg (which you almost definitely will if you ride 3 or 4 times a week), you can upgrade.

Also, please do seriously consider having a checkup with a gp before you start. Most of us do that and particularly after one or 2 forum members who are no longer with us shared their stories here. 

Interestingly what is emerging from the more.scientific investigation of what makes a bike fastnis that weight of tje bike has been seriously over emohasised for almost all but elite riders. The biggest impact is aerodynamics and the least aerodynamic thing on the bike is the rider. As noted, startmon flat routes. 

Buffalo for the win for the first 3 to 6 months and the a robust mtb and after that a carbon racing machine.

 

[Mapsito]

1 hour ago, Mamil said:

It's a heavy bike but at this stage it won't disadvantage your enjoyment and probably necessary to support yoir weight. It's a stepping stone to get your wheels turning and once you start drippinng off the kg (which you almost definitely will if you ride 3 or 4 times a week), you can upgrade.

Also, please do seriously consider having a checkup with a gp before you start. Most of us do that and particularly after one or 2 forum members who are no longer with us shared their stories here. 

Interestingly what is emerging from the more.scientific investigation of what makes a bike fastnis that weight of tje bike has been seriously over emohasised for almost all but elite riders. The biggest impact is aerodynamics and the least aerodynamic thing on the bike is the rider. As noted, startmon flat routes. 

Buffalo for the win for the first 3 to 6 months and the a robust mtb and after that a carbon racing machine.

 

Thanks Mamil. It is actually at the perfect price point to allow me to upgrade later. My area is generally flat, with gentle uphills. I think the racing machine will take a few years 😊

[RobynE 🚵‍♀️]

I’m not sure where one buys a Qhubeka these days 🤔 

In the link is the bike I started with a couple of years ago. I bought it to accompany my daughter on her rides to school on her BMX and I loved the upright riding position which didn’t put any stress on my back (pre-surgery at the time) plus I could see my kid clearly without losing my balance. I didn’t have to think too much to ride the bike and I could look around at the scenery as well. 

Riverside 700

I see it is on special at Decathlon in M and it’s well worth the price. I can really strongly recommend it. It is commonly used for bikepacking in Europe (and there’s a version of it over there that comes pre-specced with things like rear rack, dynamo hub, etc) and the range is known for being robust and reliable. I really loved this bike! I sold it to a guy who was going to use it for bikepacking type stuff last year and I believe he’s still very happy with it. 

You would need to change tyres to go tubeless, which I would recommend, though I must say I didn’t have a single puncture in mine in stock form. I only changed the tyres to do more MTB type stuff and I wanted to run lower pressures. 

The only “significant” issue I had with it was needing to replace the rear hub - bearing in mind I was doing proper MTB stuff with it at the time and it really isn’t made for that. It coped admirably overall.  

I would definitely recommend that you get a bike fit done before you head out. A bike fit gives you the best chance to get going comfortably and correctly without putting stress on your butt/lady bits/knees/shoulders etc. 

If needed you could upgrade the wheelset to any non-boost 29” or 700cc rims but the stock wheelset held up for me under somewhat trying circumstances lol. 

Might be worth a look for you.