Theme song part 2 & "go ride a bike"
I figured out how to post the little video thing for my theme song on the blog so more people can get to it easier!
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So, on to my main topic.
Since I started my journey to fitness I have been listing things that I'm looking forward to being able to do again when I reach my goal. Some of them I'll be able to do before that time and some will take longer. But, for the most part these are things that I miss out on because of my weight. For instance...I forget what my feet look like...ok not really but you get my drift.
The one that I've been really thinking about lately is...riding a bike. aaaahhhhhhh yeah! Riding a bike. I haven't done that in years. I used to love it. I had a great bike and I rode that bad boy all over town. Not only that but I used to be really into Photography...I acctually did it for a living for a while. I shot the society party pictures for Sacramento Magazine for about 2 years. I had once expected photography to become a career. But, like with a lot things we like we find that doing them for money diminishes our enjoyment of them. Also why I'm no longer a professional male model. I still walk down this make shift runway I built in my garage...got little flashy lights on their runners and I crank up the techno and strut my ample stuff...the fans are gone but I still hear the cheers...i still...*sniff*
Oh, sorry..where was I? Ah yes. Bikes! I would take out my bike and my camera and just cruise around. You see so much more of life that way...I really do miss that.
My city is great for bikes. Several bike trails. Two rivers. Second saturday of every month all of the galleries open their shows for the month and people come out in droves to walk through the gallery sections of town and view all the new art. It's good to ride down their, chain up the bike and walk.
My plan is to start looking for bikes that can support aprox 270 pounds so that when I reach that weight I can start riding again. I know that even at that weight I'll be pushing the boundries of most bikes support capability but I really want to get out there you know...
Anyway...if anyone reading this has some knowledge in this field and has any suggestions on what brands or styles of bike I should start looking at I would appreciate your input. It's still a while off but it never hurts to research and start saving...
posted by Sean Perkey at Wednesday, June 28, 2006
14 Comments:
I wanna see you walkin down the runway. And despite having no problem with gayness, I'm wanting to see this purely as a friend who can record it and add it to previously recorded tapes of stricktly comedic shiznit that we've got captured and ready to be added to. This would make all of this life stuff way more bearable, me judice. That's latin for in my opinion. I hate when people write latin without giving the translation. I think it looks so snobby and presumptive. So when you find yourself thinking this way and you feel like swiggin the sauce..............watch my loss.
I think you underestimate the carrying capacity of a proper bicycle, living in Holland and having 29 years of bike-riding experience (well... probably more like 25), it'd warp my worldview if they wouldn't carry at least twice that weight.
At least in my lifetime I've never seen a bike break down under even the strain of 2 or 3 people.
Mountain-bikes for example are being built for rough terrain and are very sturdy. I think you should be able to ride your bike a lot sooner than the 270 lbs you're aiming for.
i have to second selmer there... ive seen two or three teenagers on a single bike many a time, and i have to assume each of them ways around/at least 100 lbs... and ive never seen a bike collapse because of it... worth looking into at least...
and anyway, riding a bike can be some fantastic exercise. i think finding one that you can use before you hit your goal would just be means to the end. can do nothing but help!
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Let us know what you find out. It'd be nice to know what great bikes are out there & which ones work the best for you...plus great advertising for the company!
Hey, to expand on Amy's thought--maybe you could get a bike company as a major donor, and get them to "sponsor" you by GIVING you a bike! Eh? Eh?
As a bike fan I have to agree with everyone who says that you're not going to have to hit your goal to start riding. First off, I see people every day on my commute in who easily weigh in at 250 lbs. Now I'm not going to join the circus with my ability to guess weights, so here's a little hard evidence to go along with my assertion that I collected from life and the internet:
1) My mother weighs in at well over your target weight and rides a bike with my little brother.
2)This site seems to claim that if you're willing to go slow enough, you could start riding much sooner than you think. Though it's more about towing capacity, it does show bikes are extremely strong.
3)This guy claims to have started riding his bike at 298 lbs. and credits riding for helping him lose mroe weight.
4) This guy even started a club for fat cycleists in London.
You may also want to consider starting out with a recumbant bike (one of the ones that allows you to sit in a bucket seat). They are known for better back and knee support and might get you out sooner. Plus adult tricycles are pretty popular here because they not only allow you to get out and ride, but they are more stable and practical, since you can ride them to the store and acctually carry something home.
Most of all, if this is something you'd like to do, don't be afraid to go into your local bike shop and start asking questions. Ask some friends for a recomended shop and then put their skills to the test. Find out all your options and learn what will really keep you from riding and get them to be creative and work with you. Also, browse the web. There are plenty of overweight people biking and they might have tips. Besides, the internet hasn't let you down yet.
Most of all, make this a goal. You can do it, and now it's time to find out just how soon.
Like my Dutch colleague I have been riding bikes for years (in Canada, even in the winter): mountain biking, city commuting and triathlon. Cheap, and, like they say, you never forget how to ride a bike. You are looking for advice, so I will volunteer some: a good bike does not need to be expensive, what really matters is how you like to ride. Do you want to sit up straight and cruise on a beach bike or lean right over like Lance and be the bike? Second, as you are worried about the bike collapsing, I will assure you that it is unlikely, but different materials ride differently: aluminium is light but like pop cans they are more likely to collapse; carbon fibre is a very stiff ride, but is very solid (and expensive); your best bet is probably steel as it is strong, cheaper and a lot more forgiving on the ride. Having a steel frame does not mean that you will have a tank, I have a steel race bike and it is comparable in weight to some titanium and aluminium frames. I could go on about this for a long time, I love to bike. Let me know if you want more info, I would love to help you any way I can.
Hey Sean,
Around here, there are ALL Kinds of custom bike shops popping up everywhere. They make alot of cruisers, but will pretty much build you any bike you want, to spec.
Maybe something like that would be a option for getting riding sooner?
Maybe they would do it cheap / free for links on your blog?
Billy: we have difinitely had some odd times my friend. And hey! There's nothing gay about a man, in the privicy of his own garage, strutting down a home made cat walk to a medley of show tunes! is there? Remember man there is still that tape of you with that wig in your shorts and you wearing someone elses bra... So, if you're playing dress up and your dignity's been tossed...watch my loss! lol j/k
(great now I'm gonna lose half my watchers because they think I'ma deviant) It was all in the context of bringing comedy to the massses my friends! My friend billy used to host a comedy night and would get himself into all sorts of strange situations... he's slightly damaged but we love him like a cousin that doesn't get out of the basement too often...for his own safety. Ok, now that we have that cleared up... hehe
Selmer:
I appreciate that and your experience is a fair site more than mine. I'll have to keep checking because from what I've been able to find it seems 250/ 260 is abou the top for aluminium. BUT...steel frames and better yet custom frames from steel may be the way to go...maybe have someone craft some huge monster of a bike with Car tires..LOL we'll see. I hope you're right!
the eye:
Yeah I've seen that tooo...huum. you guys may have a point. I'll keep looking.
Amy: hey there! I'll make sure to post something about that when I get some goood info...that may be a good Idea for a series of posts...stuff for heavy people...everyday Items that are designed to support extra weight. Hey thanks for the Idea...!
Scrapnqueen: Wow! Wouldn't that be something. I have had a few companies offer me diet suppliments/ vitamins and what not. It is nice to be offered and I'm not saying that I wouldn't take someone up on that kind of offer but I'm already starting to struggle with the ethical issues that surround taking everything that's offered. Oh crap...now I'm rambling. Anyone out there got a free bike for a big guy? Want to test your wares? :0) I just don't want to end up looking like a bad guy who's just out for himself... ya know?
IndelibleMind: Awesome information thank you! I'm going to read up on those sites tonight and start compiling data. the BigFatGeek.net site has some great info as well as some terrific links to go through! Thanks man. Perfect post! And, you're right, the internet nas been good to me so far. Through your links I have already found a few people I plan to email inquiries to...!
Wizie: Thanks for the suggestions and for the mail. It does seem that you are right with the Steel frame info. I spoke with a bike sales person at REI today and they also suggested steel as the strongest option...I'll discuss it more with you when I respond to your email! Thanks again for your help!
Anonymous: great idea. I think I will be checking into custom frame makers. I hear there are a few really good ones in my area. I may contact them tomorrow and get an Idea what they offer and recommend! Links for discount...not bad! I'll check into it!
I've posted before about my own issues. I weighed in at 316lbs when i started my own trip "Healthier Lane". I started dieting (low carb) and lightly doing minor exercise. And my plan was to get back on my bike and ride it.
The old bike was cool. It's an old Peugeot Crazy Horse, and basically a mountain bike. I took it to alocal bike shop for repairs only to find out that it wouldn't carry my weight. So, a lot of shopping later, and I found a bike that would.
My advice - don't go to some dept store. Go to a professional, serious bike shop, the sort that sells high-end, expensive bikes. You'll pay more for the bike, but you'll get something better suited to your needs.
I would think that the frame is less important than the wheelset, in the long run, and any bike you buy with the proper wheels will likely also have a frame that will support you at that weight.
In my case, the bike is a Trek 4300. Not expensive, rides well, strong enough wheels, very strong frame. I need to tweak mine a bit, but it carries my (now) 287lb self around nicely.
I definitely suggest sticking with mountain bikes. They are made to take a pounding, and pounding is what happend when big guys like us ride.
As an aside, the way it was explained to me is not that the bike would break. it's that the wheels would bend and go out of true. At that point, you'd be facing a lot of wheel repair and replacement, and that it would get expensive.
With Trek's, my 4300 is about the lowest end that I felt safe buying. Another possibility is Gary Fisher, and their Bigg'nz frames, as they're suppoedly very tough bikes. A buddy of mine has one, and his bike is beefy.
hey, I came to your site from the redpaperclip. As lifelong pedaler, I have two pennies for you. First, when I launch of an 8' drop onto pavement, I put _way_ more stress on my bike than you would at even your weight now (just riding around, obviously). The limiting factor (besides the wheels) is going to be if you can physically get on and ride the bike. Kona makes a bike for the big dudes, the Hoss at about $900. Cheaper if you get a '05 model. (http://www.konaworld.com/shopping_cart/FrontEnd/Products/product_detail.aspx?productid=101&parentid=182)
You may need to have the bike shop custom fit a tractor seat or something to fit your fat ass! ;-) You could also just buy a cheap bike at wal-mart and go to the local bike shop and have it fitted with 'downhill' wheels which are basically motocross-lite wheels. You'd end up paying more when the rest of the bike fell apart.
I was also thinking a pedal kart would be cool and fun. I found this one: http://www.nickys-nursery.co.uk/seeds/pages/garden-games23B1.htm
I'd recommend the Kona if you can get one - it'll last you forever.
Oh, also bikes with dual suspension put less stress on the bike and less on you.
Anyway, the sooner you can start pedaling around town to do your errands and get exercise (i.e. start making real lifestyle changes), the sooner you're going to start burning some real calories. Cyclings great because it's low impact and you can basically go all day. Here in Tahoe, now that it's summer, I'll go riding almost everyday, and I always try to go by bike if possible. I was looking at your 'fat' diet and it didn't look too bad to me! Yeah, I know it's crap, but i meant in terms of calories. I guess my point is that if you are really active, once your weight gets back to a reasonable level, you'll be able to eat a whole damn pizza for dinner without having to worry about it too much.
Good luck with your plan, I'll be keeping an eye on your blog.
--Jason
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