Bikes for Bigger Women - where to start?!

[AllAboutHallowsEve]

Hello!

I'd love to start riding a bike again. I haven't ridden a bike for years! But I'm 20 stone and I don't know if bikes can carry my weight.

Can anyone recommend a suitable bike? At this stage, it would be for cycling on road and parks so nothing too sportsy.

Thanks.

I’ve got a decathlon btwin bike was £250, it’s very sturdy fairly heavy & im cycling over half an hour or more each day. Love it!

It’s this sort of thing, with a basket on!

I tried it in the shop & listened to their advice. Feels sturdy underneath me!

I think you would be best finding a decent bike shop ..They should let you try it and it's important to get the right size. assuming you are buying new. If second hand I have a giant bike which I love.

Thank you both for your helpful advice, much appreciated

Oh and I think independent bike shops are better than say Halford but of course it depends on what's near you. Enjoy. ,its a great form of exercise!

You should be fine, i would say (as a larger lady myself) get a decent saddle or it will feel like you are sat on a razor blade!

I agree with going to an independent bike shop. Most of them are very good and you'll get much better service than you would from, say Halfords. Don't worry about your weight at all. From what you say you'd like to do you need to be looking at a hybrid bike. Tell them in the shop what sort of cycling you plan to use it for and they'll sort you out.

As somebody else has said, a decent saddle will make all the difference. Many years ago now, but I used to have a wider saddle with gel and it was a revelation.

I'm about 17ish stone now, down from about 21. It's my birthday in a few weeks and I knew I wanted a decent bike for ages, so picked one from my local bike store before lockdown so I was closer to 19.5 stone then. Its a hybrid, but the man in the shop said the most important thing is making sure its comfortable to sit on and ensuring that its correct for your height and leg length so that it's a comfortable ride rather than being worried about weight. I hope you find something that suits you.

Thanks everyone for your advice.

@Mamapuddlefluff can I ask what brand bike you bought? And well done on the weight loss! I want to lose weight too, and I also want the fun and freedom that cycling gives. I'm too overweight to walk far due to impact on knees and back.

Yes definitely go to a bike shop and test a variety of bikes. See if you prefer a more upright position (Dutch-style bike) or a leaning forward kind of position (road bike, commuter, hybrid).

Lots of bikes in the UK are sold without mudguards, rear rack etc. Think about whether you need them. I just wanted something I could hop onto to go to the shops so for me a Dutch-style bike with all those included was the right choice. I can just get on my bike and go. I have a Bobbin bike myself, a discontinued make. They are nice bikes, but there are loads of others out there.

The bike will be strong enough but get a gel cover for your saddle (mines from Lidl) saves a lot of pain. I also recommend a basket, get into the habit of cycling for top up shops

@AllAboutHallowsEve I got a viking bike, can't think which model off the top of my head but it's a hybrid but also Dutch sort of style. I also tried a pinnacle bike too which I liked but I found they could be a lot pricier. I know what you mean, I don't mind walking and doing home workouts but cycling gives me such delight and I can go as fast as I like or just amble along. Good luck!

Have you considered an electric bike?
They're £££ unfortunately, but a couple of friends have bought them and it means they can go further on their rides, and they're much more likely to use their bikes as it is a help on the harder hills.

This is a great thread OP, thanks for starting it. I’m also worrying if I’m too big for a bike! Maybe we need a support thread for bigger cyclists and we can cheer each other on

Unless you are planning on riding a road bike with thin wheels, or a super expensive carbon bike, there isn't any issue with weight on a bike. Fat Lad at the Back (who make fab cycling gear up to size 26 ladies, 58" chest mens) have an incredibly supportive FB group for inspiration that everyone can ride, and advice for those that do want or need to make changes to their bike

Don't forget to check if you're emplyed whether your employer has a cycle to work scheme that will give you a discount.

20 stone shouldn't be an issue
As an example, here are the size/weight guides from Liv, which are one of the most popular brands of women's bikes. The road bikes have a weight limit of 125kg which is around 20 stone but most of the hybrids and mountain bikes give a limit of 136kg.
www.tredz.co.uk/help-advice/product-help/sizing/brand/liv

Consider getting a big bum bike seat. I have one and it makes cycling so much nicer.

Thanks for all the helpful tips. I'm doing a lot of research online. Problem of course is that everything's out of stock, so unlikely I can buy anything soon. But I'm hoping to try instore.

You've given me a lot of great tips and I feel really inspired to giving cycling a go 😁

Another thing worth doing is check if there are any Breeze rides in your area. These are free rides for women led by British Cycling trained Breeze Champions. They can be great confidence boosters as nobody ever gets left behind, there's always someone to help with a puncture, you won't get lost etc.I know they are back up and running in our local area, though obviously with limited numbers. I would definitely recommend you try this or something similar.