Aug
05
hi all i am after some advice i have just bought a mountain bike and i am a little worried about it holding my weight.
i am approx 25 stone and would like advice on the strongest type of tyres tubes and chain on a fairly tight budget any sensible advice would be gratefully appreciated.
for those thinking of being offensive at least i am trying to do something about my weight
thanks in advance
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Ok, I have no idea how much 25 stones is in pounds, but I get the picture that you’re a pretty big guy. You didn’t mention what bike you have exactly, but as long as it isn’t an ultra-cheap entry level bike you’ll probably be ok with it as long as you don’t do any jumping and take it easy when you go off of a curb, etc.
The main parts that might need to be stronger are the seatpost (and possibly the seat, if you bend the rails on yours), the pedals, and the wheels. Honestly, most bikes will handle big guys, so don’t start replacing things unless you need to…just make sure you have a good quality seatpost because that part you want to have strong and dependable for safety reasons.
If you find that you need stronger wheels because you’ve bent up the ones you have or they get wobbly too easily/too often, then look for a tough all-mountain/downhill wheel that’s at least 28mm wide (the outside dimension of the rim)….preferably something like 32mm wide. The Sun Rhynolite rims are cheap and very durable, so they’d be my first recommendation to you (you can buy a pair of Rhynolite wheels in the U.S. from $90-$160). You can spend more if you want to, but these will work. Since you’re on that side of the pond, you might get better pricing on Halo products than we do….if so, the Combat rim/wheel is a fantastic one and not very expensive as far as wheels go. Check ‘em out. http://www.halo-rims.com and here for the Rhynolites: http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/WH707A17-Shimano+Deore+Discrhyno+Lite+Wheelset.aspx
http://www.chainreactioncycles is a great place to buy stuff online in the UK and there are several others, too, such as http://www.evanscycles.com
If your frame will handle larger tyres like a 2.3" or bigger, those are a good idea, too, but you can run the normal 1.95" that is on most bikes….no worries. Air them up to the max pressure listed on the tyre sidewall. Normal tubes should be fine but you can get pinch-flat resistant ones if you want to.
Make sure you have decent pedals with a strong cr-mo axle….no wimpy pedals for you.
Beyond that, just keep on riding and you’ll be losing weight before you know it and these concerns won’t matter anymore. I think it’s cool you’re taking up the bike and doing something about your fitness….rawk on! Good luck, and if I’m way off the mark because I was too lazy to look up stones vs. pounds, forgive me.
)
Cheapest bit of advice is to get a track pump and keep the tyres pumped up to maximum pressure. The most likely damage you will do is hit a bump and damage the wheel rim. Properly inflated tyres will help stop this.
I think most bikes are load rated at 130kg or just over 20 stone, get out there as often as you can and I’m sure you’ll soon be down to that! Good luck!
A stone is 14 pounds. Beyond this, I second Ride!Urban’s answer.
Get out riding and watch your calorie intake. The pounds will melt off over time.
Hope this helps.