Don't use a height weight ratio to calculate wether you are overweight.
It is misleading. Arnold schwartzenegger in his prime would have been classed as overweight, but he was not "over fat".
I would buy a specialized sirrus. A light hybrid but not a road bike. I would also increase mileage rather than speed. You can increase the mileage on your current route, you are doing well, keep at it and reward yourself with a new bike.
There are so many different styles of riding, in fact I know some folk who have a dozen or so bikes, one for every occasion as it were.
For me I just have the one Bike, it's kinda like a tourer, but does for every day use as well.
Getting a lighter Bike is great if you are a roadie, but for touring and regular around town bikes there is little point.
Of course you don't want to be riding a Steel Tank, but a decent Chromoly or Aluminium Bike is a good start.
Carbon Fibre Bikes are best left to the Roadies imho.
For me I ride a Titanium Frame Bike, not just because Ti is light, but it gives a similiar ride to Chromoly, but the Frame does not need painting as Ti is none ferrous.
Also gearing is worth looking into, I ditched Derailure gears years ago, they are so last century, I much prefer internal gear hubs, my Son's bike runs a Sram Spectro P7 great little Hub, for my Bike I use a Rohloff Hub 14 gears covering the same range as a 24 gear MTB.
Another interesting Hub is the Nuvinci, a very clever piece of engneering indeed.
Hi, I started off just over two months ago with a cheap second hand mountain bike just to see how I got on, I suffer with arthritis in my hips and spine and cant walk far at all but I found cycling was great for me so I upgraded to a light hybrid I still do the same rides but try to do it in higher gears and with low fat healthy eating I have lost just over 2 St.
I have recently bought a second hand electric bike..
I know I could get shot down in flames... But its brill.
There are so many hills in my area, the electric helps me out up the sharp ones.
I don't use the electric any other time than uphill. It was the hills that put me off cycling but now I love it.
I have been losing a steady 2lb per week and out in the fresh air.
When I don't use the electric uphill I really feel it "pull" on my hernia op area which worries me so I'd rather not strain too much.
If it wasn't for the electric bike I would never have stuck to cycling, now I look forward to my rides.
Electric bikes are a great idea, and the technology is improving all the time, with better and lighter batteries, the pedal assist system allows you to get exercise when you want.
I am just waiting for when they make a model that has the motor embedded into the frame, instead of the rear or front wheel, although there are some Electric Scooters that feature this.
The Nuvinci iGH is the perfect gearing system for an Electric bike.
There is an Electric Bike forum if you want to know more!
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Those who talk don't know.
Those who know don't talk.
He he cycling to lose weight? i just found it made me hungrier!"!!Hence 1985 a six month 6500 mile cycle camping tour from the uk to Turkey i leave weighing 10 stone 7 lbs and return a little short of 14 stone,1988 cross north America 4500 miles in 3 months leave under 11 stone come back over 13 stone,obviously muscle weighs more than fat and the legs were like tree trunks but there was definetely a belly to carry by the end of each tour.Im just about 6 foot.I was always taught cycling was an efficient means of transport,if you wont to lose weight you really have to bend youre back.
Buy the best frame and wheels possible,add ons can be upgraded over time,a frame cannot.Wheels i use to go through a pair of cheap wheels every 6-12 months at college then i bought a pair costing £100 (in 1984) everyone thought me mad.I still ride on them and thats after many tours and many miles.Have fun.
A lot of interesting replies & I appreciate them all. I will be sticking with my current bike as I can't see any exercise benefit from completing any of my routes quicker which is what would happen if I bought a new lighter bike. The replies have confirmed this which is what I was hoping for.
My current bike is a Trek Navigator 200, it has 21 gears & 26x1.95 wheels/tyres. I've had it years but it spent the first few years of its life in the shed & it wasn't until we lost Winston that I dcided to get it out and cycling a whirl. I can see the tyres are causing some resistance & probably narrower ones will make the job bettter. I'll change them soon and see how it goes.
I use the App, mapmyride which is part of mapmyfitness.co.uk & it's superb. It records distance, speed, terrain & calculates calories burnt during a ride.
Quote: Originally posted by MikeJ on 14/10/2012Stick with your current bike unless it is broken or it is uncomfortable (eg:- wrong size)
Although I agree with this. I would add getting a friend to try your bike.
I say this because my OH & I would go out to ride (very leisurely) and I would end up in front waiting for him. He said it was hard to ride although refused to buy a new one.
Well we bought folding bikes and I sold both of our bikes and ended up riding them to work - 5 miles away.
Wednesday I rode mine along with a friend no problem. 30 minutes.
On the Friday with same friend I rode his in. I had to keep stopping and by halfway I would have given it away. It wouldn't freewheel and riding uphill was painful. About 50 and was too embarrassed to look.
Got to work thinking I would pass out or worse. I couldn't walk as my legs were jelly.
When I got home I told him I was to annoyed he hadn't replaced it if it was hard for him. Grrrrr
Believe me you need to enjoy your riding.
Quote: Originally posted by Francais on 15/10/2012
I am just waiting for when they make a model that has the motor embedded into the frame, instead of the rear or front wheel, although there are some Electric Scooters that feature this.
If you want to do some more serios cycling ie touring / racing . Themn get a lighter bike . If you just intend to ride for fitness just ride the bike you have addapt it with road tyres . It use to be common for racing cyclist to have a winter training bike ( heavy mud guards chuncky tyres) and ride miles . If you've been used to riding hundreds of miles at a good pace on a heavy bike jumping on a superlight racer is amazing ! .
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Cycling advice please
