To bike or not to bike . . .

I completely understand where you are coming from with these questions. I am very much so overweight as well. 1. I dont scorn at anyone who is bigger and riding a bike(although I had to get a bigger seat for my bike as my butt got buried in the one what came with it,hehe), at least they are out there doing something and being with there family thats what matters. 2. I dont know where there would be a good deal but I cant imagine they would be too expensive I think SF has a Bike Barn... I know my hubby bought mine as a gift at Walmart a couple years ago. 3. I dont have any experience with recumbant bikes but I think looks fun. 4. If you are worried about falling Im sure a 3 wheeled bike would work well for you. Im sure you would be more comfortable and be apt to use it more.
Who cares what people think...Just my opinions here. Good Luck!!
"Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away" ~Unknown

Being overweight myself I wouldn't laugh at someone on a bike... but honestly, I would probably make a face at a younger person (large or not) on a recombant bike or a trike. I do recall my grandparents having adult trikes.. and my elderly neighbors have some as well. So they are out there, but I don't believe I would consider one until I considered myself 'elderly.'
I too am interested in getting a bike. My 4 year old has finally given in and has started to ride his bike without complaining and getting off every 10 feet. So I am having a difficult time keeping up with him. I am looking forward to reading any suggestions on where to buy a good 'sturdy' bike that doesn't cost a huge amount.
Sandra

Look, you are not fat!!! As far as the tricyle...lol! I do think they make those ...they have a little basket on them...lol! They do have 3 wheels and I think they look pretty cool!

~What sane person could live in this world and not be crazy.

Target has some nice schwin bikes for women. Some are hybreads(part all around bike, part crusier type) You sit up straighter and they are very lightweight. Last time i checked, the price was about 249.00. Very cheap compared to the actual bike stores around here.

i do not laugh at the overweight no matter what or where...people that do this should be taken out back and shot..but really who cares what they think...they are just mean and vicious people who are bitter and nasty....ignore them or you will never lose weight...and then they win...as for the second question...i would go and try to find a bike at a rummage or maybe on craigs list until you determine if you want to keep up with it...i don't know about a recumbent bike but i would steer clear of that adult trike...they are very heavy and hard to maneuver in my opinion, and hard to take with as well...what i would do is get a bike where you feet reach the ground and lay flat...frame size is important...if you get a man's bike the bar should ride slightly below your crotch...not wedge up in it..this will make you feel a lot more secure...get the bigger seat if that is more comfy...and make sure and have a helmet..those people that don't have them scare me to death...i am a big biker so if you would ever like someone else to go with pm me...i can go slow..the only thing is i don't go out between 11-5..darn pale skin...and lastly good for you for trying this even though you sound scared....just remember we are always more critical of ourselves then others are of us...except maybe in the case of mother in laws.

Hey ladies! Thanks for the great advice. I do think some of my bike fear comes from riding bikes that were "too big" for me when I was a kid. A few too many falls and some bad experiences with that "man bar" thing . . . Ouch!
Okay, I'm determined to go bike shopping this week. I am thinking a decent, sturdy, mountain bike should do the trick. I looked a bit at Target today. There are some nice bikes there, but I'm absolutely clueless and I feel like I need to "test drive" something.

How do you determine what "size" bike is right??

First of all, I commend you for having the attitude you have, wanting to put yourself out there, outside of your comfort zone, and take a risk in the name of good health. That takes some real guts. I would not laugh if I saw an overweight girl on a bike. I would secretly feel, "good for her" for getting out there and exercising rather than sitting on her butt at home, which is the easy way out. Besides, you won't be a "fat girl" for long if you stick to your biking routine. Give it a few months and you will see a change physically. I don't know anything about where to purchase a good used bike (unless you want to go to Sioux City-I have two relatives who are literally biking nuts, riding in RagBrai every year). And they definitely make adult trikes, if that's really what you want. I've seen several and think they look like fun, actually! You should read the latest issue of Self magazine (the one w/Jennifer Garner on the front if I'm remembering correctly)-there's an article in there about this girl who used to be a rebellious punk girl who wore only black, and she got involved in biking and now absolutely loves it. You'd probably find the article inspiring. If she can get into bikes, anyone can. And if you fall off the bike once or even twice, really, who cares? (as long as you are not injured of course). I was rollerblading last summer on the bike trails and just wiped out completely while going down a very steep hill in front of a small group of women. Talk about embarrassing, but I was fine and have since moved on. You can't let the fear of a 10-second fall stop you from getting out there and riding. If it happens, it does and you suck up the mortification, brush yourself off and keep on pedaling! Anyway, good luck if you decide to pursue this hobby. I really think you'd find it rewarding in more ways than one.

Congrats on taking the leap wanting to bike!!! My goal for this summer is to bike most anywhere I can to help save gas money!!!
I will agree with some of the previous posters that a good QUALITY bike is money worth spent. Try to find a good deal from someone who has a brand name bike and who needs to sell it at a bargain price.
I bought my bike at Scheels 6 years ago--it's a Gary Fisher brand. I paid $300 for it. Back then, it was money I cringed to spend. Once I started riding it, though, I realized it was a gazillion times better than the Huffy brand bike that I paid $99 for back on May 1, 1991. Sad how I can remember such dates from my past.
My husband has a Kona brand bike. He bought it for a couple hundred bucks from some guy--the bike would have been $2000 brand new. I never thought bikes could be so different. I am now wishing I had never tried to ride his bike because now I hate my bike!!
All in all, buy a good name brand bike. Talk to a few people at the bike stores, feel them out, ask for a test drive and then keep your eyes out in the paper or on craiglist for a good quality used namebrand bike.
I hope to see you on the trails soon!!! I was out there today!!! Oh yeah, and I am really good at making a fool of myself in front of drivers. Pathetically enough, a few years ago I ran into a car while I was crossing a street. I won't get into how that happened....

www.vrbo.com/179871

Hey, check out Spoke n Sport. They are located in front of HyVee on Minn. Ave. They are very good there and very informative. They would tell you what bike would be the right fit for you. That is where we have purchased 2 bikes from.
Let me know when you get yours, if our son likes the bike trailor this yr, we will have to hit the trails:)

I agree on getting a good bike. I am due to get a new bike and so is my husband, but I think we will wait til our kids are all able to ride bikes. There is also a bike shop to the west of Staples, I can't remember the name though. You may be able to check at spoke & sport or the other bike shop to see if they have any "For Sale by Owner" postings or the like and try to get a better deal.

Shelly
www.Elegantmommy.com
Tastefully Simple Independent Consultant

you know this post reminds me of one of out old preachers from Flandreau...he was a very big man (maybe 500lbs) but he would go out biking all of the time(in bike shorts non the less)...he would come into the convenience store that i used to work in and buy like three or four twix bars(my favorite too)..and then he would ride his bike all the way to Trent SD , which was like maybe 10 miles away...I wonder what ever happened to him...he was such a sweet man.

My husband and I just recently went to Two Wheel Dealer and p urchased bikes. We got the Expidition Mens and Womens bikes. What we liked about them is that they had bike frames to fit out size as well as a great seat. Not the normal little seat that comes on most bikes. They are a little more then the ones you can get a Wal-Mart, but are so worth it. The advertise on here and the location is by the Dollar Tree on MN. Let me know if you have any questions!

Stacie
Mom to 3
Help Whip Cancer in May ask me how!! THINK PINK!!

1. I have never given a second thought to people's body shape as they bike.

2.I would go to either spoke'n'sport or the 2 Wheeler Dealer(formerly Bike Masters) My husband bought his bike from Bike Masters and I love that they measured him and spent alot of time talking about what he wanted out of biking. I bought my bike from a large sporting good store and all they asked me was what color I wanted. Also, there are a few MD's that I work with who are passionate bikers...they love Spoke'n'Sport.

3. Never rode a recumbant, but know a guy who rides one from Baltic every day...rain or snow.

4. Trikes for adults are available. I really don't want to offend you...but my grandma had one. We used to ride it and I always found it harder to ride than my 2 wheeler. That may have been because it was really old. It was nice, it had a basket on the back, so we would ride it to the store and do her grocery shopping.

If you would like...you could borrow my bike and try it out. We love to bike! We ride quite a bit and we're excited, cuz my oldest is off his training wheels and now we don't have to drag him in the trailer. The trailers can get heavy with 2 big boys in there!

Hey ladies -
I just wanted to post an update on the biking front! I bought a cheap bike (20 bucks) at a yard sale, and replaced the "undie wedgie" seat with a "wide load" version. My husband, kids, and I took our first family bike ride EVER on Sunday, and it was a riot. I haven't felt the wind in my hair like that in probably 20 years. I looked like a nerd with my big, red helmet, and my huffing and puffing my way up the small hills in our neighborhood, but it was a great time, regardless.
I've discovered that I'm afraid of steering, since I have this irrational fear that I will steer too quickly and fall over, so I practiced riding in circles on one of the cul-de-sacs in our neighborhood (I'm sure the folks in those houses had no clue what this maniac riding circles in their street was doing, so if you saw a chubby thirty-something riding circles on her used Huffy in your street, it was me! : )
Anyway, we had a great time, and I was reassured that I might not be as "out of my league" as I felt when we rode to the park, and a few minutes later this young, hip, fit "bike expert" looking kid rode up and attempted to park at the bike rack. Well, he promptly fell off his bike and knocked over about six other bikes in the process! Poor kid (but witnessing this did secretly make me feel better!)
Thanks for all the advice!

Good for you that you are out there. I too got a bike a few weeks ago. It isn't the one I would like to have, but it does work. My husband's uncle, bless his heart, gave me an old bike he had in storage. I don't even want to think about how old it is, but it does work. My husband told me we could still go out and buy one....but I told him that I have decided to swallow my pride and enjoy myself on this bike for a year or more. When I do buy a bike, I want to get a good one...and that money was better spent this year on the two new Hot Wheel Bikes we bought the twins this week. (They were so cute riding them thru Wal-Mart!) During the day if I go riding with the boys, I do admitedly take my husband's nicer bike... but at night it is me and the old clunker!
Sandra

The only ONLY thing I know to give as advice for biking is to start out wearing super comfy pants/shorts...something that will help prevent chaffing. Yes that happens to girls too, and it HURTS. I know from personal exp. Other than that, have tons of FUN. I really enjoy the great bike trail in SF and can't wait to use it on a daily basis. Which isn't for two years, but...I can still dream. And be glad I can visit...

~Start with doing what's necessary, then what is possible, and soon you will find you are doing the impossible!~

Hey, I got alot of chub on my bod and I still I ride a bike. When I see a "FAT" person riding a bike I always think, good for them they are trying to help themselves. I did see a tricycle at walmart about a week ago. But you never forget how to ride a bike, you might be a little wobbly at first, but you'll get the hand of it.