Riding Bikes

Went up and rode with a friend. The context is, he’s been riding a week, on a $100 Marketplace fat bike, and weighs 400lbs. Dude smashed it!

 

Another update. My friend and I went out yesterday for a few more miles over the previous weekend. He’s been doing ~10mi every night, on his own. Because I’m only home one full day on the weekend, we only get that morning to do some miles, together. Unfortunately, ~21mi into it, his left crank arm came loose (tapered-square crankset problems ). Also unfortunately, it required a socket, which my multi-tool doesn’t have. So, I time trialed it to my pickup to go back and retrieve him. The worst part of it all is he and I felt like we had an easy 40mi in us. It would’ve been really nice to push his fitness forward for the physical and mental achievements. He’s down 60lbs, having lost an additional 11lbs last week.

With each ride, we’re discussing his wants in his next bike. He has a very short inseam, so he’ll need to stick to the sloped top tube geometry of a MTB, which will allow a dropper seatpost and its convenience with mounting/dismounting. MTB geometry has a raised headtube dimension, which he needs. Even with a fat bike’s “Q” dimension across the crankset, he’s still pedaling on the outside edges of his feet (he’s literally a human bulldozer with massive thighs and calves). He’s ordered pedal spacers to try (he’s going to red threadlock everything in the crankset) for next weekend. Given this, I don’t see how he can get away from a fat bike. I’m thinking about finding him a used Lynskey Fatskey, lacing the hubs into 27.5” MTB hoops (narrower than fat but still strong) which will allow for 650b tires (narrower than fat but taller sidewall than 700c), using a BMX stem and handlebar which will give him the height and still can use the existing controls. I believe, this will give him the highest quality, most efficient bike to fit his current and future physique. Does anyone have any other ideas?

 

Unless he is much uncomfortable riding his current bike, I would save money and wait for more weight loss, which goes down really fast especially when someone got bitten by the bug. For now, I'd just ride and build more mileage and fitness, watching diet at the same time - developing the habit of riding and healthy eating. In a year from now, he might be able to choose from many more options without being limited to find frames and wheels capable to withstand his current weight. I think that going down to 250-270 lbs in a year is possible especially from that level of being overweight.

 

Pedal spacers really made difference for me. Where i noticed it most was feet/ankles

 

Our concern is the amount of miles we’re likely to cover is going to destroy this bike. We really don’t want to be having to deal with breakdowns, putting money into it, only to have something else fail. He’s wanting to tackle some of the gravel roads where I live, with the goal of doing my regular 40mi, out and back ride.

The BB width requirement and inseam are what’s going to probably keep him on a fat bike. He pressed huge weight, when he was younger. As a result, he has tree trunks for legs. Even without his extra pounds, his thigh diameter is going to be a problem. Great for being a linebacker; not great for being a cyclist. Likewise, being of short stature eliminates anything outside MTB geometry.

That’s awesome to hear.

My goal is to try things like this on his current bike, before committing to the next bike.

I don’t believe that BB width will be wide enough, given he’s having problems, now. Basic fat standard is 120mm shell with 180mm spindle. I had previously looked at the Ogre, before this issue came up.

A 650b would lower a fat bike ~3/4”. I don’t believe that’d be much of an issue, for what he does. Given his short inseam, that’d actually help him that much more. He really struggles with dismount/remount. That’s why I want him to try a dropper seat post. But, I want to do that on his next bike, so I can choose the stroke to be extended and collapsed at the ideal heights.

 

Short ride in the Ozarks this mornin. Nice gettin out for a bit, but way too hot for a long ride.

 

My buddy is still knocking out the miles. He tried some KY terrain, last weekend, and he said 14mi liked to killed him. Haha. We’re planning for next Sunday morning. I’m only home Saturday night, so ride time is limited. I’m going to shoot for 50mi of chip-seal and mild terrain, to continue getting him used to something other than rail-trails.

I got in 104mi, last week, between my gravel and big BMX bikes. My goal is 40-60mi, in one ride, every weekend. My current schedule is getting me home for one full day, each weekend.

I hope everyone else is still pushing those pedals.

 

My buddy and I knocked out 89mi, today. He did 50mi, yesterday, too. Plus, he has his miles riding most every night through the week. I’m just blown away by a 380lb dude cranking this kind of mileage…on a Mongoose fat bike, even. Watching him walk me on hills was humbling, as well. He said he can leg press 1200lbs and reps at 900lbs. Now I know. Good grief!

We’re not sure what next weekend is going to look like, yet. He has a planned ride for August 17th, so we need to be conscious of that and not fatigue him too much, before that event. I’m just trying to get in my one good ride, each weekend I’m home.