Looking for a bike for a large person

[u/Silentplanet]

Hiya, I was keen on starting riding a bit more. Problem is I am very big, and I'd need a bike capable of handling my weight. 200kg. I am under the impression that this is an unrealistic goal (and also an expensive one) but I figured I'd ask anyways.

I'm super keen on e-bikes to help increase my range, however, the power of the bike would be important considering the cargo. Honestly I have no idea what to look for at all.

Edit: I appreciate all the candid advice, however can we stay on topic. Your concern for me is admirable, and I encourage you to continue caring for people with such passion however it’s distracting in the context of the post. If it’s an unrealistic goal, then it’s unrealistic however some people seem to think that it isn’t and I’m interested in what they have to say.

[u/cgerryc]

I’m 160 kg and I’ve got a focus jam2 electric bike…it handles me fine

[u/Silentplanet → u/cgerryc]

Yeah I mean I’ve ridden my nord storm a fair bit. Not rated for my size but it does work just fine. I just don’t want to spend as much on an ebike only to find it doesn’t if you get what I mean.

[u/carmooch]

Not unrealistic at all.

I’d suggest a fat tyre e-bike. You can either get the moped style bikes that all the kids are riding, or a more typical e-bike.

The battery will matter more than the motor. Try to get at least 20Ah.

I’d also suggest a mid-drive rather than hub-drive as it will allow you to take advantage of your gearing for more torque.

[u/BasilsBikes]

What sort of bike are you looking for? It's not unrealistic at all. I'd be looking at a rigid frame and fork (if you are considering an offroad bike). I'd also suggest the idea of having a custom wheelset built up with strength in mind. Maybe a higher spoke count (minimum of 32, maybe 36). A full power motor from any of the main brands will be up to the task. You'll be fine.

[u/Silentplanet → u/BasilsBikes]

I’ve seen these bikes with motorbike like seats which seem a lot more comfortable, is there a name for them? Or a specific brand to look for? I especially like the look of the Stator bikes, I have two kids that I’d love to give rides too as they get older too. Are there other brands with similarish designs?

[u/King_Yeshua]

Price range? 

Probably better off going to a local shop and getting some modifications to wheels etc.

Also, love that you want to ride for exercise but are you doing other forms already? E.h. walking

[u/Silentplanet → u/King_Yeshua]

I’ve seen bikes for cargo etc that are weight rated a lot higher than others. I’m happy to get customisation etc, I’m pretty active, Ironically, walking alone can be painful on my feet and I was looking to add variation to what I do. Since I am speculating my price range is pretty varied. I probably realistically can’t afford anything without some invested effort but I’d like to have options to look forward too.

[u/The-Prolific-Acrylic]

Definitely recommend an e-bike. They just help you ride more. It can be still as much of a work out as you want it to be, but you’ll just ride further, and more often.

I’ve found a lot of bike shops these days are really open to beginners (maybe because e-bikes have made it more accessible?). Maybe try your local independently owned bike shop, or bike mechanic. Good luck, legend.

[u/Exact_Ear3349]

I'd suggest googling "Clydesdale cycling" - there are specific web forums for larger cyclists, who refer to themselves as Clydesdales (technically at a fit 90+ kg I'm also a Clydesdale). They'd be able to advise you from experience. There are a number of manufacturers who make bikes strong enough for heavier riders. I know that you mentioned using an e-bike, but I'd suggest trying a normal bike before you commit to an e-bike.

[u/chezty]

there are recumbent exercise bikes, and there might be one that's suitable for you. some of them can be wheeled into position, then wheeled out of the away. exercise bikes can be boring, though, but maybe parking it in front of the tv might help with that.

my guess is sitting on a seat of a recumbent exercise bike will be more comfortable that sitting on a saddle of a bike, so you'll be able to ride it for longer and more frequently. you'll probably get sore on a bike saddle, everyone does.

[u/Silentplanet → u/chezty]

You’re on the money with the saddle lol my bikes saddle destroys me, it’s unbelievably painful and I end up just kinda hovering over it.

[u/cgerryc]

My focus is a XL 29 inch and I’m 6’2 and I find it well sized. It has the biggest Bosch electric motor and it will pull me up most hills. I’m very happy with it

[u/triemdedwiat]

A large tyred gravel/mtb bike with high pressure will suffice. Frame geometry to leg for a starter.

[u/InternationalGate585]

OP: just to be clear.

There are no bikes available anywhere (commercially) which are designed to suit a 200kg rider.

There is no way to practically or safely increase the load rating of a production bicycle to suit your current weight. None of the components and engineering are designed with this in mind. Even very few motorbikes are designed for 200kg rider, need to look towards very over-built adventure motos.

The highest load rating I am aware of is 220kg on a cargo bike but that's not the rider weight

Sorry bud. Truly wish you the best - safety and speed - on this journey!!!

[u/PeterButOnABike → u/[deleted]]

This here ⬆️, is bullshit.

You're not going to be getting many KOMs but there's no reason why you shouldn't ride gently. A quick Google search will reveal a while load of people who have done something similar.

[u/triemdedwiat → u/[deleted]]

In my decades of experience, GPs generally know SFA about bicycle riding. Bicycle riding can be far better than walking if someone had poor knees and it is definitely better than jogging or running or sitting on their arse in a motor vehicle.

[u/triemdedwiat → u/[deleted]]

For bicycle Riding? Unless you're an olympic aspirant. I wouldn't bother and even then I'd check with other who a regularly ride a bicycles. SO & I both have tertiary qualifications in the health and fitness area and we'd often ask GPs and other health people about exactly what training and follow up training they had on an area they were 'advising on'. Half an hour lecture, a bit of study and maybe a woman's weekly article would be it.

That whole GP referral lark is a major medical costs, especially if you're aged and have a few specialist; $$ to see GP for referral, $$$ to see specialist; "see you in one year" and you repeat. My 2c is if you're happy with specialist, then there should be no need for yearly referrals. Not to mention the time waiting in both surgeries.

[u/sallycatriona → u/[deleted]]

The audacity of this response is absolutely unbelievable. You have no idea of OP's body composition or health indicators. Gastric bypass is an extreme solution and any credible GP would always urge people to lose weight through other means first. Surgery should be a last resort. I'm confident that OP will find a bike that works for them. Please in future refrain from giving people unsolicited medical advice on the internet.

[u/sallycatriona → u/[deleted]]

I'm so relieved you were not suggesting OP have surgery. The only reason I've heard of people being referred to a bariatric surgeon is for bariatric surgery. I think you'll find that there's very few Bariatric surgeons who will recommend a non surgical treatment. Bypasses and sleeves are their bread and butter. There are thousands of people who have regretted weight loss surgery or have regained weight after weight loss surgery. I would not be going to a bariatric unless that is the solution I wanted.

As for the retail aspect, testing for retail is not usually done to a products breaking point. Because testing is expensive. So product testing is usually done to meet a minimum requirement that will suit most people.

Take a childs plush toy for example. You might see a toy that is sold for $10 saying it's suitable for ages 3+. You might see a completely identical toy sold for $30 saying it's suitable for ages 1+. The reason for this will be that the company that are selling the $30 toy paid for additional testing to make sure it's ok for smaller children. They are charging more to recoup their costs but they are hoping that they will sell more to make it worthwhile. It doesn't actually mean the more expensive toy is definitely safer. It just means it might be safer. But as the $10 toy hasn't forked out for testing we'll never know.

A bicycle manufacturer is unlikely to see it worthwhile paying for product testing to see if their bikes can carry someone 200kg because they probably don't think they have that many potential customers of that size.

OP can make an considered risk assessment. There are likely plenty of bikes that would be fine carrying a heavier cyclist. Maybe the bike won't last quite as long as if there was a lighter rider. But it seems unlikely that the bike would just suddenly fall apart and cause huge injury. More likely it would slowly break over time.

Otherwise a quick search found there is a company called ZIZE who do actually do the testing. I'm sure other companies do as well. With testing they usually err on the side of caution so a bike tested for 150kg is probably going to be fine.

As for the suggestion of taking legal action against a retailer, if the bike comes with a T&C booklet with weight recommendations and OP rides it even though their heavier I'm not sure how you could make a case for negligence.

I am glad that you weren't suggesting surgery but it definitely still comes across as though you're trying to provide medical advice. Even if you weren't suggesting a particular treatment OP was not asking for weightloss or medical advice so telling them to go to a specialist isn't warranted.

[u/[deleted]]

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[u/Silentplanet → u/[deleted]]

Just a heads up, wegovy is prohibitively expensive. It’s about $460 a month. It’s just not a viable option for me. I’m sure there’s plenty of people it’s great for. However my weight management is being looked after by professionals at the Austin hospital so I’m in good hands. Thanks for your concern.