My Dad is thinking about taking up cycling. He's about 240lbs.
I offered him my mountain bike - a Gary Fisher Tassajara - to start him off, but he's concerned that the wheels wouldn't hold up to his weight - they're Bontrager Corvair rims. He's got nothing to worry about, right?
- Mike
Large rider - any dangers?
Mon, 08/01/2005 - 9:54pm
Tue, 08/02/2005 - 5:06am
#1
At 240lbs, he'll be alright.
The rear wheel may eventually go out of true. When it does, I'd replace it with a 36 spoke wheel. Oh, and if it has titanium seat rails, I'd change to a seat with steel rails.
- Christian
Tue, 08/02/2005 - 6:40am
#2
"There is a full article on LARGER riders in this months Bicycling magazine.
However your Dad would fall 'under"" that catagory.
I would certainly NOT purchase the bike without him there for a fit and sizing.
A good LBS would make sure they sell him one that will
meet his needs for riding.
Good Luck
Oh yeah, besides if he gets into it soon enough the weight may slide off."
Wed, 08/03/2005 - 10:17pm
#3
The physics of the construct of a spoked wheel.
It is said in one or more of the wheel books I have that a standard wheel (whatever that is) can hold 600 times its own weight.
Wed, 08/03/2005 - 9:03pm
#4
I'm 240 and used to have problems popping spokes and wheels going out of true. A few years ago I got an Airborne Ti road bike with a Mavic Ksyrium wheelset and haven't had a problem since.
