VirgilCaine
Active Member
I'm helping a friend pick out a bike who is obese, but wanting to change. What is a good choice for a comfort step through under 2k for street use ?
Recommendation for large,unfit,new rider
- Thread starter VirgilCaine
- Start date
indianajo
Well-Known Member
Body geometry matters a lot, frames come in different sizes and you can't even pick a wheel size without knowing height and leg length (inseam) . legs should be almost straight at bottom of pedal arc, and rider should still be able to reach the ground stopped. Larger wheels are more comfortable on bumps, 2" (55 mm) tires even those out too, but expensive suspension can compensate. Posture matters, hunched over "road bike" posture goes faster with less wind resistance, but I ride upright cruiser position to save my spine. One has to choose before purchase.
I rode a 26"x2" kid's mountain bike with 21 speeds when I dropped the 55 lb. by giving up driving. I'm below average size. With that many speeds anybody can find a gear low enough to not strain the heart. Then speed up in taller gears as one gets more fit. Electric bike IMHO would be too tempting for the unmotivated to veg out. I use electricity to lengthen trips from 30 miles in 3 hours pedaling, to 50 miles. Also ride against steady 25 mph winds in the spring/fall/winter without my 30 mi commute becoming a 6 hour ordeal. Note to the timid, I did not start riding 30 miles - I started at 2 miles when I quit working. Then stretched standard ride out to 30 miles in about a year. Note also, 4 times a week at 30 minutes causes fitness, once a week just causes pain. See Dr. Cooper's Aerobics, A little muscle soreness the day after exercise is a good sign.
I rode a 26"x2" kid's mountain bike with 21 speeds when I dropped the 55 lb. by giving up driving. I'm below average size. With that many speeds anybody can find a gear low enough to not strain the heart. Then speed up in taller gears as one gets more fit. Electric bike IMHO would be too tempting for the unmotivated to veg out. I use electricity to lengthen trips from 30 miles in 3 hours pedaling, to 50 miles. Also ride against steady 25 mph winds in the spring/fall/winter without my 30 mi commute becoming a 6 hour ordeal. Note to the timid, I did not start riding 30 miles - I started at 2 miles when I quit working. Then stretched standard ride out to 30 miles in about a year. Note also, 4 times a week at 30 minutes causes fitness, once a week just causes pain. See Dr. Cooper's Aerobics, A little muscle soreness the day after exercise is a good sign.
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christob
Well-Known Member
@indianajo's comment about electrics possibly tempting one to veg out... I think that temptation would apply more if the ebike had a throttle mode (vs. a pure pedal-assist-only.)
I got a pedal-assist-only partly for that very reason (to eliminate that "no-effort" temptation which I feared I'd find irresistible.) I tend to use just the 2 lowest Assist levels on most of my rides (perhaps hitting level 3 or 4 rarely, in conjunction with more downshifting.) I'm starting out overweight -- but have already dropped ~20 pounds in the past 7 weeks between the frequent biking (including 20 office commutes so far) and sensible diet modification... Point being, even my e-assisted rides are giving me a workout (no doubt helped in large part by trying to stay in the lower assist levels whenever possible) -- and the workout is a level of not miserable and therefore repeatable exercise, far beyond anything in my pre-eBike, quite sedentary lifestyle.
The thing with the eBike that has been transformative for me, is that option to use assist smooths or eliminates out the old "miseries" that come with a pedal-bike for a casual rider -- smooths them out immediately on the first ride. Without those miseries at the end of a ride, imagining the next ride is ... surprisingly pleasant. And the next ride... and the next...
I could not believe how quickly my mindset changed about this new form of exercise I was introducing; that is just what I wanted to have happen when I decided to buy -- but I also secretly feared it would not happen, given my past history with exercise -- and the bike would become a pricey clothes-hanger at home in 2 months. I wanted it to make me want to ride more... it does! I look forward to the commute home especially (which I make longer than the straight path home) And I'm pissed as hell that I've lost 3 days this week of biking, to total crap/rain weather!!
I still can get really sweaty (though I aim for a lower-effort morning commute to avoid the sweaty mess upon arrival.) And yes my legs felt wobbly after rides for the first several weeks, and my seat was sore... But even that wobbliness and soreness diminishing was just more positive reinforcement! 20 years ago, the sweat, the aches and pains, those "miseries" would have quickly seen me put the pedal-bike into storage and then forget all about it... (pretty much exactly what happened 20 years ago!) Where those "symptoms", on my pedal bike 20 years ago would have quickly stopped me from biking, they no longer defeat the sheer fun of riding the eBike with the assist levels available in my arsenal...!
I got a pedal-assist-only partly for that very reason (to eliminate that "no-effort" temptation which I feared I'd find irresistible.) I tend to use just the 2 lowest Assist levels on most of my rides (perhaps hitting level 3 or 4 rarely, in conjunction with more downshifting.) I'm starting out overweight -- but have already dropped ~20 pounds in the past 7 weeks between the frequent biking (including 20 office commutes so far) and sensible diet modification... Point being, even my e-assisted rides are giving me a workout (no doubt helped in large part by trying to stay in the lower assist levels whenever possible) -- and the workout is a level of not miserable and therefore repeatable exercise, far beyond anything in my pre-eBike, quite sedentary lifestyle.
The thing with the eBike that has been transformative for me, is that option to use assist smooths or eliminates out the old "miseries" that come with a pedal-bike for a casual rider -- smooths them out immediately on the first ride. Without those miseries at the end of a ride, imagining the next ride is ... surprisingly pleasant. And the next ride... and the next...
I could not believe how quickly my mindset changed about this new form of exercise I was introducing; that is just what I wanted to have happen when I decided to buy -- but I also secretly feared it would not happen, given my past history with exercise -- and the bike would become a pricey clothes-hanger at home in 2 months. I wanted it to make me want to ride more... it does! I look forward to the commute home especially (which I make longer than the straight path home) And I'm pissed as hell that I've lost 3 days this week of biking, to total crap/rain weather!!
I still can get really sweaty (though I aim for a lower-effort morning commute to avoid the sweaty mess upon arrival.) And yes my legs felt wobbly after rides for the first several weeks, and my seat was sore... But even that wobbliness and soreness diminishing was just more positive reinforcement! 20 years ago, the sweat, the aches and pains, those "miseries" would have quickly seen me put the pedal-bike into storage and then forget all about it... (pretty much exactly what happened 20 years ago!) Where those "symptoms", on my pedal bike 20 years ago would have quickly stopped me from biking, they no longer defeat the sheer fun of riding the eBike with the assist levels available in my arsenal...!
rich c
Well-Known Member
Better describe obese. Most traditional bikes have a weight limit in the neighborhood of 250 pounds. There are some specialty trikes that go up to 350 if I remember correctly. Might be able to find a cargo bike with over sized spokes and heavier frame that can handle the weight.
VirgilCaine
Active Member
I don't have the people skills to ask, but I'm thinking she "only" weighs 225. Prolly 5'7"
Ravi Kempaiah
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Canada
- City
- Halifax
it would be good to get her on a Pedego Interceptor (24" or 26"). It has cruiser type relaxed styling and plenty of power (in PAS and throttle).
Pedego has lots of dealers all over the nation.
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VirgilCaine
Active Member
Thanks, that looks like a good choice. Will the hub-driven be as reliable as a mid-drive ?
Ravi Kempaiah
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Canada
- City
- Halifax
yes. Pedego uses good quality hub drives and their warranty service is great!
WilliamT
Active Member
My vote would be for the Rad City Step Thru ($1500). Max weight is 275 lb
https://www.radpowerbikes.com/products/radcity-step-thru-electric-commuter-bike
I've never had any problems with the motor and have put it through all weather conditions for the last 3 years. Currently, I have 4600+ miles on the motor.
https://www.radpowerbikes.com/products/radcity-step-thru-electric-commuter-bike
I've never had any problems with the motor and have put it through all weather conditions for the last 3 years. Currently, I have 4600+ miles on the motor.
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