The Epic Search

I, er, um don't actually have a bike right now. And the truth is I haven't ridden one outside of a gym in like, fifteen years. But I want one, badly.

The idea came to me as I was pedaling away in the gym. And then again when I was driving and saw two girls on retro bikes, pedaling happily on Cook st. Once I started thinking about getting back into bike riding I couldn't stop.

Mostly I just want to feel like a kid again. I don't want to approach this from a "calories burned, how many K's, how long," work-out approach. Not that a regimented work-out mentality is always such a bad thing. I do that at the gym because it's so fascinating to see my physical progression as I get stronger and can do more reps or hold a plank pose longer. But there's a time and a place for everything. And right now in my life I am looking for a little lightness.

Everything is so scheduled. Kevin and I go to bed at the same time, wake up at the same time and go to the gym at the same time, on the same days. We do laundry and grocery shopping on Sunday and the dog goes to dog care on Tuesday and Thursday. And on and on. I need a predictable schedule where stuff gets done, I never had one growing up, but it lacks... pleasure. It's like a compatible, easy going, but sexless marriage. And I want some sex!

My first trip, to my first bike shop, went beautifully. I couldn't have asked for a better experience.

I was worried that I was too big for a bike. That my weight would wear down the tires or that I would rend the frame in half.

So I went in told the staff that I knew absolutely nothing about bikes and I didn't know what I should get.

But I was just testing. I'd done a little research of my own and I knew that for a bigger person hybrid bikes are often the most recommended, they are a cross between mountain bikes and road bikes. Hybrid bikes give you the best of both worlds, the "ruggedness" of a mountain bike with the smaller, sleeker frame of a road bike for speed and agility.

I played dumb because I wanted to see where they'd steer me. My sales guy steered me right to the hybrid bikes. So I was impressed with that. The bikes he showed me and that I liked were Trek bikes. They're supposed to be some of the best out there and after a little rooting around I found a lot of people who consider themselves overweight rate them highly. But I couldn't get past the price. $600.00- plus I'd need all the fixings. Eeeks!

I went to another shop, Reckless. They were a little more laid back and the sales guy was a big guy himself so I asked him straight up, for a bigger person, what do I need to know to make buying the bike and riding it as enjoyable as possible? His response- there really isn't much of a difference. Don't get a bike at Walmart, ride the bike for at least a half hour first, and make sure you feel good. That put me at ease, and it made sense.

So I've decided to go the used route. I don't want to commit a big chunk of my savings towards this but my gut is telling me I need to do this, right now.

But if you are a bigger guy or gal and you want to buy a bike and don't know how to begin here's what I have learned (please remember I'm a novice and am just regurgitating what I picked up on the internet, I will supplement this info as I get more informed) :

1. Hybrids, comfort or mountain bikes are probably your best option based on your height and weight. Hybrids can be ridden on the road and on trails of hard, packed dirt - these make great commuter and all around bikes - I guess the big draw back with them is price. Comfort bikes are kind of like hybrids, only they hold you up so you're not bent forward as much - think Mary Poppins on her bike versus Lance Armstrong. You can ride them on the road and on hard packed dirt trails but I have heard that they are slower and can be a little hard on the knees. Apparently, the traditional style of bending forward is more ergonomically correct. So keep that in mind. Mountain bikes have a bigger, heavier frame, thicker, larger tires and are good for trails and hard riding. I have read that they're not so good on the road as commuter bikes because the tires grip too much and the bike is slower because of the resulting "drag," and they're not as agile. But, I have also read that if you're 300 + pounds and just starting out they provide you with a sturdy frame and I for one think that a sense of safety and comfort is a good trade off for speed when you're a newbie. My personal preference is for a hybrid, a bike I feel I can grow into, but I'm looking at a comfort style bike tomorrow because that's what was available and I don't want to make any assumptions until I've ridden lots of bikes.


2. I'm guessing that if you're anything like me you're wondering what it feels like to get on a bike after 15 years of not being on one and your wondering if you'll make a fool of yourself. Well it felt good! I was a little nervous at first. The sales guy handed me the bike and it felt kind of strange to straddle it in front of another person but that's only because it's not something I do nowadays. But that thought drifted away really quickly. I didn't find it difficult to get in and out of the bike. But as I took off I did find it hard to get some momentum. So I did the old straddle and pedal with one foot as I tried to hoist myself onto the seat. And it worked fine. It's probably how every one does it after years of being off a bike. So if you find yourself thinking the sales guy is thinking you're a total dork, stop! Once I had some momentum and I was gliding along I hit a a speed bump. An actual one, not metaphorical. I braced myself and it was really barely a blip. So that was one of the reasons why I liked the Trek bikes, good suspension. I felt a little scared and exhilarated as I pedalled out of the parking lot and out onto the street but as I rode my body was just singing with glee! I wanted to keep going and even though I felt unsteady - not in a bad scary way - I knew I was just a couple of rides away from feeling like an old pro again. My turns, however, will need some work. I used an entire cul de sac to execute a turn and head back in the other direction!


3. If you feel the need to say, hey, I'm a big guy/gal and I want a bike that can accommodate me, do it. If you think that it's obvious you need a sturdier frame and you don't want to mention your body size because you feel it's completely unnecessary or, it makes you uncomfortable, don't. You don't need to apologize for your size and you don't need to trumpet it around, either. But if you feel like you're not being shown appropriate bikes for your body then you need to address that by asking for sturdier frames, or going to another shop. Don't let your size define you and don't let it hinder you from getting the most ideal bike for your body, either.


4. Test the bike. Most of the places I went to let you take it for a couple of hours if you leave your credit card, or you just rent it for $5.00 an hour. Most places will let you put any rental costs towards the bike if you do decide to purchase it. Make sure you have a helmet, and flat non puffy sneakers and you're off.


5. Hmmm what else? I guess I would just hasten to add that there is no right or wrong way to buy anything. I have done the shopping around, fastidious research approach to major purchases and ended up with a pile of shit! And I have done the gut instinct in the moment, don't know the first thing about it or the brand impulse purchase and wound up with the best "it" ever! So you just never know. Be skeptical, be realistic and just have fun.

I'll update tomorrow re: the Giant Sedona Comfort Bike Test.