I Want To Ride My Bicycle

This weekend the discussion of getting me a bike came up again, I love my husband. Brief background, he is an avid bike rider, rides every day at lunch, great way to break up the day for sure, rides as often as he can, and used to ride a lot more. When we first were dating I had gotten a bike and we even went camping via bicycling to get there/back. it was a lot of work, but fun. My bike was stolen and I hoped it was by someone who rode it more than I did (how sad is that).

Anyway, after the past three years of the triathlon and riding 12+ miles on the stationary bikes in the gym, I have been dreaming about riding one again.

Finding a bike to support someone my size is not easy. There are some, but pricey as all get out. Some have electric abilities you can add (my friend has one and absolutely loves it).

Since I want to make sure I can ride, and will ride, we are making the first option something as low cost as possible.

I found some great articles and posts online from other heavier riders and it has boiled down to a fat tire mountain bike. The good news, something my husband will ride, too.

Mongoose Dolomite - about $220 - $250 online

Mountain bike frames are made for pounding, so even if the weight limit is lower than I am, I am not going to be plowing through the trails and putting it through the typical workout someone like my husband will. So I should be ok doing the track or paved roads, being mindful of potholes, etc.

Last night was the first time I tried to even get on a bike that wasn't the stationary bike at the gym (which before that was mostly likely 20 years since my last bike, you know, the one that was stolen). It was my husband's mountain bike, seat far too high, but I just wanted to see if I could even get my legs on either side (not sit on the seat).

I have pretty good range of motion, to typically swing my leg over the seat, but with his seat up much higher (for him to use) I could not clear the seat. He said I should step over the center bar (also a man's bike so the bar is higher up than a woman's bike), but my step up clearance is minimal - the size, shape and weight of my leg made clearing the bar impossible that way.

Brilliantly he said to lay the bike down on the ground (chain side up so as not to get dirt on the mechanics), and then step over the bike, placing my legs on either side, and then raise the bike back up, off the ground. It worked. I was straddling the bike.

The bar was far too high on me, but he reminded me it would be lower on my bike.

More to come on this journey to a bike and the obstacles that come up - how we get around them, and the ultimate joy of riding a bike again - remember how much fun it was to ride a bike? I do. I cannot wait.