Hey! I wrote a blog about this too with additional info and thoughts: you can read it here! www.ryanbuildswheels.co.uk/video-building-bicycle-wheels-for-larger-heavier-and-more-powerful-cyclists/
I am 6'3" tall, and 115 kgs in weight, but still ride lightweight Italian road bikes with top end, ultra expensive carbon Campagnolo Super Record EPS, Bora Ultra, ENVE, bars & stem, etc. Just had James at Cycling Position in Bristol, to build up my orange Bianchi for me! Clothing is available in my top-end Italian/Spanish brands, but it sell's out really quickly in the 4XL/5XL size jerseys/jackets, and 4XL bib-shorts/tights also! UK companies will not make/sell the bigger sizes, so have to import from the EU/USA! Carbon shoes in a UK 13 is hard, but luckily, are available direct from Italy!
Thanks for sharing :-D! The only issue here of course is that not everyone can afford super top end kit and the quality that can bring; riding style also changes what a wheel might require; loaded touring for example. James is a LEGEND!!! So glad to hear you use him and Cycling Position! I really do need to get booked in :-)
Whenever I recommend the specifications for a suitable wheelset for heavy riders, the final question is usually, how much will they weigh? Another regular enquiry is, I'm looking for a wheelset c1500g, my question is, how much do you weigh and what is the intended use? I usually don't get an order.
WAY too many people with an obsession about wheel weight...which is going to be the subject of another video on this channel in the future. But it's YET ANOTHER industry problem; the quickest and easiest metric for brand after brand to sell their wheels tends to be a headline figure of weight...I sometimes die a little every time I get asked 'how much will they weigh...because often to make a great pair of *functional* wheels at low weights the answer is 'well buddy, how much money do you have?' That magic 1500g number is a funny one too and very much a hangover from the days of the shallow section rim brake; IMHO too many people thinking they can expect the same of a deeper section (which is what most road riders really need) disk brake option.
Great Video.... I am a bike mechanic/ shop owner in Sweden and I have found that over the last few years that people are getting larger and heavier and the 100kg wheel cannot cope with this on the standard city bike used for commuting. I try to have ready made wheels for the average commuter bike on the nexus 3 and 7 internal hub with coaster brake built onto a Ryde andra 40 rim with 13-14g single butted spokes so that I can swop out the internals and keep them riding. In the last 7 years I have replaced around 12 wheels, not a huge quantity but they have not even come back with a broken spoke.
I also work hard to make sure all are welcomed to my work as a mechanic. Building wheels or speccing a bike for various clients provides interesting challenges and the achievements are also great
Chapeau! So many times I'm much more interested in building kit for people who will benefit from it more than simply having an expensive new toy; the industry let's lots of people down so being to enable folk to experience cycling as they truly deserve is always an honour. Stoked to hear you're keeping things radical @KwokChung; bosh!
Brilliant video. As a heavier rider myself and my wife we buy clothes from Pro Vision cycle clothing. They are amazing and do real sizing right upto 5XL. So there are great clothing options for all.
Even as someone who a reasonably fit I have issues. Why can't I get a smaller front chainring for my 105? The stock gearing is only suited to pro-tour riders and racers. The gearing is pathetic if you have to ride upfill, or have to ride with a backpack, etc.. when commuting. If you have something like shimano 105 even the easiest gearing available by changing cassettes is not enough. I don't need 520% range for my gears I just need to have the option to go easier if I wish. This was a solved problem back in the 2x and 3x days.
I run 48/32 down to 42/26 on my 2x bikes (albeit a wide variety - velo orange with ta chainrings, andel, spa cycles and GRX cranks) getting a nice set of Road cranks for a modern bike below the standard compact one is tricky. I am looking at the Rotor Aldu 48/32 for my road bike - but this is about £340 and there is nothing other than the Campy Chorus that is of similar spec available. There are a few others but then they are much heavier and require a change of BB to accommodate (and to an inferior BB stashed) also they don’t look as nice! I do wish Shimano et al would get some road oriented sub compact chain sets out. Whilst they do have the GRX ones they don’t look that nice (subjective I know) and the chainline is not ideal for road bikes (not so subjective!).
Really great video. Great to see and hear some really good inclusive information around how everyone can enjoy cycling not just people who are obsessed with Strava and watts. If we are going to save the planet every one will need encouragement and support to get on a bike. Thanks
So much of the cycling industry needs to wake up to the fact that 80kg and beyond is a pretty average weight! As mentioned in the video SO many of us are riding and loving bikes for reasons different to folks racing, competing, or chasing ways to get their power to weight ratio up and it would be great to feel more catered for (not to mention the dark underbelly that competitive cycling has with an obsession about weight loss; see reports from ex-pro riders and others about dis-ordered eating and the pressure from team management for example).
That means an awful lot thanks @AidanWGGuitar! And apologies it took me so long to see and reply to this comment! I've been away for a while because last year I discovered that I have ADHD; this has taken a bit of a toll but I also want to make a video about THAT now...there are SO MANY intersections that come into the realm of cycling and it's often lacking diversity and I want to tackle each in the future For example: class, sexuality, neuro-diversity and being politically radical are the one's I can speak about from personal experience. Other intersections such as race and gender I'm not qualified to speak on via lived experience and so these would be great topics to find people who would like to talk about them in a candid and right on way.
I ride an ebike with 20x4 wheels. Brilliant! Helps so much with stability, fat tires are nice. My bike is like a Jeep. HEy? Could I have a good quality build for a wheelset? These mass produced bikes, the wheels are cheap, the hubs are a small joke, and one day soon I need to replace them.
Agreed....it's an expense that not everyone can afford (a barrier that we discuss in the video), but for gear ratios etc I would like to give a shout out to cranks and chainring options from both TA Specialities and Middleburn respectively :-). I run Middleburn's on my Clandestine.cc Ultimate Audax rig (more info on the RBW blog) and have managed to get a low gearing that works for me and my needs.
Solutions, not gripes. 1. Lose weight, eat less, make better food choices, lose that sugar addiction. 2. Make your own or modify existing clothing to suit your largesk. 3. Ride a kick bike, you will get in shape faster, not fatter.
We should be encouraging as many people as possible to start cycling. Simply saying "get fit them come back" is not helpful. Also, things like knicks etc.. are quite complex and even a professional tailor would struggle to modify cycle gear. Plus the cost would be prohibitive
This is a long response, but I feel it's needed. I hope you understand that it's a good-faith response to your good-faith comment. 1. For a lot of people, losing weight isn't as simple as you think. There is a wealth of research on genetics and also how our bodies are pre-disposed to hold on to fat because of evolutionary hangovers. Biology aside, healthier foods often cost a lot more than processed, sugary foods. Cooking healthy for yourself all the time takes a lot of time, and if you have a full time job + any kind of caring responsibilities, this is not a viable option for a lot of people. Beyond this, not everyone lives in a big city where it's easy to find healthy choices for food you haven't made yourself. And EVEN IF all of the above weren't true, and losing weight was simple, it would still take a lot of time. Do we not want people of all sizes to have comfortable and functional gear while they are in the process of losing weight? Having better gear makes you want to get out on the bike even more. Surely, in your scenario where larger people just need to lose weight, this would be a good thing? 2. Good cycling clothing is very technical. Working with 4-way stretch fabrics can be an advanced sewing skill. Not to mention that overlockers are expensive. Learning how to make an entire outfit, waterproofs and all, AND have it be functional and lasting would take months if not years of practice. Again, most people who work and/or have other responsibilities don't have time for this. Why lose out on cycling time because you are learning to make clothes when there are companies who already have all the equipment and people with skills to do this in exchange for money. 3. There is a perception that the only reason a larger person does anything physical is to lose weight. This isn't true. A lot of people just want to go cycle touring, for example, because they love being outdoors or they want to travel or they are going in a group and enjoy the social aspect. Weight loss may happen or it may not, but it isn't even on the list of goals for that activity. People shouldn't have to be a certain size or weight before it is acceptable for them to enjoy these things. Life is too short to wait until you've lost weight to go on adventures, climb mountains, and wizz down hills. 4. When we make things inclusive for one time of person, there are benefits for lots of other people too. Very tall or very muscular people are often heavier and more powerful. Having a wider range of options means they can have better kit too.
Thanks so much @julia_I_vita for this response and the time it took. @ellerybice3787: you're barking up the wrong tree entirely here and your comment doesn't come across well I'm afraid.
You have exactly proved the point of this video with these toxic and uncalled for (and ignorant) suggestions. That the bike industry has a problem. Do better.
Hit your target, At 30 years old I was 293 pounds, and at 5'9" tall, I was miserable, especially on hot days. I hated life. I moved to Alaska, and got a new job, I changed my view of and my relationship with food. In Two years time along with a lot of healthy food and exercise choices, I was a trim 155 pounds. Life is wonderful when your body is light, quick and not your restrictive burden. What lead me to being obese you may ask? Food was my fix for what ailed me. Boredom, I ate. Anxiety, I ate. Hunger, I ate. Driving, I ate. Watching television, I ate. Eat, eat, eat your self to death is all too common in a society full of garbage food,with a tremendous amount of food marketing. An individual has a lot of mental battles to wage in order to win this health war. And, losing weight is easy, it really is. It is the changing of one's relationship with food that is difficult part. For all those obese people needing rescue, or others who simply want to lose those extra pounds. Here is my dare to you; hand your dietary intake choices over to a responsible and dietary educated Individual, self taught or formally educated. Let said individual decide what, when and how much you consume. Let this individual dictate your exercise, and you must obey their orders. Yes, you may parish in your attempt to become fitter, regardless of this, but being obese is killing you in the here and now. Time passes; you lose weight, your physically stronger, your mental attitude is "I love life" now. When your health assistant departs and you're now on your own once again. What will you do? Go forth and remain a lean, trim living machine, or revert to your gluttons ways of the past. Good Food is a caloric energy and a nutrient supply, not a substance to be abused. Your so called "will power" is not necessary, wise and healthy, individualized choices are paramount though. So where am I today you may ask; I am a commercial truck driver, my caloric intake is small, my exercise is as good as I can make it. That is a big challenge in this industry. The transportation industry as whole is not interested a drivers health, only in moving that commodity from point A to B in as quick time frame as possible. To continue; 5'9" I am 59 years old now and weigh approximately my ideal weight for my height. No! I do not know exactly what I weigh. Here is why one's weight it is not important. Strip off your clothes, stand in front of a full height mirror and look at yourself, what do you see, a trim body or an obese one? Here is your goal, to look trim. no need to worry about your said gravity number. Good luck and make adult choices in a world trying to bring you down. God bless!
Hey! I wrote a blog about this too with additional info and thoughts: you can read it here!
www.ryanbuildswheels.co.uk/video-building-bicycle-wheels-for-larger-heavier-and-more-powerful-cyclists/
I am 6'3" tall, and 115 kgs in weight, but still ride lightweight Italian road bikes with top end, ultra expensive carbon Campagnolo Super Record EPS, Bora Ultra, ENVE,
bars & stem, etc.
Just had James at Cycling Position in Bristol, to build up my orange Bianchi for me!
Clothing is available in my top-end Italian/Spanish brands, but it sell's out really quickly in the 4XL/5XL size jerseys/jackets, and 4XL bib-shorts/tights also!
UK companies will not make/sell the bigger sizes, so have to import from the EU/USA!
Carbon shoes in a UK 13 is hard, but luckily, are available direct from Italy!
Thanks for sharing :-D! The only issue here of course is that not everyone can afford super top end kit and the quality that can bring; riding style also changes what a wheel might require; loaded touring for example.
James is a LEGEND!!! So glad to hear you use him and Cycling Position! I really do need to get booked in :-)
Whenever I recommend the specifications for a suitable wheelset for heavy riders, the final question is usually, how much will they weigh?
Another regular enquiry is, I'm looking for a wheelset c1500g, my question is, how much do you weigh and what is the intended use? I usually don't get an order.
WAY too many people with an obsession about wheel weight...which is going to be the subject of another video on this channel in the future. But it's YET ANOTHER industry problem; the quickest and easiest metric for brand after brand to sell their wheels tends to be a headline figure of weight...I sometimes die a little every time I get asked 'how much will they weigh...because often to make a great pair of *functional* wheels at low weights the answer is 'well buddy, how much money do you have?'
That magic 1500g number is a funny one too and very much a hangover from the days of the shallow section rim brake; IMHO too many people thinking they can expect the same of a deeper section (which is what most road riders really need) disk brake option.
As an industry insider, THANKYOU! Both of you.
Really appreciated :-).
Great Video.... I am a bike mechanic/ shop owner in Sweden and I have found that over the last few years that people are getting larger and heavier and the 100kg wheel cannot cope with this on the standard city bike used for commuting. I try to have ready made wheels for the average commuter bike on the nexus 3 and 7 internal hub with coaster brake built onto a Ryde andra 40 rim with 13-14g single butted spokes so that I can swop out the internals and keep them riding.
In the last 7 years I have replaced around 12 wheels, not a huge quantity but they have not even come back with a broken spoke.
Ryde for the win! So great to hear that your shop is catering to the needs of it's customers, nicely done!
I also work hard to make sure all are welcomed to my work as a mechanic. Building wheels or speccing a bike for various clients provides interesting challenges and the achievements are also great
Chapeau! So many times I'm much more interested in building kit for people who will benefit from it more than simply having an expensive new toy; the industry let's lots of people down so being to enable folk to experience cycling as they truly deserve is always an honour. Stoked to hear you're keeping things radical @KwokChung; bosh!
Brilliant video. As a heavier rider myself and my wife we buy clothes from Pro Vision cycle clothing. They are amazing and do real sizing right upto 5XL. So there are great clothing options for all.
Oh hey @campagquinn! Good to see you again :-). Thanks for the recommendation; I'll check em out!
Even as someone who a reasonably fit I have issues. Why can't I get a smaller front chainring for my 105? The stock gearing is only suited to pro-tour riders and racers. The gearing is pathetic if you have to ride upfill, or have to ride with a backpack, etc.. when commuting. If you have something like shimano 105 even the easiest gearing available by changing cassettes is not enough. I don't need 520% range for my gears I just need to have the option to go easier if I wish.
This was a solved problem back in the 2x and 3x days.
What BCD chainrings are you running @Kevin_Aus? I might have some solutions to suggest :-).
I run 48/32 down to 42/26 on my 2x bikes (albeit a wide variety - velo orange with ta chainrings, andel, spa cycles and GRX cranks) getting a nice set of Road cranks for a modern bike below the standard compact one is tricky. I am looking at the Rotor Aldu 48/32 for my road bike - but this is about £340 and there is nothing other than the Campy Chorus that is of similar spec available. There are a few others but then they are much heavier and require a change of BB to accommodate (and to an inferior BB stashed) also they don’t look as nice! I do wish Shimano et al would get some road oriented sub compact chain sets out. Whilst they do have the GRX ones they don’t look that nice (subjective I know) and the chainline is not ideal for road bikes (not so subjective!).
Really great video. Great to see and hear some really good inclusive information around how everyone can enjoy cycling not just people who are obsessed with Strava and watts. If we are going to save the planet every one will need encouragement and support to get on a bike. Thanks
Damn right!
Great and informative video about the challenges of those of us who love riding but are over 80kg! Wheels and bib shorts!
So much of the cycling industry needs to wake up to the fact that 80kg and beyond is a pretty average weight! As mentioned in the video SO many of us are riding and loving bikes for reasons different to folks racing, competing, or chasing ways to get their power to weight ratio up and it would be great to feel more catered for (not to mention the dark underbelly that competitive cycling has with an obsession about weight loss; see reports from ex-pro riders and others about dis-ordered eating and the pressure from team management for example).
I think this is possibly the most intelligent and sensitive vid about cycling inclusiveness I have ever seen.
That means an awful lot thanks @AidanWGGuitar! And apologies it took me so long to see and reply to this comment!
I've been away for a while because last year I discovered that I have ADHD; this has taken a bit of a toll but I also want to make a video about THAT now...there are SO MANY intersections that come into the realm of cycling and it's often lacking diversity and I want to tackle each in the future For example: class, sexuality, neuro-diversity and being politically radical are the one's I can speak about from personal experience. Other intersections such as race and gender I'm not qualified to speak on via lived experience and so these would be great topics to find people who would like to talk about them in a candid and right on way.
I ride an ebike with 20x4 wheels. Brilliant! Helps so much with stability, fat tires are nice. My bike is like a Jeep. HEy? Could I have a good quality build for a wheelset? These mass produced bikes, the wheels are cheap, the hubs are a small joke, and one day soon I need to replace them.
Sure! Get in touch if fancy a wheelset suggestion; I'd be happy to help :-).
This is so insightful and such a great topic to bring to the table x x x
Thanks Sis! Glad you think so X
The gear ratios of bikes is pretty bad but its gotten better than 2007 when I bought a bike with a 53/39 crank when I was 120 kilogrammes.
Agreed....it's an expense that not everyone can afford (a barrier that we discuss in the video), but for gear ratios etc I would like to give a shout out to cranks and chainring options from both TA Specialities and Middleburn respectively :-). I run Middleburn's on my Clandestine.cc Ultimate Audax rig (more info on the RBW blog) and have managed to get a low gearing that works for me and my needs.
Very nice one Ryan!
Thanks!
Can I give this 5 thumbs up?!
Yes you can! :-D! Thanks so much Nelson 🙂
Solutions, not gripes.
1. Lose weight, eat less, make better food choices, lose that sugar addiction.
2. Make your own or modify existing clothing to suit your largesk.
3. Ride a kick bike, you will get in shape faster, not fatter.
We should be encouraging as many people as possible to start cycling. Simply saying "get fit them come back" is not helpful. Also, things like knicks etc.. are quite complex and even a professional tailor would struggle to modify cycle gear. Plus the cost would be prohibitive
This is a long response, but I feel it's needed. I hope you understand that it's a good-faith response to your good-faith comment.
1. For a lot of people, losing weight isn't as simple as you think. There is a wealth of research on genetics and also how our bodies are pre-disposed to hold on to fat because of evolutionary hangovers. Biology aside, healthier foods often cost a lot more than processed, sugary foods. Cooking healthy for yourself all the time takes a lot of time, and if you have a full time job + any kind of caring responsibilities, this is not a viable option for a lot of people. Beyond this, not everyone lives in a big city where it's easy to find healthy choices for food you haven't made yourself. And EVEN IF all of the above weren't true, and losing weight was simple, it would still take a lot of time. Do we not want people of all sizes to have comfortable and functional gear while they are in the process of losing weight? Having better gear makes you want to get out on the bike even more. Surely, in your scenario where larger people just need to lose weight, this would be a good thing?
2. Good cycling clothing is very technical. Working with 4-way stretch fabrics can be an advanced sewing skill. Not to mention that overlockers are expensive. Learning how to make an entire outfit, waterproofs and all, AND have it be functional and lasting would take months if not years of practice. Again, most people who work and/or have other responsibilities don't have time for this. Why lose out on cycling time because you are learning to make clothes when there are companies who already have all the equipment and people with skills to do this in exchange for money.
3. There is a perception that the only reason a larger person does anything physical is to lose weight. This isn't true. A lot of people just want to go cycle touring, for example, because they love being outdoors or they want to travel or they are going in a group and enjoy the social aspect. Weight loss may happen or it may not, but it isn't even on the list of goals for that activity. People shouldn't have to be a certain size or weight before it is acceptable for them to enjoy these things. Life is too short to wait until you've lost weight to go on adventures, climb mountains, and wizz down hills.
4. When we make things inclusive for one time of person, there are benefits for lots of other people too. Very tall or very muscular people are often heavier and more powerful. Having a wider range of options means they can have better kit too.
Thanks so much @julia_I_vita for this response and the time it took. @ellerybice3787: you're barking up the wrong tree entirely here and your comment doesn't come across well I'm afraid.
You have exactly proved the point of this video with these toxic and uncalled for (and ignorant) suggestions. That the bike industry has a problem.
Do better.
Hit your target,
At 30 years old I was 293 pounds, and at 5'9" tall, I was miserable, especially on hot days. I hated life.
I moved to Alaska, and got a new job, I changed my view of and my relationship with food.
In Two years time along with a lot of healthy food and exercise choices, I was a trim 155 pounds.
Life is wonderful when your body is light, quick and not your restrictive burden.
What lead me to being obese you may ask?
Food was my fix for what ailed me.
Boredom, I ate.
Anxiety, I ate.
Hunger, I ate.
Driving, I ate.
Watching television, I ate.
Eat, eat, eat your self to death is all too common in a society full of garbage food,with a tremendous amount of food marketing.
An individual has a lot of mental battles to wage in order to win this health war.
And, losing weight is easy, it really is.
It is the changing of one's relationship with food that is difficult part.
For all those obese people needing rescue, or others who simply want to lose those extra pounds.
Here is my dare to you; hand your dietary intake choices over to a responsible and dietary educated Individual, self taught or formally educated.
Let said individual decide what, when and how much you consume.
Let this individual dictate your exercise, and you must obey their orders. Yes, you may parish in your attempt to become fitter, regardless of this, but being obese is killing you in the here and now.
Time passes; you lose weight, your physically stronger, your mental attitude is "I love life" now.
When your health assistant departs and you're now on your own once again. What will you do?
Go forth and remain a lean, trim living machine, or revert to your gluttons ways of the past.
Good Food is a caloric energy and a nutrient supply, not a substance to be abused.
Your so called "will power" is not necessary, wise and healthy, individualized choices are paramount though.
So where am I today you may ask;
I am a commercial truck driver, my caloric intake is small, my exercise is as good as I can make it. That is a big challenge in this industry.
The transportation industry as whole is not interested a drivers health, only in moving that commodity from point A to B in as quick time frame as possible.
To continue; 5'9" I am 59 years old now and weigh approximately my ideal weight for my height.
No! I do not know exactly what I weigh. Here is why one's weight it is not important.
Strip off your clothes, stand in front of a full height mirror and look at yourself, what do you see, a trim body or an obese one?
Here is your goal, to look trim. no need to worry about your said gravity number.
Good luck and make adult choices in a world trying to bring you down.
God bless!
@simoncarter8763 - you beat me to it by about 3 minutes 👍
On the same page :-)